hustler of culture

LA - Hammer Lecture: Hitoshi Abe (06.30.09)

LA - Poketo Pop-Up Shop (06.27.09 - 07.18.09)

London - "Outdoor Sculptures" by Yayoi Kusama (06.23.09 - 07.25.09)

LA - Yoskay Yamamoto's 'Koibito' Event (05.27.09)

LeBasse Projects presents:

Yoskay Yamamoto's 'Koibito' Release Party
Wednesday, May 27th, 7-10p

LeBasse Projects is proud to announce the release of Yoskay Yamamoto's gallery edition 'Koibito' vinyl sculpture. Originally produced by Munky King, the white and chrome gallery edition sculpture will be released in an edition of 150. The release party will also feature the release of an Exhibition Catalog of Yamamoto's current solo exhibtion, 'Hello and Goodbye,' as well as a new print from the show.

This will be the artist's second major solo exhibition, and will mark his largest body of work to date both in size and scale. The show represents a breakthrough in work from Yamamoto, and will reflect a continuation of intimate statements of self-expression that began in his last exhibition 'The Upside of Down.'

Yoskay Yamamoto will be in attendance to sign sculptures and catalogs. There will be a series of additional surprises for guests of the show as this will be the last evening to view Yamamoto's exhibition before it closes on May 28th.

LA - Shodo Iwagaki New Works (05.15.09 - 06.07.09)

LA - "Hello and Goodbye" (05.09.09 - ?)

LeBasse Projects presents:

Yoskay Yamamoto :: 'Hello and Goodbye'

Melissa Haslam :: 'Wild Fields' in our project room

OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, May 9th, 7-10p

www.lebasseprojects.com for more details.

LeBasse Projects is proud to announce, 'Hello and Goodbye,' a solo exhibition from Japanese artist Yoskay Yamamoto. This will be the artist's second major solo exhibition, and will mark his largest body of work to date both in size and scale. The show represents a breakthrough in work from Yamamoto, and will reflect a continuation of intimate statements of self-expression that began in his last exhibition 'The Upside of Down.'

NYC - "Love Monster" (04.18.09 - 05.16.09)

Dancing With the Locals

April 5, 2009 - 1:32 p.m. - Alhambra, CA

LA - "The Alphabet" (04.03.09 - 05.30.09)

Spawn

March 23, 2009 - 2:06 p.m. - Los Angeles, CA

Silvio could see everything my doctor was pointing out. I could not. Everything was a black and white mess to me.

Silvio: Is that her nose? 
Dr: Yep!

Me: Is that her eye?
Dr: No, that's her elbow.

Silvio: Is that her eye?
Dr: Yep!

Me: Is that her heart?
Dr: No, those are her sexual organs.

Silvio: Are those her legs?
Dr: Yep! There's the femur.

Me: Is that her hand?
Dr: No, that's her eye.
Silvio: No, her hand's over here.

And so on, and so on.

Wharo

March 20, 2009 - 7:56 p.m. - Marina Del Rey, CA

LA - "Year of the Ox" (03.14.09 - 04.15.09)

Fu Rai Bo: Asparagus and Butter

March 9, 2009 - 7:08 p.m. - Los Angeles, CA

LA - "Traveling with Nara" Screening (03.01.09)

DailyD is bringing you a free screening of Japanese Art Star Yoshitomo Nara's 2007 documentary "Traveling with Nara' this Sunday at the incredible Royal/T in Culver City.

With a pre-screening cocktail hour and post film wrap party we hope you will join us in viewing this unreleased film that follows Yoshitomo Nara as he prepared for his biggest show ever.

Sunday March 1st, 2009
Cocktails 6:30p
Screening starts at 7:30p
@ Royal/T 8910 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA
Additional details online at DailyduJour.com

Boombox by Ely Kim

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

I've known Ely to be a lot of wonderful creative things. But I had not known that the last time we went karaoking, I was actually witnessing his now famous dance prowess. Ely's got the skills to pay the bills! How fun is this video?! 100 days, 100 songs, 100 locations, and 100 dances! I especially loved #13,  #39, #50, #52, #59, #61, #71, #80, and #94. Hey Ely, I've got your number! I smell a dance off.

