Eeboo Felt Pillow

Getting a call from Fumiha Tanaka is always a good news and a start of fun projects!Fumiha is the head designer of Eeboo, a paper toy company where they also create a fantastic craft item. This felt project was great, something I really love to do (crafting and making character) and felt like this is not a job but pure fun which is the best kind of job I can imagine ;-) Thank you Fumiha and Eeboo!

My job was to create stuffed pillows using those 18 different color package for people to see what they can make with this product. And the photo of the pillows went on the back like this. Here are the photos of all the pillows I made for each color!

Group Show at Cotton Candy Machine in NY --- July 7th

Hello!I have 3 ceramic pieces for Tara's gallery Cotton Candy Machine. This show is crazy!!!  Please look at the line ups of the artists! They are many many great artists (that I'm a fan of), and do you know what's crazier? All the works will be sold for $100!!! Super Deal!!!

Tiny Trifecta 2nd Annual Group Show: Curated by Tara McPherson July 7th to August 5th, 2012 Opening Event Saturday July 7th, 7 to 11pm Pre Registration begins at 4pm at Cotton Candy Machine Gallery

Featuring THREE tiny pieces of $100 art from each artist! Jessicka Addams, Aiko, Jim Avignon, John Baizley, Shawn Barber, Andrew Bell, Robert Bowen, Jon Burgerman, Zoe Byland, Ciou, Becky Cloonan, David M Cook, Dave Cooper, Dave Correia, Molly Crabapple, Lana Crooks, Steven Daily, Daniel Danger, Tristan Eaton, Camilla d’Errico, Brian Ewing, Natalia Fabia, PJay Fidler, AJ Fosik, Doze Green, Dan Grzeca, Fred Harper, Jason Holley, Thomas Hooper, Jim Houser, Seldon Hunt, Jeremy Hush, Jordin Isip, JK5, James Jean, Jeremyville, Nathan Jurevicius, Aya Kakeda, Audrey Kawasaki, Josh Keyes, Henry Lewis, Lola, David Mack, Jim Mahfood, Sara Antoinette Martin, Dan May, Tara McPherson, Brandi Milne, Junko Mizuno, Buff Monster, Tomi Monstre, Michael Motorcycle, Martin Ontiveros, Alex Pardee, Joshua Petker, London Police, Anthony Pontius, Martha Rich, Jermaine Rogers, Paul Romano, Arik Roper, Jay Ryan, Souther Salazar, Isabel Samaras, Erik Mark Sandberg, Jon Schnepp, Shawnimal, Greg Simkins, Skinner, Bwana, Spoons, Jeff Soto, Timba Smits, Diana Sudyka, Lamour Supreme, Fefe Talavera, Jill Thompson, Miss Van, Adam Wallacavage, Lindsey Way, John Wayshack, Eric White, and Chet Zar.

These are my 3 pieces.

See you in MEXICO!

Hello everyone.My Mexico trip is starting next week!!! 6 months of planning and working with my warm Mexican friends over tons of emails, it's finally coming to reality.

I've been to Mexico twice and I was in love with the country and people there, this is a dream come true projects for me!

My First stop and this trip's sponsor is Amarillo Centro de Diseño June 27th to 30th Stop motion animation workshop June 28th Exhibition "Aya Kakeda works from 2000~2012" opens at http://amarilloespacio.com.mx/

Amarillo Centro de Diseño is a design Center in Xalapa, Mexico which invites both Mexican and  international artists to have workshops and Exhibition. My talented and top illustrator friends Yuko Shimizu, Marcos Chin, and Brian Rea have shown their work here in the past years. I'm honored to be part of this group!  Thank you for inviting me!

Here is some exciting photos that they sent me! they are also painting my characters on their window!!! wowwwww~ I'm excited about what kind of stop motion animation the students will make. I will update you on that soon!

I'm also launching 2 toy lines in Mexico, one is a hand made ceramic figure "Box-kun Mexican version"  and " Hanabi Monster" plush which I collaborated with Mexican Artist TOLOACHE. My Ceramic Toy " Box-kun Mexican version" will be launched on July 6th at SK Sarukaku Toy store in Mexico City.  It's super limited and comes with hand made silkscreen book, I'm only bringing 10 figures.  [vimeo 44558034 w=500 h=375] box-kun mexican version promotional video from aya Kakeda on Vimeo.

