THE SIGNS WILL SHOW YOU
2010年08月25日
Well after the shenanigans of my boss JC’s brazen picture, eating fancy food and toasting ferries in the Inland Sea with good wine (readers see my blog pictures on Shikoku Ferry Services) What a cheek …I was in a bad mood when I slouched off to pick up my assignment for the week. Another ordeal by humiliation I thought?
But as I entered the building to pick up the job, I heard the James Bond theme suddenly start. Dum-dee-dee-dum, da-da-da, dum-dee-dee dum. Ta-da-da!
‘This is great’! I said. ‘What a marvelous new office you have’. ‘What appropriate music.’ ’I find this all quite different, agreeable.’
“It’s part of the new us.” Says JC grinning and slouching in his chair.” And we did this to show you how much your wonderful blogs mean to us.” He said offering me a whiskey highball and comfy sofa.
All right, I just made that up. But there really is this amazing building down by the Takamatsu waterfront nearby where JC and his crew hang out.
I took a couple of shots of this building and it seemed to disappear due to the reflective surface. It’s an exhibition piece entitled, ‘Prosthetic Restoration of our Memory’. Some of these pieces have some great names don’t they? I think my memory will need a little prosthetic restoration after all this heat… I’m slowly turning into a puddle.
In Takamatsu these days there are signs absolutely everywhere showing visitors all the information we need to find our way around the Setouchi International Art Festival. And what great signs they are too. Color-coded in blue, white and black which is apt, as the skies are very blue now and the clouds so white.
These signs are easy to understand and featured prominently in the city and especially in the port and central station areas. So please be aware of this blue, white and black color scheme as all these signs relate to the exhibits and their transport facilities.
Inside the Takamatsu Central Station there is the ‘setouchi art navi’ electronic display and a group of friendly guides to assist.
A little advice on this, while there are a few different smaller publications on the exhibition, by far the most comprehensive one is this one but it’s a little hard to find. I suggest you ask specifically for this (see photo above) ‘Overview of the Art Setouchi 2010’ as it’s the best out there. The information includes routes and ship times for the islands, tips for making the most of the festival, recommended course plans, speedy routes for those in a hurry, short trip options and an ‘art and architecture course’.
The advice is practical, sensible and includes things like always double-checking your next ferry, restroom facilities and taking food and drink with you.
As mentioned, in the back all the information on routes and times for ships are printed and in the front, an overview of the works on exhibition.
The official site is
http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/
This site has improved a little bit lately and is less bogged down with vague descriptions of events and the staff blogs, which don’t really make that much sense. What we need is basic; What? Where? And when?
You’ll need your art passport and these are available at a variety of places including convenience stores for 5,000 yen. Don’t forget you’re still going to have to pay the ferry fees and a few events aren’t included and will need an additional charge.
The Setouchi Art Festival office in the Hyogo Machi shopping arcade has helpful staff and of course they have the passport on sale.
Takamatsu has improved a lot over the years and is much more tourist- friendly with plenty of good signs around the town.
Go out and enjoy this wonderful exhibition and remember, keep those cards, letters and emails coming in! I’m waiting to hear from all of you, so please leave a comment!
But as I entered the building to pick up the job, I heard the James Bond theme suddenly start. Dum-dee-dee-dum, da-da-da, dum-dee-dee dum. Ta-da-da!
‘This is great’! I said. ‘What a marvelous new office you have’. ‘What appropriate music.’ ’I find this all quite different, agreeable.’
“It’s part of the new us.” Says JC grinning and slouching in his chair.” And we did this to show you how much your wonderful blogs mean to us.” He said offering me a whiskey highball and comfy sofa.
All right, I just made that up. But there really is this amazing building down by the Takamatsu waterfront nearby where JC and his crew hang out.
