Artist Talk Event "Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art"

Thank you to those who attended the artist talk event of the show "Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art" last Friday.  I was glad to see you all!  Marie Bukowski, Pam Bjork, and I did give a talk about our work. Here are some photos my family and friends shared with me. 

In this show, I have four paintings from the "Sojourning" series, two assemblages and an installation art from the "Gift" series. The show will be up through Nov. 22. Some works are already sold.  I hope you will check out the show before it's gone. 

Location: Harvester Arts at the Lux, 120 E. 1st St N., Wichita, KS, 67202

Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art
curated by Trish Higgins Fine Art @thfagallery
Featured Artists: Ann Resnick, Chiyoko Myose, Debra M Smith, Kevin Mullins, Marie Bukowski & Pam Bjork
Open Gallery Hours
Mondays 3-9 p.m.
Tuesdays - Fridays 3-6 p.m.
Saturdays 10 - 2 p.m.

It’s best to check if it is open before you visit the gallery.

Closing Reception: Friday, November 22, 6-8 p.m.

Upcoming Artist Talk Event

Thank you to those of you who visited the show at Harvester Arts at the Lux! I am so excited that some of my works have found their new home already. There is going to be an artist talk event this coming Friday. Two other artists and I will give a short artist talk. This will be another rare chance to listen to this nervous woman! Everyone is welcome.

Gifts, not Mere Coincidences (detail) 

Gifts, not Mere Coincidences (detail) 

"Sojourning #11" (detail)

 "Sojourning #19" (detail) 

Gifts, Unum (detail) 

Gifts, Unum (detail) 

Date: Nov. 1 (Fri.) from 7:00 pm.

Location: Harvester Arts at the Lux, 120 E. 1st St N., Wichita, KS, 67202

Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art
curated by Trish Higgins Fine Art @thfagallery
Featured Artists: Ann Resnick, Chiyoko Myose, Debra M Smith, Kevin Mullins, Marie Bukowski & Pam Bjork
Open Gallery Hours
Mondays 3-9 p.m.
Tuesdays - Fridays 3-6 p.m.
Saturdays 10 - 2 p.m.

It’s best to check if it is open before you visit the gallery.

Closing Reception: Friday, November 22, 6-8 p.m.

"Gifts, not Mere Coincidences" in the "Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art" Show

Thank you to those of you who came to the opening of the show “Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art”! I had a great time!

I have seven pieces in this show; four paintings, two assemblages, and one installation art. Here are some photos of the “Gifts, not Mere Coincidences” installation. I was wearing a necklace with the same type of beads that my art is “wearing”.

This is the first time I have included a fire alarm in my work!  It was sort of unexpected at the beginning, but it's working well visually and conceptually. It added a blinking red light to my piece, plus a little humor, I guess!

It is interesting to see the Asian influence in the work of other artists. I can’t stop looking at it! I am so grateful and humbled to be in the same show with these accomplished artists, especially Kevin Mullins. His work is vivid and reminds me of the many words of encouragement he gave me. We artists live on in our artwork.

"Arashiyama I, II, III, & IV" 

By Kevin Mullins

2004, Relief/screenprint on paper, 109" X 33.5" each

Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art
curated by Trish Higgins Fine Art @thfagallery
Featured Artists: Ann Resnick, Chiyoko Myose, Debra M Smith, Kevin Mullins, Marie Bukowski & Pam Bjork
Open Gallery Hours
Mondays 5-9 p.m. (during Wichita Sketch Club)
Tuesdays - Fridays 3-6 p.m.
Saturdays 10 - 2 p.m.
Closing Reception: Friday, November 22, 6-8 p.m.

Harvester Arts at the Lux: 120 E. 1st St N., Wichita, KS, 67202
It’s best to check if it is open before you visit the gallery.

Upcoming Show "Asian Influence in Contemprary Western Art" Curated by Trish Higgins Fine Art

My works are included in this show, starting from Oct. 4th at the Lux, Harvester Arts' new location.  

I am showing assemblage pieces and installation art from the "Gift" series and "Sojourning" paintings.

 

Marie Bukowski, Navigating Currents #29 intaglio monotype and collage

Asian Influence in Contemporary Western Art curated by Trish Higgins Fine Art

Featured Artists: Ann Resnick, Chiyoko Myose, Debra M Smith, Kevin Mullins, Marie Bukowski, & Pam Bjork

Location: Harvester Arts at The Lux 120 E. 1st St N. Wichita, KS 67202

Opening Reception: Oct 4, 6-8 pm

Open Gallery Hours at Harvester at The Lux:  Mondays 5 -9 pm (during Wichita Sketch Club)

Tuesdays - Fridays 3 - 6 pm

Saturdays 10 - 2 pm

Closing Reception: Friday, November 22, 6 - 8 pm

Harvester will be closed from Oct. 11th, to 13th and 24th to 27th. 

"Reclamation" Show at Commerce Club at the National

My work is included in the group show "Reclamation" at Commerce Club at the National, in downtown Wichita.

It is a big group show featuring 13 regional artists curated by Tim Stone, an artist and instructor at Wichita State University.  

You can view the work by messaging Tim directly to schedule a tour.  You can also make purchasing inquiries to him.  His email address is trstone88@gmail.com

The reception is going to be on Friday, July 26,  5pm - 8:30 pm.  There will be a bar service and hor dourves provided. 

Commerce Club, the National, 150 N Main St, Wichita, KS 67202

This is a sneak peek of the show.  There are many more artworks!

