Giant Robot Biennale 5 is now open at JANM in Little Tokyo.
— photos and story by Christine N. Ziemba
Move over Frieze. The fifth edition of the Giant Robot Biennale opened on Friday night (March 1) at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in L.A.’s Little Tokyo.
The art exhibition, which has recurred since 2007, was once again organized by JANM and Eric Nakamura, founder of Giant Robot — the former magazine and now shop and gallery on Sawtelle Boulevard.
Channeling the Giant Robot ethos, the Biennale highlights an array of Asian and Asian American alternative pop art and culture works, taking inspiration from skateboard culture, comic books, graphic design, and vinyl toy culture.
The opening night featured hundreds of guests waiting in winding lines — JANM is a smaller museum — to see works by artists Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko, James Jean, Taylor Lee, Mike Shinoda, Rain Szeto, and Yoskay Yamamoto and others.
The exhibition spreads across three rooms, with eye-catching works stretching end-to-end. Here are a few of our favorites.
Detail of a print forthcoming book cover for a Giant Robot 30th anniversary book by Felicia Chiao. It pays homage to the store, gallery and its famed Post-It Show | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
This painting Far from Home 2 is an homage to artist Giorgiko’s grandmother who spent the last two years of high school living in a Jewish American family’s home in Minnesota, earning her keep because her own family couldn’t be kept together. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
These acrylics on canvas, You Are What You Eat, Red Eye and Golden Eye, (l-r) are from Luke Chueh. | Photos: Christine N. Ziemba
This colorful tiger wall tapestry was created by artist James Jean. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
This sculpture/installation is by Yoskay Yamamoto. Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
The Giant Robot Biennale featured works by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, who showed his Fort Minor series for the first time in public. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
Old Giant Robot Magazine covers are also on view at the museum. | Photo: Christine N. Ziemba
Giant Robot Biennale 5 On view through Sept. 1, 2024 Japanese American National Museum 100 N. Central Ave., downtown L.A. (Little Tokyo) Admission: $9 - $16
Justine Triet’s crime-thriller Anatomy of a Fall has been nominated for five Oscars: Best Picture, Directing, Actress in a Leading Role (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay (Justine Triet, Arthur Harari) and Film Editing (Laurent Sénéchal).
Triet herself leads the live read-through performance of the whodunit by a cast that includes Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & The Six), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Jay Ellis (Top Gun: Maverick), Kate Berlant (Dream Scenario), Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick), Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time) and Olivia Wilde (Babylon).
Anatomy of a Fall focuses on the death of Sandra’s husband who was found by their visually impaired son, Daniel, and their dog, Snoop. Sandra becomes the main suspect. Did he jump? Was he pushed? Is Sandra innocent or a convincing, manipulative liar?
Decide for yourself at this Valentine’s Day Live Read. Sounds like a good time, whether you bring a date…your ex…a friend…or a frenemy.
Film Independent: Live Read Anatomy of a Fall Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills Tickets: $30 for Film Independent members; $40 for nonmembers
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the LA Philharmonic Association announced the 2024 Hollywood Bowl summer season, which runs June to September at the iconic venue nestled in the Hollywood Hills.
The music lineup features something for everyone. Here are 10 shows that we’re looking forward to the most (so far) in no particular order:
June 15-16: The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival returns with Jodeci, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper with Yebba, Christian McBride, Cory Henry, Charles Lloyd, Baby Rose, The Soul Rebels with Seun Kuti, Mulatu Astatke, Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band, Alex Isley, Aneesa Strings and Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble at UCLA.
June 19: T-Pain and the Color of Noize Orchestra are joined by singers, musicians, rappers and guest artists led by conductor Derrick Hodge for a Juneteenth celebration.
June 29: The Roots celebrate hip hop with Queen Latifah, Common, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, The Pharcyde and Black Sheep.
July 2-4: Harry Connick Jr., the LA Phil and conductor Thomas Wilkins celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.
July 6: L.A.’s own Beck performs with the LA Phil, conducted by Steven Reineke.
July 11: The Classical Thursdays series begins with the 100th-anniversary celebration of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet conducted by Lionel Bringuier along with opera star Isabel Leonard.
July 21: The KCRW Festival begins with co-headliners Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Sylvan Esso.
July 26: The incomparable Chaka Khan returns.
July 28: Celebrate the music of lyricist Alain Boublil and composer Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, et al), sung by an all-star cast.
Sept. 21: Of course, no season’s complete without Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long.
Here are a few of my fav things to do in L.A. this weekend.
Sierra Madre Playhouse’s Silent Film Festival The playhouse launches its centennial celebration this weekend with a two-day Silent Film Festival on Feb. 3 and 4. Catch five classic films featuring live accompaniment by pianist Frederick Hodges, including Safety Last! (80 minutes), Hot Water (59 minutes), Girl Shy (89 minutes) - all with Harold Lloyd; Helen’s Babies (85 minutes), directed by William Seiter, and Buster Keaton’s Sherlock, Jr. (45 minutes).Tickets and info.