I took a couple of shots of this building and it seemed to disappear due to the reflective surface. It’s an exhibition piece entitled, ‘Prosthetic Restoration of our Memory’. Some of these pieces have some great names don’t they? I think my memory will need a little prosthetic restoration after all this heat… I’m slowly turning into a puddle.
In Takamatsu these days there are signs absolutely everywhere showing visitors all the information we need to find our way around the Setouchi International Art Festival. And what great signs they are too. Color-coded in blue, white and black which is apt, as the skies are very blue now and the clouds so white.
These signs are easy to understand and featured prominently in the city and especially in the port and central station areas. So please be aware of this blue, white and black color scheme as all these signs relate to the exhibits and their transport facilities.
Inside the Takamatsu Central Station there is the ‘setouchi art navi’ electronic display and a group of friendly guides to assist.
A little advice on this, while there are a few different smaller publications on the exhibition, by far the most comprehensive one is this one but it’s a little hard to find. I suggest you ask specifically for this (see photo above) ‘Overview of the Art Setouchi 2010’ as it’s the best out there. The information includes routes and ship times for the islands, tips for making the most of the festival, recommended course plans, speedy routes for those in a hurry, short trip options and an ‘art and architecture course’.
The advice is practical, sensible and includes things like always double-checking your next ferry, restroom facilities and taking food and drink with you.
As mentioned, in the back all the information on routes and times for ships are printed and in the front, an overview of the works on exhibition.
The official site is
http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/
This site has improved a little bit lately and is less bogged down with vague descriptions of events and the staff blogs, which don’t really make that much sense. What we need is basic; What? Where? And when?
You’ll need your art passport and these are available at a variety of places including convenience stores for 5,000 yen. Don’t forget you’re still going to have to pay the ferry fees and a few events aren’t included and will need an additional charge.
The Setouchi Art Festival office in the Hyogo Machi shopping arcade has helpful staff and of course they have the passport on sale.
Takamatsu has improved a lot over the years and is much more tourist- friendly with plenty of good signs around the town.
Go out and enjoy this wonderful exhibition and remember, keep those cards, letters and emails coming in! I’m waiting to hear from all of you, so please leave a comment!
"Pat has lived in Takamatsu continuously since arriving here on a one year study and leave 1981. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he was involved in education at a variety of levels including as a specialist teacher for children with learning difficulties, and at senior high schools throughout the state. Pat is employed full-time by the i-pal Kagawa International Exchange as a co-oridintaor for international relations amongst other duties including traveling to schools and giving talks in Japanese to kids about Australia. He has been involved with youth education exchanges between Japan and Australia for many years.
Pat has been many things in his colorful life including a seaman, helmsman, welder, carpenter, traffic warden, scholarship/studentship winner at the university of Tasmania, staff at the Australian Embassy in London to name but a few. Pat has far too many hobbies which include tennis, playing jazz flutes and saxes, riding bicycles with the Takamatsu Cycling Club all of which his long-suffering family tolerate. Recently he's become interested in painting again. His wife wishes he would put more time in to helping around the house and the garden which he artfully avoids ..."
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Posted by pat at 18:16
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この記事へのコメント
Nice blog post, Pat. A lot of interesting information here. One thing to note is that the schedule of events for the festival are actually being added as the festival is underway. So, use the book as a general guide, but keep checking that event board in the station, and you can also check out the festival's events homepage for recent updates at: http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/events/
Posted by RT at 2010年08月27日 10:50
that's useful information rt, thank you!
Posted by pat at 2010年08月27日 13:05
"I tried to post a comment on your blog- yours is the only one I actively follow and seek the next installment. Couldn't JC get you working harder and demand 2 assignments a week? I'll have a word with him... The posts are like postcards from Takamatsu- fair,funny, honest and interesting. Great stuff! Also, aside from the Art Festival, I'm seeing quirky shops and lanes that i really want to investigate."
comment from Andrew Schoolbread in the UK
comment from Andrew Schoolbread in the UK
Posted by pat at 2010年08月31日 08:10
