Author Archives: Kim Okamura

The latest issue of Giant Robot magazine doesn’t have a scantily clad Asian model on its cover. In fact, underneath the subtitle, “Asian Pop Culture and Beyond,” a hand-drawn illustration parodies a traditional Japanese painting, its foamy ocean waves replaced by white rabbits. Robots and rabbits? Where’s Lucy Liu? What kind of Asian magazine is […]

Blind dates. They’re risky, nerve-wracking and incredibly common in a society of singles anxious to hook up with Mr. or Ms. Right. But who’s to blame when a blind date goes terribly, horribly wrong? Opening tonight at the Geffen Playhouse for a six-week run, “Boy Gets Girl” by award-winning playwright Rebecca Gilman is a savvy, […]

Don’t judge Denise Uyehara based on the way she looks. The Japanese American performance artist-writer and UCLA student will be the first to say assumptions based on appearance can be extremely destructive. Known for tackling issues of race, gender and sexual identity in critically acclaimed solo works like “Headless Turtleneck Relatives” and “Hello (Sex) Kitty: […]

Throughout the streets of Senegal, numerous representations of a holy man’s photograph reflect the artful response of a devout Muslim population. Through July 27, the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History presents “A Saint in the City: Sufi Arts of Urban Senegal,” the first major U.S. exhibition devoted to Senegalese arts and the predominance of […]

Pushing traditional boundaries often yields unexpected results, and in some cases, an extraordinary amount of success. Over the last four years, West African dance company Salia ni Seydou has been invited to perform in over 70 cities around the world from Taipei to Paris and New York City. Their stop in Los Angeles, lasting tonight […]

Merce Cunningham not only creates respected work, he collaborates with people whose work he respects. Sculptor Charles Long was asked by the modern dance choreographer to create sets for “Way Station,” a piece that will be performed by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company Friday night at Royce Hall. The work represents one of many joint […]

What is it like to work for a genius? For Daniel Roberts, a dancer with the legendary Merce Cunningham Dance Company, speaking about his job is often easier than actually doing it. Tonight through Saturday, Roberts and the rest of Cunningham’s troupe will perform at Royce Hall as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebration, […]