The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, an Academy Award qualifying festival and Asia’s biggest short film festival, awarded the Grand Prix award to Atsuko Hirayanagi ’12 (MFA, Kanbar, Film) for her film “Mo Ikkai”. I was commissioned to work on the calligraphy title for the film’s poster by Atsuko herself a couple months ago. Friends in Japan, please go see the screening on 29th in Tokyo – it’s such a beautiful, heart-rending film, made me cry when I watched it alone in my studio. It will reward the time you spend with it. And of course, made me think of my own life..
I am excited to announce that I was invited to perform a new conceptual calligraphy art performance at San Francisco’s contemporary art fair ArtPadSF on the night of Saturday, May 19th from 7:30pm. Big thanks and love to Mike Cuffe, founder / editor in chief of Warholian.com.
The new piece is titled “UNIBIRTH” – Unibirth is a live performance art project which is conceptualized, directed and performed by Aoi Yamaguchi, in collaboration with Argentinian contemporary composer Sebastian Plano, contemporary dancers Celine Alwyn and Emmaly Wiederholt. Inspired by unifying concepts of “universe” and “birth”, Unibirth celebrates the reincarnation of lives that exist in nature and signifies the infinite cycle of the universe, incorporating the physical movement of calligraphy, contemporary dance, sounds and visuals. The dancer represents the spirit of humanity – the music, representing the earth’s ensemble, and the poetry, written on the bodies and garments by the artist, awaken the spirit from long hibernation. Blessed in the brush strokes and divine sounds, the newborn spirit will be sublimed into the nature’s resonance.
ARTISTS:
Sebastian Plano (Cellist / Contemporary Composer)
Born in Argentina of a musical family, Sebastian Plano is a classically trained contemporary composer and multi-instrumentalist. He started cello lessons at age 7 and left home at 17 to study abroad, eventually landing in San Francisco. Extensive travel from an early age instilled in him a deep appreciation for living with and learning from people of different cultures around the world. Despite his strong classical background, Sebastian’s music derives from a mixture of forms and genres, carefully combining diverse stylistic elements into thoughtful arrangements that bear the stamp of a single, unifying vision.
Celine Alwyn (Contemporary Dancer)
A native of San Francisco, Céline Alwyn has been performing, teaching, and creating both nationally and internationally professionally for the last 9 years. While in New York, she trained at the Ailey School, received her Pilates certification from the Kane School, and performed on Broadway in Bombay Dreams as an original cast member. In the United Kingdom, she completed an MA in Contemporary Dance at the London Contemporary Dance School, danced in works by Stephen Petronio, Garry Stewart, David Massingham, and Rui Horta, and toured with Bare Bones, a Birmingham-based dance company. Before returning to San Francisco, she toured internationally with Cirque Du Soleil’s Dralion, playing the character role of ‘Oceane’. Most recently, Céline has enjoyed working with local choreographers Katie Faulkner/Little Seismic Dance Company, Rachael Lincoln, & Amelia Rudolph. Together with the company of ‘Incognita: Revisited’, she won an ‘Izzie’ in 2012 for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Company Performance’. Céline is a dedicated dance educator and choreographer and is currently teaching creative movement, improvisation, and contemporary dance to students of all ages in schools and studios all over the Bay Area.
Emmaly Wiederholt (Contemporary Dancer)
Emmaly Wiederholt is originally from Albuquerque, NM and graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in ballet and a BS in political science. She is an alumna of the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and currently dances with Malinda LaVelle’s Project Thrust. She has previously danced with Vabang Dance Company, AXIS Dance Company in David Dorfman’s choreography, Christine Cali, Alyce Finwall Dance Theater, and Katie Faulkner’s Little Seismic Dance Company. Emmaly also writes about dance, and contributes to the SF Examiner, the SF Bay Guardian, and In Dance. Emmaly is the founder, author, and editor of stanceondance.com.
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Little by little, my vision is coming together. I am so fortunate to be able to work and collaborate with such a gifted talents with inspiring spirits, and have amazing support.
I still remember this tragic Northern Japan Earthquake and tsunami like it happened yesterday. We have been updating the reports from reconstruction efforts in damaged areas on our website (if you haven’t visited recently, please do! Here’s the link – http://www.risejapan.us). Recovery from this natural disaster takes years and years, as you can see – we are trying to continue fundraising efforts and contribute to volunteer activities from the other side of the ocean.
To honor and remember this historical tragic event and victims, Rise Japan holds a candlelight vigil on Saturday. I will be there to hand you candles, and pray for the souls with all of you and people in Japan at 9:46pm sharp. Also, I will be performing live calligraphy painting on 8 ft x 8 ft wood panels on the main stage at Peace Plaza on Sunday. We will auction the finalized pieces after the performance at Rise Japan booth. We would love your love and support.
Lovely friends!
Time flies like a shooting star, it’s been already a month since I got back in Bay Area. I have relocated my self in San Franciso, been really busy settling and re-organizing my atelier after a long trip to Japan. Just wanted to let you all of you know that there’s an exciting event coming up tomorrow for 3 nights in a row – “MISSION NIGHT MARKET”, organized and presented by Ken Ken Ramen in the heart of Mission district.
I was invited to have a vendor booth, selling greeting cards, prints, T-shirts, small artworks and bags (new stuff!)! There will be lots of clothes, goods, food, art installations and more!! This is the event you can’t miss, it’s going to be super exciting and fun!
Here’s the word from the organizer:
“Hawkers, Vendors, Madness and More: Ken Ken Ramen presents Mission Night Market!
We love Asian Night Markets full of interesting stalls, vendors, food, and craziness — so much so that we’re turning our noodle factory into a three-night Mission Night Market!