It's a spacious and enjoyable space to stroll around.  Each wall is decorated with unique artwork by talented artists. You can meet these artists at the reception!

Back to a Suitcase. Artist Statement for Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze

I enjoyed this work "A Thread X A Thread"  a lot throughout the showcase at WSU.  It witnessed a formal Japanese tea ceremony, saw the energy of the studetns and their thoughtful and elaborate artworks.  I had many good conversations with old and new faculty.  With the help of many people, this work itself has been exhibited in the biggest setting ever. It is 50 feet high. I am surprised myself that a work that started with only two pieces of thread has grown so large. Of course, I had the help of many people with the installation. Without their help, this would not have been possible. Thank you so much everyone! I am humbled and grateful. Without their help, this exhibit would not have been possible. 

Now its is in a small suitcase again.  I hope it will continue its journey and meet more people if the Lord's willing.

  

Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze

Collaboration Between Japanese Tea Ceremony and the Installation Art “A Thread X A Thread”

Artist Statement by Chiyoko Myose

 

On our journey through life, we meet many people.  Although I know I cannot build relationships with every person that I meet, my hope is to treasure the moment of meeting people whether or not I will have another chance to see that person again.  I believe such a mindset will eventually bring peace between individuals and create a sense of "home." The installation “A Thread X A Thread” began by tying two pieces of thread together and it continues to evolve.  Each knot that is created represents the crossing point between people; and the importance of cherishing each moment of encounters with others.

This idea resonates with a Japanese cultural concept which is related to the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.  Over a cup of tea, participants in the tea ceremony experience a moment of peace and tranquility in a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

I am pleased to collaborate with Miyu, who has 12 years of experience in tea ceremony, to create a collaboration with tea ceremony and the installation “A Thread X A Thread”.  The theme and the title of this event, “Harukaze, Spring Breeze” expresses the essence of a journey: movement, change, and resonance with place. Miyu and I traveled from our home country to another.  While exploring the artistic expression through tea ceremony sessions and immersive installation art experiences, we hope to express gratitude to the people we meet along our life’s journey, and to the Wichita community. 

Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony, or sado, “The way of tea”, is a Japanese tradition steeped in history. It is a ceremonial way and process of serving and drinking tea, showing hospitality and gratitude through each traditional movement. Tea ceremony is considered as a comprehensive art form that includes ceramics, hanging scrolls, flower arrangement, architecture design, and gardens. The four principles of the tea ceremony are tranquility, respect, purity, and harmony.  This traditional philosophy and etiquette are reflected in various forms in today's Japanese culture.  There are three main schools of tea ceremony, and the one presented in this event is the Urasenke school's. Usu-cha, thin tea, and sweets called higashi, a handmade confectionery made from fine-grained sugar are going to be served at this event. Various shapes of higashi associated with the spring season are prepared.

The journey of “A Thread X A Thread”

Since this work was first showcased in Wichita in 2013, it has been exhibited in 18 different places including Matfield Green, Manhattan, and Lindsborg KS, Kansas City, MO, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK, Greenwich, CT, Billings, MT, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Chiba, Japan. In each show, I invite people to add threads to my piece hoping that this interactive act would become the place for them to think about their own relationship with people and treasure each moment.  I hope it will continue its journey and the added thread pieces will meet people in other places.

Special thanks to ADCI, Wichita State University the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries, JCA, Japanese Culture Association at Wichita State University, and the Wichita State University Japanese Language Program, Lisa Komatsu, and Ami Goto. 

 

 

Video Piece Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze - Making of Chashitsu

While I was producing the Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze project, I thought that a tea ceremony must encompass the perspective of a comprehensive art.  Since the space is large, I thought it would not be a good idea to place small objects randomly.  Instead, I decided to create a video piece with images suggesting these objects.  At first I considered using projection, but since the event was at 6:00 p.m., when it was still light, and since the space did not allow control of light from outside, I decided to use a TV set to play the video.  It was running in the space of the atrium of McKnight during the show thanks to the cooperation of the office of WSU ADCI.  You can watch it on my YouTube channel now.

Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze Making of Chashitsu

The artist statement is below.

Harukaze 春風 Spring Breeze

Making of Chashitsu

Video

Artist statement

Chiyoko Myose

 

Tea ceremony generally takes place within a traditional Japanese room called chashitsu, or a tearoom.  Chashitsu is set in a garden featuring elements like tsukubai, a washbasin for visitors to purify themselves before entering the chashitsu.  

Inside, the chashitsu is decorated simply, and yet thoughtfully with art elements such as a hanging scroll, bamboo works, flower arrangement, and ceramic works.  This is why the tea ceremony is called a comprehensive art form. 

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 work that draws inspiration from a chashitsu.

This video piece includes alternative elements reminiscent of those found in a traditional chashitsu such as water in a stream and a lake, and flowers in the field.  Here I have dared to choose wildflowers, which are considered weeds. These landscapes, when carefully observed and meditated upon, reveal deep layers of beauty and significance.

Instead of the traditional hanging scroll and tea bowl, I included a calligraphy scene by Rino and a tea bowl throwing scene by Wyatt as beautiful alternatives.

By layering them over the gently swaying images of my installation "A Thread X A Thread" and using posterize effect in places, I expressed a feeling of imagining and recognizing "chashitsu"– the one and only moment of tranquility and gratitude – wherever I go.