4TH ANNUAL SAKE DAY

Calligraphy, Events, Food

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SAKE DAY

明日10月1日は、日本では「日本酒のひ」だそうです。
Hayes ValleyにあるTrue SakeとMari’s Cateringの主催で、4年目の”SAKE DAY”パーティが開かれます。ウェブサイトにいって見てもらえるとわかるように、100種類近くというかなり素敵な数の日本酒がテイスティングできて、美味しい日本食ブースで寿司や一品料理に舌鼓を打ち、沖縄バンドのライブ音楽に望郷の想いで浸り、優雅な人々と素敵な会話を楽しめる、スペシャルなイベントです。
このイベントで私は書道の小さな作品やポストカードを売らせてもらえることになりました。「酒」!!という看板を横に、ブースでニコニコしていると思うので遊びに来てね!

Tomorrow October 1st, I will be selling my calligraphy art works and postcards at 4TH ANNUAL SAKE DAY party in San Francisco, hosted by True Sake and Mari’s Catering. True Sake is an Japanese sake store located in Hayes Valley, where carries variety of delicious sake. At this party, you’ll be able to taste many different kinds of 酒 / 日本酒 (sake & nihon-shu) and have some tasty Japanese treats.

Thank you for this opportunity, Keiko and kind people at True Sake!

“October 1st is “Nihonshu No Hi”, the day of sake in Japan.  Be a part of history when the world stops for a day and sake lives for a night!

Welcome sake, sake and food parings, Japanese “street food” station,  unique tasting stations, and multiple vendor stations with new and classic sakes.  Live Okinawan band and many raffles!  Nearly 100 sakes to explore!”

@Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, Kendar Hall
3200 California Street (& Presidio Ave), SF
Muni Bus #1 | Paid Parking Available

Advance ticket $80 | Door $85 in cash
Tickets: www.sakeday.com
Questions: True Sake +1.415.355.9555

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Beyond Boundary – from the night of “Bridge”

Art Shows, Calligraphy, Events

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kooh
Thank you all for coming to “THE BRIDGE” on Saturday night!
On the night of the party, we had massive number of people & guests from San Francisco, East Bay and San Jose – all the struggles and troubles I had were blown away as soon as I saw a lot of friends coming to this party.
The most precious experience through this event, especially, is the fact that I was able to create collaborative installation with Githinji and Akira. It is almost miracle that people from different background can connect each other by having a similar taste / philosophy of life and way of artistic expression. “Beyond Boundary” – I believe that we can go to anywhere we want with the speed of light as long as we believe in this. It’s a challenge to go beyond your comfortable zone, of course, it’s also when you can grow up the most. I always find myself enjoying and discovering new aspect of the world when I’m jumping high to go beyond the boundary of cultural differences.
Githinji, Akira and I will create something together again some time near future, for sure…

The sound team of the night was splendid. Kento, Spiritual Odyssey, Jeremiah and his afrofunk band, and King Most brought the great vibes that made the crowd dance until they get soaked with their sweat. I couldn’t stop myself from dancing to the beats I heard from banging speakers while I was waiting for the bar, which had numbers of thirsty party animals waiting to be fed.
Especially, Shohei aka Spiritual Odyssey, the protagonist of this successful night, was shining! Great job Sho-chan, I look forward to hear your wonderful set at SIR’s art show “FIRE” this weekend.

“THE BRIDGE”、最高に楽しかった。
当日のProject Oneは人で溢れ、San Francisco, East Bay, San JoseとBay Areaを網羅した面々が駆けつけてくれた。このイベントを造っているメンバーの人望&人脈と、プロモーションのがんばり度が伺えて、大変だった作品作りや、展示作業でのトラブルなどすべてが吹き飛んだ。
何よりも、Githinji&Akiraと一緒にコラボ作品を創って、展示できた事が一番の宝物になった。
国境を越えて、環境も文化も違うところで育ち生きて来た、全く別の人間が、こんなふうに感性を通い合わせる事が出来るのかという、不思議な出会いであり巡り合わせだったと思う。
この3人で、またきっと一緒に何かやろうよ、と展示をしながら盛り上がった。
もっと面白いプロジェクトもやっていけると思う。
それはそう遠くない未来で。

そして、サウンド面もうなるほどの最高っぷり。
King Mostを凌ぐKentoとShohei氏の極上DJセット!!!
15分待ってもなかなかサーブされないバーで、Come on~と言っているところに聞こえてくる曲達の、体のうずくことといったらこの上なし。
Jeremiah率いるafrofunkバンドの面々が、生楽器の生きた音で、最高のリズムとバイブを届けてくれて、私のアドレナリンは放出しっぱなし。
ひときわ輝いていたしょうちゃん(Spiritual Odyssey)。ほんとにおつかれさま。
「緊張した〜!」という誠実でさわやかな彼の為に集まった友人たちは数知れず、タンテの前で祭りのようなかけ声を響かせていて、しょうちゃんのアメリカでのDJ歴を物語っていました。
今週末のFIREでも期待してます。

aoi_worksMy works:
“Beyond Boundary”, “Soil”, “Roots”

bridge_works

Githinji’s works & my works

aoi_texture

Texture of hand-made Japanese paper. I intentionally created the wrinkles on the surface.

