Event Archive - 2019
Chicago-based master calligrapher Hekiun Oda offers a beginner shodo (Japanese calligraphy) workshop, where participants can learn the basic techniques and history of this art form.
『夏』〜 Summer Thoughts
A Neoclassical collaborative performance by Japanese Calligrapher Artist Grandmaster Hekiun Oda with Shubukai’s Grandmaster Yoshinojo Fujima. Live music provided by: The Reduction Trio (Tatsu Aoki, Jamie Kempkers, Kioto Aoki)
Join Noriko Yanagihara for a one-hour workshop for anyone who is interested in learning how to fold origami. Noriko Yanagihara has been a longtime volunteer member at JASC’s Tampopokai program.
Obihiro artists Daisaku Ueno, Masanori Umeda, and Hiroshi Mehata from Tokyo discuss their respective artistic practices and how they arrived at the pieces that were made for the exhibition “思考回路 / Shikou Kairo: Patterns of Thought”presented by AIRMW and Hairpin Arts Center. Viewers are invited to watch Ueno as he begins his site-specific sculpture and Mehata will play Obihiro-inspired compositions. Umeda also introduces his new works that lie between painting and sculpture.
Curators Kioto Aoki and Asha Iman Veal host a roundtable discussion with artists Diana Quiñones Rivera and Sarita Garcia, of “The Tokyo Show: Black & Brown Are Beautiful” at the Hairpin Arts Center. The conversation will focus on how global mobility, identity and space are addressed in the respective exhibitions by Asian Improv aRts Midwest and the Hyde Park Art Center.
*This discussion is the first half of a conversational exchange between the Hyde Park Art Center and AIRMW/Hairpin Arts. The second half will take place on July 24 at the Hyde Park Art Center*
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The Tokyo Show: Black & Brown Are Beautiful explores cross-cultural solidarity across communities that are often kept apart by geographic or political distance. This exhibition and ongoing project advocates for redirected routes of dialogues across global space—through the leadership of artists, and as a way to reconsider complex identities. On view at Hyde Park Art Center through September 29.
Tsukasa Taiko kickstarts the opening reception for “思考回路/Shikou Kairo: Patterns of Thought” with a taiko performance at Woodard Plaza. The official exhibit opening reception takes place at the Hairpin Arts Center across the street, immediately following the outdoor showcase.
Tsukasa Taiko is a program of Asian Improv aRts Midwest that offers taiko drum instruction, education, and performances. Its mission is to preserve, develop, and pass on the traditional concepts of Japanese art as a cultural legacy, while also expanding and evolving the art of taiko. It is the premiere community taiko group in the Chicagoland area with the largest community ensemble and most active professional performance activities. www.taikolegacy.com
Please join AIRMW and Hairpin Arts Center for the official opening celebration of the exhibition “思考回路/ Shikou Kairo: Patterns of Thought.” The evening begins with a performance by Tsukasa Taiko from 5:30-6pm at Woodard Plaza followed by a public reception at the Hairpin Arts Center with drinks, snacks and a caricature booth by Kiyomi Negi.
Tatsu Aoki presents his New Japan Ensemble, a compositional project exploring the experimental sonic milieu of contemporary Tokyo and Chicago. Over two evenings, select members from The Miyumi Project, electronic sound artists, and creative Japanese musicians from Chicago will play together with a sound artist from Tokyo. Predicated in the personal histories of each artist and sonic landscape of each metropolis, the collaboration will coalesce as a textural and affective experimentation of a cross-cultural, multigenerational, musical expression.
The New Japan Ensemble project is part of the Chicago Obihiro Exchange Exhibition presented by AIRMW at the Hairpin Arts Center.
Join Chicago native Joyce Kubose for a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration in the Urasenke style.
Joyce Sosho Kubose is an instructor of chanoyu, the Art of the Japanese Way of Tea. She began her studies with the Urasenke Tradition of Tea about 40 years ago and has been teaching for more than 20 years. She holds the professorship level teaching certificate (Kyoju). As part of her training she studied at the headquarters of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea in Kyoto, Japan, for three years as a member of the Midorikai progam, the non-Japanese student division of the Urasenke Gakuen Professional College of Chado, and graduated with honors. She continued her studies at the Urasenke headquarters for another year as a member of Ichiukai, the Urasenke graduate division.
Join Chicago-based Koto player Tokiko Kimura for a presentation of the traditional Japanese instrument including a short performance and discussion of its history and origins.
Tatsu Aoki presents his New Japan Ensemble, a compositional project exploring the experimental sonic milieu of contemporary Tokyo and Chicago. Over two evenings, select members from The Miyumi Project, electronic sound artists, and creative Japanese musicians from Chicago will play together with a sound artist from Tokyo. Predicated in the personal histories of each artist and sonic landscape of each metropolis, the collaboration will coalesce as a textural and affective experimentation of a cross-cultural, multigenerational, musical expression.
AIRMW presents a two-part evening of jazz and electronics. The first set introduces a solo electronics performance by Kikù Hibino and the second set features Chicago-based Japanese sax player Mai Sugimoto and her jazz trio.
Obihiro artists Daisaku Ueno and Hiroshi Mehata will give a public talk at the Hyde Part Art Center about their works, as curators Asha Iman Veal and Kioto Aoki discuss similarities between the two exhibitions “Shikou Kairo: Patterns of Thought” and “The Tokyo Show: Black and Brown are Beautiful.”
For more information on HPAC exhibition:
https://www.hydeparkart.org/exhibition-archive/the-tokyo-show-black-and-brown-are-beautiful/
*6pm at Hyde Part Art Center
Obihiro native and soba restaurant owner Naoki Ushiromura demonstrates how to make hand-pulled soba, as he talks through the process of grinding his own flour and the daily routine of running a soba restaurant. Ushiromura is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of his restaurant 玄葉 / Clover in Obihiro, Japan. Attendees will be treated to fresh servings of soba.
AIRMW and Hairpin Arts Center presents the Fourth Friday series with a three-part evening of performance artists and electronic music.
Program:
“Where Does the Pigeon Sleep at Night” / Naoki Nakatani & guest Logan Griffin Beck
“burning” / Mitsu Salmon
Electronics Set / Hiroshi Mehata , using the sound material gathered from the Tokachi Region.
Join AIRMW and Hairpin Arts Center for the closing event of “思考回路/ Shikou Kairo: Patterns of Thought” with final remarks by curators Kioto Aoki & Kiyomi Negi in the form of an artist talk. They will be discussing their time in June in Tokachi, Japan, as the first part of the Chicago-Obihiro exchange this year, and the works made from the experience; as well as the importance of the multi-general, cross-cultural, global exchange of language, ideas and identity through the arts. Come by to see featured artist Daisaku Ueno’s finished site-specific work in the gallery space.
Trio WAZ will also be performing live to finish off the night.
