America's Greatest Art-taku?

I'm a little behind on my blogging, so this post is 1 of several that I'm hoping will be published over the next few days!  The April 7th episode of "America's Greatest Otaku" focused on the core quality of "Imagination" and emphasized the belief that "Life is short, but art lasts forever," a paraphrasing of a Hippocratic quote.  To reinforce this belief, the Otaku 6 were challenged to paint a mural.  While working on this project, the  Otaku 6 met several different artistic people, including Matt Booth, the owner of "Videodrome," dubbed "one of Atlanta's greatest movie rental places."  Sharing the same name as David Cronenberg's cult classic, Videodrome  (http://www.videodromeatl.com/)  offers pretty much everything and anything to tickle your movie nerd fancy.  Another person that crossed the path of the Otaku 6 was Cynthia Kado Shannon, the lead instructor-or godan-at the Shingetsu Kyudo Kai (http://www.shingetsu-kyudo.com/), a school dedicated to the study of archery.    Day 2 of Week 7 was spent learning about the art of Puppetry.   After meet-ups with Jeremy Underwood-who serves as curator of exhibits for the Center for Puppetry Arts (http://www.puppet.org/) -and Theodora Skipitares-a contemporary New York Puppeteer,  the gang slearned about the  bunkaru, or the traditional Japanese Puppet Theater.  Sounds like fun to me!   And, of course, you can't talk about puppets without mentioning Jim Henson, one of the greatest puppeteers who ever lived!!!!!  Without Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) ,  great Muppets such as Kermit the Frog, Big Bird,  Elmo, and duo Bert & Ernie (my childhood faves!)  would not exist!!!!!!!! OK!   I'm getting weepy with nostalgia, so I guess it's time to move on to Week 7, Day 3 & Day 4!  Team D & D (Dre Jean Jacques & Diana Hsu) sojourned to New Orleans and discovered the Japanese poetic form haiku!  The pair visited the New Orleans Haiku Society (http://www.neworleanshaikusociety.blogspot.com/) and discovered an Otaku Hot Spot in the Boutique Du Vampyre (www.feelthebite.com), owned by Marita Jaeger!   The crew met up with 2 other artistic individuals-New Orleans stained glass artist Sarah Segovia & clothing designer Lady Angelique-before finally introducing AGO contender Greer White!!!!!  What makes White believe herself to be America's Greatest Otaku????  Maybe it's her aspiration to be an artist!  Or it could be that she is an avid cosplayer!  But then again, several people could argue that they cosplay as well!  So, maybe it's the fact that Greer White loves Para Para dancing!!!!!!!!  Or it could be the fact that she has attended anime conventions-Mechacon (http://www.mechacon.com/)  in particular-and cosplayed as characters such as Momo Adachi from "Peach Girl" (I've seen that anime!) But then again, what anime fan hasn't done that???  So, does Greer White have what it takes to be "America's Greatest Otaku?"  Only time will tell!!!!!!  In the meantime,  Meera  Jogani & Dominique Kruse (Team Mangaloids)  visited Chicago, Illinois to find other contenders who think that they have what it takes to be "America's Greatest Otaku!" It is in Chicago that they discover an Otaku Hot Spot in Wizard World. Wizard World is a producer of pop culture and multimedia conventions across North America that markets movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming platforms, comic books and graphic novels. It has the rights to the names, marks, domains, customer lists and production rights for a portfolio of pop culture and multimedia conventions (http://www.wizardworld.com/).   Chicago is also where AGO viewers were introduced to business owners Phil Schlaefer (www.comiccollectorshop.com), Xavier B. Hamilton (www.thegrandillumination.com), and Steve Oertel  (www.galleryofink.com).   Finally, they introduced another AGO candidate, Chicago's Miss  Ryan Zanfei!  She makes a very cute Sweet Lolita, loves making accessories, and illustrates manga, but does she deserve to be "America's Greatest Otaku?"  If you can equate Lolita Love with Otaku Fandom, and add it to the fact that she runs her own website (http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=95549&op=new&body=2) ,  then,yes,  it is very possible for Ryan to win the coveted  title. of "America's Greatest Otaku!"   To close out the Chicago visit,   Team Mangaloids visited with Masato Takai, the Manager of Mitsuwa Marketplace (www.mitsuwa.com) and Jillian Marcus, Chicago's AGO candidate!  Among Jillian's qualifications are her career as an Otaku baker and her aspiration to be an anime editor!!!!   And, like many other, anime and manga fans, she cosplays (as "Lucy" from Elfin Lied).  But if merely cosplaying was enough for someone to be declared "America's Greatest Otaku," then I'd definitely have a shot at the title!    "Life is short, but art is long," as is this blog post!!!!!!!! May the art of anime live forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AGO To The Websites!!!!!!!!!

