book joy!

Got some print joy in the mail from Roger Gastman, producer of the Hello Kitty con -- his books give you an idea why the show was so diverse, and culture & art focused (he has a prolific amount of culture books out)

Kudos to Sanrio for getting him to put the show on, he has to be instrumental in creating the cult of HK in the US not only with the mainstream but on a subculture level. I'm still in awe at how incredible it was, and to be honest, I think the con and the Japanese American Museum show is more spectacular, and well curated than PURO land, the Hello Kitty theme park in Tokyo. (You leave the con with a greater appreciation of HK, her historical evolution and cultural achievements, that is for sure).

Thank you so much!!!! I love books!!! 

m(_   _)m

 So, the readers of this blog will prob be into the Hello kitty books -- In case you can't get to the exhibition, you can get the book from the Japanese American museum, which has the timelines, and highlights of the show, such as these vintage HK gems. There are also full page art works with many of the big names of the street/ low brow/ outsider/ pop surrealism (whatever you want to call it) artists.

Some faves:
 Audrey Kawasaki

 Buff monster

 Dface

 Gary Baseman

The Hello Kitty Hello Art! book has 208 pages of art works from graffiti artists like RISK, POSE and  Shepard Fairey. The text is really interesting -- Ryan McGinley did HK inspired art (seriously and how)!? the scope of the art is fantastic, also has some Spotlight Tattoo flash (its worth getting for that alone!)

64 colors

 Angry Aaron Woebots

 Dabs Myla

 Jeremyville

 Kozyndan

 Natalia Fabia

 Shepard Fairey

 Travis Louie

 Yumiko Kayukawa