From Japanese pop culture to kung fu and rock and roll, this year’s Student Open House will jump-kick you into the school year. Join us for a free night of events featuring a raucous performance by the Twin Cities’ own Birthday Suits, head-to-head video games, and a survey of everything Asian by Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong from Giant Robot magazine.
Artist Talk: Giant Robot
William and Nadine McGuire Theater, 7 pm
From movie stars, musicians, and skateboarders to toys, technology, and history, Giant
Robot magazine covers cool aspects of Asian and Asian American pop culture. In 1994, Eric Nakamura and Martin Wong launched the publication with no budget, no bureaucratic meetings, and no excuses to anyone. Demonstrating know-how and attitude from the coeditors’ punk-rock zine background, the first Giant Robot was a stapled and photocopied digest in an edition of 240. Since then, it has grown more than 100 times larger, gaining accolades as one of the best zines from the L.A. Weekly, L.A. New Times, Wired, and Zine Guide as it tackles magazine racks around the world.
Video Games: Mortal Kombat
Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab, 5–9 pm
Karate chop your way to victory as you duke it out with your friends on the big screen.
Music: Birthday Suits and MUte ErA
Gallery 8 Café, 7:30 pm
Last year the Twin Cities’ punk band Sweet J.A.P. broke up and formed four new bands. Fortunately for you, two out of the four bands will be at the Student Open House. Check out the partial family reunion, as Birthday Suits (Hideo Takahashi and Yuichiro Matthew Kazama) and MUte ErA (Sho Nikaido and Jessica Driscol) bring a beautifully thunderous racket to the Gallery 8
restaurant.