Toshi Ota + Keeda Oikawa "Mixed 2006"-Ouistiti-

Our Photos at the Pink Cow
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

folks in Tokyo,

The Pink Cow in Shibuya is a fun place to go, regardless. The owner, Traci, is about as California as a chick can get. Think: female Bill and Ted. The food is awesome (Friday night buffets much recommended, bring your vegetarian friends), chill atmosphere (makes me think it is what a speakeasy might be like, were it in Tokyo, not during prohibition, and in the 21st Century).

Plus they feature an artist every month on their walls. This month it's photographer Toshi.OTA and illustrator Keeda Oikawa. The subject matter is Japanese mixed-race people. The title of the exhibition is
"Mixed 2006"-Ouistiti-.

[warning: shameless self-promotion follows]

[but what is a blog but shameless self-promotion, anyway?]

Ai and I were thrilled to be models for their work. Mr. Ota and Ms. Keeda are very warm and creative and I have enjoyed getting to know them, and it was an honor to be asked to be part of the project. Plus, when Ai and I saw for the first time the finished products at the opening party, we were speechless. Each picture had so much energy, and vibrancy, and personality. The colors are like candy, against the realism of the photos and the familiar--no, familial; we could have probably all passed as relatives--expressions of the models' faces. And then to see our own photos: wow.

So, if you like art, and funky restaurants, and are in Shibuya, please stop by. It's a cool event.