It’s nice to see a special preview for art. Takashi Murakami blows his art up to epic spaces with his exhibition Arhat. It’s frankly fit for a museum and it’s pretty much at one at Blum and Poe Gallery in Culver City. Three spacious rooms, plus, it’s a great place to see art. Preview night is private and the big opening is saturday. I wish I could go to that too. The work is impressive and massive, even his small pieces are epic. 

That’s a portrait of myself with Luke Chueh. The pieces we’re reflected in is a beautiful metallic sculpture. Yes it has KAWS like eyes. Maybe they really are KAWS eyes, but it would be funny if it’s Murakami doing a KAWS, right back at him. 

I dig this dude, Kio who runs a clothing like called Yellow Rat. He's supposedly a great surfer, and back in 2007, I wrote about him with some photos on this blog when I visited his casa. Here's that post. 

Praxis... the great dog needs your help.

For the next seven days, you can view and bid on ebay for artwork by some of my favorite artists. They have created and/or donated work inspired by my dog, Praxis. Most of these artists have met Praxis, or know how much he's meant to me, and donated their time and talent to my effort to raise funds to pay for Praxis' chemotherapy and other medical bills after he was diagnosed with lymphoma in May 2008.

I've held on to these for a while, maybe too long, and I only kind of know why. Since the diagnosis, I've been in a strange state trying to wrap my head around losing a loved one to an illness like cancer. You have to accept that there's no cure, and that treatment can buy you time, but there's never a guarantee of quality of life, and certainly no sense of how long that time will last. Engaging in this artwork, all of it capturing some part of Praxis and my love for him, brings that home for me... and I'm not always strong enough to find a way to deal with the loss that's looming ahead. I think part of me also wants to keep it all!! Each piece is so fantastic... truly. This is a talented bunch and I'm incredibly lucky to have these folks as friends. This is an exciting time in my life. This is the first time I've had so many creative friends who are successful in their endeavors and inspire the same in others.

The work ranges from oil paintings to gooco prints and is a diverse collection of talents and styles, and 10% of the proceeds will go to The Magic Bullet Fund to help other pet owners find funds for expensive cancer treatments. It's a terrible feeling to have... to not be able to afford something that can help an animal you've loved and cared for. It made me feel powerless and disloyal. That was afwul, and I hate to think of anyone being in that position.

Check out the auctions on eBay!
See Michelle's original post here.

I don't normally post pics of my underwear, but this one is special. Patagonia stores had a sale that just ended, and I picked up some underwear. The design of the pattern is by Geoff McFetridge. The material is silky poly material that look shiny like boxing shorts. Not many will ever see me wearing this.

These are brand new. I wouldn't show you a pic of worn underwear. These were $12 and came in two colors. Some people want to wear clothes so people can marvel at it. I'm actually good wearing stuff, full knowing that only I will see it, maybe for all of 10 seconds. I sometimes wear my nicest t-shirts under a sweatshirt that never comes off all day. Who knows that I'm wearing something nice under a plain sweatshirt? Just me. I wear clothes mostly for myself. That's how I do it.

While Dehara's work is on the walls at Giant Robot New York, I thought it would be cool to show you some goods he's made. Check out his work with Meiji chocolates in Japan. Click around and have fun with it. Would an American candy company ever do this? Here's a link. Dehara gave me a cellphone charm that they gave away at some convenience stores in Japan. The big companies are finally catching on. Check out the GRNY art exhibition goods too. link to the Giant Robt NY gallery.

Then a confection company tapped Dehara to make a Tosa dog themed dorayaki. Tosa's are fighting dogs, and Dehara's Tosa actually bites the kid character! But it still works on this pastry. It's from a lesser travelled region. Ishikawa maybe... I forgot what he told me, and you can get these only there.

This tasted great. I gave most of mine away to people who helped out at Giant Robot NY for the show. David Horvath got a whole box!