Smorgasburg’s Dumpling Day at Santa Anita Park The Dumpling Dream, Dumplins, Zindrew Wontons and Mao’s Bao serve their dumplings and other items trackside during the horse races. Packages start at $27.20 and include one order of dumplings; a beer, wine or soda; $5 betting voucher; a tip sheet; admissions to the races and a tip sheet. Tickets and info.
2024 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Head to the Los Angeles Convention Center on Feb. 3 and 4 to plan your summer vacation. Get ideas on where to travel, hear tips from experts, or listen to your fav travel celebrities including Rick Steves, Phil Rosenthal and Pauline Frommer. Tickets and info.
Bummer though that Dodger Fest is sold out. But if you got your tickets early, then I’ll see you at Chavez Ravine on Saturday.
With spring training’s first game coming up on Feb. 22, the Dodgers are holding a kickoff celebration in Chavez Ravine on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DodgerFest features live entertainment, ballpark food and drinks, behind-the-scenes experiences and an intro to the newest Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will have its yard sale with shirts, hats and other apparel for sale. LADF will also sell Mystery Bags containing autographed baseballs, jerseys and photos.
For the first time, fans will also be treated to the DodgerFest stage show — a 90-minute stage presentation featuring interviews with new Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow as well as drop-in visits from veteran players such as Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Joe Kelly, Dave Roberts and others.
The first round of tickets ($10) sold-out quickly, but there’s another round going on sale. The member and premium VIP experience presale starts tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 24) at 10 a.m.
There’s a limit of four tickets per email address. And the event is subject to cancellation for inclement weather.
Beyond the Streets and Control Gallery space presents the Out of Bounds Comedy Show on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 8:30 p.m.
With a promising lineup curated by Pauhaus, the show’s hosted by Vanja Renee. The lineup includes the standup of Molly Bowes, Ben Gleib, Jackson Banks and Steve Furey.
While at the gallery, see if you can sneak a peek at the current exhibition Exhibition 009: Under Pressure, which has been exteded through Jan. 27. The group show explores contemporary airbrush art with works by CHITO, Devin Reynolds, Gustavo Zermeño Jr., Larissa De Jesús Negrón and LEFT E, among others.
Out of Bounds Comedy Show Wednesday, Jan. 24; doors at 8 p.m. Beyond the Streets 434 N La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036
For those who remember summers in L.A. before the pandemic, one of the more popular favorite pastimes was watching the sunset from Barnsdall Park with a glass of wine in hand.
This week, we received an email from the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, letting us know that they’re planning to relaunch the Friday night wine tastings on May 31, continuing every Friday through the summer.
They’re getting the details in order, but safe to say, mark off your calendars now!
House of Empanadas joins Smorgasburg LA on Sundays. | Photo courtesy of Smorgasburg LA.
The open air food market Smorgasburg LA returns to ROW DTLA on Sunday, Jan. 14, ushering 2024 with new food vendors.
Basket Taco Co. The tacos de canasta features traditional fillings, including beans, potatoes, and chorizo, plus more modern specials like lobster.
Battambong BBQ Long Beach-based chef and pitmaster Chad Phuong (the “Cambodian Cowboy”) melds Texas Style BBQ with Southeast Asian flair (influenced by his Cambodian roots).
Glad Chef Cihan Kaymakcalan’s Glad, reimagines Nancy Silverton’s famous Focaccia di Recco with the chef’s Eastern European roots.
HGG Tanghulu HGG Tanghulu specializes in candied fruit skewers — aka tanghulu — the traditional Chinese street food snack.
House of Empanadas Try Puerto Rican staples including more than over 40 different empanadas.
Kavahana Kavahana is the first and only vendor specializing in all natural kava drinks in Los Angeles. Kava is a cultural drink that has been enjoyed for more than 3,000 years in the South Pacific and Hawaii.
Miya Miya Shawarma Chef Yaz and team are privileged and excited to serve traditional shawarma made with spices and equipment imported directly from Jordan.
Rice Gang by Moom Maam With Rice Gang by Moom Maam Darwin Win experiments with flavor combos and innovative toppings for Thai street food bowls, such as Japanese curry rice made with beef cheeks, and topped with katsu, karaage and more.
Softies Sam Hong and Josh Kim’s Softies “respects the tradition of the classic Oklahoma style burger” while also offering their own takes such as the egg topped breakfast burger, a potato stick topped steak frites burger and tempura fried enoki topped shroom burger.
Taste of the Pacific Taste of the Pacific specializes in Filipino-style dishes including bbq skewers and lumpias. Other items include sweet and saucy fried shrimp and grilled Korean short ribs.
Smorgasburg LA ROW DTLA 777 S. Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021 Free entry, Local Craft Beer and Micheladas, No Pets Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive place for a little hair of the dog on New Year’s Day, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia opens its doors to horse racing — and Dollar Day — on Jan. 1. Gates open at 10 a.m., and the first race is at noon.
Admission to the track starts at $5, and indulge in $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs. The Dollar Day deals are only available on the Grandstand side.
Just remember to give yourself a little extra time to get to the San Gabriel Valley since Jan. 1 also means the Rose Parade and Bowl in nearby Pasadena.
