Pat's Blog

What an extraordinary couple of weeks this has been for Japan. The devastation, displacement and suffering have affected everyone deeply, and of course especially those suffering in the north of the country.

Hardly a time to think about ‘art’ really … still, it’s through the arts that many of us find sustenance in both good times and bad. I really don’t think this is trite and I certainly do believe it.

This month there are a couple of good shows on in town and in this blog, I’ve decided to concentrate on a combined show of two local artists both foreign residents in Takamatsu.








Adam Weston and Luca Roma will have a two-man show entitled ‘ELEMENTS’ ‘MILANO & NEW YORK’ from April 3rd~April 17th gallery times from 11:00~19:00 at the Tokiwa Art Gallery a nice little gallery I’ve written about in the past.
http://tokiwa-tag.com

Adam is from New York, Luca from Milano and both have exhibited many times both in Takamatsu and at other galleries in Japan. Adam’s long interest in the Japanese mythological ‘Kappa’ creatures has been well received by the public over these years. This time round, Adam’s painting is on view and he’s kindly given me some photos to use of ‘works-in-progress’.

Luca is a full time professional sculptor and with a large body of well received exhibitions. This time he’s continuing with his interest in linear work in the form of rope. It looks very engaging for viewers, tactile and subject to change of form. This compliments the colorist and highly textured nature of Adam’s work. It’s shaping up to be a good show and well worth a look.

Keep all those cards n’ letters rolling in and we’ll be back with more news on the art scene and other scenes going on in Kagawa in a couple of weeks.
Stay tuned … tuned? Well, you understand.  

With the recession grinding into its 20th year these seem like gloomy times, they are of course, no doubt about it, but as with all phenomena they’ll pass. The art scene in Takamatsu is just the opposite and has a special vibrancy assisted by initiatives through businesspeople and the students from Kagawa University’s Project Team to stimulate the shopping arcades. I’ve written about this earlier as has Cathy in her previous blogs.

Around the town this month and the next there are and will be some exciting shows and stuff for us to enjoy. Let’s start off with a roundup of exhibitions in town, which your intrepid Pat’s Blogger looked at.

The Itadaki san (fish venders riding bicycles-cum-stalls) these people are Takamatsu originals pedaling slowly around the town. And from another era, the ‘Kamishibai’ (picture-card showman) are two themes and a part of the “Konkonfesta” sponsored by the Kagawa Prefecture are running through March in the Tokiwagai arcade near Kawaramachi Station. The ‘fox’ that animal with curious powers to abruptly, and at will metamorphosize in Japanese fold lore is the theme. In the Jan Garden area of Tokiwagai arcade, there will be 300 bowls of free noodles given distributed and other food stalls from 11:00~6:00 on the event day (27th March)





There are signs on the arcade walls all around Takamatsu advertizing these events in Japanese but not that hard to figure out as some of the information, event name, web links, and addresses are often in English too.

I checked Sottoprodotto http://www.sottoprodotto.com
and they’re between shows now, so nothing’s going on there until later in the month. Sorry …
The Tokiwa Art Gallery in Tokiwa Arcade has a great show running with some cute paintings by Karin Kano, a graduate of the renowned Tokyo Zokei University of Fine Arts. Karin told me she was a sculpture major and switched to painting later on.
http://calinbell.com

This show features her style in acrylics and oils. Karin has wonderful control of muted pastel colors and over-painting techniques more reminiscent of pastels than oils really.









The Takamatsu City Museum of Art has the “Exhibition Showcasing Picture Book Illustrations of the World” and it’s knockout. This runs until the 27th of March. I really enjoyed this, especially to see all original drawings and paintings of well-known books, such as the Harry the Dog Series. A childhood favorite for many kids all over the globe.
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/12754.html





From April 3rd there will be a show by two foreign resident-artists, Adam Weston and Luca Roma at the TAG in Tokiwa arcade entitled ‘Elements’.
“Eggore in Takamatsu” will be a one-day show on March 3rd and will be a live painting session with painter Tesshu, the didgeridoo player Takeshi Sakurai and guitarist Kenichiro Tsukiyama
http://www.eggore.com
Some pictures from last years ‘live painting event’



There are two other upcoming events that I’m unable to track down information on just yet, but I’ll both find out through my networks and will update in the next issue. They are; the A.I.R art event in Awaji-shima and Shodo-shima and also the “Art at the Temple” group exhibition in Zentsuji.
I’ll be back with more art news in a month or so and until then, keep all them cards n’ letters coming in!  

Well this was an unexpected adventure. Walking down the shopping arcade wondering what to write about and the opportunity appeared right before me. The Merry Project was in town on a grey day and what a burst of vivid colors they were too. Umbrellas with smiles on them would have made even the glummest of Pat’s Blog readers happy to see.





On the dying rusted pipes that is my bicycle, I followed the group down the Marugame Machi arcade and asked for information? “We’re here to make people smile and enjoy life.” ‘ya don't say?’ I replied ‘well you’ve certainly cheered me up’ I coughed and continued. They’d become a string of color walking ever more quickly by this stage and they were filing down the arcade umbrellas up in the rainless weather, smiling and chattering.





I shot a few pictures and exchanged name cards with another of the group and promised to follow up with an article.







What wonderful colors, faces and mood-altering smiles I thought? They were off to Nao shima for the day’s activities entitled the Merry Island Project and “Smile is a Universal Language” motto. Go figure …?
http://www.merryisland.jp/







But it sure looks colorful and artistic, no doubt about it. Linking all people across borders with the universal language of smiles. Count me in! These people do the lot … conservation, planting trees, farming, you-name-it. And they’re worldwide.

http://www.merryproject.com/

I was only interested in the visual effect, which was marvelous, and as they’ll be back in town (check their news on the link in English) and I’d recommend going to see what they are and what they’re all about for the visual impact and effect is just great.

Keep all those cards, letters and emails pouring in everybody...
I’ll be back soon with some more exciting stuff as I stalk the streets and arcades on my bicycle always on the lookout for art in the old town.
Until then …