Michael Lau and Disneyland weekend! - A 1UP classic from October 5, 2009

Hello friends, it's been a busy morning! Tomorrow should be busier, the nurses will be in on Tuesday and Thursday to practice for state exams. We will be busy in the lab, but it's better to be busy than not busy.

This weekend was quite eventful. On Thursday I took my friends and their families to the Michael Lau show and on Friday I took my girlfriend and her daughter. Friday night Michael was signing for the public and we were each allowed to get two things signed. My g/f and her daughter acted as mules and carried two boxes for me, I'm shameless when it comes to signings. Since Michael is a big soccer fan I bought him a Beckham jersey from the LA Galaxy as a present. I also got a card for him signed by myself and my pal Victor. He appreciated the gesture.

He signed the throne of my Crazychildren King. Many people in line had never seen that figure. He obliged me by signing a few other boxes. He even signed the issue of Ollie where I first saw his work.

Michael was quite a character. Making jokes with the people in line, taking off from the desk where he was at and going to the back of the line to sign stuff for the late arrivers. My girlfriend hit it off well with Victor and even Michael's wife. Hopefully the next time he comes to town we'll be able to treat him to Disneyland and even Club 33. As for the show itself, I am digitizing video of the show and will be uploading soon so you could see the Gardeners in all their glory.

On Saturday the girlfriend, daughter and myself went to Disneyland. It was a media event day, they were showing off the changes they had made to the park for the Halloween season. Those that live in the area should see how different the Haunted Mansion is with a Nightmare Before Christmas makeover.

Yesterday it was lunch with the family and some videogame playing. I showed the g/f and her daughter NiGHTS into dreams... as well as Shadow of the Colossus. All in all I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. What about you guys and gals. What did you get up to? EDIT: I created a fan page dedicated to the Art of Michael Lau in the early 2000's. I let the domain expire in the mid 2010's because I no longer had time, or money to keep it going. Although it will no longer be getting updates I have restored it on my personal server for people that want to find out about the Urban Vinyl movement.  As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

Michael Lau in Los Angeles! - A 1UP classic from October 2, 2009

Hello friends, super-busy over here. I will comment on your replies to yesterday's blog on Juri later. Right now I wanted to recap the first day of the Michael Lau exhibition in Los Angeles.

My friend Victor, the webmaster of CrazyToyzLife.com flew in from Canada for the show. Actually he flew to Japan, then Hong Kong and then LA for the show. He was really tired that day but super excited. Here he is pointing out Gardner street.

Victor brought me a present from Hong Kong. A heart-shaped figure that Michael did for the new Jan Lam album. The LA Fat figure on the right was the exclusive figure for the show. It came with a tee shirt and little spray cans. There are 100 in the world and I was lucky enough to score one.

After years of following his work I finally got a chance to meet the man himself. Victor had met Michael at a previous show in Hong Kong. Michael commented that I was really tall. I told him that I get that a lot. He wasn't supposed to sign autographs or make drawings until tonight (Friday) but was kind enough to oblige me with a giant illustration on the inside cover of the hardcover retrospective book. I wonder why people always draw me without a neck?

Here Michael is with that old issue of Ollie where I first discovered his work. Both he and his wife Florance, noted that he looked like a kid back then. I don't think he's aged at all. Okay, maybe some facial hair. On the right I'm hiding behind my illustration and paragraph that appears in the book itself. I'm a published writer and artist now!!!

The figures themselves were dressed in exactly the same clothes that they had 10 years ago. In previous exhibitions Michael had given them wardrobe changes. To celebrate the 10th Anniversary they were back to normal. The amount of detail from the figures was obscene. The photos simply do not do them justice. It was amazing seeing them in person and absorbing all the details. I could spend days just looking them over.

My favorite figures were even better than I remembered them. Michael made sure to include his earliest sketches and illustrations from the pages of East Touch magazine.

The gallery walls were adorned with some new and rare pieces. I even pointed out an unpublished comic that had been faintly superimposed on the back of a page. Michael said I had a very good eye to have caught that.

Could this be a hint as to Michael's next collaboration?

There were a few artists and celebs walking the floor. Here are Joe Hahn of Linkin Park and artist Gary Baseman. I wish you were here! Tomorrow I'm going with the g/f and her daughter to Disneyland. On Sunday she meets my mom. Things should be good. I hope you have a great weekend! Let me know what you are up to. EDIT: I created a fan page dedicated to the Art of Michael Lau in the early 2000's. I let the domain expire in the mid 2010's because I no longer had time, or money to keep it going. Although it will no longer be getting updates I have restored it on my personal server for people that want to find out about the Urban Vinyl movement. As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!