Photos and Videos of "A Thread X A Thread" In the Atrium of McKnight

Here are some photos of my work "A Thread X A Thread" that a professional photographer, Kendra Cremin of WSU ADCI  took.  They are so gorgeous!  I have noticed that my work is seen differently by different persons.  Also, depending on the surrounding circumstances, and by the direction of light, this work in the photos appears to change color completely.  It appears to be a dark-colored piece on a light background, and it appears to be a light-colored piece on a dark-colored background. Since the space did not have any control over the light from outside, the background changed one after another, depending on the time of day and the weather, giving the piece completely different looks. I have been seeing this piece for more than 10 years, but I always find something new about this work.  

 

Artist Talk at WSU ADCI

Thanks to WSU ADCI, my event and the installation were included in the series called Public Art Series which was their featured series for this semester.  I am grateful that I had an opportunity to do an artist talk in conjunction with my event and exhibition.  This was the first time for me to do an artist talk at my alma matter sharing my artistic journey after I graduated.  Thank you so much to the people who attended the event!  I was very nervous and read the script more than usual.  Other than that, it was fun because I love PowerPoint! I hope I will have more opportunities like this in the future.  

I was so glad to be back at WSU in this season.  Loved seeing Tom Otterness's Millie and the tulips and Andy Goldsworthy's  Wichita Arch with redbud trees.  

The golden elevator in McKnight hasn't changed in years.  I turned around and to my surprise, there was a handsome poster with my name on it!  Jeff Pulaski, a graphic design professor and the director of WSU ADCI created this eye-catching poster and posted on the door inside the elevator. 

Tea Ceremony Event

The tea ceremony event on April 12th was absolutely beautiful.  I truely treasured each moment.  Thank you to Miyu who hosted the tea ceremony, three designated guests, everyone who helped, and everyone who attended from near and far!  Here are some photos.  Photo credit: KC - Kendra Cremin, SD - Sloane Dyer, CM - Chiyoko Myose 

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After the event, many threads were added to my installation "A Thread X A Thread" by the members of the tea ceremony and the people of the Wichita community. This work started out as my personal work, but has now become something that engages the community and also crosses cultures.　

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Thank You Everyone Who Helped Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze

The Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze project is over now, but I would like to look back and write several articles about it over the next several posts.

For this project, we received many peoples' help.  I would like to introduce them here.  

We received a lot of volunteer help and participation from Miyu's friends and Japanese Culture Association at WSU.  They helped with the trial installation and became the big part for the tea ceremony event on April 12th.  From left to right, Sarah, Chaewon, Miyu, Natsuki, Kanna, and Ryotaro.  Kanna made the publicity image as well.  Missing two people in this picture, but thank you, everyone! 

Since the McKnight Art Center atrium is a large space, I opted to receive help from the students from Robert Bubp's Community Arts Engagement class.  This class is designed to send students directory to community art projects and give them hands-on experience in project creation in the real world.  Lynn, Wyatt, and Sam from the class participated in this project.  We worked on variouis works including fablication of my installation, installing, and execution of the tea ceremony event.  They worked closely with me including the various behind-the-scenes tasks.  For their final assignment, they created their own work in response to my piece, which I am going to share about later.  This is a picture of us fablicating a thread piece in the golden morning sun light at McKnight.  

Formal Japanese tea ceremony is considered to be a comporehensive art as it includes various art forms such as ceramics, hanging scroll, flower arrangement, architectual design, and garden. With this exhibit, I sought to capture this essence of the tea ceremony environment. However, rather than placing these objects directly in the space, I chose to create a video piece that draws inspiration from a chashitsu, or a tea room. 

Here is Rino, providing a calligraphy piece in the place for a hanging scroll.  Rino is an exchange student from Tokyo. Her beautiful calligraphy was included in the show card as well, which was a blessing.

Wyatt from the Community Arts Engagement class also helped with the video piece. He is a ceramics major and I asked him to throw a tea bowl for the inclusion of the video clips. He kindly wedged clay and threw a couple of bowls for me.  

For the big installation day, I received help from the whole class of Levente Sulyok's Intermediate Painting class.  Thanks to their help, the major part of the installation was finished in about 3 hours and half.  

Photo credit: Lynn Clark

I really appreciated the final push from Levente, my former painting professor, to make the design even better! It almost made me cry. He looks like flying in this picture! 

To be honest, I didn't expect that we were going to receive so much help at the beginning.  It happened because the more we prepared, the more we had to do. I also think it was because it attracted attention and got more people interested in the project. Although I don't have photos of all the people who helped, I would like to share my sincere thanks to them. Without their help, this project would not have happened. I would like to express my gratitude by listing their names here.

WSU ADCI Jeff, Austine, & Kendra

Japanese Culture Association at WSU and Miyu’s friends, Ami, Chaewon, Kanna, Kazune, Natsuki, Rino, & Ryotaro

Robert Burp and the students from his Community Arts Engagement class, Lynn, Wyatt, & Sam

Levente Sulyok and the whole class of his Intermediate Painting class

Isledi and Japanese Language program of WSU

Some individuals Lisa, Sloane, Sarah, & James

Upcoming Show and Events Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze

 

Image by Kanna

Calligraphy by Rino

Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze

A Collaboration with Japanese Tea Ceremony

hosted by Miyu Takahashi

and the Installation Art “A Thread X A Thread”

by Chiyoko Myose

 

Location:

Atrium, McKnight Art Center on WSU campus

1845 N. Fairmount St. Wichita, KS, 67260

 

The installation will be on view

April 12 – April 26, 2024 Mon. - Fri.

 

Tea Ceremony Event: Friday, April 12, Doors will open

at 5:30 pm, with the event starting at 6:00pm

Free sample tea and confectionery will be served

to the first 30 visitors.

The tea ceremony will be demonstrated for three

designated guests.

 

Artist Talk by Chiyoko Myose:

Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 11:30am-1:00pm

McKnight Art Center, Room 210

Everyone is welcome to attend!  

４月１２日夕方６時より、高橋美結さんによる茶道と私のインスタレーションアートのコラボのイベントを行います。午後５時半開場です。どなたでも大歓迎です。先着３０名様にサンプルのお抹茶とおひがしをお出しします。３名の代表の方にお点前のデモンストレーションを行います。

場所はWSUのMcKnight Art Centerの一階です。
住所　McKnight Art Center on WSU campus
1845 N. Fairmount St. Wichita, KS, 67260

インスタレーション作品は４月１２日から２６日（月ー金）までご覧になれます。

また４月１６日１１:３０amより、私のアーティストトークもあります。どうぞお越しください。McKnight Art Center Room 210

Someone asked me if it's ok to wear kimono or yukata. Absolutely! We will be busy on the day of the event, so we will not be able to help you dress, but of course you are welcome to do so.

着物、浴衣を着てもいいかとのお問合せがありましたが、もちろん大歓迎です！当日、立て込んでいますので、着付けのお手伝いはできませんが…。