Have you ever been to Design Festa before?

WHAT!?!? Well, then this is a great way to experience it from the inside out.

Design Festa is Japan’s, and Asia’s, largest free-style art event.

Lonely Planet describes it as ‘THE place to get a good idea of what Tokyo’s working artists are doing.’

But we humbly call it ‘ARTISTIC CHAOS!!!’

And who doesn’t want to invite bit of choas into their lives?

But wait there’s more… This next event marks our OFFICIAL 15TH ANNIVERSARY and we need some help documenting it for posterity!

So, if you speak English, French, German, Italian… or maybe some Japanese – if you have a digital camera or a video camera (DV) – if you’re an outgoing and friendly person – then please join us for some fun, frivolity, lotsa art and a bit of work!

We need:

- artist interviewers/photographers,
- artist interviewers/videographers (DV) and
- visitor interviewers/photographers/videographers (DV)

But what do you get in return for your wonderful help, besides that warm-fuzzy feeling inside? Well you get into the event for free (duh!), each day you get 1000 Yen cold, hard cash, a pair of complimentary tickets (to impress your friends, family etc), full access to everything, and you get to hang out with the DF crew!!! Plus, your equipment will be completely covered by our insurance, so no worries if you break something (as I did, and there was no problem whatsoever).

Ideally we’d like volunteers that can work both days (from 10 AM – 7 PM), but if you can only do one or the other, that’d be great just the same!

So, if this interests you, please drop us a line so that we can set up an informal interview. We’ll also need you equipment details (brand, model, serial number, year of purchase and amount paid).

If you want some more information, don’t be shy, contact either Stephen (stephen@designfesta.com) or Kazu (kazu@designfesta.com).

We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon!

PS – PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS… AND ENEMIES, WE NEED LOTS OF PEOPLE THIS YEAR, THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!

Peace!!!

check us out at: www.designfesta.com

Skate – Rock – Destroy! is the war cry of Flake, this punk-fueled, skateboard and fixed-gear bike clothing designer and lifestyle choice. Creative Director June Kazamastu has teamed up with Naoko Iritani to bring the DIY ethic down a couple of notches, by creating rad clothing for kids aged 5 – 12! Influenced by the US’s West Coast culture, predominantly L.A., the two are exploiting an interesting niche. Basically, they are tricking-out kids with cool gear not only for posing, but for an honest to goodness skater lifestyle. Their exhibition, which takes up most of DF East’s downstairs gallery, features their clothing line, some sleek fixed-gear rides and other courier garb, as well as vids of skating kids and punk concerts featuring the Suicidal Tendencies, an energetic and long time favorite, in punk circles. If you don’t know them than why not rent the 80’s cult classis ‘Repo Man’ with a young Emilio Estevez, and featuring the Tendencies great song ‘Institutionalized.’

Check them out here until Thursday, or alternately, visit them at:

http://www.flake.jp or http://www.littleandersen.com

the ‘kuromash project’ bills itself as – figure production by kuroko, and creature design by yu… and they do a pretty good job of it, as far as this neophyte sci-fier can tell. if the below pics are any example, then from the primordial ooze of their imaginations, many future, disturbing creations will arise.

for more info, please visit them at: http://kuromash.o-oku.jp/

in the 3 years i have lived here i have noticed that people rarely look down, which is why i regularly do. you wouldn’t believe the things i have found lying on the ground, and my art-finds are no different. in DF East, on your way upstairs, there is some sly ‘cops n robbers’ artwork along the floorline (this must be my day to reinvigorate the english language with newisms, so bare with me), so check out what sweden’s bcr has to offer, it’s criminally good…. (wow, that was bad, ay?)

tokyo and neko (cats) go together like peanut butter and jelly, and i know not why! some may say that tokyo is going to the dogs, especially with the declining birthrate, but if Jinbo Takeki is any example, the cat-fanciers are just as strong a force to reckon with as their canine counterparts!

his drawings are simple and cute even, but there is something else about them that keep me staring… perhaps it’s their storybookishness (???) or their sometime eeriness, i am still not sure, but if you can drop by sooner than later, you can take a look for yourself. heck, i even bought a postcard, now i just have to figure out to whom i’m sending it…

sometimes we get so caught up in what exhibitions are happening in and around our complex that we neglect to look at the space itself. yes, there is a continuous stream of art that enters then exits our doors. our rooms are filled with all manner and form of creativity, but what about the vessel they all inhabit for a while. well, today i decided to look about and see what else there is to peruse, aside from the works of Tokyo’s artists themselves. if the devil is in the details then we work in a devilishly cool spot…. take a peek at just some artsy tidbits, odds and ends!

of course you may not think that this is soooo great, but remember what it was like doing jigsaw puzzles, you find the corners or the sides and work you way inwards… well consider these the four corners, and you’l jut have to come by to fill the rest of the puzzle in… if you dare!!!! (insert psychotic laughter here!)

We were born naked, and it would probably be best to remain that way, but if you’re one of those people who just have to wear clothes, then why not swathe your body in natural fibers, a la Natural Order. The boss, Mr. Yoshinori Ito, and his small crew of creatives, are planting their roots here until Feb. 26th, showcasing a variety of casual wear and jewellry that all give off the natural vibe – so why not come by and see how nature can cover your beautiful bod!

Sekai is Eri Kotaki, Misa Tamanai, Arthur, Sugimon and Iria and together they have put together a mash-up of different styles and themes, running from digital illustration to photography and graphic artistry. Slick computer designs work share the space with paper-bag illustrations, low-tech collages, transparancy prints and beautifully colored, hand drawn pieces. Themes revolve around love, hope, despair, cats, dogs and Tokyo cool. A happy bunch, the girls are there to personally greet, and thank, all of their visitors, so why not be one!

Do you remember sitting in class and doodling in your notebook while your professor clamored on about something or other, or was I the only one? Anyways, artist Mistu takes the ‘doodle’ up a notch incorporating scenic designs inside easily recognizable shapes…. nice an simple in a variety of water colors. The exhibit runs until the 22nd so if you’re around, then why not take a peek?

Hey,

If you’re a snapper like me then you know that there is plenty in Tokyo to point your lense at. That’s what Misako Ouchi, Maiko Furuichi, Ami Kidoguchi, Yuriko Nakazawa, Hatsuko Nose, Nanae Horikawa, Yayoi Toru and Natsuki Kubo, members of Atomi Gakuen University’s Photo Club, think as well.

The club has been around for 4 years with most of the exhibiting members being there from the outset. As I write this they are painstakingly mounting their shots in their own gallery exhibition in DF East’s room 303, so why not pass by and give them some encouragement while taking a peek at how they see Tokyo! You just might be surprised.