Ching Chong Juno

February 13, 2009 - 10:19 p.m. - Santa Monica, CA

Sinden took this photo of me because she thought my outfit was ridiculous. I'm too frugal to buy maternity clothes. So I wear what I can still squeeze into. In this case, vintage X-Girl tee, American Apparel undershirt, Four Star skate shorts (hijacked from Silvio -- cause they were gifted to him and he never wears), WESC socks, and cinnamon slippers from Viet Nam. It should be noted that the only thing I've paid for in this outfit is the American Apparel tee. If you run a clothing company and you want to send me some wares, I'll wear them and document on Flickr!

I actually don't have a lot of photos of me with Spawn. So, enjoy!

Year of the Ox

January 26, 2009 - 9:19 p.m. - Echo Park, CA

Sinden and Danny hosted an amazing home cooked Chinese dinner to celebrate the Lunar New Year! Happy Year of the Ox, all! May the Year of the Ox bring you all that you wished for!

LA - Atelier Bow-Wow: Small Case Study House (01.30.09 - 03.29.09)

January 31 - March 29, 2009

Atelier Bow-Wow
Small Case Study House
Opening reception: Friday, January 30, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Artist talk: Saturday, January 31, 2 pm

Founded by Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Momoyo Kaijima in 1992, Tokyo-based architecture studio Atelier Bow-Wow explores the use and function of space within urban environments. Bow-Wow developed the term "pet architecture"--a style of small, ad hoc, multifunctional structures that make the most of limited space. Using the framework of art galleries or museums to experiment with form and behavior, Bow-Wow's newly commissioned project for REDCAT is the culmination of an extended Los Angeles residency period, during which Tsukamoto and Kaijima researched the Case Study House program and made this postwar project a point of departure in thinking about domestic dwellings. Informed by the principles of the program--which enlisted architects to design low-cost homes for the masses with prefabricated materials--as well as the urban dynamics of contemporary Los Angeles, Bow-Wow's Small Case Study House responds to contemporary models for housing in L.A. as they relate to concepts of customization, re-use, and "architectural behaviorology." This is Atelier Bow-Wow's first solo exhibition in the United States.

LA - "Shinobi: Heart Under Blade" Screening (01.25.09)

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade
Sunday, January 25 at 7pm

http://betalevel.com/2009/01/25/wasp-and-orchid-4/

The Wasp and Orchid Martial Arts Film series makes an extravagant return with Shinobi: Heart Under Blade. Series curator D. G. ENG will introduce the film and contextualize its significance to martial arts choreography as a whole. To know the power of his lightning historiography strike (and if you want a comfy chair) you'd best show up on time!

SHINOBI is the story of two lovers from rival ninja clans who have been at war for hundreds of years. Living in wilderness seclusion, they've developed unique supernatural fighting abilities. It's like Romeo and Juliet meets X-Men, but with magic ninjas!

Shinobi features action director Yuji Shimomura, known for his work in video games and horror movies. Which means there's this one guy with, like, spider sleeves on his ninja combat sweatshirt. Yes, there will be subtitles. No, you won't really need them. Flying fists of hindbrain candy!

"Dirty Paper Machines" Recap

January 17, 2009 - 9:12 p.m. - Los Angeles, CA

GR2 opened "Dirty Paper Machines" for artist/illustrator, Rob Sato tonight. I knew we were going to drop by. But I didn't know that we'd leave purchasing one of his pieces. Silvio and I were surprised by the work. We had no idea we'd love it so much. And I think others felt the same way. From the night's feverish activity, you wouldn't know that we were currently living in a deep economic recession. People in line were animatedly speaking about the pieces they were hoping to purchase. And fortunately for everyone, everything was reasonably priced.

Rob describes the work in his show as being a mix of, "humor, mayhem, sadness,horror, adventure, heavy metal, science fiction, history, pastoral beauty, questionable behavior, and true love" with a touch of "silly". The 60 or so paintings varied from one-inch to nearly four-feet and were all outstanding examples of Rob's attention to detail. He can certainly paint with a very steady but delicate hand. If you are in the SoCal area, consider visiting this show before it ends on February 11th.