FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forget Sorrow book signing by Belle Yang
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to celebrate the release of Forget Sorrow with a book signing by Belle Yang.

Belle Yang is the author of the popular illustrated books Hannah Is My Name, The Odyssey of a Manchurian, and Baba: A Return to China upon My Father's Shoulders. The celebrated author and illustrator combines her talents in her newest book and long-awaited graphic memoir debut, Forget Sorrow. An Ancestral Tale.

Best known for her popular adult illustrated books and for being the subject of the award-winning PBS documentary titled My Name Is Belle, Yang started drawing her memoir during a particularly dark and fearful time when she was forced to confine herself to her parents home to elude an abusive ex-boyfriend turned stalker. A modern American woman suddenly wholly dependent on her old world Chinese parents, Belle found a means of spiritual escape through practicing calligraphy and asking her father, Baba, with whom she constantly fought, to tell her stories about his family and life growing up in Manchuria.

"Bringing to life a story that spans multiple generations, governments, and continents, the comic-strip format feels more immediate than a biographical novel, realistic than a TV mini-series, and honest than a movie ever could be." - Giant Robot 64

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent. The signing will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 on Tuesday, May 11.

For more information about the event, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Baba: A Return to China upon My Father's Shoulders, Belle Yang, Forget Sorrow, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hannah Is My Name, The Odyssey of a Manchurian

Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hal, J-Pop, Makito, Quaff, Seiya, SNG, TAkuma, Ukisemi, Visual Kei

Nathan Jurevicius and Andrea Kang
May 22, 2010 - June 19, 2010
Reception: Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Lost in the Woods, a joint art show featuring new works by Nathan Jurevicius and Andrea Kang.

Nathan Jurevicius is an Australian artist working in a variety of media. His most acclaimed project to date is Scarygirl. The brand since its creation in 2001 has developed an underground following of fans throughout the globe. The property is now in active script and visual development for an animated feature film. Nathan has also completed his first graphic novel and multi-award winning online game based on Scarygirl.

Andrea Kang is a freelance artist living and working in Providence, RI. She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Industrial Design in 2004 and a Masters in Art + Design Education in 2005. Since then she's taught, been a toy designer, participated in gallery shows across the U.S., and has dedicated her time to illustration and toy design work.

For Lost in the Woods, the artists will be creating medium- to small-sized works depicting children and animals finding their way through a dream-like forest, in muted colors on variety of media. Their collaborative pieces will combine ink, acrylic paint, and cut paper. For her personal work, Andrea is using ink on cut paper, while Jurevicius is using pens and watercolors. Each will also debut two new silkscreens at the show (including a skate deck design) as well as a limited-edition giclee print. There will be new plush owlets, too.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent. A reception for Jurevicius and Kang will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, May 22.

For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Andrea Kang, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Lost in the Woods, Nathan Jurevicius, Scarygirl

Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Secret Asian Man, Tak Toyoshima

Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: circuit bending, doorag, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, LCDD, Los Caballeros Du Dusseldorf, Que Suerte

Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Adventures in Lollipopland, Buff Monster, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY

Friend of GRNY Diva (of The Diva Review)recently made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. QUAFF, a J-Pop/Visual Kei powerhouse band from Japan was going to be in NYC to play a live show, and they wanted to come to Giant Robot New York to do a signing for their fans. Of course the answer was yes! Quaff call their music "Hybrid Japanese Rock Sound". There are definitely elements of J-Pop and traditional Visual Kei with some metallic tinges, but these guys also incorporate a lot of Western influences, such as wind instruments and an MC in the band. Their sound is based around the Japanese concept of "uta" (melody) and "tsuzuri" (rap). They've toured the US before, and their fanbase continues to grow every time. If you aren't already familiar with Quaff, check out their artist page on myspace.

So the band will be coming to GRNY from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday April 24th. here's the best part...they will be coming directly from a photo shoot, Seiya, Ukisemi, Makito, SNG, Takuma and Hal will all be dressed to the nines. Quaff fans, I expect no less from you. I want to see beautiful makeup, crazy outfits, and sky-high hair. Represent for J-Pop and VK in NYC, at GRNY! The band will have tour merchandise available for sale, so be ready to get your items and get them signed. Samurai Rock and vivid Japanese visual expression are here to price your skull with the genre-breaking sound of Quaff!

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hal, J-Pop, Makito, Quaff, Seiya, SNG, TAkuma, Ukisemi, Visual Kei

Giant Robot has always attracted unique artists and individuals, and on Thursday April 22, from 6 to 8 pm we have a great event lined up. Los Caballos Du Düsseldorf, also known as LCDD and numerous other aliases are a pair of circuit bending fanzine making musicians originating from Spain. In their own words, they "play in odd venues for strange events", using instruments made from recycled circuits from toys that they call doorags, in honor of Doo Rag, the band that inspired them to start making music. LDDC is also an open band, meaning anyone willing to play the doorags and perform is free to do it using the LDDC name. They have even provided instructions online for how to make your own doorags and play as your version of LDCC. In addition to this, they also make a fanzine, Que Suerte, which they will have available for sale. So this is a sort of musical performance event and signing that the public is open to participate in. It's going to be VERY cool. Here are some links to properly psyche yourselves up:

Check out LCDD on myspace.

Check out the manual to build your own doorag.

Sneak a peek at Que Suerte.

See what Olaf is up to.

Practice your Spanish.

Labels: circuit bending, doorag, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, LCDD, Los Caballeros Du Dusseldorf, Que Suerte

Earlier today I heard from Tak Toyoshima who sent along this image of a benefit shirt he made for GR featuring his character Sam from Secret Asian Man. This image rules on a couple of levels. I'm always fond of mashups to begin with, and I especially love seeing a well known logo tweaked and played with. Then just take a look at Sam's inner mechanics. The giant eyebrow, the camera lens for the eye, the ear that looks like it's hooked into the brain. It shows a lot of love and care for a character when you can imagine what his inner workings would look like if he was a robot. These shirts will be available for sale at Tak's signing at GRNY on April 23rd.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Secret Asian Man, Tak Toyoshima

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Book Signing

Secret Asian Man: The Daily Days

Friday, April 23, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to celebrate the release of Secret Asian Man: The Daily Days with a signing by writer and artist Tak Toyoshima.

Secret Asian Man is a comic strip that is often brutally honest commentary on the state of race relations in America. It focuses on what makes us the same as well as different, through the lens of Asian American protagonist Osamu "SAM" Takahashi. Between the covers of this 232-page collection, no one is safe from SAM's keen observations on race, religion, politics, sexual orientation, and everything else that gets people's undies in a bunch. (It's also quite funny.)