I am just getting around to blogging about the March 31 episode of "America's Greatest Otaku" for 2 reasons: 1. My computer was acting funny!  & 2. Every time I sat down to watch it, people were bothering me with text messages, IMs, Skype, e-mails,phone calls, etc!!!!!!!!!!  Damn them all!!!!!!!!!!!!  Anyway, I'm not sure what to think of the Week 6 Episode!  The cities visited were Philadelphia (PA), Indianapolis (IN),  and Louisville (KY).   Several of the individuals interviewed had websites promoting themselves, their artwork and/or their business or merchandise!

www.shofuso.com : Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a traditional-style Japanese house and nationally-ranked garden in Philadelphia’s West Fairmount Park that reflects the history of Japanese culture in Philadelphia, from the 1876 Centennial Exposition to the installation of its contemporary paintings in 2007. 

www.phillymagicgardens.org  (Be sure to check out the mosaic murals of  Ellen M. Owens & Isaiah Zagar!):  Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a folk art environment, gallery space, and nonprofit organization that showcases the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar. Located at the site of Zagar's largest public mosaic installation, the Magic Gardens includes a fully mosaiced indoor gallery and a massive outdoor labyrinthine mosaic sculpture. The installation, primarily consisting of found objects and contributions from the community, covers half a city block with myriads of tile, texture, and color. A walk through the labyrinth will reveal sculptures from Latin America and Asia, bicycle wheels from local South Street shop Via Bicycles, Zagar's hand-made tiles, and mirrors of every shape and size.

 http://www.gencon.com/: Gen Con Indy is the original, longest running, best attended, gaming convention in the world. For over 41 years, Gen Con Indy has been setting the trend and breaking records. Get lost in a phantasm of art exhibits. Stare at jaw-dropping costumes, or better yet, wear one of your own. Meet the movers and the shakers in the gaming industry. Check out the newest games and get a sneak peek at the latest editions.  I think one of the coolest exhibitions at this con was the Monster Chess by Steven Hassenplug, who, of course, has his own website--http://www.teamhassenplug.org/!!!!!!!!!!!!  

The gang met up with several other individuals with their own websites before introducing Joey Hansel, who  believes he can claim the title of "America's Greatest Otaku" because he is: 1. a lifelong anime fan, 2. an avid collector, & 3. an aspiring voice actor.  Does he have a chance?????  Only time will tell, but after seeing some of the previous contenders, I doubt it!!!!  A good voice alone does not an Otaku make!!!!!!!!!!!  Anyway, on to Day 3!!!!!!!!!!!  Video Games Live (www.videogameslive.com) is where the gang caught up with Tommy Tallarico, one of the co-creators of the gaming event!  I've never been, but I'm sure I'd like it because it reminded me of when Star Wars In Concert (http://www.starwarsinconcert.com/)  came to Washington, DC in the Summer of 2010!!!!  Now, that was an epic event!!!!!!!!
Midweek, Day 4, took the gang to the Indiana State Fair, where they discovered Theresa Kulczak and the "Bridges To Japan" exhibition!  (www.in.gov/statefair) .   The final stop for the week was Louisville, KY, where the "Rockin' Pockies," an anime & manga group, has its foundation.  Louisville was also where  AGO viewers were introduced to Paul Lepree and his website, www.ultra-pop.com.   
All in all, it was a good episode, but it was a little tough picking a theme to focus on in this blog!!!!!  It  turned out alright in the end, though, so all that remains to be seen is what will happen  in the remaining episode(s)!!