Chasing the devils

February 3rd, the point half way between the solstice and the equinox.  In
America they wait a ground hog to show itself, in Europe it used to be
bears.  In Japan people throw soy beans at other people wearing
devil masks, to chase out the bad luck, pull in the good.

Every year I am left at the last minute with a little thin paper mask, free
at the grocery if you buy the beans.This year Iwanted to be
ready, start early. This weekend I began working on a mask.I decided
to make a really horrible scary devil.I have made masks before.I
blew up a balloon head sized and began my paper mâché.I followed
my own design, changing as I went along.I had a scary mask inside
me.I could certainly make a devil.

Today I started to put on the paint.And it was pretty obvious that I was
making a clown rather than a devil.

I went to the Internet, searching, "oni mask". Boy they were
good.They scared the bejesus out of me.The best were based on
noh masks of a woman scorned.Scary as hell. Probably I
should have started with an Internet search, but I wanted to make my
own devil. It turns out I am more of a clown.

2015 nearly here

Building up to the celebration of the new year, the biggest celebration in the Japanese year, most important Holiday.  And just as it should be in an important Japanese activity, the center of it is emptiness, nothing happens.  It is still and quiet.

“What did you do this New Years?”... “Nothing,” is still the best answer.

The center of Tokyo is the royal palace, which is basically an empty space, a large green hole in Tokyo.  The city is built in a spiral around it. And no one looks inside.  Ask any American what color is Obama's house, they know, what does it look like, they know.  Ask any Japanese what color is the emperor's house, they not only don't know, but have never thought to think about it.  It is an empty space.

Of course times change.  When I first arrived the whole country closed down for days.  If you didn't have food or beer, then you wouldn't.  Now the local grocery store is open, and the department stores all have special promotions and sales New Years day.

October's exhibition

This year's October Exhibition was fun.  Thanks for all who came, and to all who helped.  I made a little post exhibition video, for a short walk thru.   http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-RupODKtPJQ

twitter

I am still enjoying writing a twitter poem a day, today it got political:

Jim Hathaway ‏@Jimhathawayink  27m27 minutes ago

The Bobbys got Banksy

How many did it take?

Is there anything better

For a artist

Than being arrested?

6:15 PM - 20 Oct 2014 · 

and I must say, they got me

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/banksy-arrest-hoax-internet-duped-by-fake-report-claiming-that-the-street-artists-identity-has-been-revealed-9806157.html

Banksy arrest hoax: Internet duped by fake report claiming that the street artist's identity has been revealed

Fear not, the street artist is still roaming free, spray can in hand

one week already done

jimusoan, 2014 Mandala exhibition

Starting the second week of the exhibition today.  The first week was quiet and fun.  Exhibitions in Japan have a very different feel from the exhibitions back in New York, much more personal here.  And I am lucky to be in a very human space that is just my own, and part of a vital art community in this old art part of town.

And we have Geikoten.

 Geikoten is neighborhood wide event every October, and I have been part of it since the beginning.  http://www.geikoten.net/

Exhibition

My next exhibition is only a few weeks away.  It is time to think about the walls, after all the walls come first, at least in my studio.  

My studio is a tenement house built in the Taisho era, pretty much on the floor plan of Edo buildings.  No walls.  Hard to hang a painting exhibition with no walls, but there is a work around.  I put up walls, over the windows, over the fusuma, over the shoji.  For a few weeks. I have walls.  But setting up the walls this year I turned the over and found dragons of some time ago.  I went with the dragon side.  Then today, a national holiday, I tired to catch up the other walls, to make them fit,