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Japanese American National Museum Spotlights Clothing
Los Angeles Story Blogspot, March 15, 2010

On Saturday, CC and I drove downtown (or "down-a-town," as she calls it) to visit the Japanese American National Museum, which was offering free admission courtesy of Target's Free Family Days.

In addition to complimentary access to museum exhibits such as "Textured Lives: Japanese Immigrant Clothing from the Plantations of Hawai'i," there were all sorts of clothing-related activities for the kiddos, including sock-puppet making, . . . .

Oshogatsu Family Festival rings in the New Years
Los Angeles Daily News, January 4, 2010

Hundreds descended on the Japanese American National Museum on Sunday for the Oshogatsu Family Festival - a celebration of the New Year and the biggest holiday in Japan.

Banging drums, folding origami and cooking traditional New Year's dishes, participants shared old customs and learned some new ones at the free event built around the Japanese custom of bringing family together for the holiday.

Engaging Diverse Audiences by Margaret Kadoyama
Western Museum Assn. WEST MUSE, November 6, 2009

I was fortunate enough to attend the recent WMA conference in San Diego. The conference provided at least one significant outcome for me — the discovery of a new report on engaging diverse audiences from the Japanese American National Museum, published in August 2009.

I attended a session on programming for Latino audiences. The session, Museum Mission and Audience: Tips from Collaborations with Latino Communities, was moderated by Elizabeth Morin from Youth Arts and Education for the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.The presenters were Lisa Sasaki from the Japanese American National Museum, . . .

Best Museum Gift Shops
Los Angeles Magazine, October 31, 2009

A rare museum shop that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the Japanese American National Museum Store is filled with playful items like Shiso Fine aprons, sushi-shaped candles, and wind-up dueling sumo wrestlers. . .

Eric Nakamura's blog
Giant Robot.com, October 27, 2009

I shouldn't have to explain any of this, but there's a strong segment who are very clueless as to how a museum show works, and for good reason, how often does anyone get to do anything at a museum? Not often. So let me try to explain.

I saw a someone addressing JANM not being able to sell the art because it's not for profit. I know there were some of you who were miffed that you couldn't buy the original pieces right out of the case. Sorry! Here's an explanation: imagine if you went to MOCA and saw a price tag on a Picasso, a Renoir, or a Basquiat? Can a museum use their advantage of getting public funds and enjoying the tax benefits of being a non-profit and using their gigantic walls to bring up the value of art in order to sell it and even a higher price? That would be unfair.

Interview: Eric Nakamura-Giant Robot Biennale@Japanese American National Museum
ArrestedMotion.com, October 23, 2009

The "Giant Robot Biennale - 15 Years" exhibition is set to open tomorrow at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in the heart of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. We are looking forward to seeing what looks to be a fantastic show with artists such as David Choe, Jeff Soto (interviewed), James Jean (interviewed), Souther Salazar, kozyndan, Rob Sato, Jack Long and many more.

Also, we had the opportunity to talk with the man behind it all - Eric Nakamura, one of the founders of Giant Robot. Questions and answers after the jump…

Mike Shinoda's Glorious Excess (Dies) at the Japanese American National Museum
8Asians.com, August 31, 2009

Mike Shinoda is widely known through his work with the band Linkin Park, although I’m more of a fan of his hip-hop/rap project Fort Minor and his album, The Rising Tied.

He also has a degree in illustration, and is a graduate from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. This past Sunday August 30th, Joz and I had the honor to go see Mike Shinoda at the Japanese American National Museum in LA’s Little Tokyo, where he presented artwork from his previous show Glorious Excess (Born) in 2008. (His other art exhibit, Diamond, Spades, Hearts and Clubs, was presented at Gallery 1988.)

I was totally hyped and anxious — not only go to see Mike Shinoda, but to also see what was in store regarding his art.

Photos from opening of: Glorious Excess (Dies) | Mike Shinoda
Known Gallery, August 30, 2009

Following his highly-successful 2008 show, Glorious Excess (Born), Mike Shinoda returns to the National Museum to unveil his latest collection of paintings and digital works. Larger, broader, and more sensational than before, Glorious Excess (Dies) is the next chapter in his series exploring society’s obsession with celebrity culture, consumer addiction, and fascination with excess.

Seen: Mike Shinoda-Glorious Excess (Dies)
Daily DuJour, August 30, 2009

Mike Shinoda opened his Glorious Excess (Dies) solo at the Japanese American National Museum on Friday to a staggering line waiting for the public reception opening at 8 PM. Dailydujour was fortunate to make the VIP opening which featured several notable guests including Rob Dyrdek, Joe Hahn, Lisa Ling, James Jean, Roger Gastman, Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins, and more.

The show has been shrouded mostly in secrecy –preview pics have been few and far between. This approach enhanced the impact of the opening. There were quite a few impressive surprises in store for the crowd including a custom Honda motorcycle emblazoned with Shinoda’s GLXS art positioned just in front of the gallery entrance.