Last but not least! On July 13th at Rojo Bermelo store in Monterrey, I'm having an event "Hanabi Monster!" where collaboration plush toy with TOLOACHE and  limited edition silk screen will be launched! Fluffy cuteness!!!! And here is some photos of the limited edition silk screens getting printed for this event! If you are in Mexico, I really hope to see you in one of those events!

Love from New York trying to pack huge mustache in my suitcase!!!

Waking Up in a Tutti Frutti Hat

Hello! I'm curating a show in July in CA. Please stop by if you are in Monterrey area!

It will be a great show with eight artists who I really respect. All of their art has whimsical, colorful and Dream like quality which can transport people right into their surreal world.

The title of this show came from one of my favorite movie The Gang's All Here, a surreal and colorful striking images which I think fits really well with those 8 artist's works.

"Waking up in a tutti frutti hat" Book Show curated by Aya Kakeda July 13 - Aug 7th at  The Alternative Cafe Gallery , Monterrey CA

Artists: Fumiha Tanaka,  Jen Tong, Nathan Fox, Matthew Thurber, Nora Krug,  Panayiotis Terzis, Patrick Dorian, Tomi Um

MEXICO!

Hello. My Mexico shows and events are coming up soon! Please come and visit if you are near, And spread the word to your friends in Mexico! Thank you!

Xalapa June 28th, 2012 Opening 7pm Solo Exhibition at Amarillo Centro de Diseno Address: Antonio Franceschy no.17 Esquina Guerrero y Perú, Xalapa http://amarilloespacio.com.mx/

Mexico City July 6th, 2012 Event 7pm "Nice to Meet You Box-kun!" Premier of New Custom Ceramic Toy at SK Sarukaku Toy Address: Isabel la Católica #87, local 101, 1er piso, entrada por Regina, Col. Centro 06080 Mexico City, Mexico http://www.skarttoy.com.mx/

July 7th, 2012 Opening 8pm "It's a Pink World After All" all female group show at Rojo Bermelo (their new space in Mexico City!) Adress: Amatlan 106, entre Campeche y Michoacan. Col. Condesa, Mexico City TEL: 63030596 http://www.rojobermelo.com/

Monterrey July 13th, 2012 Opening 8pm "Hanabi Monster Party" Premier of Hanabi Monster Silk Screen Poster and Plush Toy at Rojo Bermelo Address: Plaza fiesta San Agustin local 2099, Monterrey TEL: 83631523 http://www.rojobermelo.com/

 

StumpTown Comic Festival this weekend!

Hi Everyone!I will be a part of StumpTown Comic Festival this weekend in Portland Oregon. I'm bringing all my hand made books that I've been working on at the silkscreen studio since January and also some hand made products!

I have a booth sharing it with Sara Varon and Jen Tong. Two of my favorite comic artists! So come down and say hello to us!!!

The 9th Annual Stumptown Comics Fest April 28 & 29, 2012 • Oregon Convention Center Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-6 • Buy Tickets Now! at TicketsWest More info: http://www.stumptowncomics.com/comics-fest/

Here are some toto bags that I made for the festival! <Front> Front image is two Kokeshi chan And the back is mixed and match Kokeshi chan.

<Back>

"Playsam 500" at Super7 SF

Hello, There is a Charity Show this weekend at SF, Please come if you are in the area! The Charity for the Playsam 500 goes to The World Childhood Foundation https://www.childhood-usa.org/

>>> Super7 is proud to announce Playsam 500, a Custom Toy Show featuring 59 different artists from 5 different nations, decorating and customizing the iconic Playsam Streamliner Car to benefit charity.

Join us Saturday, April 28th at 7PM Pacific to check out all the custom

Streamliner Cars Featuring: Andrew Bell, Arbito, Clayton Bailey, Dacosta!, Super Cooper Berella, Beast Brothers, Betso, Kat Brunegraff, 64 Colors, Carson Catlin, DrilOne, Tristan Eaton, Brian Flynn, George Gaspar, Paul Greenwood, Gary Ham, Nathan Hamill, Jay222, Walter "Chauskoskis" Jacott, Jryu, Jeremiah Ketner, Paul Kaiju, Aya Kakeda, Frank Kozik, Josh Herbolsheimer, Travis Lampe, Matthew Langille, Josh Mayhem, Sarah "Lunabee" Miskelly, Frank Mysterio, Motorbot, Ritzy Periwinkle, Plaseebo, Patricio Oliver, Task One, Dave Pressler, Reactor 88, Jason "Aka Big Money" Rodan, Jermaine Rogers, Cris Rose, Scribe, Rsin Art, Ardabus Rubber, Skinner, Bwana Spoons, John "Spanky" Stokes, Steve Talkowski, Cameron Tiede, Scott Tolleson, Vise One, Angie Vtec, Ben Walker, Adam Washburn, The Air Rat, Julie West, Kevin Winnik, Nicholas Woodworth

