SMALL GALLERIES IN TAKAMATSU
2010年10月29日
Just walk in and ask for a raise … that’s all you gotta do. Just give him the eye of a man who makes quick estimates and means business. Yes I thought! I can!
“You’re not thinking about money again are you JC said”
‘Well, I …’
“After the last pile of drivel and all the complaints we’ve been receiving and you want a what?” “Asking for free meals, hitting on waitresses, overrunning deadlines and you want a raise!” ”And take that ‘I will work 4 food’ sign off. It doesn’t impress me.”
‘Then how about just my salary?’ I still believe happiness can be worked out. I-am-a-fool …
Things are tough around here, no salary, kids to feed, neighbors and family hollering about my trying to straighten out and tame the sax solo from ‘Baker Street’. Life isn’t easy at all …
So to relax, off to look at the wonderful art in Takamatsu and they’re not kidding on the front piece here when they say this is a city full of art. The Seto Art exhibition has exceeded all expectations with a 300,000 attendance considered a success, now over 800,000 and counting with still some weeks to go.
How good is that! But the small galleries and the city’s own gallery
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/12757.html
also deserve a longer look. I’ve always admired Takamatsu for the foresight in building an extraordinarily good gallery. Airy, spacious, beautiful, smack-bang in the middle of the most expensive block of real estate in the city. Right in the very heart of the CBD. Now this shows priorities and I’m being serious. Culture triumphs over commerce.
There are a number of other small galleries around the town and some are a little hard to find but well worth the effort. Let’s start with Sottoprodotto. A new gallery with some really exciting stuff!
http://www.sottoprodotto.com/
Here’s a picture of the outside looking up and another looking down (with my foot, oops) It’s on the 3rd floor in a very narrow little street and someone said there’s a great wine bar next door! I think this staircase should preclude any pre-gallery tippling though…
Nishimon Arisa is one of the staff and she gave me an overview of some of the upcoming exhibitions and of course this current and interesting one by Shinji Fujiwara. I was impressed that she’d decided to take on works by a sculptor, as art pieces they’re usually harder to sell but it shows a strong commitment to the visual arts overall by the gallery and I highly recommend a visit. (not after the wine bar and then negotiating the stairs)
Two other galleries (amongst the many in town) that I recommend are the Tokiwa Art gallery in Tokiwa gai shopping arcade not far from the Kawaramachi station and Tenmaya Department store. Ear the pachinko shop where people seem to fritter away their time and money.
www.tokiwa-tag.com
I took a look at some of the exhibitions in summer and here are a few photos to give you an idea. The gallery seems to specialize in photography and one of the upcoming photo exhibitions is entitled ‘Desmonema’ by Tomoko Haga. And if the pre exhibition poster is anything to go by, this promises to be wild! (2010.10.20~29th)
Another gallery that I really like is Gallery Fine Art 21 at the very far southern end of Marugame machi almost the very end actually and on the right. It just never seems to be open. I wish they’d get their act together as there’s been some really interesting painting here.
Anyway I must get back to penning begging letters in longhand and groveling to JC for my salary (nothing since the spring!) and then pacifying the surly neighbors with more soulful restive music. Keep all them cards n’ letters coming in! See you in a couple of weeks when still penniless, I’ll be writing about ‘How to take care of your bonsai’ and other exciting stuff … yawn.
“You’re not thinking about money again are you JC said”
‘Well, I …’
“After the last pile of drivel and all the complaints we’ve been receiving and you want a what?” “Asking for free meals, hitting on waitresses, overrunning deadlines and you want a raise!” ”And take that ‘I will work 4 food’ sign off. It doesn’t impress me.”
‘Then how about just my salary?’ I still believe happiness can be worked out. I-am-a-fool …
Things are tough around here, no salary, kids to feed, neighbors and family hollering about my trying to straighten out and tame the sax solo from ‘Baker Street’. Life isn’t easy at all …
So to relax, off to look at the wonderful art in Takamatsu and they’re not kidding on the front piece here when they say this is a city full of art. The Seto Art exhibition has exceeded all expectations with a 300,000 attendance considered a success, now over 800,000 and counting with still some weeks to go.
How good is that! But the small galleries and the city’s own gallery
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/12757.html
also deserve a longer look. I’ve always admired Takamatsu for the foresight in building an extraordinarily good gallery. Airy, spacious, beautiful, smack-bang in the middle of the most expensive block of real estate in the city. Right in the very heart of the CBD. Now this shows priorities and I’m being serious. Culture triumphs over commerce.
There are a number of other small galleries around the town and some are a little hard to find but well worth the effort. Let’s start with Sottoprodotto. A new gallery with some really exciting stuff!
http://www.sottoprodotto.com/
Here’s a picture of the outside looking up and another looking down (with my foot, oops) It’s on the 3rd floor in a very narrow little street and someone said there’s a great wine bar next door! I think this staircase should preclude any pre-gallery tippling though…
Nishimon Arisa is one of the staff and she gave me an overview of some of the upcoming exhibitions and of course this current and interesting one by Shinji Fujiwara. I was impressed that she’d decided to take on works by a sculptor, as art pieces they’re usually harder to sell but it shows a strong commitment to the visual arts overall by the gallery and I highly recommend a visit. (not after the wine bar and then negotiating the stairs)
Two other galleries (amongst the many in town) that I recommend are the Tokiwa Art gallery in Tokiwa gai shopping arcade not far from the Kawaramachi station and Tenmaya Department store. Ear the pachinko shop where people seem to fritter away their time and money.
www.tokiwa-tag.com
I took a look at some of the exhibitions in summer and here are a few photos to give you an idea. The gallery seems to specialize in photography and one of the upcoming photo exhibitions is entitled ‘Desmonema’ by Tomoko Haga. And if the pre exhibition poster is anything to go by, this promises to be wild! (2010.10.20~29th)
Another gallery that I really like is Gallery Fine Art 21 at the very far southern end of Marugame machi almost the very end actually and on the right. It just never seems to be open. I wish they’d get their act together as there’s been some really interesting painting here.
Anyway I must get back to penning begging letters in longhand and groveling to JC for my salary (nothing since the spring!) and then pacifying the surly neighbors with more soulful restive music. Keep all them cards n’ letters coming in! See you in a couple of weeks when still penniless, I’ll be writing about ‘How to take care of your bonsai’ and other exciting stuff … yawn.
"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 15:20
│art
この記事へのコメント
What a coincidence, I went to Sottoprodotto last week! I found it totally by chance, walking down the narrow street and being intrigued by the amazing stairs. :-)
Posted by David at 2010年11月02日 21:23
thank you for the comment, david. please excuse the typo 'ear the pachinko shop' which of course should have read, 'Near the pachinko shop.' :-/
all the best,
pat
all the best,
pat
Posted by pat at 2010年11月02日 21:43
I am always happy to see the nice photos that go along with your blog posts, Pat. I was equally impressed with the stairs, and your shots of them. I am going to have to check that place out, too. Lots of information here that even someone who has lived her as long as me doesn't know about. Also, on a different note, it's always good for you and JC to keep your senses of humor during times of recession :-)
Posted by RT at 2010年11月08日 12:48
You only scratched the surface of the art scene here. But what you got was great! I'll have to look for Sottoprodotto. Thanks!
Posted by Steve at 2010年11月25日 08:47
I agree with you steve. there's so much to look at and I'll keep searching and posting. thanks for the comment!
Posted by pat at 2010年11月25日 08:52
