To let you know how busy things are here at the Museum, I totally forgot that yesterday was the last day for the Stan Sakai Labbit auction. Imagine my surprise to get an email from eBay notifying us that Stan’s Labbit sold for over $1500! Stan has graciously donated the proceeds of this sale to the Museum, and for that we are grateful. We are also proud to have helped Stan participate in his first custom toy show!
Author: Maria Kwong
Maria Kwong is the Director of Retail Enterprises at the Japanese American National Museum.
The Last Labbit Auction!
And it starts in just a few minutes. I have to stay online long enough to have it go live so I can post the links. Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo Labbit made an appearance on the back cover of Stan’s 199th comic book issue, so I imagine the bidding will be fierce for this piece. The Year of the Labbit show is over but Stan’s Labbit is still on view in the Museum Store.
There are still some fine Labbits available on janmstore.com, but they are going fast. We sold 6 more after the show was over!
Oh and Save the Date: Stan Sakai will be at the Museum for a booksigning on October 30. Check our web site for details: janm.org
Drawing From Memory
Just one more reminder about the Allen Say event this weekend. Don’t want any fans to miss the opportunity to see some original artwork and to hear Allen speak about this special book. There’s also a great review (one of the many this book has received) on this web site. You have to go to “D” and search for the title Drawing From Memory to access the review.
This is my favorite photo from the book. Sensei Noro Shinpei looks like a cowboy even though he’s wearing a kimono. You can sense the excitement and promise in the wistful young Allen.
Thank you higashi glaser!
Our third auction ended on Sunday and the Labbit by higashi glaser closed at $760.00! The winner was actually a last minute bidder. Most of the bidding was between two people and was hot and heavy. It was a huge surprise ending, the kind that can only happen on eBay!
All of the proceeds from the auction have been donated to the Museum, so thank you to the artists and the new owner of this beautiful piece.
I am going to miss “Stumped” and all of the Labbits as they go to their new homes this week.
Stay tuned for Stan Sakai’s auction coming up on October 1. It should be a cliff-hanger!
2011-2012 Museum Store Catalog is coming your way!
I just uploaded the new catalog items to our web store. The catalogs went to the post office yesterday and should be arriving at your homes soon.
Just an FYI, there are a few items whose arrival will be later in the season. Look for our big launch of the “Farewell to Manzanar” DVD in October. There is a long story about how this film is finally being made available for sale after 35 years. You will be hearing more about this historic event soon.
Some of our items are coming from far-off lands like France and Japan. And one new item is a special Museum product (you will see it on the cover!) which is making its way on a boat from China. But click on the new catalog cover on the janmstore.com homepage and start making your wish lists for the holidays!
We hope you enjoy the selections we’ve sourced for you this year. And remember to shop, share and support us through the store!
One more day for higashi glaser Labbit!
I’ve been so busy trying to get the catalog out that I haven’t had a chance to check eBay on the progress of the auction. I was thinking on Tuesday that maybe I could actually win the auction if no one bid. But checking today I see that sadly the price has gone way out of my budget!
One more day!
LESS THAN AN HOUR!
You have less than an hour to bid on Kip Fulbeck’s Labbit! It’s your chance to own a piece of original artwork by Mr. Hapa himself!
Here’s a link to the auction >>
All the proceeds from this auction will ge to the Museum as a donation from the artist.
Kip Fulbeck Labbit Auction extended!
You still have a chance to bid on this incredibly creative “hapa” Labbit! Since the opening, Kip has enhanced the piece to include ikebana kenzan to make flower arranging simpler.
Auction will be up until August 21. Bid now!
Here’s a link to the auction >>
All the proceeds from this auction will ge to the Museum as a donation from the artist. Thanks Kip!
New Labbit Auction!
Kip Fulbeck’s Labbit piece just went up for auction today. You have ten days to bid on this clever piece of functional art!
Kip came in and made some alterations to the original version by replacing the florist’s foam with traditional ikebana kenzan, thereby insuring permanence and flexibilty in creating your flower arrangements.
BTW—the stones that look so randomly and artistically placed are epoxied in so what you see is what you will get!
Here’s a link to the auction >>
All the proceeds from this auction will ge to the Museum as a donation from the artist. Thanks Kip!
Speaking of Labbits…
I was reminded of a similar story to my Frank Kozik blog entry when I saw this photo on Facebook. I ordered “shikata ga nai” rocks for the Museum Store once and this is what I got.
It wasn’t the first time ordering, and my order was printed in 14 pt type with the correct spelling. Someone at the factory decided I had misspelled my copy.
Ordinarily I like it when someone proofs my copy, but once I had someone change the spelling of my last name to “Quon” because they were sure that I had misspelled it. It was for an art show mailer.