Foundation House, CT, Artist Residency Experience Part 3. Apple Orchard

On the second day, Christina, the Director of Foundation House, gave us a tour of the outside grounds.  We looked around the rotunda, pond, the island in the middle of the pond, a crooked bridge to go to the island, the horse trails, the green house, the former stable, and more.　

She told us that the apple trees in the orchard were bearing fruits for the first time in several years. This was the first time since the new owners purchased the land. Inspired by this, I decided to temporarily install my installation "A Thread X A Thread" here as a way to say, "the apples have found a home" and to celebrate. I thought it would mesh well with the theme of my piece.

Our artist residency group had a group photo here with Mimi, the owner of this place, and her beautiful dogs!  I am truly grateful to Mimi for buying this place and saving it from being destroyed and letting us to use it.  What generous philanthropic spirit!  

That day, an accident happened. The sprinkler had wet my threads. Knowing that the morning dew would make them even wetter, I decided to leave them overnight. I waited for the afternoon sun to dry them out completely and took the pieces down. They smelled like the Connecticut sun.  It was an accident, but I think it added an even more interesting saga to this work.

Foundation House, Greenwich, CT  August, 2023

Foundation House, CT, Artist Residency Experience Part 2. Exploring the Place

Walking through the house was like exploring a mysterious and magical place in every way.  Main floor has foyer, great room, library, kitchen, and dining rooms.  You are surrounded by stone walls, exposed beams, stained glass windows, wood panels.  Upstairs there are bedrooms.  I couldn't tell how many bedrooms and bathrooms there were.  Each room had different and fascinating features: uniquely shaped light fixtures, arched windows, doors, niches, walk-in closets, wood and marble floors. 

My favorite spot was the main stair space.  The staircase squares off the space, with a chandelier hanging in the middle that looks just right.  The landing has a large window with latticework.  The ornate woodworked railings and posts are smooth to the touch, and the creaking sound as you walk down the stairs evokes the thrill of walking through a large old mansion.  The floor is stone, and a decorative wooden wall hides a secret door to the basement.

The basement is another favorite of mine.  It looked like a medieval undercroft or cave.  Many rooms were unfinished, but wooden doors had been installed in each room.  Every door made a squeaking sound.  I lost myself there several times.  At one point, I was shown the gym in the basement.  After that, I could never find it.

Foundation House, Greenwich, CT  August, 2023

Foundation House, CT Artist Residency Experience Part 1 Arrival

In August, 2023, I participated in an artist residency program at Foundation House, Greenwich, CT.  Although it was only a short period of nine days, It was a very impactful experience for me.  For the next several posts.  I am going to write about this place and the experience.    

This spring, while searching the internet for art opportunities, a place caught my eye.  It was Foundation House in Greenwich, Connecticut.  It was described as "a creative and philanthropic community."  It was once a mansion for Mel Gibson and other wealthy people.  There is a large Tudor-style manor house built in 1927. Outside are extensive yards, gardens, ponds, horse stables, greenhouses, gardens, orchards, a tennis court, a huge chess set, swimming pool, rotunda, and hedge maze.  At first glance, it looked beautiful and interesting, but also mysterious.  The facility offers artist residencies and activist residency programs throughout the year. Their mission to improve the environment, social justice, and mental health was exactly what I was thinking about while making art.  They also offer a stipend and honorarium to cover the cost of residency.  They encouraged me to apply for the Artist Residency program in August.

When I learned that I had been selected as one of eight participants out of 80 applicants, I was very excited!  I immediately purchased my airline ticket and began packing for Connecticut. 

When I arrived at Foundation House, I found it to be a truly beautiful place, far beyond my expectation.  My bedroom was in the middle part of the second floor. The latticed, south-facing windows faced a spectacular view of open green lawns, huge trees, and bushes both near and far.  They were all well-maintained and neatly landscaped.  Everything in sight was within the estate.  I was speechless with amazement and emotion.

Every day I woke up to the morning sun, the sound of birds and the smell of coffee.  I tried to walk outside every day and also spent many hours in my private studio, which was located on the corner of the house and had windows on two sides of the room.  I worked on my small painting series "Iridescence" here day and night.  I was able to focus on art making thanks to the environment that provides us with food, financial support, and time for individual use.             

To be continued...

