May 26, 2011

Art Takes London Portfolio Description

Art Takes London Galicias
Click here to see the art takes London portfolio.

Art Takes London Portfolio List
List of item and description and images.

1. Falling World Economy, 2008
Mixed Media, Combined Painting, on wood, 30 by 35 by 3 cm.
Cork board, digital print, sickle, copy of Japanese bill, house oil paint.

It shows a chaotic situation in economy that happened around the world in 2008.



2. Hero At Bart Station, 2009
Acrylic on photographic print
84 by 59 cm, (2.75 by 1.93ft)

Experimenting painting on a digital photograph print with a Japanese anime character costume play figures. I express about heroism in everyday situation.



3. New People, 2009
Oil on 2 canvases
41 by 53 cm and 45 by 53 cm, total length, 86 by 53 cm (2.82 by 1.73ft.)

I made abstract image from my original photograph and painted diptych. It was from the photo from the new people Japanese good store in Japan town, San Francisco. I thought that making all purplish feel more exotic. In Asia color, purple consider as a noble color that is used in a court.



4. Flying Over San Francisco, 2010
Mixed media, acrylic, collage on F30 sized canvas
90.9 by 72.7 by 2 cm, (35.82 by 28.66 in") framed

Making my wishes to get away from the reality and flying back to San Francisco. Doraemon is a Japanese anime cat robot that getting anything from his pocket.



5. Shoe Ads, 2010
Painting Acrylic on F 40 Canvas. 80.3 by 100 cm

Pop Art style, painted from Japanese newspaper shoe advertisement. It shows Japanese culture from the 
newspaper advertisement which could be little different from other countries.



6. Duck Toy Family, 2010
Painting acrylic on canvas.52.8 by 45.6 cm

I painted from setting up photograph at bathtub. It implies a chaotic, disaster situation of family.


7. Hooters, 2003
Polaroid Transfer, digital print on rolled archival rolled paper. 
62 by 80 cm

I took polaroid photo at Hooters, pier San Francisco. And then after I manipulated the image and painted and drew with marker. It shows lively feeling at a tourists street in San Francisco.



8. Mon & Amiga, 2007
Acrylic on Canvas, 60.5 by 50 cm

Monkey and rabbit stuffed dolls. For me, it represents the intimacy between me and my partner. It is kind of metaphorical self portraits.



9. Train Seats, Acrylic on F20 canvas, 2010
72.7 by 60 cm

Landscape, Contemporary style. Japanese local Train Chairs and reflection of our figures on the window depicted from inside a running train. If a city train it is hard to take a photo, but it is a country side one car train which did not have many passengers, so I took photo on the train with my partner. It is kind of travel scene, but I wanted to paint as a still life painting focusing on the chairs.



10. Gay Parade Observers, 2010
Mixed Media on F20 Canvas
72.7 by 60.6cm Mixed media, collage, newspaper, origami, oil.
San Francisco Gay Parade Observers. 

Surrealism, Expressionism.
I thought that sometime it is funny to watch observers than who are IN parade. Everybody are individually interesting people.



11. Sumo Wrestlers Bowing, 2008
Mixed Meida on hand colored, stamped canvas paper
Acrylic, charcoal, conte, gesso
25 by 35 cm, (9.84 by 13.78 inches)

I drew this from the newspaper photo, when the sumo association had caused trouble and wrestlers bowed on the ring with a master. To me it is ironic that national sports caused a lots of trouble and does not function as a noble sports, but I drew it as a humor or apology.



12. Saury Head and Tail, 2009 (no middle part) 
Watercolor on paper together 
70 by 47 cm Fish Head 48.3 by 35.6 cm (19 by 14 in) 
Fish Tail 47 by 35.6 cm (18.5 by 14 in) 
Weight for 2 paintings 500 grams. 

It is a diptych painting that is supposed to hang side by side on a wall little separated in the middle, since the image has luck of the stomach part of the fish. I intended to omit the middle part of the fish to paint which people normally eat, and I want to see how people react if they don't see the whole part of the body. It is like as though you determine people by only head and feet. And it is my implication how people determine and assume about just seeing part of other people.






13. Cosmos A, 2009
Cosmos A, 2009 Acrylic on canvas 
101 by 76 cm, F30 canvas (3.31 by 2.49 ft.)

Painted from digitally manipulated cosmos photo.