BRIDGE_ak_127

Akira’s works: Adidas Sneaker Series
My work: “Resonance” (The two 12×12″ canvasses on the left)
Githinji’s work: The green one on the right corner

bridge_art_three

Githinji, me and Akira

bridge_finite

Shohei (Spiritual Odyssey), Jeremiah, Aoi, Akira

ヘイタくん、Jeremiah、しょうちゃん、お疲れさま。
King Most、Kento、いい音をありがとう!
来てくれたみんな、いつもあったかいサポート本当にありがとう。
第二弾も夢じゃないかも!?

Photo by Akko, Takashi & Aoi

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FUTURE CLASSIC!

Art Shows, Calligraphy, Events, Music

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futureclassic_finite

先週金曜日、久しぶりにライブペイントしました。
FUTURE CLASSIC x Plug Label feat. DJ Green Tea “Places+Spaces”
@Poleng Lounge, SF

FUTURE CLASSICは、古き良きサウンドと現代のサウンドを同時に鳴らしていこうっていうコンセプトでやっている、Poleng Lounge毎月恒例のイベント。今月は、Plug LabelからDJ Green Teaがアルバム”PLACES+SPACES”をリリースしたこともあり、リリースパーティ&PV撮影を兼ねての開催となりました。
私はGreen Teaに、ペイントしてくれない?と誘われて参加に合意した訳ですが。

もう弾けんばかりのグルーヴと曲選で、最高にノリノリな状態でライブペイント開始。
最初は書道全紙に緑のアクリルで書き、それを外してちぎり、その後緑の芝生にしたあとで白抜きに音をちりばめました。
Green Teaのアルバムでは2曲Kero Oneもラップで参加しているため、Keroちゃんのパフォーマンスでも会場は沸きに沸き。
ペイント後も終始、懐かしのトラックで攻めて来るMarky(Proof)のDJにテンションもうなぎ上り。
KevinとMocaと3人で踊りっぱなしでした。

ライブペイント映像を撮影してくれたよっしー、
写真撮影から個人アシスタント的に手伝ってくれたあっこ、さっちゃん、
そしてなによりも一緒に楽しんでくれたみんな

ありがとう!

今週末は、Project Oneでの音楽xアートクロスカルチャーイベント”BRIDGE”でコラボアート展示です。
ニッポンとアフリカ、アメリカがいかに共鳴していくのか
その目と耳と体で体感しに来てください。

***

I had a live painting gig at FUTURE CLASSIC @ Poleng Lounge last Friday. This event was featuring DJ Green Tea’s new album called “Places+Spaces” which is available now on iTunes & Amazon! Green Tea invited me to perform on the stage while he’s djing and Kero One rapping, and I said “yes of course!”.
It was such a fun night – there were my old-time friends, Kevin & Moca, and all the bay area fams who have been enjoying the music together.

I painted on a big canvas using green, red, and white aclyrics. I started off from writing “Places+Spaces” on a hand-made calligraphy paper, and then I ripped it off into strips. Symbolically, these strips indicate “music” laying on the grassy field. I added a phrase saying “Bringing maximum joy into all the places, all the spaces” in black, and a little stamp at the lower right corner. I hope people enjoyed my performance, and more than that, dancing with this groovy music!

I have another art show this Saturday at Project One in San Francisco.
This is going to be cross-cultural collaboration throughout the event… I’m really exited!
I will see you there on Saturday night!

“BRIDGE”
Saturday September 12, 2009
@Project One
“The Bridge is the borderless music and art event by mixing unique culture of African, American, and Japanese. DJ SPODY a.k.a. Spiritual Odyssey (Club Jazz), DJ Kent (Bossa Nova), Aoi (Japanese Calligraphy), Akira(Mixed Media) will take you to the world of modern Japanese music and art. DJ King Most from S.F mixes hip hop & soul sounds for the night. His highlights of collaboration include Biz Markie, DJ Spinna, SA-RA Creative Partners, and Exile & Day. DJ Jeremiah & Afrobeat Nation performs a live playing African music influenced with funk. African sculpture, GITHINJI will display his unique and powerful works as well as collaborative works that will be done with Aoi, Akira and GITHINJI. Come and get experience the international night at Project One in SF.”

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Artmeznick – Celebration of Art & Sake

Art Shows, Calligraphy

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Microsoft Word - invite.docx

July seems to be the month of art – I have another art showing this month.  I will exhibit my calligraphy works at “I LOVE ART AND SAKE” hosted by Artmeznick in San Francisco.  This event is designed to celebrate art and sake, which I think it’s an unique concept.  Sake will be provided by a sake sommelier Yoshi Sakato from Tsunami, the high-end Japanese restaurant near Divisadero st.  My friend Yoshi, a filmmaker in SIR crew, will be showing his art film on the wall as well. Don’t miss it!!

