Kooky for Kustom Kulture II

Leave it to old chucklehead over here to tell you about something cool with only days left to go experience it for yourself.  For well over a month, the Huntington Beach Art Center has played host to "Kustom Kulture II," a collection of paintings, sculpture, photography, poster art, automobiles, and artifacts that documents Southern California's Kustom Kulture scene - but we hadn't had the chance to go until yesterday.

Nick, Mary, Ben, Erika, Mr. Tiny, and Fabian
Tell the truth, if you saw this group headed towards your gallery/museum,
you'd quickly flip the sign to closed and lock the door, wouldn't you?

It wouldn't be much of a Kustom Kulture exhibit without the big names - Robert Williams, Ed Hardy, Von Dutch, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, George Barris, et al.  Many more artists were included and if my reporting skills weren't so abysmal, then I might have remembered a few of their names and credited them accordingly.

I liked this piece less for the masterfully-executed, mixed-media renderings and more for
the story of the artist who in a few short sentences described his Jayne Mansfield
encounters from supper club floor show, to shoe shopping, to decapitation.

I loved seeing Dali stuck inside of a surrealist landscape.
More than anything I love that frame; I'm a sucker for a gaudy, gilt frame!

Now that's a lucky cat!

In photograph, these almost look like two-dimensional paintings, 

but they are incredibly-detailed, sculpted figures - even the slobber!

Look at these cornballs pretending to be art connoisseurs.

George Barris was here.

Mary and one of the Munster Koaches.
I know that it is a showpiece, but if I have one complaint it's that it is way too shiny.  I want tarnish and cobwebs!

Erika puts on a very special, Munsters-themed performance.

When it comes to lowbrow art, I only like it one way - lowbrow.  Lowbrow with overly-thoughtful, highbrow tendencies is a big turn off to me.  I think that is why so many people connect with Ed Roth's art; there was no pretentious message behind Rat Fink.  Even if Rat Fink was symbolic of something, it was of abandoning pretension and enjoying the many pleasures of life - real wacky tacky.  As much as I appreciate their work, I think some artists can take themselves way too seriously.

Venus on the half shell in giant work boots with 5 o'clock shadow and a stogie.
This is but a small extraction from a much larger work of art
by Robert Williams...I think he's trying to tell us something. 

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

They're from Boyle Heights...

I've never been a huge fan of Von Dutch until I read these words.  Amen and amen!
"Use any of my stuff you want to.  Nothing is original.  Everything is in the subconscious, we just 'tap' it
 sometimes and 'think' we have originated something.  Genes make us more or less interested in certain
 things but nothing is truly original!  Copyright and patents are mostly an ego trip." - Von Dutch

Scabbo!  Revolting and awesome all at the same time!

Of course, the star of any Kustom Kulture show is the work of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.  It sounds bizarre, but I think there is something so wholesome and innocent about his imagery; it is like being a child, taking all of the grossest, coolest, craziest things one can think of and putting them all together.  There is no fancy training, no respect for tradition, no overt political agenda - just a reckless abandon, speed, and fun!

Lucky to have been brought up around this (k)ulture, I was particularly excited to visit again with one of Roth's most celebrated works.

The SURFITE!!!

Famous on screen and off, the Surfite can be spotted in the
background of this still from Beach Blanket Bingo.
(Source)

Annette & Big Daddy
When my favorite worlds collide!
(Source)

Shag's homage to 60's hot rod/surf culture and Big Daddy Roth.

The Surfite model kit
(Source)

The installation was a recreation of the Revell model kit cover -
tiki shack, ukulele, and beach bum included.

Speaking of beach bums...I can't take these goons anywhere!

If you're in or around Orange County, CA, I suggest a little trip over to the Huntington Beach Art Center for a dose of "Kustom Kulture II."  It was the perfect way to cap off our kulturally-rich summer after going to The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood for a screening of the Robert Williams documentary, Mr. Bitchin'.

Trailer for Robert Williams Mr. Bitchin'

The "Kustom Kulture II" exhibit officially ends on August 31 but Saturday, August 24, is the closing reception and panel discussion with the curator of the exhibit and some of the featured artists.  It's never too late to get some Kulture!

Kustom Kulture II

Huntington Beach Art Center

538 Main Street

Huntington Beach, CA

(714)374-1650

www.huntingtonbeachartcenter.org

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

CHOPiT! Get Kustomized!