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent. Toyoshima will be signing the book from 6:00 to 8:00 on Friday, April 23. For more information about the author, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Secret Asian Man, Tak Toyoshima

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jawbreaker Weekend at Giant Robot
Saturday, April 3 - Sunday, April 4, 2010

Giant Robot
2015 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
secure.giantrobot.com
(310) 478-1819

GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net
(310) 445-9276

GRSF
618 Shrader Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
gr-sf.com
(415) 876-4773

Giant Robot
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave.& Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, NY 10009
grny.net
(212) 674-GRNY(4769)

Jawbreaker was not only one of the best indie punk bands to ever get in a van, but they were also friends of Giant Robot magazine. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the much-loved trio's debut album, Unfun, and its re-release on Blackball Records, the Giant Robot stores are holding their inaugural Jawbreaker Weekend, which will entail a ton of great music blasting on the stereos (Jawbreaker and related groups such as forgetters, Horace Pinker, J Church, Jets to Brazil, The Moons, Mutoid Men, Shore Birds, Thorns of Life, and Whysall Lane) both days and special "merch" including free buttons and a limited-edition T-shirt for sale.

In addition, copies of the newly remastered Unfun CD will be given to the first die-hard fans who go to the stores and do one the following:

* Bring a Jawbreaker mix CD. These will be added to the store's musical rotations over the weekend and beyond. (2 at GR/Sawtelle, 2 at GRSF, 1 at GRNY)

* Show a Jawbreaker tattoo. (2 at GR/Sawtelle, 2 at GRSF, 1 at GRNY)

One more CD will be given to the Jawbreaker/GR fan who uploads the best Jawbreaker karaoke video to YouTube. The winner will be selected by Blake, Chris, and Adam themselves, and the latter promises to send bonus goodies. To enter, please tag the video with "Giant Robot Store/Jawbreaker Contest" and send a link to info@giantrobot.com.

For more information about Jawbreaker Weekend, the Giant Robot stores, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:
Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Contest, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GR2, GRLA, GRNY, GRSF, Jawbreake, Unfun

Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, group art show, Small Favors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Art Show Opening

Buff Monster

April 17, 2010 - May 19, 2010
Reception: Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Adventures in Lollipopland, a show featuring new works by Buff Monster.


Buff Monster is best known for his wheat-pasted, street art featuring lumps of ice cream, clouds, and squirting breasts. He needs just a few tones to seize your eyeballs--black, gray, white, and pinks--and his disarmingly sweet imagery has spilled over into the worlds of fashion, collectibles, and galleries, as well as collaborations for the likes of The Standard, Hurley, Vans, Helio, and Nike.

In Adventures in Lollipopland, Buff Monster is celebrating "the duality of cute and ice-cream-inspired traditional imagery, along with heavy-metal-inspired darker imagery. Some pieces are cute and fun; others are darker and more Satanic." In contrast to his last show at GRNY, which featured kaiju-inspired characters along with a lot of writing in kanji, he considers this to be a neo traditional show. Pieces are slated to include 3 16" x 16" paintings, 30 10" x 10" wood panels, and some small, fun 7" x 7" pieces, as well as custom toys.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent. A reception featuring the artist will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, April 17.

For more information about the artist, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Adventures in Lollipopland, Buff Monster, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, kaiju

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -


Group Art Show Opening

Small Favors

March 27, 2010 - April 14, 2010

Reception: Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.


Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net


Giant Robot is proud to host Small Favors, a group art show featuring small works.


The Big Apple is a place where people have to pay big bucks to live in not-so-big spaces. But who says bigger is better? It's the little things in life that mean the most, and Small Favors is a group show centered around small, affordable works for people who want to support the arts but don't necessarily have a lot of wall space. Artworks created for this show can be in any medium, but most are no larger than 5 inches by 5 inches--a perfect fit for cozy city spaces.


Contributors will include the following:


Selina Alko

APAK

Jashar Awan

Jordan Awan

Sean Boyles

Sasha Barr

Aaron Brown

Jeffrey Brown

Jon Burgerman

Ako Castuera

Kris Chau

Louise Chen

Shawn Cheng

Alex Chiu

Josh Cochran

Allison Cole

Molly Crabapple

Eleanor Davis

Jennifer Davis

Michael Deforge

Morgan Elliott

Grant Falardeau

James Benjamin Franklin

Matt Furie

Mark Giglio

Tim Gough

Matt Haber

Tim Hensley

Lizz Hickey

Patrick Hruby

Jay Horinouchi

David Horvath

Martin Hsu

Mari Inukai

Jordin Isip

Yellena James

Levon Jihanian

Marc Johns

Mr. Kiji

Dan-Ah Kim

James Kochalka

Stephanie Kubo

Jesse Ledoux

Abe Lincoln Jr.

Jack Long

Justin Lovato

Sara Antoinette Martin

Aaron Martinez

Jeffrey Ashe Meyer

Mika Mood

Tru Nguyen

Grant Reynolds

Julia Rothman

Julianna Parr

Sidney Pink

Sean Qualls

Deth P. Sun

Zack Soto

Rodger Stevens

Ric Stultz

Gary Taxali

Daria Tessler

Peter Thompson

Elisabeth Timpone

Jeremy Tinder

Joe To

Aiyana Udesen

Jing Wei

Chelsea Wong

Lawrence Yang


Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent.


A reception featuring many of the artists will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, March 27. For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:


Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, group art show, Small Favors

Opening March 27th at GRNY, Small Favors is a big (close to 70 artists) group show of small scale artworks. It's going to be an absolutely fantastic show, the artists list alone guarantees that. I've only seen a fraction of the work that will be in the show so far, and it's all looking great. Take a look for yourself, and stay tuned for more updates.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Small Favors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Prints and Pieces at GRNY

Saturday, March 6, 2010 - Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

GRNY is proud to present a showing of prints and pieces from its collection for sale by artists who are sure to be familiar to readers of Giant Robot magazine: Takashi Murakami, Chiho Aoshima, David Choe, Ai Yamaguchi, David Horvath, Dehara, and Le Merde, When Takashi Murakami coined the phrase "Superflat," he transformed a generation of popular culture-influenced fine artists in Japan into a movement. His own iconic artworks exemplify the concept's bridging of traditional Japanese panel art and modern manga and anime, old art and new pop culture, and high art and low art. The Tokyo-based artist has been compared to Andy Warhol, collaborated with Louis Vuitton, and had his retrospective shown at MOCA in L.A. and The Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain.

Chiho Aoshima is one of the primary artists under Murakami's Kaikai Kiki management group. Her digital work has been known to cover entire walls and stairways with an impossibly detailed, richly colored, dystopic, and feminine view of the future. Aoshima's most recent solo shows have taken place at the Joan Miro Foundation in Barcelona, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the Baltic Center for Contemporary Art in Gateshead (UK).

When David Choe first approached Giant Robot, he had dropped out of art school and was looking for gigs. Since his first contribution, a portrait of the buck-toothed cook Martin Yan that reveals an equal influence of both comic books and graffiti, Choe has gone on to become a celebrated artists whose loose, dirty, and effortless style has been spotlighted in London and Beijing. Ai Yamaguchi began her career working for Murakami, but has gone on to forge her own place in the world of art via her hyper stylized depictions of Edo-period courtesans. In addition to regularly showing in museum and galleries, Yamaguchi’s work has been featured by a line of Shu Uemura products as well as murals in the upscale cosmetics company’s boutiques.

