Todd Schorr's Universe ... Anime Expo takes over LA ... Taschen explores Big Butts ... CyberFrequencies ... Mr Irrelevant -- the last NFL draft pick -- isn't ... Alan Furst's historical spy novels.
Todd Schorr's Universe -- A New Retrospective of the Pop Surrealist at Otis
Pop Surrealist or "Lowbrow" artist Todd Schorr mixes Bruegel and Bosch, Duck-and-Cover and Scopes, Max Fleischer and "The Mummy," to come up with paintings you can lose yourself in, and in the process, come to understand Schorr's worldview.
Despite his popularity and talent, Schorr is only now getting a retrospective in Southern California, at a new show at the Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis College of Art and Design.
Schorr invited Off-Ramp host John Rabe to the opening to talk about his work, and what it means to him and the genre get a retrospective.
"Does this book make my butt look big?" -- Taschen's Latest Offering
Off-Ramp host John Rabe (with flower) goes to the Taschen store in Beverly Hills for the big party for "The Big Butt Book," and meets author Dian Hansen and Alexis Texas, the porn star whose bottom graces the cover.
(Photo credit: Paul Redmond.)
In honor of the last kid picked on the team: Football's Irrelevant-Week
Every year, since 1976, Newport Beach resident Paul Salata, along with his daughter Melanie Fitch throw a party for the NFL's very last draft pick. They fly the newly-signed player out to Newport, dub him "Mr. Irrelevant," shower him with gifts, and even take him out to Disneyland. Off-Ramp's Kevin Ferguson talked to Melanie Fitch and Detroit Lion's newest Wide Receiver Tim Toone (Mr. Irrelevant himself) about Irrelevant Week, which just wrapped up Friday.
Author Alan Furst on war, sex, and "Spies of the Balkans"
Off-Ramp's John Rabe talks with Alan Furst, the master of the historical spy novel, about how writing his books lets him time travel to the obscure corners of Europe of the 1930s and 40s, and he reveals the secret to his books delicious sex scenes ... and why his heroes usually don't die.
LISTEN for the interview and reading from "Spies of the Balkans" (short and long versions above), and COME INSIDE for a way to buy the book and help KPCC at the same time.
Say NET-skay!
Today netsukes hang from your cell phone, just like the old Japanese ones that would have been carved wood or ivory. LACMA has a huge collection of traditional netsukes.
Anime-niacs!
Join John and animation expert Charles Solomon as they explore AnimeExpo.
The Voice of Anime
John and Charles talk with young-sounding Chris Patton, one of the most popular voice actors in anime.
He's Ba-ack!
Godzilla is back! The original 1954 version of the movie is out on DVD. We consider buiding a teeny Godzilla set with found objects. And John talks with Star Trek's George Takei, who did voice work in "Godzilla Raids Again."
The Artists Behind Godzilla
John talks with Steve Ryfle in 2008 about the documentary "Bringing Godzilla Down to Size," about the Godzilla movies' creative team.
Attention!
John and Charles learn about the "fan" that makes all the noise. Japanese teachers might have used them as nuns used rulers.
Full Metal and Tiny Toys
John and Charles talk about Fullmetal Alchemist and gashapon at the AnimeExpo.