I’m working on a video and performance for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing in August. The days are passing by in a flash. This is the process of creating a short video on the theme of ocean nuclear testing, using Orin’s drawing “Mermaid Man/Merman”.
眼を休ませようと思い、近所を散策。青すぎる空に丸くて白い物体がくるくる不自然な動きをしていた。久しぶりの未確認空中現象に行き当たって、いささか緊張しつつ嬉しくもあった。:I decided to rest my eyes, so I went for a walk around the neighborhood. In the blue sky, I saw a round, white object moving unnaturally. It had been a while since I’d come across an unidentified aerial phenomenon/UAP/UFO, and I was a little nervous also happy.
東京・国立市の桜並木。 Mちゃんから: Cherry blossom trees in Kunitachi, Tokyo. From M-chanN.Sさん宅の裏庭の見事な木蓮:A beautiful magnolia in the backyard of N.S.’s houseアナの17年ぶりのニューヨーク訪問;Anna’s first visit to New York in 17 yearsリバーサイド公園のチューリップは花盛り:The tulips at Riverside Park are in full bloomニュージャージーは向こう側。イースターサンディの日向ぼっこ:New Jersey is on the other side. Basking in the sun on Easter Sundayジェイのアレンジ、カリンバのトルコ行進曲:J’s Arrangement, Turkish March for Kalimba
Due to the recent rain, the temperature always up and down, and a busy personal schedule, I have been putting off filming a video of Harlem. Fortunately, the rain has stopped, so I started by taking a walk. I like the area from 103rd to 116th Street. It’s at the northernmost end of Central Park, close to interesting churches and the Upper West Side, and there are many art museums nearby.
A long time ago, my father was an anarchist and a jazz fanatic. He had zero social skills, and started a bicycle shop and often listened to jazz with a cigarette in his mouth. “Harlem Nocturne” from the radio, at that moment, did little me remember a past life? I had to go back to Harlem.
越冬した枯れ葉が、遠目に天使が翻っているようだった:The dead leaves that had survived the winter looked like angels fluttering in the air in the distance.モーニングサイド公園、ここで皆でイベントをした:Morningside Park, where we held our event.カセドラル教会:The Cathed Church of St.John the Divine125丁目の楽しいミュージックギグ:Fun Music Gig on 125th Street
It’s been exactly two years since Orin-chan passed away. At last! I find myself overwhelmed with emotion at having come this far. I jumped into the depths of the abyss… then, slowly I’ve given up any hope and then since I swore not to follow delusions, but only acceptance. Perhaps I’ve received all the blessings and support I could ever ask for? I’m so grateful.
I really felt the deep love that my sisters-in-law, Tina and Greta, have for their brother Orin. Thank you so much for your wonderful messages. And the kindness of B, J, Y-chan, and M-san brings me to tears.
I moved to Harlem, which was my desire. It’s my “spring board” where I can give 100% to gardening, kalimba, writing, and all my activities. And I’ll have flown ahead in a few years. I’m grateful for this flow. I’m just grateful for everything.
オリンの初期の絵画と2周忌記念撮影。無題だけど、アタシは『第3の目』って呼んでいる。実は、この写真は引越し前に撮ったの。:An early painting of Orin and a photo taken on the second anniversary of his death. It’s untitled, but I call it “The Third Eye.” Actually, I took this photo before I moved.
ハーレムに落ち着いたオリンちゃん。今後ともよろしく〜。:Orin has settled into the harlem. I look forward to working with you in the future.
With heavy snowfall warnings being issued, the moving date was brought forward one after another, and we finally finished safely on Wednesday, February 19th, in freezer-like cold. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who was concerned, who gave me information, and who offered to help. Ah, I am truly blessed. (And what’s more, I only moved Orin-chan’s things. I left everything else, including three bookcases, kitchen appliances, furniture, books, and even my bed, in Brooklyn.) I laughed out loud on the last day of packing. “I don’t need anything” is how I felt. Nothing beats the pleasure of letting go with gratitude!
奇跡のチームワーク! ありがとうございました, Tちゃん+Mちゃん+Bさん!:Miraculous teamwork! Thank you very much, T-chan, M-chan, and B-san!アタシのお部屋、気に入ってますが、小さすぎ:I like my room but too small I never imagened…ベッドの下にギュウギュウ押し込んだ:I shoved many things under the bed
Usually, when Halloween passed and Thanksgiving came around, in my head, it’s already goodbye for this year, but I’m starting to feel a distance from everything. Well, I guess it’s becoming clearer that if I keep being conscious of the here and now, I’ll reach the end of my life sooner or later.
Weeksville Heritage CenterThe Wyckoff House MuseumVery Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner!Totchan and me. He is big boy now!
No, I shouldn’t write “performance”. I played a little at a friend’s art opening. I’m a beginner. J, who has been teaching kalimba to me, couldn’t come, so I improvised and played “Butterfly”, “London Bridge is Falling Down”, “The Bee Flies”, and “Dance of the Rabbit”. Kazuko, the owner of the gallery, and Y also sang, and it seems that the event went smoothly. I am so grateful to everyone for giving me this opportunity.
photo by S.O.Gこちらは、ユニオンスクエアでのイベント:the closing event for the LOV sculpture in Union SQ
It’s somehow reassuring to motivate myself. By ahead, It doesn’t mean the future, but this moment, but to put it simply, I made a big purchase. A used laptop, but a pretty good version for 2020. The old ones couldn’t be upgraded, so I was kind of stuck with video editing and writing and other things. Tony-san helped me out alot. Thank you very much.