Echig0-Tsumari Trienniel Art Festival
Sept 2-Sept 3, 06


I've never been a HUGE art person. I just don't understand most of it and don't have the patience to look at things that a 1st grader could throw together in 5 minutes; BUT I decided to go to this Art Festival because, like everything else, it was a ONCE IN A LIFETIME opportunity. It was AMAZING and definitely made me appreciate art WAYY more. The amount of thought, effort, time, patience, and heart that goes into each piece is incomprehensible. The artists don't even get paid for their pieces. They slave over these pieces for years because they love what they do. This event is also aimed at educating people on contemporary art as well as blending the past with the present, nature w/ man, many generations and various types of people from all over the world. This gives a whole new meaning to "one person's trash is another person's treasure (art)." I took wayyyy too many pictures and most of them don't even begin to capture the magnitude of seeing them in person. I think one of my friends since kindergarden, Michael, would be able to appreciate these pieces far more than I since he is an Art History major and I have no clue what is going on most of the time. I think this would definitely be his cup-o-tea. Well, since him and you couldn't be here, here is the second best option: PICTURES!!!!! A LOT OF PICTURES!

This is the opening scene to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Festival...pretty huh?

The first piece of art was saw: Window into nature. I guess you could add a religious connotation onto it if you want..but I dont think that is the aim.

Too bad the powerlines are in the way...but it can be interpreted into the art piece Im sure.

Ojichan working in his garden:
I think one of the most interesting things was that the local people just went about their business as usual. This is right outside of an art piece. I think this is just as much of an art piece than the sculptures.

The House of Mirrors

Inside the House of Mirrors

Me standing outside looking in..It was really wierd because the mirrors arent anchored onto the house...they are on wires, so they move with the wind. It almost makes it feel like you are moving while standing completely still.

Hello!

This is one of my favorite art installations...We had to hike up a hill and through rice patties to this clearing, where this lake is. These vases are free floating and the reflections are really beautiful.

We were told that the artist was trying to incorporate all four: water, land, sky, and wind.

more hiking...

This is a mud hut that started from a big mound of dirt. They carved it downwards , basically digging a giant hole and shaping the walls and putting a roof on top.
The community that this exhibit is built in has a population of 25! Yes 25 whole people...depending on if anyone was born or died today my figures may be a little off...Its amazing because there were more than 25 people in line to see this exhibit. We more than tripled their population just by visiting!

The entrance to the mud hut...hope you arent claustrophobic b/c it gets tight...oh wait! I AM! Greeeaaaattt...But soon after walking in tight/dark/cramped/scary/smelly/hot/unstable hallways...it opens up to nature with this bare tree and rocks in the middle. This exhibit took 2 years to plan and only 6 months to build...by hand.

This art Festival covered a HUGE area so most of the trip was spent driving on a bus or hiking to exhibits. There are 360 exhibits scattered around, positioned depending on the location and what the artist was trying to accomplish. Even though we were driving and walking A LOT...the view was beautiful and most definitely worth while.

One of the towns on the way to an art exhibit...art in itself

This is a replic of a NO-stage (butai). I dont know how to spell NO...but you get the idea. They have been performing for 35 generations and put on a show the first night this project was completed. If you stand in the middle there are mirrors on all 4 sides. Depending on which mirror you look at reflects a different piece of land, water, rocks, or road. Each one is different and all elements are reflected. This park is TINY and when NO performed there were over 800 audience members.

Really cool exhibit. It was interactional. We were actually laying on the ground w/ windows and ledges. There was a mirror set at an angle so that people standing to watch thought that we were actually hanging off the side of the building. We took some really good pictures but people havent sent them to me yet, and since I was laying there, I couldnt get a good picture. You can tell cuz I have a camera in my hand in this picture...not too realistic! (not to mention you can see the ground on the side of me) LOL...Ill post better pictures later.

Its really late and I have a ton more pictures that I want to post and write about. I would rather spend enough time to explain them all rather then just posting them w/ no explanation (even though I realize my explanations are kinda crap cuz I know only what Im told and have no deep insights of my own to add-- so you can interpret them for yourself) so... I am going to post the rest tomorrow. I think I'm going to bed now, its been a REALLY LONG weekend and I teach my VERY first classes tomorrow! 5 of them! Way to eaasseee me in there! Also have to wake up at 6:30 AM....Should be interesting. Goodnight!