Photo by misocrazy/Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Giant Robot store sign on Sawtelle Boulevard, September 2006
The Asian American pop culture emporium Giant Robot has added its name to a growing list of businesses and Japanese American groups in Los Angeles who are mounting efforts to raise money for earthquake relief in Japan.
The franchise, which owns galleries, a restaurant and shops in L.A. and San Francisco, has teamed up with UNICEF to raise funds via an art show at its GR2 store in West Los Angeles, which among other things sells Japanese toys, comic books, magazines and art.
The opening reception is Saturday night. The “Water Works” art show, planned prior to last Friday’s devastating 9 magnitude quake in northeastern Japan, was to have promoted UNICEF’s mission to provide clean drinking water to children around the world. The event has now been re-engineered for quake and tsunami relief.
KPCC’s Brian Watt spoke with Giant Robot’s director of retail operations, Michelle Borok:
“We had artwork in the show that was themed on water and so artists had created all kinds of images,” Michelle Borok says. “Clean water is now an issue in Japan as well. So the focus hasn’t changed. It’s about going directly to the source where there’s an immediate need.
Many of the participating artists will donate proceeds from their sales to UNICEF. GR2 is at 2062 Sawtelle Boulevard, (310) 478-1819.
