In the realm of contemporary Japanese art, Americans are more than familiar with such mainstream anime staples as Pokémon and Hello Kitty. Most, however, have never seen the life-sized anime sculptures of Takashi Murakami or stood in awe of Momoyo Torimitsu's 16-foot balloon bunnies. But an upcoming exhibit at the Norton Museum of Art will show there's much more to Japanese art than overpriced dolls and trading cards.
"My Reality: Contemporary Art and the Culture of Japanese Animation" is a multimedia exhibit featuring 31 works by international artists. Highlights include the nuclear-themed sculpture of Kenji Yanobe, the video-game art of Milos Manetas, the glossy club-culture images of Micha Klein, the vaguely disturbing cartoon characters of Paul McCarthy, and the oil paintings and baby-sized clay dolls of Mika Kato.
Anime, with its constant sci-fi and futuristic themes, aims to promote technology as a constructive force. The works in "My Reality" concern various technological concepts and include robots, cyborgs, aliens, and other creatures, typically in a post-apocalyptic setting. Of course, a dash of karaoke is thrown in for good measure.
"My Reality" opens Saturday, April 12, at the Norton Museum of Art (1451 S. Olive Ave.,West Palm Beach). Call 561-832-5196 or visit www.norton.org. -- Jason Budjinski
SUN 4/13
All the Jung Dudes
Jungians tell you what you think
For those who think typical psychobabble just isn't enough, there's always Carl Jung. Jung made a career out of melding psychology and New-Agey speak, positing that there are certain images, or archetypes, that are endemic to the collective unconscious of the human race. A bit hard to describe really; but the folks at the Center for Jungian Studies could probably do it better. The center's Ricki Tannen offers a Jungian analysis of the Robin Williams fantasy flick What Dreams May Come at the Riverside Hotel (620 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) at 11 a.m. this Sunday. See, Tannen represents the wise adviser who leads the young hero -- that's the partici-pant -- on a quest for knowledge (i.e. the movie lecture). The shadow is represented by the darkened room and subsequent ennui-inducing intellectual discussion, which distracts from the young hero's attempts at self-actualization. The $40 admission includes a showing of the movie at the Jungian Center. Call 954-525-4682. -- Dan Sweeney
SAT 4/12
Moonlight Sonata
Annual storytelling event not for kids only
When the Broward County Commission's Libraries Division bills its annual "Moonlight Tales, Jazz, and Java" as an "adult storytelling cabaret," those of us with our minds in the gutter immediately assume an adult-storytelling cabaret must be some sort of thinly veiled burlesque show. But "Moonlight Tales" is far more wholesome than that. The free evening of entertaining stories, which takes place at the Broward County Main Library's north patio (100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale) at 6:30 p.m., kicks off with a performance by the Serge Dor Jazz Trio. Then, the group makes way for five professional storytellers: Len Cabral, Jim "Grasshopper" Greene, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Madafo, and Kim Rivers. Call 954-357-7464. -- Dan Sweeney
SUN 4/13
Going, Going, Brrrrum
So you want to buy a car, but you don't want to haggle with sleazy car salesmen? The Barrett-Jackson Classic Car auction offers an eclectic selection of European sports and American muscle cars to be auctioned off to the highest bidders, this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the South Florida Expo Center (9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach). Admission is $10. Call 305-446-2700. -- Audra Schroeder