今月は、Guerilla Cafeでの展示に引き続きアートショーの参加のお誘いが次々と入って来てます。
7月25日(土)予定の”I LOVE ART AND SAKE”というイベントで、書道の作品を展示します。
主催者のNicoleのお洒落な自宅で開催されるこのイベントでは、サンフランシスコでお馴染みのお洒落な日本食レストラン&バー「津波」で酒ソムリエのYoshiさんが、お酒を振る舞ってくれるそうです。
私も日本酒と焼酎はかなり好きなので、どんなイベントになるか楽しみ。
SIR仲間のfilmmakerよっしーも、映像の上映で参加します。

yoshi_sm

お酒好き、アート好きのあなたは必見です。

***
ARTMEZNICK presents

“I LOVE ART AND SAKE”

Please come join us in a unique celebration of art and sake.
Saturday, July 25th
6-8PM
1218 Fulton Street, Suite A
San Francisco, CA

Sake provided by corkage
Yoshi Sakato will be your sake sommelier

Exhibition of Artist include:
Claudio Nalerio
Barbara Aliza
Wipsoona
Soad Kader
Aoi Yamaguchi
Yoshinori Kataoka

***
I’ll see you there – let’s get drunk with a good sake and inspiring people!

Photo of Yoshi by Satoshi

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点と線 A Dot and A Line

Art Shows, Calligraphy

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G_Aoi postcardFRONT

G_Aoi postcard BACK

Finally… I am proud to announce that my solo art installation will be held at Guerilla Cafe from Sunday July 5th, 2009 until Sunday August 23rd, 2009. My friend 8doors, a shooting star from Aomori Japan, and Hakobo, a bad-ass DJ from the bay area who makes everyone dance on the floor will be providing the cafe good vibes with their music.

I hope that this installation will deliver you a new discovery about Japanese calligraphy.

Please stop by and glance my art.

Art Installation by Aoi Yamaguchi

と ー

点と線

(Ten Toe Sen)

”A Dot and A Line”

文字というものは、点と線で成り立っている。人々は、古代からこの単純明快であり複雑な文字という記号によって意思伝達を行ってきた。現代に発達し伝承されて来たこの文字という歴史哲学をアートとして表現すべく、書家山口碧生による、伝統芸術「書道」の新たなる可能性を探るインスタレーション。

A letter consists essentially of dots and lines and philosophically,  people communicate through these simple man-made symbols.  Japanese calligrapher Aoi Yamaguchi explores new possibilities for the ancient art of calligraphy – juxtaposing traditional with contemporary styles.

www.glamourousmonochrome.com

Opening Reception: Sunday July 5, 2009

Music by 8 doors & Hakobo

Exhibition through Sunday August 23, 2009 

@Guerilla Cafe

1620 Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94709

Photo by Akko, Aoi

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Work in Progress

Art Shows, Calligraphy, Food, Holidays

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work in progressHop, step, jump… Write, struggle, write, new ideas sparkle in my head, write, and struggle. I have been working on caligraphy works for my solo installation at Guerilla Cafe for past several weeks. I kept staying up until 4 to 5am for a week straight and I finally had nervous breakdown last night… It’s a good lesson for me: never neglect your health. I’m drinking a Rooibos tea to reset my mind and started feeling better. I know what to do next.

This Monday, SIR crew and I went to Dohatsuten, the Japanese restaurant that I mentioned in the previous post, and installed art works on the wall. I wrote a calligraphy work for the restaurant- it says “天井知ラズ”, which is actually the economical term meaning that the stock goes up and never stops. Like this word, I hope that this art will gather fortune to this restaurant!

天井知らず1sm

R0011131_sm

Framed piece looks like this: adding a nice flavor to the restaurant’s atmosphere…

R0011125_sm

「花鳥風月」poster design by Akko Terasawa

Photography in the while frames by Keiko Moriyama

There will be an opening party at Dohatsuten coming Sunday, from 5pm-Midnight. Food will be provided from the kitchen… can’t wait!

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怒髪天 Dohatsuten

Calligraphy, Food

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dohatsuten_entrance

Palo Altoにオープンした、居酒屋「怒髪天」。
ロゴを書道で書いてほしいとの依頼があって、暖簾用にかいたものです。
この店が繁盛する事を願って!

Dohatsuten, a casual Japanese Ramen & Tapas restaurant, opened in Palo Alto last week.
I did the calligraphy work for their logo & noren banner – hoping for this restaurant’s success!
My art crew SIR will exhibit art works on the wall inside of this restaurant as well.
Try their Ramen – it’s yum yum!

怒髪天 Dohatsuten
799 San Antonio Rd.
Palo Alto CA 94303
tel 650.493.2878

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