Addendum: The "Inbeciles" @ GRSF

September 4, 8:47 AMSF Art ExaminerMarisa Nakasone

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Photo courtesy of Giant Robot SF.  L to R: Joe To, Ako Castuera, Sean Boyles, Ryohei Tanaka, Rob Sato

Just some additional info for you all re: the backstory of The Art of Inbeciles show currently on display at Giant Robot.  Both Luke, the gallery/store manager at GRSF and Sean Boyles enlightened me about the artists' history of living and working together while students at CCAC (now CCA).  The story, in the words of Boyles, goes as follows (...the rest, as they say, is history :D ):

"I went to cca, but it was ccac when i was there with rob sato, joe to, ryohei, and ako. we were all roommates. i guess someone should have mentioned this. that is really why were in this show together. our work was/is always been similar, from living so close to each other for four straight years. we were a tight group. none of us had tons of money, so instead of renting an apartment, or getting a big house, where everyone had their own room and a few bathrooms to split, we rented this sh**ty house, and it was two to a room. we raided everything like bandits, berkeley co-ops, art supply stores, dine and dashed almost everytime we ate out, and between all of this we sat around drawing and painting. we did everything together. during our years in school we had to change houses almost every year, not even always houses, once we lived in
 this place above arts crab shack in oakland. it wasn't an apartment, more like a flat, but it didn't even have enclosed rooms. they were like offices off of a hallway. there was a kitchen and a bathroom, but it was tiny. you could sit on the toilet, wash your hands in the sink, and turn on the shower all at the same time. and at this time we had 9 people living together, sharing that tiny bathroom. but our rent was always dirt cheap. so when i say we were close, we had to be. if we weren't good friends, then it could get real bad. we could have called the show "arts crab shak", then there would be more stories for everyone to tell, and it would probably make sense to others why we're in this show together. because i mean now, rob and ako are in la, ryohei's in japan, joe-san francisco, and i'm in san jose. this show is the first time we all saw each other in at least a few years. but this is only the second time we all showed together, outside of school."

*THANKS to Sean Boyles and Ryohei Tanaka for the interviews and THANKS to Luke at GRSF for taking some time to speak with me about Giant Robot and the current exhibit.
**For those of us (myself included) who are financially challenged and can not afford to purchase art, the GRSF has limited edition self-published zines and art catalogues by the artists in the Inbeciles exhibit that are original and priced for people like me (...starting at $6.00!  Cheaper than a burrito in the Haight, I say).  I have Ryohei Tanaka's Special Blend zine.  It is crazy and highly entertaining--and features original sketches and writings, the content of which is probably too racy to print in this entry.
***This Friday, September 5th, SEAN BOYLES will be painting live for First Fridays in Downtown San Jose.  This is a great opportunity to see him work and if you are interested, purchase some of his t-shirts and prints.