Judi Harvest. I went to see an exhibition with friends of Judi’s recent works. Her keen eye consistently looks at the earth and the ecological environment, and she transforms fascinating subjects such as Buddha, bees, bats, plants, and fruits into canvases, glasswork, and sculptures. It takes us to the depths also giving us a deeper understanding.
Judy has built a bee garden in Murano (province of Venice/Italy), which is famous for its glass industry, and now bees are flying around among the flowers. Last summer, Orin’s ashes were scattered at the base of a large pomegranate tree in her garden. I’m very grateful.
ジュディのミツバチ園、ムラノ・ベニス：Bee Garden in Murano, Venice/Italywith Judiwith T-chan & A.Y-san
In late March, I had the opportunity to visit two botanical gardens in Queens and Brooklyn. One is the Queen’s Botanical Garden. Cherry blossom viewing at S-chan’s memorial tree. Although the garden was muddy everywhere due to the heavy rain the day before, the beautiful flowers blooming on the dignified branches are just like S-chan when she was alive. Apparently it’s a species called Somei-yoshino, and it blooms early in the spring.
The other is the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Two couples of friends each invited me and told me that the tulips would bloom and/or the magnolias would be in full bloom and it would be wonderful. Due to time constraints and work commitments, I wasn’t able to meet up with all my friends, but I felt very grateful to be able to relax on the grass in the warm sunshine, walk around the garden, and sunbathing.
I enjoyed talking with the grasses/trees/ flowers for the first time in a while. Well, maybe it’s just my one-sided imagination, but it seems like they’re talking to me. “Ah, did you notice? ! ” or “Everyone is happy, so I will bloom even more” (smile) etc.
Something really strange happened early in the morning. If I hadn’t registered it, Notice, which had never existed before, suddenly entered my cell. It said, “Today is Orin’s birthday”. Not too kind? Of course, it a special day that I’ll never forget, and at the same time, Orin was completely indifferent to his own birthday when he was alive, and now he’s asking me from another dimension, ”What day is it today?” There is no way you could ask someone to do something like this. On this particular day, his website mysteriously froze. M.B-san fixed it without any difficulty. Appreciation.
Anyway, it was a chilly day with a cold wind blowing, but the sun was shining so I headed out to Coney Island. The purpose was to buy him a local beer labeled “Coney Island”, which he loved. However, I couldn’t find any, so I took lots of pictures of the amusement park. It’s off season though.
Even on such a cold day, there are people walking along the boardwalk, and people relaxing on benches and looking out at the ocean. After all, the sea is nice. How grateful I was for the messages from my friends and sister-in-law. It was a day of gratitude that goes beyond words.
Sadly, this local beer factory “Coney Island Brewery” had already closed its operations last year. I’m sorry. However, they are still seen at restaurants and bars in the area. This is a image of its beer.
Since Kazuko’s birthday coincided with her art show, the gallery’s owner, Gwenolee, held a cute, homely Birthday party at the Zurcher Gallery. Also, during a lecture given by Shigeru Hanaoka, who came from Japan to participate in the 311 Anti-nuke group show, and is a multi-talented writer, publisher, and musician, I jumped in to sing and ended up sweating profusely afterwards. Zurcher Gallery <— click
Recently, I was happy that a long time friend of mine, Y-san, who is a sculptor, liked our used car and took it over. I am very grateful to R-san and his son for taking care of our used car, Honta, for an entire year and maintaining and inspecting it.
The other day, I attended Katsugen-kai (Noguchi-Seitai) for the first time in a while, which I attended until I moved to Arizona in 2018. Exactly there was a blank period of almost 6 years! I was surprised. It was a good opportunity to wipe out the stress energy that I had built up, and it’s great to continue again.
Butoh dancer Natsu Nakajima. When she was alive, she said that everything changed when she met Tatsumi Hijikata, but for me, meeting Natsu-san changed everything. A wonderful encounter that took place over 30 years ago. Of course, it is true that my orbital axis has gradually become realize, deep, and clearer due to various encounters and events at important points in my world before and after that. However, I am extremely happy to have met Natsu-san in this life.
Until then, there was a stereotype that Butoh was a male dancer, but she became the first woman to dance in public. Her accomplishments are immeasurable, as she has spread Butoh not only around the world, but also taught it at the same time.
A shaman, a shrine maiden who takes people out of the atmosphere? Visualizing our passions and then dismantling them. A concept called the future determines the direction of space and time in the here and now. Natsu-san departed on the day of Japan’s Doll’s Festival (Hina-matsuri). Wasn’t this the perfect day for her, who seemed like an eternal girl who held the world like a doll, let go of herself, and stood alone forever? Thank you very much. rest in peace
キュレーターは越光桂子さん、ポスター制作はトニー・サハラさん : Curated by Keiko Koshimitsu, Poster by Tony Sahara
“Untitled; the endless dance but hopefully not” by Orin Buck : 『無題；終わりの無いダンス、そうならないことを願うけど』 オリン・バック“The City Lights or in the Starry Night” by Sanae M. Buck：『都会の燈、または星降る夜』 バック・早苗
All of us participating artists, who are thinking about our homeland, have finished hanging our hearts together. Thank you to Rabbit House for providing the venue and to Mr. Hanaoka from Japan. N.W-san, please join us next year.
It was November of the year before last, and we were still in upstate Newburgh. On a slightly warm late fall day, we walked along the promenade along the Hudson River, which was our usual route. If we move, we won’t be able to come here as much as we do now, so we naturally recorded these areas on video! We started taking pictures with each one’s cell phone. My shot was very blurry, but as expected, Orin’s shot was accurate. What was also interesting was that the setting sun made the shadow of Orin, who was taking the video, stand out, as if someone mysterious was walking along the riverbank. . This seemed to have an unexpected video scene effect on Orin as well.
Orin would be leaving a few months later…since then I almost didn’t get anything done, however in the late fall of last year, almost a year after that day, I finally…! I was able to finish editing. I asked Benjamin who is our friend and composer to create the soundtrack. He and Orin have often experimented with modern electronic music collaborations that are truly rich, delicate, dramatic, and sharp in video and sound. I’m proud of them both. Let me do uploading the video soon.
In keeping with Orin’s wishes when he was in this world, the first anniversary of his death was completed quite easily. I felt that the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center where his last small works were on display was appropriate. I brought a drawing of a geranium flower, which he loved while he was alive, and two stuffed animals that he always took with them on drives.
Early morning messages from my sisters-in-law who are far away in Texas and Arizona. Furthermore, I received many warm messages from friends. I was also able to say hello to Yuko, the founder of the WAH Center, and Terry, the director. Orin lives in the world of everyone’s hearts, or rather, he is being kept alive by them. What a blessing!
With everyone’s support, I was able to get through this past year. Beyond words, it seems that a real shift began in the rest of my life. . I’m deeply moved. Appreciation, thank you very much.
This year marks the 25th anniversary since the founding of Wah Salon Show. Mary Westling and Orin Buck, both of two has been involved in the establishment from the beginning so in curator’s favor, their artworks are also on special display. If we are talking about the number 25 alone, it is also the date of Orin’s departure. Moreover, on February 25th, during the exhibition period, also marks the first anniversary of Orin’s death, and I cannot express my gratitude enough for this meaningful coincidence.
Since J-chan is moving, his ventriloquist puppet will be evacuating with me for a while. This doll’s name is apparently Charlie. While I’m with him, I call him “Ojiya/Grandpa" or “Ossan”. Orin might be smiling bitterly.