Set up next door to Ken Ken Ramen at 3376 18th St, Mission Night Market will run Thursday, Friday & Saturday, hosting independent vendors, crazy artists, and more. Themes and vendors will range from Surfers to Vintage to Palm Readers to Jewelers to Japanese Dessert Makers & more!
Look for a wild selection of local artists setting up shop and hawking their goods at this evening bazaar. Three nights only! March 8-10 2012. 6pm to Late.
Selected vendors and more include:
Bobaguys
ScuttleFish Vanagon Surf Mobile
SanFlan Japanese Desserts
Palm Reading
The Gypsy Shop by Curator Amanda Krampf
Alite Camping Equipment
JackKnife Outfitters
Revolver Select
Cureall Vintage
Auger + Ore Jewelry
Webster Reading Room
Roppongi Records
Aoi Yamaguchi
Installation by Nikki Mirseiad and Taj Robinson
Valerian Jewelry
Dillon Montara Clothing
Adam Lam Furniture
Yuka Ezoe Jewelry
Terrariums by Kelly Malone
Mission Night Market
3376 18th Street
6pm to Late
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
March 8th, 9th, 10th, 2012
Right next to Ken Ken Ramen!
Artists : Japanese Calligraphy & Visuals:Aoi Yamaguchi (San Francisco)
Contemporary Dance : Mika Yanagihara / Akiko Tomikawa
/ Anna Strand Andersen / Julia Ehrstrand (New York)
Music & Sound : Onpun (Toyama, Japan)
19日には、私が2010年から取り組んでいる広大な「いのちと自然」をテーマにした書道パフォーマンスのシリーズ第三章『咏遠 TOWA -Infinity in Nature-』を目黒区CLASKAの8F、The 8th Galleryにて披露します。
24日には、京都METROにて同じく『咏遠 TOWA -Infinity in Nature-』の京都公演を行います。
第一章『地跡 CHISEKI -Traces of Nature-』はニューヨークにて、第二章『還源 KANGEN -Reunited with Nature-』はサンフランシスコにて展示&公演を開催してきました。前回『還源 KANGEN -Reunited with Nature-』では、「身体が大地、つまり源に還る」=「死」=「新たないのちの始まり」の過程を表現。この第三章『咏遠 TOWA -Infinity in Nature-』は、”「死」を迎え一度生命の源である大地に戻った生命が永久の魂と化し、自然界に「存」する”フェーズを書、ダンス、音楽、映像にて描き出す試みです。輪廻転生のループをなぞるように、いのちと自然の関係性を見つめる、表現の世界を追求します。
第一章から共演してきているCHISEKI & KANGENメンバー、ダンサー柳原美香さん、そして新たに冨川亜希子さん、Anna Strand Andersenさん, Julia Ehrstrandさんを迎え、音楽もzaion & denpunのユニット”onpun”とともに、「咏遠」の世界を創ります。EPリリースを控えた彼らの、新たな音源を交えたライブセットもあります。ぜひ、足を運んで頂けたらと思います。
We had a great turnout at RISE JAPAN VOL.4 @Studio 931 on Sunday October 16th. Thank you all so much for your support! We raised $1,260 from printing, T-shirts, posters, food & drink sales, which will be donated to Nippon Foundation’s ROAD project. If you missed the event – we’re in the process of setting up an online store. Please check back our site: www.risejapan.us. We appreciate your continued support.
I’m organizing the 4th RISE JAPAN event, which is coming up this Sunday. This will be a super fun live silkscreen printing event! I’ll have my design as well. Bring your blank T-shirts, table cloth, tote bag, scarf, poster paper…whatever you want, and get them printed! We have a great line-up of 28 participating artists, 28 different designs. Food & drinks & Dj all day.
I’ll be on KRON4 morning news with Henry Tenenbaum, live interview from 8:45am, Saturday October 15th, speaking about RISE JAPAN. Please turn on your TV and check it out! I don’t watch TV, so if anyone can record the show and send me a copy of the footage, that will be amazing…
Here’s my design for RISE JAPAN VOL.4:
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Surreality in Reality + Studio 931 presents:
RISE JAPAN VOL.4: Fundraising Event for Earthquake & Tsunami Victims in Japan
@ Studio 931
931 Treat Ave. San Francisco, CA
Sunday October 16, 2011 | 1pm – 7pm | Afterparty 7-10pm
In support of the tragic Northern Japan earthquake & tsunami relief, RISE JAPAN vol.4 features live silkscreen printing with various designs from nation-wide artists.
Bring your own T-shirts or poster paper, or even purchase T-shirts at the event. Choose your favorite designs and get them printed on the spot—100% of the proceeds will be donated to Nippon Foundation’s ROAD Project for the reconstruction of areas damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.
[About Studio 931]
On Treat Avenue between 22nd and 23rd, the Mission district’s newest print studio aims to attract a group of dynamic print and multi media artists. The studio will house etching, photogravure, letterpress and silkscreen equipment, as well as space for exhibitions and events.
Artists:
Akko Terasawa
Aoi Yamaguchi
Aaron Lawrence
Aaron De La Cruz
Eddie Colla
Erik Otto
Esmeralda Padilla
Favianna Rodriguez
Hannah Stouffer
Javier Martinez
Kaz
Kenta Shimbo
Loren Purcell
Jay Nelson
Junko Maegawa
Mr. Ben Venom
Nichol Markowitz
Noa-
Paul Mullowney
Ryan Bubnis
Samuel Rodriguez
Sakie Miura
Summer Makovkin
Superdeux
Steve Ha
Tania Arens
Taiko Fujimura
Valerie Shagday