Even though Sean loves to tease me (prime example:  see yesterday’s post), he really is a good husband and I think I will keep him.  Especially since he did procure those tickets to the Hello Kitty Exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

We went to the exhibition after lunch yesterday.  I was so excited to be there that I let my inner grade-school self just take over and squeal and exclaim in delight at the awesome display of everything Hello Kitty.  To his credit, Sean was a good sport through it all.  He indulged my fanatic picture-taking and cries of “Sean!  Look at this!” every time I took a step to the next display case.  He even let me take his picture a couple of times.

Sean says, “Hello, readers of my wife’s blog.”

Um, eighteen?

There were so many collections of Hello Kitty things.  Stationery, office supplies, kitchen stuff (including dishes, a toaster, microwave, rice cooker, waffle maker, soda maker, pots, and pans), a sewing machine (by Janome!), shoes (including a white faux-fur-covered platform pair with six-inch heels), clothes, jewelry, motor oil, toilet paper, braces (yes!  for your teeth!), a skateboard, roller skates, dollhouse miniatures, and so, so much more.  Like Sean said, “If you could think to put Hello Kitty on something, it’s already been done.”

After the collections, we turned a corner and walked into a gallery displaying various artists’ contributions of Hello Kitty-inspired pieces.  We were allowed to take photographs as long as we didn’t use any flash.  You can bet I took a ton of photos to share, since not everyone would have the opportunity to see the exhibition in person.

Here are a few of the many dozens of photos that I took:

A whole wall was devoted to Hello Kitty backpacks. The one with the mustache was my favorite.

Hello Kitty bento boxes and food molds. I am all about the food.

Hello Kitty KISS dolls! Note the Gene Simmons one, complete with tongue sticking out.

Hello Kitty Gummy Candies! The bag was encrusted with little crystals, and the gummy candies really looked good enough to eat.  I would have loved to own this.

This was a really interesting painting. I am still trying to figure it out.

Hello Kitty as fashion model?

Hello Kitty and friends painted on glass (the one on the right) and Hello Kitty underwater, wearing what appears to be an upside-down fishbowl helmet (to the left).

Now this one was really cool. The photo doesn’t do it justice. The artist made this out of a collage of pieces cut from t-shirts and other fabrics. Up close it was very impressive. I also liked the spider-web quilting design.

Uh-oh, it’s Hello Kitty Godzilla!

This appeared to be made out of pieces of meticulously arranged vintage buttons and brooches.

Hello Kitty by Junko Mizuno.

Hello Kitty Lincoln.

Hello Kitty Power Ranger? Robot? Action Figure? I have no idea.

In addition to the Hello Kitty Gummy Candies, this is the other piece that I would have loved to own in my home. I guess I really have a thing for sugar and sweets.

I get that not everybody is a fan of Hello Kitty, and I am aware of the political arguments against what Hello Kitty represents, and blah, blah, blah.  But you know what?  Sometimes it’s just nice to feel like a kid again in the best possible sense:  happy, and full of wonder, joy, and awe at the things that other people have thought to create.