Finally, in tribute to the roots of Asian popular culture (the kaiju scene introduced by Godzilla, Gamera, other giant monsters, and the toy industry they spawned) Japanese indie sculptor and artist Yukinori Dehara, UglyDolls co-creator David Horvath, and Portland, OR-based underground toy legend LeMerde joined forces to create a short run of handmade, hand-painted figures to commemorate the recently concluded Giant Robot Biennale 2 in Los Angeles. This show will be their East Coast debut. Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent.

The prints by Murakami, Aoshima, Choe, and Yamaguchi, as well as the pieces by Dehara, Horvath, and Le Merde, will be shown from Saturday, March 6 through Wednesday, March 24. For more information about the artists, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Ai Yamaguchi, Chiho Aoshima, David Choe, David Horvath, Dehara, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Biennale, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Le Merde, Takashi Murakami

Hey GR fans and followers, got a question for you. What does GRNY get that GRLA and GRSF never do? The answer....SNOW. The city has been hit with yet another winter storm, this one started this morning, and is supposed to let up sometime Friday night. Right now it's just big wet flakes but they say we'll get some accumulation.

I'm appreciating this storm as hopefully the last snow of the winter. NYC really does kind of transform when it's snowing. Everything is forced to move just a little bit slower, and for a while we're all just people versus the snow. All the news tonight is going to be people talking about the snow, and how the storm has affected their commute or whatever. But if you ask me, for a little while snow in the city is a beautiful thing.



Snowy branches outside the front door of GRNY.



View of Tompkins Square Park looking down 9th Street



Frozen vandalism, or home team spirit?

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, snow

It's shaping up to be a really great weekend at all the Giant Robot stores. GRNY's Metal Mad show is open to online sales with loads of amazing pieces available.

For you Bay Area people, GRSF is having the opening reception for Rob Sato's new gallery show, Junk History. The preview images are gorgeous, kind of make me think of Kong's Skull Island and Laputa. This looks like it will be a hell of a show. Not to be missed!

Then at GR homebase in LA is the fantastic group show Year of the Tiger and pet adoption event. GRLA's Michelle Borok is an animal lover of the highest order, so I know that this event is near and dear to her heart. In fact, GR's own Eric Nakamura adopted his cat Kika at the last adoption event. We just took in the orange stray cat that's been living on our porch at the beginning of this year, so it's a little bit Year of the Tiger for me in NYC as well.

And of course, there is no better place than Giant Robot for you to find that last minute, unique and wonderful Valentine's Day gift. As always, we appreciate your support. Get out there and support metal madness, junk history, the year of the tiger and animals who will love you unconditionally if you take them home.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GR2, GRNY, GRSF, Junk History, Metal Mad, Pet Adoption, Rob Sato, Year of the Tiger

With all signs pointing to a major influx of snow in our fair city tomorrow, GRNY will be closing for the day. We'll be back open on Thursday the 11th. Enjoy some hot cocoa, a snowball fight, watch TV news about those poor people who live in Rochester or Buffalo where it's probably going to look like Hoth tomorrow. Stay warm and be safe, I'll be expecting you on Thursday.

Labels: closing, GRNY, snow day

So anybody who knows me, or follows this blog knows that I love heavy metal. Sure I've had my little flings with old school rap, and electronic music, but my heart belongs to metal music. It's my comfort food of music. When things are looking bad, or I just need to psyche myself up, metal always does it. That's the idea behind the Metal Mad opening this weekend. A hell yes, get psyched, fists in the air creative celebration of the power of this style of music. Art openings are always exciting. It's fun to see the work as it comes in, get it up on the walls and looking great, and share it with everybody else. This one is particularly exciting though. As a good friend once put it "metal recognizes metal", meaning that metalheads share a certain bond over this music. That bond was evident in the excited responses we received from artists who were invited to be in the show, and their love for metal is shining through in some really spectacular artwork. The talent pool involved is incredible, and I am finding myself seriously amped up. Do yourselves a favor, and come check the show out when it opens this Saturday, February 6th at 6:30. No emos, wimps, or posers.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, group show, Metal Mad

16 years ago, Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong joined forces in Los Angeles and created the little 'zine that could, Giant Robot. To say that a lot has changed since then is the understatement of the century. GR went from being a fanzine to a magazine to a successful small business, and is currently recognized as a driving force in the art world. It's an amazing success story, one totally based on a DIY ethic, and doing what you believe in with people you believe in. But the simple fact is that print as a business is hurting as more and more printed matter goes online instead of to press, and Giant Robot is no exception to the rule. It was our fans who helped build GR into what it is today, and will no doubt help us take us to the next level. Right now, we need your support. Eric explains it all very nicely in his most recent blog entry. Take a minute to check it out. Giant Robot is lucky to have a most devoted fanbase, and we're grateful for all your support over the years and into the future. Thanks.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GRLA, GRNY, GRSF

Giant Robot has been included in the voting for Juxtapoz magazine's Top 100 Galleries and Museums. We're currently in the top 50, at #45 alongside some real heavy hitters. It's a big accomplishment for us to be viewed on the same playing field as some major art institutions, and even cooler that we were voted there by readers. Thanks to our fans and supporters for getting us there. Voting is still open. Let's see if we can't rise in the ranks! Thanks again for all your support!

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GRNY, GRSF, Juxtapoz

Here's an early look at some of the work that's going to be in our upcoming Metal Mad show at GRNY. Looking amazing already, and this is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more previews in the build towards the show!


Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, group show, Metal Mad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Group Art Show Opening

Metal Mad

February 6, 2010 - March 3, 2010
Reception: Saturday, Februrary 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Metal Mad, a group art show featuring works inspired by the head-banging, guitar-driven, amps-to-11 musical genre owned by the misunderstood.

While all artists will share a love of shredding guitar and bone-shaking volume, their styles and mediums will be as different as dark metal, black metal, speed metal, thrash, grindcore, and stoner rock. Contributors come from America, Asia, and Europe:


Aeron Alfrey
Chris Bettig
Bigfoot
Aaron Brown
Buff Monster
Michael Coleman
Louie Cordero
Cupco
Tom Forget
Noel Freibert
French
Matt Furie
Joe The Artist
Paul Lyons
Jeremiah Maddock
Kiyoshi Nakazawa
Tom Neely
Matt Nelson
Eric Nyquist
Martin Ontiveros
Prodip
Brian Ralph
Albert Reyes
Scrappers
Skinner
Ryan Jacob Smith
Bwana Spoons
Hannah Stouffer

Works will include illustration, paintings, three-dimensional modeling, and other forms, and palettes will range from stark, evil black-and-white to bright, concert poster-inspired colors. And, yes, the art will totally rule.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent. A reception featuring many of the artists will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, February 6.