14. Peppers, 2008
Pepers Watercolor on Paper, 2008 
47 by 35 cm (18.5 by 14 in) 100g 

Concept on contemporary realistic close-up still life depicted by my own photograph. It plays of color contrast freshness of nature. These peppers were grown at our little farm.



15. Pears, 2008
Watercolor on paper, 47 by 35 cm, 2008 (18.5 by 13.8 in) 

Contemporary, conceptual style that implies ordinary family mother, father, son, and daughter in still life form.



16. "Sequence of water drop", 2009
Mixed media, acrylic, cardboard, plastic sheet, bubble wrap, binder rings, triptych
79 cm by 28 cm (2ft. 7, by 11inch)
300 g (with a box, 500g)

It is experimental abstract mixed media that I used a sequential video and photographs to depict motion of droplet. I wanted some kind of "book" form and also series of works. Also, since it is natural theme, I tried to use recycle materials (not necessarily all organic though), so it is not a traditional form of artistic presentation. Even bubble wrap behind the cardboard, I considered as imaginative droplets, so it makes coherent to me.





17. "Cougar in Grass", 2009
pastel on recycled cardboard
36 by 34 cm (14 inches by 13.5 inches)
200g

Mixed Media exercise. My experimentation of drawing on cardboard, nature and recycle material.



18. Hommage to Weston, 2009
Mixed Media, pastel on acrylic on drawing paper.
50 by 65 cm, (1 ft 7.5 inch by 2 ft 1.5 inch)
200g

I learned photography in San Francisco and Edward Weston is one of my favorite western photographers. I like her women figure portrait, simple and beautiful, so I used for rubbing out painting experimentation.



19. "Critical Mass", 2008
Collage on paper, 9 by 12 inches = A4 paper
newspaper, origami, gouache on original digital print.

It is a San Francisco critical mass scene image and I elaborate my own favorite photo to further collage.



20. Sleeping on a roof, 2008
Acrlyic, gesso, Collage, French bread bag, origami, magazine clipping, photograph, light bulbs on wood board.
41 by 32 cm (1ft 4 by 1ft 1.5 inch)

Experimenting collage, life in Osaka Japan and serene feeling of my partner, Alex while he was in Japan.


Please give feedback if you like.
Tomo

May 17, 2011

My envelope was sold.

5/10/2011
Here my handmade envelope was sold. It is a used business envelope that fixed the open areas opened up the envelope to attach Nara map and collage inside and window area. It came out a cute art envelope. And I think this way, I can practice and make recycle envelope with all kinds of ways!

Sento kun, Japanese stamp, snack pack character looking out the windows.  


Back side.

Inside I used and old Nara map to collage.

May 3, 2011

Art Benefit For Japan

I finally be on the benefit show in San Francisco on May 6th.
I have donated my past photographs and prints for the Japan aid. All our sale goes to the fund.
Jimmy McCullough has been kindly trying to organize and find the place for the event. We are supporsed to do in last month, but a gallery cancelled and so he found the new place to do the show. I am glad that the show is finally be held.
Friday, May 6, 2011
7pm-9pm
at Javaholics (cafe)
449 Balboa Street San Francisco, CA 94118
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1882889344354&set=a.1508335380739.2070652.1004953082&type=1





































Some of my photos that I will be showing there. Photos from Japan.



Radio with Mail Art for Japan Charity, revised 5/3/11


Radio with Mail Art for Japan Charity Call
--- Give hope to the victim and send radios----

This is not a call for an art show, but for donating radio to people in Miyagi in Japan who are victims of Tunami and are evacuating or surviving at home. Many people still do not have a TV or radio or no home or job or even lost their family members. I have noticed in IUOMA that many people want to express their prayer and hope for Japan and victim of the earthquake, so I have been looking for some chance to send your messages (or mail art) with something to donate.

Main readers of this call would be IUOMA member, but it does not limit to IUOMA member to join the charity. Whoever want to help out Japanese victims can send radios, so please anybody join us~. 

Deadline
I changed my mind about deadline. 
You can send anytime you want when you feel like sending to them or me. 
I figured depending on the countries you live in Japan or other countries, it takes time differently. And also some people might have a used radio that can find easily, or some people want to look around their cities at the second hand stores. Some people may want to take time to create mail art (or etegami) very impressive to victim of tunami.
If you send to the radio station, please just let me know if you already send so that I can send you a thank you note. 
tomoenk6@gmail.com
If you send my address, I just wait until I have enough to put in a box and write some label that I send from as a group of artists.

