Chiyoko Myose - Sojourning in A Time of Uncertainty, Video Clip by Clive Fullagar

      Clive Fullagar made this beautiful video for my solo exhibition at Manhattan Arts Center, Manhattan, KS.  If you're in this area, please visit the show and follow their health and safety practice guidelines.  In this show, I am showing paintings including some new works and a special social distancing version of my installation"A Thread X A Thread".

Kirmser Gallery,
Manhattan Arts Center
1520 Poyntz Ave.
Manhattan, KS, 66502
Date:  July 11 - August 8, 2020

For the details of the gallery, go to Manhattan Arts Center's website.

Solo Exhibition at Manhattan Arts Center

This summer, I'm showing my paintings and an installation "A Thread X A Thread in a Time of Uncertainty," a special social distancing version of "A Thread X A Thread" in Manhattan KS.

Sojourning in a Time of Uncertainty - the artwork of Chiyoko Myose
I'm glad this show is actually happening and did not get cancelled!
If you're in this area, please check it out.
Please wear a mask and practice social distancing of at least six feet.

Sojourning #24

Kirmser Gallery,
Manhattan Arts Center
1520 Poyntz Ave.
Manhattan, KS, 66502

Date:  July 11 - August 8, 2020
Opening Reception:  July 10, 5:00 - 7:00pm

Painting "City Bird Keeper"

     Here is a set of photos toward the end of the painting of our Keeper.  The large birds throughout the Keeper symbolize the district's history of manufacturing airplanes, the McConnell Air Forse base, and the significance of being at the heart of the "Air Capital" of the world.  They illustrate the community's efforts to soar high and "fly" together.  The circles overlapped through the Keeper are exemplary of the round shape of golf balls and disc golf, which have both been the main attraction at Clapp Park.  They also represent the movement of our thoughts.  We decided to title our Keeper as "City Bird Keeper". 

Finding a Place for the Keeper

The other day, we were asked which particular spot of the park we would like to place our Keeper, so we went to the park again.  Since it is a huge park with no vehicle accessiblity inside, it was nearly impossible to see the whole place, but we knew it had to be the place that people can go to see easily even with wheelchairs.  We decided to focus on the area close to the Clapp Park building with the park's main parking lot nearby.





Since the park was a former golf course, it has a lot of remnants of the circular putting greens.  They looked like a nice place for sculptures/statues.  We particularly liked a couple of these circular areas; one near the Clapp Park building and one close to the corner of the cross-section of Oliver St. and Harry St.  The first one is very close to the park building which is easily accessible, and the second one is visible from the street.  We decided to nominate these two places and leave it up to Together Wichita to decide the rest.

Painting the Keeper

Here are some photos to share how we were painting the Keeper.  This was about over half-way through.

 

     Chris Frank from KPTS came to our studio garage the other day.  He is making a documentary to feature all 13 artists who have been working on this project as well as Blackbear Bosin, the original artist of the Keeper of the Plains.  My daughter did a good job with the interview, but I was sweating horribly with a mask on.  This documentary program is going to be on air four times on their station and this will also become the official unveiling of the Keepers. 

Undercoating and Drawing on the Keeper

We spent a couple of weeks with the undercoating and drawing on the Keeper.  We found this process quite important, so we spent more days than we had estimated on it.  Basically, we worked inside our studio garage, but since the ceiling is not high enough, we had to take the Keeper outside from time to time to see if the design was correct when it was upright.  We've been appreciating our family who has helped with carrying it every time we do it! 

Working on Planning for the Keeper

      After getting some information and inspiration, my daughter and I did some brainstorming and talked about several different ideas while we did some sketching.  We nailed down an idea that we both liked, and I did a drawing on a sheet of paper with color pencils first.  We chose this stylized and simplified mode of rendering with many colors to create a vibrant and whimsical tone.

 

     Then, I transferred the image to a  template sheet, and my daughter created a digital image from it.

     Together with the artist statement, we sent the proposal and it got approved thankfully by the Bosin Foundation and Together Wichita, but we needed to wait to receive the Keeper for about a month due to the Corona Virus pandemic and the stay at home order.  What a time to live in!  Stay safe everybody!