For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, group show, Metal Mad

This past Saturday, Giant Robot New York hosted the opening reception for Playful Extremities, a group show featuring the artwork of 5 extremely talented ladies, namely Louise Chen, Hellen Jo, Sara Antoinette Martin, Tran Nguyen, and Sylvia Park. Despite having very different styles, their art all meshed together quite nicely on the walls. Come and see for yourself. Playful Extremities is on display in the GRNY gallery until February 3, 2010.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hellen Jo, Louise Chen, Sara Antoinette Martin, Sylvia Park, Tran Nguyen

Giant Robot loves our fans. It's true. You guys helped us turn a photocopied fanzine into a pop culture phenomemon. You proudly fly the GR colors, support our artists and our stores. Now it's time for us to reciprocate. Starting this Saturday, January 16th ALL Giant Robot locations are participating in a storewide sale. Merchandise will be discounted at least 20% (more on certain items). This is our way of saying thank you for 15 years of loyalty and support. GR fans are the greatest.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GR1, GR2, GRLA, GRNY, GRSF, Sale, Storewide

Since this is the first GRNY post for 2010, I just wanted to briefly take a moment to thank everybody who has supported us over the past year. It's great to see the kind of enthusiasm and loyalty Giant Robot inspires in our fans and customers, and believe me, we acknowledge and sincerely appreciate your support.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GRNY, GRSF, Printed Matter 7, Rob Lowe, Rob Supermundane, Vast Happenings

Not to be outdone by our fellow robots out on the West Coast, the GRNY staff has compiled our own holiday gift guide. Take a look and see what a bunch of cynical New Yorkers picked to celebrate the most festive time of the year.



GIFT FOR....Neighbor
Buddha Box
Picked by: Mark
My neighbors will want this soothing tone generator to chant with to drown out the sounds of death metal coming from our apartment



GIFT FOR....Co-Worker
Mind Your Own Business Mini Shredder
Picked by Claire
It will sit on their desk, look stylish, and destroy their paper trail. Now if it could only do the same for their browsing history.



GIFT FOR....Sister
Bossy Bear Vinyl Figure
Picked by Mark.
What better way to subtly stoke the flames of sibling rivalry than a vinyl toy that suggests that they are bossy? Besides, Bossy Bear is completely loveable.



GIFT FOR....Brother
Reading is Sexy mug
Picked by Mike
I don't have a brother, but if I did, I'd give him this because it promotes literacy AND self esteem.



GIFT FOR....Niece
Matchstick gardens
Picked by Mark
My niece has quite the green thumb already, so I'm sure she'd love these ready to plant matchsticks.




GIFT FOR....Nephew
Flocked Domo Kun
Picked by Claire
Flocked so they're cuddly, the NHK monster mascot now comes in a variety of pleasing colors



GIFT FOR....Boyfriend
Buff Monster vinyl
Picked by Mike
I don't have a boyfriend, but if I did, I'd want him to be buff and monstrous.



GIFT FOR....Girlfriend
Brickwall ring
Picked by Claire
A lovely silver band to bring out her femininity and satisfy your geek factor.



GIFT FOR....Boss
Mimobots
Picked by Claire
Functional and stylish, with many designs to choose from.



GIFT FOR....Anyone
Gotochi Dissection Animals
Picked by Mike
Because everybody likes looking at animal innards.

Happy Holidays to you from the GRNY crew!

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Gift, GRNY, guide, Holiday, Shopping

The reigning Master of Character Bento, Christopher D. Salyers came out to GRNY to show off some of his handiwork, and also to sign copies of his books, Face Food, and Face Food Recipes. It was a fun Saturday night signing at GRNY, with several truly impressive charaben created by fans. Big thanks to Mark and Cynthia Batty for sponsoring this event, (and providing libations to keep things merry), Miho Sakai from NHK Broadcasting, and of course to Christopher who shared not only his charaben creation talents, but came loaded with Japanese sweets, including some that tasted exactly like pancakes!


Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: bento, bento box, charaben, Christopher D Salyers, Face Food, Face Food Recipes, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, kyaraben, Mark Batty Publisher

Here. Wonderful works to own by Allison Cole, Julia Rothman, Daria Tessler, and Jing Wei.

Labels: Allison Cole, Daria Tessler, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jing Wei, Julia Rothman, Paths Less Traveled

Winter has arrived with a vengeance here in NYC. But don't let that keep you from coming out to meet Christopher Salyers and get copies of his books Face Food and Face Food Recipes tomorrow night. I'm excited for this. How could I not be? This is all about charaben, the Japanese art of making food look like characters from pop culture. We encourage you not only to come to this event, but to come with your own examples of charaben! I want to see lunchmeats transformed into palettes for the palate! Rice and nori shaped into...I dunno, Snoopy? Murakami's Mr. Dob? Doraemon? Those guys all seem basic, but over at Chris' blog, you can see that people go really over the top with charaben. Obama sushi? That is INSPIRED. There's a Facebook event page with details that you can check out here. Did I mention that NHK is coming to film the event for their local Japanese programming about NYC? There you go. Saturday 12/12 from 6 to 8 pm at GRNY.

Labels: bento, bento box, charaben, Christopher D Salyers, Face Food, Face Food Recipes, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, kyaraben, Mark Batty Publisher

So winter finally arrived in NYC, but so did loads of people in support of Allison, Julia, Daria and Jing, and the opening for their group show, Paths Less Traveled. Some really great work in this show, come and check it out in the gallery if you're local. Or close. Paths Less Traveled will be on display at GRNY until January 13, 2010.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Labels: Allison Cole, Daria Tessler, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jing Wei, Julia Rothman, Paths Less Traveled

From Wikipedia:

Kyaraben or charaben, a shortened form of character bento, kyarakutaa bentou?), is a style of elaborately arranged bento which features food decorated to look like people, characters from popular media, animals, and plants.

Two years ago, Christopher D Salyers' book Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes brought the curious, cute and infectiously popular phenomenon of charaben, or character bento boxes, into homes across the globe. His new book Face Food Recipes builds upon the success of Face Food with a new collection of charaben that also includes informative how-to guides for making lunches that look like your favorite animated pop culture figures.

From Astro Boy, to Hello Kitty, to Naruto to pirates, Salyers has collected recipes and how-to's from the best of the best: Japanese mothers.

Along with stunningly detailed examples of fancy foodstuff, Christopher D Salyers has compiled a glossary of Japanese culinary terms and techniques geared toward making sure you understand how to make rice balls, dye eggs and slice seaweed.

Join Mark Batty Publisher and Christopher D Salyers at Giant Robot NY on Saturday, December 12 from 6-8pm for drinks, snacks, fun and Face Food book-signage. And, bring your own homemade charaben to the event and receive a FREE copy of of the book! This event has fun written all over it. Don't believe me? Check out Christopher's blog. And of course, take a look at the great selection of books available from Mark Batty Publisher.

Labels: bento, bento box, charaben, Christopher D Salyers, Face Food, Face Food Recipes, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, kyaraben, Mark Batty Publisher

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Group Art Show Opening

Paths Less Traveled

December 5, 2009 - January 13, 2009
Reception: Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery 437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Paths Less Traveled, a group art show featuring new work by Allison Cole, Julia Rothman, Daria Tessler, and Jing Wei.

Although Rhode Island-based Allison Cole is known in the world of indie comics for her self-published Comics of Love, she is a multi-headed art monster who uses bold brushwork and complex papercuts to create eye-pleasing patterns and dreamlike settings for a gallery setting.