Foundation House, Greenwich, CT, August, 2023

Foundation House CT Artist Residency Coming Soon

 

    Photo from Foundation House Website

 Photo from Foundation House Website

     I am very happy to announce  that I am accepted to Foundation House Artist Residency Program in August, 2023!  I am so excited to be able to spend 9 days creating artwork in this beautiful place in Connecticut.  It was built in 1927; it's nearly 100 years old.  The history of this house is here.   It has 3 miles of walking trails.  Along with making art, I am hoping to spend time immersed in nature!  These photos are just a glimpse of this place.  I will be posting the photos of the experience soon.  

Where Women Create Magazine Premium Newletter

So happy that I am featured in Where Women Create Magazine Premium Newsletter.  In this newsletter interview,  I talk about the collaborations with my daughter Sarah, the collaboration with The City Girl Farm, and the trip and exhibitions in Japan.  Please check it out! 

This happened because I was one of the featured artists in the Fall 2022 issue of What Women Create.  The back order of this issue is possible through this page if you are interested.  

Keeper 150 in the Wichita City Hall

I recently visited Wichita City Hall with my daughter Sarah.  We went to see the photographic poster of the replica of the "Keeper of the Plains" statue that we painted as part of the Wichita's 150th birthday project, which is now attached to the door of one of the elevators in City Hall.  Our Keeper's name is City Bird Keeper. You can read more about it here. 

Each of the seven elevators has different poster of a Keeper from the project on the inside and outside.  Thinking that the door is opened and closed every day, and watched by people every time the elevators are used, we are grateful and exited.

先日、娘のセーラと一緒にウィチタ市役所を訪れました。私たちがウィチタ市市政１５０周年のプロジェクトの一環として描いた「Keeper of the Plains」像のレプリカの写真ポスターが、市庁舎のエレベーターの1つの扉に設置されているので、それを見に行ったのです。私たちのKeeperの名前は、City Bird Keeper（シティ・バード・キーパー）といいます。 詳細については、こちらをご覧ください。 

7基あるエレベーターの内側と外側には、それぞれこのプロジェクトのキーパーを撮影した異なったポスターが一作ずつ付けられています。エレベーターが使われるたびに、観てもらえ、毎日開閉して動いていると思うと、 ありがたく、嬉しく思います。

2022 Fall Japan Trip (6) Otemachi, Tokyo ２０２２年秋 日本旅行(6) 東京 大手町

At the end of my stay in Japan, I was able to share my artwork in one more location...in a skyscraper in Otemachi, Tokyo. Otemachi is an office district that has become the financial and economic center of Japan, and I had no idea that my art work would be exhibited in such a place. God takes me to interesting places. 

I was asked to share my testimony and exhibit my artwork at the service of a church called Grace City Church, which is held in this building.  My works were displayed to about 100 attendees with a vision of community engagement, human connection, and beyond.  I was also able to share the story of my late mother.  Thank you to everyone who helped me and put on the threads. It was a very blessed time for me. I hope that my work and the story I shared were a blessing to you as well.

日本での滞在の最後に、もう一か所で、私の作品をシェアすることができました…東京大手町にある高層ビル内です。大手町といえば日本の金融経済の中心地となってきているオフィス街ですが、そんなところで私のアート作品を展示することになるとは思いもよりませんでした。神様は私を面白いところに連れて行かれます。 

このビル内で持たれているGrace City Church という教会の礼拝で、証と作品の展示を頼まれたことによります。約100人の出席者を対象に、コミュニティとの関わり、人との繋がり、そしてその先のビジョンを持って展示されました。また私の亡くなった母についてもお話しさせてもらいました。手伝って下さった皆さん、糸をつけてくださった皆さん､ありがとうございました。私にとってとても恵まれた時となりました。皆さんにとっても私の作品とお分かちしたお話がブレッシングでありましたように｡

As I mentioned before, Roger Lowther of Community Arts Tokyo wrote a podcast episode about the exhibition at the Minami Terrace and this exhibition in Otemachi.  For more information, please read my previous blog post.

以前にも書きましたが、南テラスとこの大手町での展示を通して、Community Arts TokyoのRoger Lowther さんがポッドキャストの記事を書いてくださいました。こちらがそのリンクになります。詳しくは以前の私のブログ記事をお読みください。

This post is the conclusion of my several-part travelogue of my 2022 trip to Japan.  Thank you for reading.  I had an amazing time in Japan!  I hope it was inspiring to you, too.

何回かに渡った私の２０２２年日本旅行記はこのブログ記事で終了です。 読んで下さってありがとうございました。 日本では素晴らしい時間を過ごすことができました。  皆さんにもインスピレーションを与えることができたなら幸いです。