Playsam 500 Custom Toy Show Saturday, April 28th @ 7PM Pacific Super7 Store 1427 Haight Street San Francisco, CA 94117 415-553-6155 www.super7store.com

 

Summer in NY

Summer is Here in NY. Few weeks ago this tree in front of my house had few leaves but now it's very much in full green!Just on time for summer, Kokeshi chan bikini version came out from the kiln. Ready for a beach!!!

Group Show in Singapore

Me and many of my friends are in this group show which takes place in Singapore next week! So far away but I will close my eyes and pretend that I'm at the opening. Maybe I can find a girl in Singapore to pose as me! hehe

Print Shop Today

Busy day at Print shop today.I did a drawing on a blank note book and I wanted to make it in color by silkscreen. It was so hard because the book wasn't flat. but eventually I got it. fewwww there is always something new to learn. Original Drawing

Silkscreen Version, the color is hard to tell in the photo but it's a nice hot pink in real life. Also the project that I was putting off from January...I finally printed out the cover of my new accordion book "Snow Day."

Starting out with white. Front and the back cover. second color black. I like how it came out! Looks like a wall paper all together. Last color, only the front cover has gradation snow pattern. There are pink version and purple version.

Long Long day but productive, covered in paint.

Hampshire College and pretty towns in Massachusetts

I was visiting Hampshire College this week to talk at Andrea Dezso's class.Andrea is one of my favorite artist so I was very happy to go up and visit her and her class!  Here you can see her amazing art work! ----> http://www.andreadezso.com/

Her husband Adam took me around and show me some small town around the college. It was beautiful! Thank you so much Andrea and Adum!

(Some Photo from the college) (This is part of their campus with Apple trees! so pretty!) (Some student works, Papier-mâché Masks) (poster made by Andrea!)

(Cows!!! so Cute!  This is an amazing ice cream store, you can meet the cows who makes the milk for ice cream in their back yard.) (They had a baby cows in little huts) (Awwwww ♥） (Small towns around the school.) (There was a canal running across the town. The stream was pretty strong.) (Spring is just arriving to Massachusetts, flowers are starting to bloom everywhere, so pretty!)It was such a treat to be in a beautiful nature.

Tonight at silkscreen studio

I worked on covers for my new silkscreen book "BOX" tonight.(First Color for the front cover) (Second Color ---- BOX!) (And this is my back cover--- Empty box, where did the character go???) (Then I was playing with the ceramic figure that I made which goes with this book) (Mmmmmm...... ESCAPE!) I had a little time left at the studio, I printed some characters on Matches. ( well it looks like matches but actually sticky notes inside. Nice product idea, I got them at an art store in Baltimore, I should have gotten more!) Done for Today! Good Night.

Printing cover for mini books!

I've bee posting about ceramic studio but realized I didn't post any image from my silkscreen studio!I've been preparing mini books, posters, and comics for stump town comic festival coming up in the end of this month. http://www.stumptowncomics.com/comics-fest/ Here are some photos of mini books that I'm working on right now. They are book covers.

(First print/ white ) (Second Print/ Egg plant color) (And last color/ red) (And here is some system that I came up for printing this book cover. Registration was very easy doing this)

Voila! I'm done! I really like them as a group looks kind of like a chocolate! Oh that would be my dream to print on Chocolate!

Back to Sculpture Studio

Back from Baltimore, all refreshed.  Today I was ready to meet all my new friends who were baked in the kiln last week.My Village of people are finally coming out to the finish line little by little.  It took me really long time to come to this point, I'm happy to see the progress. (but in my head not even 1/3 is done. Village populations must grow!) Mini Kokeshi girls back of the flower girl (nina) has another face! These are the new twin fish girl that I'm working on right now, still under-glazing. It will turn out to be shiny like the rest of figures!