The natural yet hyper detailed linework of Brooklynite Julia Rothman conveys effortlessness that belies its precise realism. Her talents are equally applicable for intricate patternmaking, editorial work for the New York Times, or timeless artwork with an abundance of style and no pretense.

The work of illustrator and printmaker Daria Tessler resets the world as pages of a psychedelic coloring book. In the Brooklyn-based artist's work, humans, animals, and nature commingle, carry on, and cross-dress to a surprising, enlightening, and uplifting effect.

Chinese-born and Brooklyn-based Jing Wei creates block prints that combine realistic technique with pure imagination. She tackles the recurring subject of nature with affection, detail, and humor to ultimately reveal the beautifully flawed eyes and imagination of humanity.

A reception for the artists will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, December 5. For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Allison Cole, Daria Tessler, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jing Wei, Julia Rothman, Paths Less Traveled

The biggest shopping day of the year is approaching fast, and Giant Robot is ready. All Giant Robot stores will be having a fantastic 20% off sale on Friday November 27th. Stores will be opening at 11 am and staying open until 8:30 to accommodate holiday shoppers. There will also be a separate sale and separate discounts available on giantrobot.com. GRNY is full of fantastic merchandise, including tons of product from GR favorites like Dave Choe, James Jean, and David Horvath, exclusives from the GR Biennale in Los Angeles, and a huge selection of cool t-shirts. Sorry, but the discount doesn't apply to merchandise already on sale, or artwork in the gallery spaces.

Labels: Black Friday, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GRNY, GRSF, Sale

This past Saturday night I came across this bit of graffitti a few blocks from GRNY. That's Phil Lumbang's bear character as seen on the cover of Giant Robot Magazine issue 61. A customer had mentioned he was in town when she saw the cover, and it looks like he was busy. Brings out my civic pride that my city remains a place for writers to get their work noticed. Phil's work is going to be featured in the upcoming Printed Matter 7 show in December, followed by a solo show opening January 9, 2010. Both of those are happening at Giant Robot San Francisco.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giant Robot San Francisco, GRNY, GRSF, Phil Lumbang, Printed Matter 7

The talented and funny Jay Ryan and Paul Hornschemeier stopped by GRNY on their recent book tour. Jay is promoting his book Animals and Objects in and Out of Water, while Paul is promoting his release All and Sundry. Both are worth checking out. This tour passes through GR2 on Monday December 7th 2009 and GRSF on Wednesday December 9th 2009.

Labels: Akashic, All and Sundry, Animals and Objects in and Out of Water, Fantagraphics, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jay Ryan, Paul Hornschemeier

GRNY is pleased as punch to be hosting Men at Work, a group show featuring the talents of Robert Bellm, Matt Furie, Jay Howell, Ben King , Aaron Martinez, Sidney Pink and Albert Reyes. This is a really diverse, something for everyone kind of show. On display at GRNY until Wednesday, December 2, so come check it out.

Labels: Aaron Martinez, Albert Reyes, Ben King, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jay Howell, Matt Furie, Men at Work, Robert Bellm, Sidney Pink

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paul Hornschemeier and Jay Ryan Book Tour and Signing

Monday, November 16, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Giant Robot
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave.& Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, NY 10009
(212) 674-GRNY(4769) | grny.net


Giant Robot is proud to host Paul Hornschemeier and Jay Ryan as they hit the road together in November and December for an extensive book tour to promote their respective new releases, All and Sundry and Animals and Objects In and Out of Water.

Paul Hornschemeier began self-publishing his experimental comics series Sequential in college. Graduating with a degree in Philosophy, he moved to Chicago and began his series Forlorn Funnies, producing the graphic novels Mother, Come Home, The Three Paradoxes, Life with Mr. Dangerous, and the short story and illustration collections Let Us Be Perfectly Clear and All and Sundry. Hornschemeier's work has been translated into multiple languages and won international acclaim and awards, including honors at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. His clients include, Intel, CNN/Mother Industries, the Wall Street Journal, Life magazine, This American Life, Brooks Running, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books UK, Marvel Entertainment, DC Comics, and Nickelodeon. He currently resides in Chicago, where he is still at work on Forlorn Funnies as well as various illustration, prose, and music projects.

Jay Ryan has been making screen-printed concert posters in Chicago since 1995, and at his own print shop, The Bird Machine, since 1999. Known for his hand-drawn type, humorous animal subjects, and muted color selections, he has worked for thousands of indie bands such as the Melvins, Shellac, Andrew Bird, Fugazi, the Flaming Lips, and the Jesus Lizard, as well as clients like Patagonia Clothing, Converse Shoes, and the BBC. When he's not playing bass in his band, Dianogah, Jay lectures to students and shows his prints at universities and galleries across the US and Europe.

The in-store appearance and book signings by Paul and Jay will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 on Monday, November 16 at Giant Robot New York. For more information about the artists, the Giant Robot stores, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact: Eric Nakamura Giant Robot Owner/Publisher eric@giantrobot.com (310) 479-7311

See the Facebook event page.

Labels: Akashic, All and Sundry, Animals and Objects in and Out of Water, Fantagraphics, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jay Ryan, Paul Hornschemeier

He's a star of TV, film, and music. He was named one of Time Magazine's World's Most Influential People. He sold out Madison Square Garden in a matter of minutes. He's Jeong Ji-Hoon, better known as Rain, and he's coming to Giant Robot New York! This Friday, November 13 at 8:30 the one and only Rain will be making a rare in-store appearance at GRNY to promote his upcoming film Ninja Assassin. Don't miss the chance to get close to one of the worlds biggest stars. Friday the 13th is a lucky day for Giant Robot New York, and fans of Rain!

Friday, November 13 2009, 8:30 p.m.
Giant Robot
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave.& Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, NY 10009
(212) 674-GRNY(4769) | grny.net

Labels: Asian Pop Culture, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jeong Ji-Hoon, K-Pop, Korean Superstars, Ninja Assassin, Rain

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paul Hornschemeier and Jay Ryan Book Tour and Signing

Monday, November 16, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Giant Robot
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave.& Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, NY 10009
(212) 674-GRNY(4769) | grny.net


Giant Robot is proud to host Paul Hornschemeier and Jay Ryan as they hit the road together in November and December for an extensive book tour to promote their respective new releases, All and Sundry and Animals and Objects In and Out of Water.

Paul Hornschemeier began self-publishing his experimental comics series Sequential in college. Graduating with a degree in Philosophy, he moved to Chicago and began his series Forlorn Funnies, producing the graphic novels Mother, Come Home, The Three Paradoxes, Life with Mr. Dangerous, and the short story and illustration collections Let Us Be Perfectly Clear and All and Sundry. Hornschemeier's work has been translated into multiple languages and won international acclaim and awards, including honors at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. His clients include, Intel, CNN/Mother Industries, the Wall Street Journal, Life magazine, This American Life, Brooks Running, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books UK, Marvel Entertainment, DC Comics, and Nickelodeon. He currently resides in Chicago, where he is still at work on Forlorn Funnies as well as various illustration, prose, and music projects.

