2022 Fall Japan Trip (1) Kyoto ２０２２年秋 日本旅行(１) 京都

 I know this is behind, but last November, I temporarily returned to Japan for three weeks.  This time, as it was my first time in Japan in 5 years, I had a lot to do.  As a result, during my trip I visited 8 cities, met with family and friends, and had 3 art exhibits.  Thank you to everyone who spent time with me and helped me.

Even though I am from Japan, when you live abroad for a long time, the scenery of Japan that you thought you were used to seeing, starts to look special, and you realize things that you did not know before.  It was as if I was an " artist in residency," I explored Japan, its culture, and my own roots, as well as gained new inspirations.  I would like to share some of the many photos I took with you over the next several posts. 

遅ればせながら、昨年１１月に３週間、日本に一時帰国をしました。今回は５年ぶりの日本ということもあり、色々やりたいことがありました。結果、旅行中、８つの市を訪問し、家族や友達に会ったり、３つのアート展示をするという大変忙しい旅となりました。時間を一緒に過ごして下さったり、手伝って下さった皆さん、どうも有難うございました。

日本出身とはいえ、海外生活が長くなりますと、見慣れていたと思っていた日本の風景が、特別なものに見えてきたり、知らなかったことに気付かされたりするものです。半ばアーティストレジデンシーをしているかのように、日本という国、文化、自らのルーツに触れたり、新たなインスピレーションを得たような気もします。多く撮った写真の中かいくつかを、何回かに分けてご紹介させていただきたいと思います。

京都　嵐山　Kyoto Arashiyama

　     I lived in Kyoto when I was a college student in Japan.  All these years, I have wanted to visit Kyoto again during the autumn season, and I'm so glad my wish came true this time.  I saw the same colors and shapes in my memories.  

日本の学生時代、京都に住んでいました。この何年も、紅葉の時期に京都を再び訪れてみたいと思っていたので、今回思いがかなって嬉しいです。思い出の中と同じ色や形を見ることができました。

　

　　

平等院鳳凰堂  Byodoin Hououdo

　

Little Free Library Addition to Our Front Porch at Old Mill Tasty Shop

       

     With the funding for spring addition to our Front Porch at Old Mill Tasty Shop, my daughter Sarah and I decided to install a Little Free Library.  Last October, we started working on this project.  After brainstorming, we chose the design that mimics the store front of the Old Mill.  Then we had a woodworker on Etsy called “Wall to Wall Woodworks” in Mississippi build the library.  We chose them because they have experience with building custom-designed little libraries.  After we safely received it in December, we worked on sanding, staining, painting, sealing and putting vinyl letters.  Early this month, we went to install it at our Front Porch.  My son James helped us as well.  It was an exciting moment for us!  The library looks so cute in front of the restaurant!  In a week or so, it already got filled with books.  Currently, we are in the process of registering it to set up a steward account and list its location on Little Free Library's app.  

     Visit our little free library!  Take a book and share a book!  We hope people from the Wichita community will enjoy it as well as seating at the front porch!  

     The Front Porch Project Wichita is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Company Foundation.  For more about the project, please read about it here. 

Little Free Library designed and painted by Chiyoko Myose & Sarah Myose

The location: In front of Old Mill Tasty Shop 

604 E. Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS

     

Art, Life, Faith Podcast by Roger Lowther

      I am going to write about my Japan trip later, but I want to mention this earlier.  Through the shows in Tokyo in last November, Roger Lowther of Community Arts Tokyo created this podcast episode.  It was aired last year during Christmas time.  Roger is an organist, speaker, author, and leader in various global arts ministry organizations. This episode is written from a meditation on my work as seen from his perspective.  I am very humbled and would like to thank him for such a beautifully written piece.

A Thread X A Thread - Art of Chiyoko Myose - Art, Life, Faith by Roger Lowther 

     About Roger, this looks like a good page to check out.  You can listen to his beautiful music from this page as well.  You can find the books that he has written, too, which I am very interested in reading.  I wish I had more time in Tokyo to discuss with him and his wife, Abi, about art, culture-care, life, and faith.  While I am waiting for another chance to see them, I would like to listen to more episodes on his podcast.   

You can subscribe his podcast from this page.  

The New Shocker Magazine and the Shock Art Page

     I know I’m a bit behind with this, but The Shocker, WSU’s alumni magazine, is back in a new format starting with Fall/Winter 2022 issue. I’m featured as the artist on Shock Art page of this issue.  I am happy to have been chosen as the first artist since the new revision.  If you're a WSU alumni and get a copy, I hope you check it out!
　WSUの同窓会誌ザ•ショッカーが2022秋冬号より新しいフォーマットになって発刊されるようになりました｡この号のショック•アートのページに私のことを載せて下さっています。新改訂されてから初めのアーティストに選ばれて、嬉しい限りです。WSU卒業生の方、ご覧になって下さると嬉しいです｡

You can see it online here. 

オンラインでも記事をこちらでご覧になれます。

B&A オンラインインタビュー「寄留者の旅 ーHomeを求めてー」

 日本のB＆Aミニストリーズ(バイブル&アートミニストリーズ）の町田先生によるインタビューYouTube動画です。下のリンクをクリックしてください。

B&A オンラインインタビュー「寄留者の旅　ーHomeを求めてー」

今年の９月にご依頼を受け、Zoomにて制作されました。B&Aミニストリーズとは 東日本大震災後の２０１２年のチャリティー展示会から繋がらせていただいています。とはいえ、大型のインスタレーション作品や、アメリカでの活動についてシェアする機会が今までなかったので、このようにして自分の作品について説明する機会が与えられて感謝です。インタビューはすべて日本語となっております。私の作品のインスピレーションになったこと、制作秘話などお話しさせていただいています。少々長いので、何回かに渡ってご視聴いただければ良いのではないかと思います。

This is a video interview by Rev. Machida of B&A Ministries (Bible & Art Ministries) in Japan.  I have been connected with B&A since their charity exhibition in 2012 after the Great East Japan Earthquake.  However, I had never had a chance to share about my large-scale installations or other activities in the U.S., so I am grateful for this opportunity to explain my work in this way.  It's all in Japanese.  I am talking about what inspired my work and the secret stories behind the creation of my work.  It is a bit long, so you might want to watch it over several times.

Christmas Decoration Addition to Our Front Porch

    Downtown Wichita announced that all of us the Front Porch makers are going to get additional funding for Christmas and spring.  My daughter Sarah and I decided to add LED solar lights and artificial green to our Front Porch for Christmas.   We hand crafted bushes using an artificial tree to go with the planters.  The other day, we went to install them.  

    The decoration at Naftzger Park across the street can be seen from our Front Porch and it's very pretty!  We hope our decoration adds Christmas spirit to this area.  

  

Old Mill Tasty Shop and Sarah from the Naftzger Park

Merry Christmas, everyone!