The Hammer Museum usually offers up art; this week, the showcase
is a supermodel and a magazine editor.
Eric Nakamura, editor of the magazine Giant Robot, and
Asian-American model Jenny Shimizu will be speaking together at the
museum on July 12.
The two will be participating in Hammer Conversations, a series
in which guest speakers are invited to interview a person of their
choice from a different profession or genre for a provocative
dialogue about their life and experiences.
“We usually invite somebody that we are interested in, or
somebody in the news doing something really fascinating,”
said James Bewley, head of public programs at the Hammer. “In
this case, a magazine editor and a fashion icon.”
For both audiences and participants, the conversations are
almost like an elaborate blind date (though in this case, Nakamura
interviewed Shimizu eight years ago for a Giant Robot article). The
events are an informal, unscripted close-up experience with two
people of different backgrounds who shape American culture through
their everyday pursuits.
Nakamura, a UCLA alumnus, graduated with a B.A. in East Asian
studies. He gained experience in the magazine business by working
with Larry Flynt, best known for his Hustler magazine. But
immediately upon graduating, Nakamura pursued his own dreams.
“Right after UCLA, I started my own zine with Martin Wong,
another UCLA alumnus, and over the past twelve years we grew little
by little,” Nakamura said. “At first it was just a
hobby, and then it became fun and turned into a job.”
Since its humble beginnings as a small magazine of stapled
photocopies, Giant Robot has become a legitimate pop culture
magazine with boutiques located in major cities such as San
Francisco and New York City, as well as a dual store and restaurant
in Los Angeles.
“In the end (Giant Robot) is basically a culture magazine.
It’s in that world where it covers a lot about our society;
it doesn’t necessarily have to be Asian,” Nakamura
said.
Shimizu entered the modeling world at age 22. She started off as
a motorcycle mechanic, was discovered at the Hollywood Bowl, and
flew to New York City soon after to start her modeling career.
“They met me and told me to pack my bags to go to New
York. I thought I’d be there for about a week, but ended up
staying for five years,” Shimizu said. “I was at the
right place at the right time.”
With free meals, free transportation, instant friends and
constant access to parties, who wouldn’t agree to be a model?
But such an ideal lifestyle comes with its challenges, both
emotionally and physically.
“The hardest part was realizing that modeling is a job;
it’s a lot of work. It’s hard not to take it
personally, that was one of the main things I had to learn,”
Shimizu said. “It was also a very difficult transition,
(like) “˜I’m an Asian dyke with tattoos and they want me
to take pictures?’ It was very strange for me to accept
that,” Shimizu said.
From their Giant Robot interview eight years ago, Nakamura
gained an understanding of Shimizu and is confident about their
interaction at the museum.
“She’s pretty much open to any kind of questions and
up-front and cool about it. She’s very candid and gives great
interviews. She has trust in me and my magazine. She’s an
iconic figure,” Nakamura said.
Shimizu retired from modeling but is working on her new reality
show “Full Throttle with Jenny Shimizu,” of which she
is also the executive producer.
Nakamura is working on expanding Giant Robot in content and
opening up more boutiques around the globe with accompanying
restaurants.
“It’ll be pretty interesting and is something that
wouldn’t necessarily happen in everyday circumstances,”
Bewley said. “People should just come on down and get in
line. It’ll be fun.”