Jay Ryan has been making screen-printed concert posters in Chicago since 1995, and at his own print shop, The Bird Machine, since 1999. Known for his hand-drawn type, humorous animal subjects, and muted color selections, he has worked for thousands of indie bands such as the Melvins, Shellac, Andrew Bird, Fugazi, the Flaming Lips, and the Jesus Lizard, as well as clients like Patagonia Clothing, Converse Shoes, and the BBC. When he's not playing bass in his band, Dianogah, Jay lectures to students and shows his prints at universities and galleries across the US and Europe.

The in-store appearance and book signings by Paul and Jay will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 on Monday, November 16 at Giant Robot New York. For more information about the artists, the Giant Robot stores, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact: Eric Nakamura Giant Robot Owner/Publisher eric@giantrobot.com (310) 479-7311

See the Facebook event page.

Labels: Akashic, All and Sundry, Animals and Objects in and Out of Water, Fantagraphics, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jay Ryan, Paul Hornschemeier

Call them visual kei, J-Pop, Nu-Metal, or experimental rock...there's no denying that Japan's Dir En Grey have commanded a loyal following in the US, and in NYC in particular. Kyo, Kaoru, Die, Toshiya and Shinya are in town, playing 3 dates at the Blender Theatre in support of their new DVD complilation Average Blasphemy (that includes the 10 minute version of Vinushka and Dozing Green that was voted best video on Headbangers Ball 2008). Giant Robot New York is happy to be sponsors of a fantastic event for fans. Starting at 7 pm Tuesday November 10th at Kinokuniya bookstores (1073 Avenue of the Americas) Lady Miz Diva Vélez of the Diva Review will be hosting an invite only panel discussion and autograph session with the band. These types of events rarely take place outside of Japan, and even then usually only for Dir En Grey fanclub members. This event is a rare opportunity for American fans to get up close with the band. Kinokuniya looks out on Bryant Park, and the streets are sure to be jammed with Dir En Grey fans. Want to get invited? BE in-store with the band while everybody else watches you from the street? Here's the deal. Sign up now at the Diva Review website to enter the contest and win a chance to meet the groundbreaking rockers. But act fast, time is short and spots are limited. Entries will be accepted until Saturday November 7th at 9pm. Time is short and slots are limited, so enter now for the chance of a lifetime to meet with Dir En Grey!!

Labels: Bryant Park, Dir En Grey, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, GRNY, J-Pop, Japanese Metal, Kinokuniya, The Diva Review, Visual Kei

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Group Art Show Opening

Men at Work November 14-December 2, 2009
Reception: Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Men at Work, a group art show featuring new work by Robert Bellm, Matt Furie, Jay Howell, Ben King, Aaron Martinez, Sidney Pink, and Albert Reyes.

Robert Bellm paints vibrant images from nature, calling the eye-pleasing mix of natural shapes with manmade forms "organic technology."

Matt Furie creates richly detailed and hyper colored illustrations and paintings that reflect the creative cross breeding of The Neverending Story, unrestrained imagination of The Muppet Show, and humor of ALF.

Jay Howell creates a strange yet beautiful world where limbs lack joints, all colors are neon, and every shape is elongated and wavering.

Ben King is a young, upstart artist from the Bay Area whose illustrations reflect a unique perspective on mainstream celebrity and videogame culture, among other topics.

Aaron Martinez is a Los Angeles based artist, who creates somber yet thoughtful monochromatic images, and is currently designing for Element Skateboards.

Sidney Pink is a Japan-based illustrator who was nominated for the 2008 GEISAI Museum 2 Jury Awards.

Albert Reyes is a prolific artist from Los Angeles whose style reflects the grittiness of the streets fused with the refinement of classical portraiture.

A reception featuring many of the artists will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, November 14. For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Aaron Martinez, Albert Reyes, Ben King, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Jay Howell, Matt Furie, Men at Work, Robert Bellm, Sidney Pink

Today the original, one of a kind pieces fom the Giant Robot Biennale go on sale at giantrobot.com. LEDAVHARA is a tribute to the /kaiju/ scene featuring collaborative works made by indie sculptor and artist Yukinori Dehara, UglyDolls co-creator David Horvath, and Portland-based underground toy legend LeMerde. These pieces are not for sale at the Japanese American National Museum and are only available through giantrobot.com. These creators are all titans in their own respect, so it's really a chance of a lifetime to own one of these hand painted, super limited edition collaborative works. Don't miss out! Sales are open now!

Labels: David Horvath, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Biennale, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Le Merde, My Friend Dave, Yukinori Dehara

I've always been a fan of the city as a canvas. I grew up in the 70's in NYC, so graffitti and street art have always been part of my cityscape. It's not often that you see something new, but that's exactly what happened on my way to work this morning. A wheatpasted phonebooth is a first. I like how it kind of co-opts something that is sort of dead tech and turns the intimacy of the phonebooth into a private gallery space. Very cool.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, NYC, Street Art

The 31st has come and gone, and as usual the denizens of the East Village were out in their Halloween finest. Lots of kids and dogs in costumes, which is always fun to see. Kind of strange that going from store to store has become the new trick or treat norm. I only took a few pictures, so here goes.


Yours truly in costume. The sad part is that this was all stuff I just had around the house, just threw it all on before I left for work that day.


Me and Priscilla from Upper Playground. This is what passes for management on 9th street.


This lady won big points from me for saying screw it to any body issues she may have had and going all out in her luchador costume. They're opening a Lucha Libre themed taqueria around the corner from GRNY, those guys should have had her flyering.


How I could I resist taking a picture of the best robot costume I saw all day in the doorway of Giant Robot?

It was a fun day, New Yorkers really do seem to embrace the Halloween spirit. And any day that glorifies mass comsumption of candy is A-OK in my book.

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Halloween

That's my good friend Jeff Paris of local ska-swing powerhouse The Tri-State Conspiracy showing off his Blizzard of Ozz era Ozzy costume (I acted as metalhead consultant on it, and if you ask me he nailed it. Too bad metalhead consultant isn't a real job!). So Jeff has set the bar, and now it's time for the denizens of NYC to try and top him. The 31st falls on s Saturday this year, so I know everybody's going to be out. I'll be manning the GRNY fort armed with candy and dog treats. We're packed to the gills with really cool merch, and it's always fun to see how people get dressed up for Halloween. Don't be lame, come pay me a visit. HALOWEEN WEEKEND NYC!!!!

Labels: Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Halloween

Just decorated the window for Halloween. This is my first attempt at any kind of window display, and I'm pleased with how it came out. Halloween is just around the corner, and it's always a fun night to be out and about in NYC. Stop on in if you're in the neighborhood. I'll have candy (and I love me some candy, so it will be the good stuff), and there are always dog treats for the canines. Good costumes may find themselves on the GRNY page. Heath Ledger Jokers need not apply.

Labels: Dehara, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Halloween, Little Bony

Couldn't make it out to Los Angeles for the Giant Robot Biennale? Yeah me neither. But now your prayers have been answered. This Thursday at 11:30 am NYC time, the exclusives from the show will be on sale at GRNY. Sales open at 12pm PACIFIC for all other Giant Robot stores and online at giantrobot.com. Le Merde's Bangal is a collaboration between the artist, GR, and legendary Japanese manufacturer Gargamel. The figure has a translucent pink body with silver spray highlights and battle scars. Bangal goes on sale at 11:30 on Friday.