I am not a car guy.  I have always appreciated the beauty of well-designed automobiles but, because my brain is not what one would call "mechanical," I have always felt completely ignorant when it comes to the finer points of the modern combustion engine, makes/models, and the great debate of stock vs. custom.  I just felt safer keeping my big trap shut and my interests elsewhere.  Don't get me wrong; I have been to more than my fair share of car shows but I never graduated from the "That looks so cool" school of auto appreciation.  Making friends with the fine folks at Chopit Kustom Hot Rods, I am not only learning a little something about cars, I am developing a more genuine interest in car culture.

On June 1, Chopit Kustom threw an open house/car show and we were privileged to get a full tour of the shop by the Chopit kids (and our pals), Nick and Fabian.  I am at a loss for any kind of proper camera right now so I caught just a few snaps of the day.

Nick & Mary

Fabian oversees Mary as she tests out the beautifully-grilled Chopit roadster.
If you see Mary, don't mention it to her that her legs were too long to fit
 on the driver's side...she's pretty sensitive about it and doesn't want anyone
to know.  For some reason she thought that if she fit, the car would be hers...

Do, however, remind her to follow instructions and read signs.
She practically created a crime scene's worth of finger prints on this one.

Jet Age hood ornament

A small fraction of the model car collection

Why is that new cars don't have after market propellors readily available?
It's a crying shame!

Dig that crazy headliner!!!
This will sound totally inappropriate but doesn't it seem like one would eventually
have to spend a good amount of time combing dingleberries out of that shag???

I appreciate the sentiment; if I found a car that I truly loved, I would never want to sell it.

And then there was the star of the show Chopit Kustom's very own Beatnik Bubbletop.  Built by Gary "Chopit" Fioto, the Beatnik Bubbletop captures the essence of every aspect of mid-century car culture - the high-end concept cars, the low brow "kustomization" of ingenious builders, the freedom of untamed hot rods.  Belonging now to Barry Weiss of Storage Wars fame, this feat of mechanical and design genius makes the rounds at all the biggest car shows.

I don't know how they dream all of this stuff up; I wish my dreams were this cool!

I guess that we fawned over it enough that we were invited for (read: practically strong armed ourselves into) a ride in the Beatnik Bubbletop.  The perfect opportunity for a ride arose in the Legend of Kustoms Cruise Night at Bog's Big Boy Broiler in Downey, CA.

What does one wear when riding inside a bubble?  It took me a fair amount of time to convince Mary that her idea of dressing like Glinda the Good Witch would be entirely inappropriate.  We decided to wear something relatively cool (temperature wise) because it seemed to me that riding in a bubbletop car would be akin to being an ant under a magnifying glass. 

Boy was I wrong!  Except for my noggin being a little close to the bubble, riding in this car had all the comforts of a luxury automobile.  Fully-functioning air conditioning keeps everything cool under a dome that is on record as the world's largest blown-glass bubble!

Nick & Mary in the Beatnik Bubbletop
I wasn't even in the car yet, but just to see it going down the street made me feel, if only for a
second, all of the optimism and wonder that mid-century concept car designers must have felt.

And I wasn't alone.  As you can imagine, the Beatnik Bubbletop is the
subject of much admiration.  It was hilarious to see all of the rubbernecking,
scrambling for cameras/phones, and near accidents caused by this car's very presence.
  Turnabout only seemed fair play so I snapped a photo of someone snapping our photo.

Chopit & Mary
All the freedom and visibility of a convertible without
the annoyance of lost porkpies and windblown hair.

A short video of our arrival at the Broiler.

Not my best camera work (which isn't saying much)

but if you have ears particularly sensitive to strong 

language, you might want to mute the sound.  HA! 

Mr. Tiny tries to out bubble top the bubbletop...fail.

The Beatnik Bubbletop after hours
The interior adopts a violet glow.

Got a light?

I think I have been converted.  Ever a late bloomer, I can now truly see the allure of automobiles (classic, kustom, and otherwise).  I am so grateful to the whole Chopit gang for giving me the otherworldly opportunity of riding in the Beatnik Bubbletop; it is as close to riding in a spaceship as I'll ever get!

Plus it is the only time in my life when I can earnestly and thankfully say,
"Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."  Thanks a million!!!

Mr. Tiny & Mary make like Elroy & Judy Jetson

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

p.s. Don't be too concerned if things are a little quiet on the wacky tacky front for the next couple of weeks.  Mr. Tiny will be, to borrow a phrase from his sister, losing his "West Virginity."  My sister, brother-in-law, and the cutest nephew in the world have left Southern California for all of the wonder of Appalachia.  I have never been to that part of the country so I am excited to explore and broaden my wacky tacky horizons.  I'm going HILLBILLY!!!!  I might have some time for blogging while I am gone...but I'd rather be on an adventure!!!  See you when I get back!