Glorious Excess (Dies) - Mike Shinoda
notcot.com, August 30, 2009

Just checked out the preview of Mike Shinoda’s Glorious Excess (Dies) show at the Japanese American National Museum, the follow up to his Glorious Excess (Born) show last year. It’s stunning ~ a definite must see ~ and what’s nice is that besides the fact that the work is technically beautiful and a fun mix of skulls, urban art, "vanitas", mixed media wallpapering with gossip rags, a casket and silver skeleton, video and more… the way it all comes together as a thought provoking look at the life (and death) of celebrity through paparazzi and the consumption engine behind it all is fascinating ~ especially coming from Shinoda who is most known for Linkin Park and Fort Minor, and he is also an Art Center trained graphic artist and illustrator.

Glorious Excess (Dies): Mike Shinoda the Artist & MC
Mura2murablogspot.com, August 30, 2009

I went to the Japanese American National Museum tonight for Mike Shinoda's unveiling of his new exhibit called, "Glorious Excess (Dies)." It was a promotional event and Mike Shinoda was there to sign autographs and meet fans. The set up was pretty amazing to me, since admission was free and you had the option to buy something for him to sign, but could just opt out to take a free picture with the humble star. Usually events like these get you to pay for something somehow.

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda on Dealing with Brutal Criticism & Fighting Tooth and Nail for Your Vision
Subvertmagazine.com, August 28, 2009

Do you get defensive when your creative vision is criticized after days of painstaking work? So did Mike Shinoda, who isn’t just a super-successful musician but also an exciting artist. He was kind enough to talk exclusively to SUBvert about his own personal and sometimes painful experiences in the early days of Linkin Park. Read on to discover how you can use Mike’s hard-learned lessons to boost YOUR creative career…

Kokeshi craze hits exhibit in Little Tokyo at the JANM
Examiner.com, August 24, 2009

No longer just a child's toy, the Japanese Kokeshi doll has claimed a new role among art toy enthusiasts. For illustrators and artists alike, the kokeshi doll is an object of beauty, perfect for transforming into modern art objects. Currently on display at the Japanese American National Museum are over 100 such examples of kokeshi doll forms, custom-made by over 100 international artists.

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy
NBC4 News, August 6, 2009

NBC4 Reporter Cary Berglund interviews Japanese American National Museum curator Maria Kwong and artists Joji Okazaki, Nicole DeLeon and Edwin Ushio about the current exhibition, Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy. The feature show many of the hundreds of kokeshi on display. (2:29 in length)

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy
Cool Hunting, July 21, 2009

The exhibit, "Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy" pays homage to traditional Japanese Kokeshi, brightly painted wooden dolls with no arms or legs, at the LATDA in collaboration with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in downtown Los Angeles. A giant crocheted doll by Emi Motokaw greets museum goers at the entrance, welcoming them into the three-part exhibit. The first part shows Itske and Anthony Stern's collection of traditional Kokeshi, followed by 11 contemporary artists' original takes on the Kokeshi in diverse media. For the third section entitled "Custom Kokeshi 2009," curator Christina Conway gave over 100 artists an identical blank Kokeshi form to create pieces of art.

Cool Hunting asked Conway to tell us more about the world of customized toys, the artists and the surprises she found along the way.

Materials left by late artist provide look at Japanese-American experience
Riverside Press-Enterprise, July 14, 2009

Miné Okubo never forgot Riverside City College.

Okubo, best known for writing and illustrating Citizen 13660, the first account of life in World War II Japanese-American internment camps, was born in Riverside in 1912 and graduated from Poly High School and Riverside Junior College, as it was then known. The book, published in 1946, is still used at colleges today.

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy Exhibition
Studio-Online, July 2, 2009

Kokeshi originated in the north of Japan in a region called Tohoku, and often were the toys of the children of farmers or souvenirs for visitors to nearby hot springs. Handmade out of wood, they traditionally were characterized by a slim trunk for a body and a larger round head. As a Japanese folk toy, kokeshi are believed by some to be charms that can help ward off dangers, especially fire. The wood of the mizuki tree is often used for kokeshi and mizuki literally translates as "water tree."

Preview: Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy @JANM (7.11)
Daily DuJour, June 24, 2009

Presented by LATDA, Kokeshi from Folk Art to Art Toy opening on July 11th, 2009 @ the Japanese American National Museum, offers a broad survey of a multitude of Kokeshi – Japanese wood dolls that were traditionally collected as souvenirs by hot springs visitors. The large show will feature three sections – the first features over 300 examples of traditional kokeshi from the collection of Itske and Anthony Stern, the second features contemporary original takes on the koekshi from eleven artists working in diverse media, and the third section entitled Custom Kokeshi 2009 curated by Christina Conway features over 100 international artists interpretations of an identical blank kokeshi wood form.

Upcoming KOKESHI: FROM FOLK ART TO ART TOY Exhibit Subject of Discussion Board
The ARTCHIVAL, May 27, 2009

The National Museum's upcoming new exhibition, Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy, which opens July 11, is already the subject of discussion on message boards. Over 100 artists are participating by creating customized Kokeshi dolls for the show.

Click on the link to see what people are saying about this exciting show.

Curator Shares Insights to 'Living Flowers'
Flower Blog, August 13, 2008

When I found out that LA's Japanese American National Museum was hosting a major exhibition that pairs ikebana (flower arranging) with cutting-edge art, I thought it would be a good chance to learn more about this fascinating Japanese tradition.