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

Wonderful images from the upcoming Playful Extremities show keep appearing in my inbox. These two are from Louise Chen and Sara Antoinette Martin. Playful Extremities opens next Saturday night, January 16 2010.



Louise Chen, Use Your Words.



Sara Antoinette Martin, Goldfish.

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

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

Tran Nguyen just sent us some additional images of her work for the Playful Extremities show, which opens on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at GRNY. Please enjoy.




Tran Nguyen, Do Not Breathe in the Moon.



Tran Nguyen, Thank You, but No Thank You.

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

Just sharing some additional new images of work by Sylvia Park and Louise Chen for GRNY's upcoming gallery show, Playful Extremities. This show is looking better and better, hope you're all as excited about it as I am. Playful Extremities opens January 16 2010 at GRNY.



Sylvia Park, DayQuil.



Sylvia Park, Camera.



Sylvia Park, Guilt.



Sylvia Park, Doodling at Paradise.



Sylvia Park, One Sunday Afternoon.



Louise Chen, To the Moon.

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