According to his insert card, My Friend Dave means we may sometimes feel so lonely but we are never alone because we are ALL ONE! Because we are all parts of one whole, so is this gift to you. While Sun-Min and David created him, T9G sculpted him, and INTHEYELLOW produced him, bringing him to life is up to you. When you join in and show us what you've got, we all come alive together. Always feel brave! Like DAVE.

Words to live by. Dave comes in 2 color ways, a hot pink with purple highlights and a lime green with blue and yellow highlights. These are exclusive colorways for the GR Biennale, and I believe this is the first time this figure has been available outside of Japan. Here are the details for getting your hands on these beauties. Sales open at 11:30 am NYC time, this Thursday October 29th, no sooner. If you're not in New York City and cannot come to the store to purchase your vinyl, please place your order online via the webstore at giantrobot.com. Online sales open at 12pm PST/3pm EST. Due to the extremely limited run on these figures, there's a limit of one of each character per customer (customers can buy one of each color Dave). I know some of you will cry foul at this, but we have to play fair. I'm not immune to the kaiju curse myself, and I will do my best to accommodate everybody. A LOT of work went into this, you can read more about that via GR's Eric Nakamura here. And of course more information is available straight from David Horvath himself on his blog.

These are really great vinyls, and sure to sell out fast. Thursday is just 48 hours away!

Labels: Bangal, David Horvath, Gargamel, Giant Robot Biennale, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Le Merde, My Friend Dave, Sun Min Kim

With all the excitement for the Giant Robot Biennale and Vannen watch giveaways over the weekend, just wanted to remind readers that sales have opened for the Vast Happenings show here at GRNY. 4 artists doing really wonderful work in completely unique styles, check it out here, or click on the VIEW GALLERY link in the upper right hand corner of the page.

Labels: Chris Bettig, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hannah Stouffer, Rob Lowe, Rob Supermundane, Simon Peplow, Supermundane

The good folks at Vannen watches are teaming up with Giant Robot for a fantastic Halloween giveaway. From now until Sunday October 25th at 12pm, come into Giant Robot and enter for a chance to win an exclusive Vannen watch. Dirty Donny (poster artist/fine artist/gearhead extraordinaire) was selected to create this extremely exclusive holiday watch because of his incredible repertoire of devious little monsters, ghouls and goblins. His characters and illustrations are notorious for their spectacular color and personality. Donny's Halloween exclusive is a black and purple watch with flying bats all along the straps and a warped, twisted, ghoulish neon face on the dial. This exclusive watch is limited to 150 pieces worldwide, but Vannen loved the art so much they decided to throw in a little treat and make another super-limited variant known as the "Toxic Chase" color way. The Toxic Chase watches are so extremely limited that only 50 exist in the entire world. Vannen's Halloween exclusive is packaged in an orange Trick-or-Treat bag filled with goodies. And to make things even more fun, each watch has been blind-sealed within its bag, which means you won't know which version of the watch you'll receive until you win it. You may get the standard black and purple Halloween exclusive (100 available) or get a surprise and receive the super- limited edition yellow Toxic Chase (50 available.

The drawing is at 2pm on Sunday October 25th.

Sign up in person at GRNY!!

Labels: Dirty Donny, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Giveaway, GRNY, Halloween, Vannen Watches

4 artists, 2 sides of the Atlantic, one killer show. Vast Happenings opened on Saturday October 18th and will be on view at the GRNY gallery space until November 11th. This one was especially cool because all the artists in the show were present at the opening. With the exception of Rob and Simon who knew each other from back home in the UK, these guys were all meeting for the first time. From Hannah Stouffer's visceral inks, Supermundane's intricate and detailled drawings, Chris Bettig's collages of art director's found objects, and Simon Peplow's colorful prints, these works really represent their creator's personalities. It was great having you all at GRNY, don't be strangers!

Labels: Chris Bettig, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hannah Stouffer, Rob Lowe, Rob Supermundane, Simon Peplow, Supermundane

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Group Art Show Opening

Vast Happenings
October 17 - November 11, 2009
Reception: Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Vast Happenings, a group art show featuring new work by Christopher Bettig, Simon Peplow, Hannah Stouffer, and Supermundane.

Christopher Bettig is French/American artist living and working in Los Angeles who focuses on appreciating geometry and natural forms in his works, be it art exhibitions or corporate work. Chris is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA degree in painting, but finds himself spending a lot of time developing products, graphics and installations for diverse clientele.

Simon Peplow graduated from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (UK) in 2004 with a First Class BA Honours in Illustration. His bold, colorful, graphic, and timeless linework has been featured in campaigns by H&M, Carhartt, and Soyjoy, as well as art shows on either side of the Atlantic.

The work of Los Angeles-based illustrator Hannah Stouffer an opulent, elegant and beautifully intricate mixture of illustration and design. Her densely-packed compositions consciously recall classical elements from our past and combine them with our modern attractions, creating cohesive yet opposing array's of imagery and embellishment.

Supermundane is the pseudonym of Rob Lowe, a multi-disciplined creative who works as a graphic designer, artist, illustrator, typographer, and art director in London, England. His graphic art displays hope, optimism and the continuation of life in the face of melancholy. The drawings and paintings are almost exclusively unplanned.

A reception featuring many of the artists will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, October 17.

For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Chris Bettig, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, GRNY, Hannah Stouffer, Rob Lowe, Rob Supermundane, Simon Peplow, Supermundane

Abby Denson came by (with cupcakes!) to sign copies of her recently published graphic novel Dolltopia from Green Candy Press. A good time was had by all because let's be honest, who deosn't like comics and cupcakes?

Labels: Abby Denson, Dolltopia, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, graphic novel, Green Candy Press, GRNY

A week ago we held the first ever musical performance/event at GRNY. As part of the Jet Blue Follow Your Whim tour, unofficial musical guest of Giant Robot Goh Nakamura came by the store to perform a set. With him were Sadie Contini and Han Wang, aka the Invisible Cities, and research biologist by day, indie rocker by night Eric Lai. Now I have to come clean and say that sweet indie acoustic music really isn't my cup of tea, or at least not a genre of music I actively seek out. But I have to say, I genuinely enjoyed everybody's performances a great deal. Eric Lai did a song called "Semi Ex-Girlfriend" that obviously came from the heart, and the chorus to the Invisible Cities' "Pythagorean Theorum" (A squared plus B squared equals C squared) was immediately stuck in my head. Sadie wrote it to get her young niece into mathematics and wound up penning one hell of a catchy chorus. Goh took the headlining spot with gusto. he's got talent and stage presence in spades. We were treated to tons of original songs, as well as "Tequila" (complete with Pee Wee Dance), "Papa Don't Preach", and *I even got the intro to Iron Maiden's "Wasted Years" out of him. Everybody involved and attending had a really great time. Goh's going to be playing at the Giant Robot Biennale in LA at the end of the month, so you West Coasters should make it a point to attend. The Biennale is going to be amazing, but that's another story.

