This summer, the graduate students at the Naruto University of Education are having an exhibition in Kamiyama, August 23 – 31, at Yorii-za, Myozai Sake Warehouse, Shimobun Atelier, Yamani House, and Oawa-yama Mountain.

There will be displays at a variety of locations around Kamiyama. It’ll be a way for visitors to enjoy exploring Kamiyama while enjoying the exhibition at the same time. There are currently about ten people scheduled to contribute to the show.

The photo above is from a previous exhibition the group did in Kamiyama. The former Shimobun daycare (Shimobun Atelier) was used as an indigo dye studio. It was the most popular exhibit/event of the whole show. The participants for this event were the local junior high students, the art professors and their students. Several hundred dyed handkerchiefs were used to make this exhibit. The sight of the handkerchiefs blowing in the wind was like how it was when the daycare was full of children.

During the exhibition they were able to have a reunion under the indigo flags with some of the adult graduates of the daycare. It was a grand installation mixing the past and present roles that the building has played. It could be that art touched all the people present so that even their daily lives became a sort of art.

On August 11, the group went and had a big clean-up at all the venues in preparation for the exhibition. They cleaned out the Myozai Sake Warehouse first before moving on to Yorii-za Theater. Some members had never been inside before so they enjoyed looking around at the place while they cleaned up. Then they moved on to Shimobun Atelier and did a big clean-up, and that was the end of the cleaning tour. Everyone thought about what to do for their exhibition while they cleaned. Everyone was working together quite harmoniously, but often people could be seen drifting away, deep in tought. The 23rd is coming soon. The participants are starting to feel the crunch.

I hope that this summer’s exhibition can bring out the local flavor of Kamiyama for you all to taste! Don’t miss it!

On from August 23 to August 31, 2008

Venues: Yorii-za, Myozai Sake Warehouse, Shimobun Atelier (former daycare), Yamani House, and Oawa-yama Mountain.

I’ll be sure to post updates about our preparations here on the site!

For more information: kamiyamaten@yahoo.co.jp