Kiwano

   I love shopping Whole Foods produce for their unique selection. This is a kiwano. It's spiky and dangerous. Eat it before it eats you!!! And how much does Mr. Kiwano look like the Eyezon plush I created for the Max Toy show???

Hyper Hobby

   Thanks to Mark Nagata and the Max Toy 5th Anniversary show, my work made it into another Japanese magazine: Hyper Hobby! (Interior image, bottom right corner... right where your thumb goes so you can't miss it, right?!) すごいね。ありがとう、マルクさん！

Link to more info  /  Link to more photos

The Kaiju Cometh! かいじゅうが来ますよ。

Meet Kaiju Eyezon

    I started studying Japanese around 2003 for a couple of reasons. First off, I had not yet visited Japan and desperately wanted to do so, but was apprehensive because if I didn't know the language, I was afraid I'd waste precious time on the trip being lost. Secondly, I dreamed of showing my work at a gallery in Japan someday and figured I'd need to know the language to work it out.
   So I studied for 5 long years, once or twice a week in the evenings during regular semesters, on top of a very full-time work schedule, and put in 8-12 hours per week on completing the homework assignments. I also worked with a private tutor over the summers. When I think about the amount of effort it required, it's hard for me to think of how I managed it all. Of course, this wouldn't have been possible if I didn't thoroughly enjoy it. It really is a fascinating and challenging language to learn, and you simply have to put in the time.
   Flash forward to winter 2010. First, my plush renditions of Hallmark's founder's grandsons made its way to Japan for the company's 100th anniversary. Then my friend (and co-founder of Super 7 Magazine) Mark Nagata contacted me to see if I'd participate in a show he was putting together... that would be traveling to Japan. AND my work will be alongside my favorite vinyl toy designer, Touma!!! Blew my mind! Check out my collection.
   I'll post more pics of my three plush submissions soon. Here's the press release:

"Celebrating Max Toy Company’s 5th Anniversary, on April 2nd & 3rd, 2011 there will be a group art show at Design Festa Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. The show will feature art by Japanese and Western artists, each using Max Toy characters,  Captain Maxx or Lady Maxx as their subjects. There will also be exclusive toys, prints and more!  Artists confirmed include: Japan: TOUMA / KAIJIN / NAWOKI KARASAWA / HARIKEN / YOSHIHIKO MAKINO / TAKESHI ONAKA / NAMIKO SONOBE / TERESA / JoBo;LuBo / MIROC / TULIP / REN OTORI / TOMOE and more to be announced! Global: RALPH COSENTINO / SEBASTIAN CURADEAU / HELENA GARCIA / DANIEL GOFFIN / MARK NAGATA / JEN RAREY/ MATT WALKER and more to be announced!

Design Festa Gallery, Harajuku, Tokyo (map). The work will also be featured in Play Times Magazine and Hyper Hobby Magazine

The celebration and show continues, traveling to Double Punch Gallery and Store in San Francisco, California, on April 23rd , 2011 for the US premiere. Also on April 23rd at Double Punch will be the " In Living Kolor, San Francisco " tour event !!! Featuring Matt Walker / Dead Presidents Designs, the event will include many custom figure artists, all painting live with Monster Kolor paint for the first time in the US !!!  This is the perfect chance to see these amazing artists at work and to try your hand at using Monster Kolor!"

www.maxtoyco.com
www.deadpresidentsdesigns.com
www.doublepunch.com
www.designfestagallery.com

My bio:

ジェン・レアイー
ジェンは、創作ディレクターであり、イラストレーター、ぬいぐるみアーティストでもある。
趣味は、旅行、スキューバダイビング、ヨガ、そして2匹の柴犬（アキとテイラー）と、山にハイキングに行く事。 日本の文化や、キャラクターデザインが大好きで、近年は日本語の勉強もしている（すごいね。）
彼女の作品で幸せになってくれる人がいれば、彼女自身も幸せ！
米国ミズーリ州、カンサスシティ在住。是非、ブログをチェックして下さい。

Food heaven: the travel edition

As my interest in food & cooking has grown exponentially over the last several years, I've had the opportunity to dine at some really amazing places. To me, food is an much an experience as it is a necessity; the presentation should be a work of art, and the taste should be thoroughly savored. I will not pass up an opportunity to taste the work of a master chef. So, to that end, I thought I'd list a few places here for anyone who might be traveling; I whole-heartedly recommend them all. In fact, can't wait to visit them again myself! (Note: Kansas City has so many good places that I posted them separately.)

NEW YORK CITY:
Nobu is unquestionably one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Both times that I've been. If you're not familiar with Japanese food the menu might seem intimidating, but don't let that stop you if you're a seafood lover. You must try it, and the chefs and servers are always willing & capable of making outstanding recommendations. In fact, don't bother ordering off the menu—just tell them to bring you the good stuff. Experiment and try things you may not ever see on another menu: chef Nobu Matsuhisa is an original. You'll need to make reservations far in advance, unless you happen to get lucky like I did. Don't risk it.

'Wichcraft   (Multiple Manhattan locations) 

Tom Colicchio's chain of sandwich joints, cleverly named after his original NYC restaurant, Craft. I had the grilled asiago cheese & carmelized onions on country bread. Amazing. Get two or you'll be hungry in an hour (granted, I have a hell of an appetite). Don't miss the peanut butter sandwich cookies—grown-up cousin to the Girl Scouts version. And a lemon Pellegrino. There's also a companion book in case you get hungry at home.

Rosa Mexicano  (locations in several cities; I've visited both Lincoln Center & Union Station in NYC.) Inventive Mexican cuisine & fun decor, with large central blue mosaic water feature with tiny diving guys springing from it.

CHICAGO: I found Rick's restaurants completely by accident. I had driven up to Chicago to catch the Puffy Amiyumi show (or was it Polysics?) Walked by, hadn't yet eaten dinner, it smelled amazing, and I went inside... and was treated to an incredibly delicious & unforgettable meal! You must get the guacamole and anything with chihuahua cheese.

Frontera Grill   445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610   312-661-1434
With its decor of folk art and vivid colors, Frontera is a fun experience on all levels. It has an ever-changing menu & artistic dishes by chef Rick Bayless. Save room for dessert. Next door (also by Rick Bayless) is Topolobampo, a little more high-end and equally delicious.

 

TOKYO: If you find yourself all the way over in Tokyo, don't miss Gordon Ramsay's luxury restaurant on the 28th floor of the Conrad Hotel in Shiodome. French cuisine in Japan. So good you almost can't descibe it without using The 'F' Word.

LOS ANGELES: For me, one of the great joys of visiting LA (aside from visiting my sister, of course) is to enjoy top-notch sushi. And I've had some of the best sushi outside of Japan in LA, both at upscale restaurants & at modest shops in Little Tokyo.

Zip Fusion   11301 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 116  Los Angeles, CA 90064
On the high-end of the spetrum, Zip Fusion presents breathtakingly beautiful maki and inventive combinations.

Frying Fish   120 Japanese Village Plz Mall  Los Angeles, CA 90012

For a quick, inexpensive & fun experience, head to Frying Fish. It's かいてんすし\ (kaiten-zushi); with the rotating sushi bar where you can pull your selections directly off the belt, or summon the chefs working furiously in the center to make your favorites just for you. Pricing is determined by the color & pattern of the plates you select. Don't let the older chef trick you into thinking the giant pot of wasabi is green tea ice cream! He's a troublemaker.

OMG I just made myself totally hungry!
(photos are from each restaurants' website)