Labels: Eric Lai, Follow Your Whim, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Goh Nakamura, Green Candy Press, GRNY, Han Wang, Jet Blue, Sadie Contini, The Invisible Cities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

The JetBlue 2009 Follow Your Whim Tour
Featuring live music by Goh Nakamura, The Invisible Cities, and Eric Lai

Friday, October 2, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Giant Robot
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave.& Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, NewYork 10009
(212) 674-GRNY(4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to celebrate the Follow Your Whim Tour with musical performances by Goh Nakamura, the Invisible Cities and Eric Lai.

The Follow Your Whim Tour was conceived on a whim, when JetBlue announced their $599 all-you-can-fly pass for the month of September. The tour has taken two San Francisco-based acts (and their roadies) through Los Angeles, Houston, Austin, Seattle, Chicago, and now New York City, playing venues, living rooms, and public spaces.

Goh Nakamura is a San Francisco Bay Area based musician who writes ditties about parking tickets, impossible crushes and faraway dreamlands. With one foot in the traditional troubadour world and another in the digital age, he performs at venues small, large, and virtual, to an enthusiastic and ever growing audience. A fortuitous 2007 feature on YouTube's front page brought his music videos over a million views and earned him a huge new fanbase from all over the world.

http://gohnakamura.com/

The Invisible Cities began in 2001 in San Francisco when Han Wang (guitars, vocals) met Sadie Contini (guitars, vocals) on craigslist.org — for music, not for dating. The duo then started collaborating with band members in San Francisco and in New York, including Han’s brother Gary Wang (bass, arrangements) and Tim Bulkley (drums). With the help of many friends, the band’s first album, Watertown, came out in 2004 and was praised on many best-of-the-year lists. With the addition of singer-songwriter Goh Nakamura on guitar, the band recorded basic tracks for their second album, Houses Shine Like Teeth.

http://www.theinvisiblecities.com/

Eric Lai led the Oakland indiepop band Highwire from 2003-2005, playing songs about diaries, femme fatales and coffee. He now occasionally plays solo around New York, when he's not tied up running a cancer genetics lab.

http://www.myspace.com/thenewmilogreene
http://www.mskcc.org/lai

Musical performances by Goh The Invisible Cities and Eric Lai will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 on Friday, October 2. For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Eric Lai, Follow Your Whim, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, Giant Robot New York, Goh Nakamura, Green Candy Press, GRNY, Han Wang, Jet Blue, Sadie Contini, The Invisible Cities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -Graphic Novel Signing

Dolltopia

Saturday, October 3, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave.& Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY(4769) | grny.net


Giant Robot is proud to celebrate the release of Dolltopia with a signing by writer and artist Abby Denson.

A natural follow-up to Denson's critically acclaimed, self-published,yaoi-influenced comic zine about high-school love, Tough Love (which became a Lulu Award-winning anthology in 2007), Dolltopia is a highly stylized depiction of dolls trying to bust out of the stereotypical boxes that they are packaged in. Will the protagonists, who resemble Barbie and G.I. Joe, liberate themselves from their suburban and he-man trappings? The art is disarmingly simple and the raw storytelling has the rare quality of being able to tap into a reader's recollections of youthful confusion and feel genuine to young people themselves.

In addition to Denson signing copies of her work, there will be cupcakes and a doll makeover contest. Whoever brings the best made-over doll will receive a signed copy of Dolltopia!

Denson will be signing the long-awaited graphic novel from 6:00 to 8:00 on Saturday, October 3. For more information about the author, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: Abby Denson, Dolltopia, Giant Robot, Giant Robot Magazine, graphic novel, Green Candy Press, GRNY

Next week is a big week for events at GRNY. On Friday, October 2nd from 6 to 8 pm, we'll be hosting San Francisco based musician Goh Nakamura with The Invisible Cities and Eric Lai as part of the Jet Blue Follow Your Whim Tour. Goh was featured in GR issue 60, and is the unofficial musical guest of Giant Robot, having gigged at all the GR stores in California, GR/Eats, Eric's house, Martin's house and now poised to conquer Giant Robot New York. Joining him are The Invisible Cities (a musical collective that includes Goh as a member), and research biologist by day, indie rocker by night Eric Lai. What better way to start your weekend then with some free music? Then the following day, Saturday October 3 from 6 to 8 pm, GRNY is proud to host artist Abby Denson for a signing of her new graphic novel Dolltopia from Green Candy Press. Dolltopia is a fun and quirky tale about dolls who are tired of being controlled by humans, so they start their own society. And if that doesn't get you, did I mention there will be cupcakes? And if you don't like graphic novels and cupcakes, I just feel sorry for you. Please join us for these great events and an exciting weekend at GRNY!

Labels: Abby Denson, Dolltopia, Eric Lai, Follow Your Whim, Giant Robot New York, Goh Nakamura, Green Candy Press, GRNY, Han Wang, Jet Blue, Sadie Contini, The Invisible Cities

Time for you non NY based people to get a shot at owning some of Team Macho's artwork. Click on the View Gallery link at the top right of this page, or just click here.

Labels: Canadian Artists, GRNY, Long Time Listener, Team Macho, Toronto

Yesterday Chris, Jacob, Nick and Lauchie from Team Macho were here installing their show, and a good time was had by all. This is the Macho's first New York show, and I'm looking forward to the opening later tonight . We discussed the finer points of socialized medicine, the athleticism of Georges St. Pierre, the merits of Toaster Strudel versus Pop Tarts, and the VERY funny stories behind some of the pieces in the show. These guys are a blast to be around, and I'm very excited to have them here. In addition to original artwork and high quality prints, there will also be copies of Fancy Action Now: The Art of Team Macho, and Precious Gems, their postcard book. Get your lazy butts to GRNY and come get Macho.

Labels: GRNY, Team Macho

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Art Show Opening

Team Macho
September 19 - October 14, 2009
Reception: Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A, in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769) | grny.net

Giant Robot is proud to host Long Time Listener, First Time Caller, an art show featuring new work by Team Macho. Team Macho is a collaborative illustration and fine art effort composed of Lauchie Reid, Chris Buchan, Nicholas Aoki, Jacob Whibley, and Stephen Appleby-Barr. The Toronto-based group uses all media (excepting digital), and its work crosses a multitude of boundaries in terms of conception and application. Pieces are rarely pre-planned, and only take form through the artists seeing each other at work. The end results are always surprising, witty, and pleasing in unexpected ways. Lately, Team Macho has been working toward a more finished look, with effort being put toward older modes of painting such as oils and airbrushing.

Long Time Listener, First Time Caller will feature new work with the focus, as always, being to explore the collaborative process, as well as a number of classic prints.

A reception for Team Macho will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday, September 19. For more information about the artists, GRNY, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Labels: GRNY, Team Macho

Lauchie from Team Macho just sent some preview images from their upcoming show to us here at GRNY. The works will be a mix of originals and prints, and they all look great. Long time listener, first time caller : The Art of Team Macho opens at GRNY on Saturday, September 19.

Labels: GRNY, Team Macho