Address:
Here there are two ways, you can send your radio and mail art (etegami) directly to the radio station or to me. Someone mentioned to me that it does not make any difference to send either address. Yes, off course it would be faster and effective if you send directly to radio station, but I think it is more effective if we send all together as an artist group and they know where we are coming from. And you might feel as belonging as an artist, and in my opinion "the voice" would be louder if we get all together. (kind of like a Japan aid CD from American musician.) However, it is totally up to you which method you want to take.

To "Miyako Saigai FM" directly:
1-3-5 Rikutyu building 3F, Miyatyo Miyako city, Iwate, 027-0052 Japan
(Japanese)
027-0052
岩手県宮古市宮町1丁目3-5陸中ビル3F
Tel: 81-193-77-3399

The Miyako Saiga FM site in Japanese
http://miyakofm.blog98.fc2.com/
twitter @miyakofm774

To the organizer, Tomoe Nakamura
2-22-2 Daiho Kanancho Minamikawachi-gun Osaka 585-0005 Japan
(Japanese)
585-0005
大阪府南河内郡河南町大宝2-22-2
Tel: 81-721-93-2881 (for shipping needs)


What to send:
I found from TV news that Miyako Saigai FM (saigai means disaster in Japanese) is looking for a portable radio with battery, and manual generated radio (which you can turn on without a battery by moving handle, or solar system etc, like the ones you use for camping). Also it would be great to have an ear phone with it, because people may listen privately in evacuation centers (mainly school gyms) with many other victims. So I would like to ask for donation of radios and some message cards for people who get the radios. It is not necessary to be a brand new radio, and it can be used or second hand store ones that still work. But please make sure that it can be used worldwide or in Japan. Sometime they have different hertz system in overseas, and they are not compatible.

Some people already own old portable radios that are not using. You can donate, if you can. Or some might find used ones at salvation army or good will or other private second hand stores, or cheap Chinese stores or which ever your country local stores. In Japan ¥100 stores are popular and sometime I can find something usable for art and daily use. 

Note: Please do not send a boom box or large radios, but just a small portable radio. Please mark "gift" on a shipping document, so we both can avoid the risk to pay the import tax.

Mail Art messages;
In addition to the radio please create and attach mail art or message to cheer them up. It can be any materials, but please limit the size as tiny card to 8 by 10 inches, or A4 sheet size. (They may not have a space to hang on a wall, etc.) Some part of the land which affected by Tunami in Tohoku has not fixed since it happened and many people lost their family by tunami, so many of them got traumatize, so I think they don't want to see the scary images. So I think it would be better with happy and hopeful images. For example, tunami wave or radiation or other scary images may recall their mind. It can be like a design or drawing like a Japanese flag or cherry tress or rainbow drawing, or what ever hopeful images for the future you like to show for the victims. It is your art call what make them happy is up to you. I don't think quality of art and design is a concern.


Shipping Advise:
There was some concern of the sending radio. There are various sizes of portable radio, but the one have is like less than postcard size. So if you wrap with a bubble wrap and cardboard paper and put in an envelope (for cheaper fee) or put in a box, it should be fine. If I were you, I want to make the fee less expensive so I just wrap tight and send in an envelope. My paintings that just sold, arrived safely to Canada from Japan that way. Japanese EMS (International Express Mail) have a good service treating insure packaging. If you are worry about your local postal service, I would recommend using priority with insurance. Or you can just wrap wisely with your artistic license, to send it safe. It is just a small portable radio so it should not be a big deal. I was moving back and forth in between my old iMac and "he" is still alive good. lol 

My side idea, I just found a small radio with a ballpoint pen here at a local second hand store in Osaka. I think they imported from the US. They sell very cheap there, and I may want to get them for donating later on. You may also find some interesting small radio in your area...


Thank you for your help and prayer.

This is a sample image of what to send.
(I used a Gabby C mail art sent to me as a sample.)


my used radio and gabby's mail art


Thank you for all very much for concern about Japanese disaster.
p.s. South from Tokyo in Japan is totally not affected. Please visit and travel around if are interested in Japanese culture and scenary. This is also the way to help Japanese economy, and ultimately help Tohoku.





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