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
折り紙コーナー：Origami corner展示『この空の下』：”Under This Sky: Manhattan Project”浄土真宗僧侶、中垣氏によるドキュメンタリーフィルム『卍 / ﾏﾝｼﾞ』上映：Film Screening of the documentary “Manji” by Rev. Dr. K. Nakagaki
My friend J.E. taught me the basics of how to playing the kalimba. The pleasant sound is similar to that of a music box. This simple instrument is also known as a “thumb piano.” Perhaps I was unconsciously searching for this sound vibration?! Last month, I attended Kevin’s kalimba meeting, and the moment I heard it, I thought, “That’s it! This tone and scale are essential for my ‘green funeral project’ !” I knew about the kalimba, but I never imagined it would be connected in this way.
Tさんトリオのガーデンイベント：T-san Trio’s garden event敬老会はウナギ弁当：Eel lunch box for the Respect for the Aged Day partyオリンの17回目の月命日、カリンバの上のオリンちゃん：On the day of the 17th monthly anniversary of Orin’s death, I put him on my kalimbaYちゃんの、ちぎり絵タイム、子供たちがたくさん集まって大盛況。Cちゃん、Yちゃんと共に：Y’s Paper-cutting time was a great success, with many children gathering. With C-chan and Y-chan.
Director Hideaki Ito comes a shocking documentary about the prevalence of radiation poisoning in the US—and the untold story of the mother who tried to expose it. In 1951, nuclear weapons testing began on the US mainland. Hundreds of miles away in St. Louis, Dr. Louise Reiss began collecting baby teeth from other mothers in her community. Through studying these teeth, Reiss found that American children—not just the so-called “Utah downwinders”—had been exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Silent Fallout traces these stories and others, journeying from Salt Lake City, to Virginia, to Missouri, to the United Kingdom, and to Japan, exposing the government deception behind the bomb.
This year, the annual exhibition of SJAC/Society of Japanese and American Creators was held as usual. Although I have been one of the directors since the inception in 2017, I didn’t really contribute much beyond flying back to NYC to do some video interviews and take some photos. But of course, in the meantime, it continues to serve as a venue for many wonderful artists and members to showcase their work, and I’m very happy to see that SJAC itself has become well established in New York.
Even when the flowers are in full bloom or it’s a boring day with rain, I continue to go out. Fridge art fair was a great success. You guys have been worked hard! THANK YOU. Yey, Shoko came back from Japan. This is my first time I took her massage therapy in a couple of months. Body Maintenance is essential because your physical condition is constantly changing. The golden rule is not to cool your body. We discussed about the daily dedication of Buddha’s teachings, the “Five Precepts(5 commandments)”. And I heard many interesting talk. I felt somehow I got my soul maintenance too.
This year as well as last year, I was participating in the Japan Day Parade. The old ventriloquist puppet (with me) was a big success. The weather was also great. The crowd on the street cheered us and it was a great success. Afterwards, I met up with my fellow at Strawberry Field. I’m grateful for my friends. It ended up being written like a memo.
On April 11th, I received a pleasant message from Saya from France saying that she had sent me a treasure box/tamatebako/small parcel. It’s an express delivery so it should arrive in about a week. That’s it. However, it became a lonely song of “Yoimachi-gusa/matsuyoi-gusa” saying something like no matter how much I wait, there is someone(small parcel) who never comes. Apparently, due to some mistake was occurred, my zip cord was incorrect, they say. (they changed 11210 to 11201 !) I simply thought that since the address and my name were correct, it should be forwarded to my zip# area. But sadly it turned out that there was no one matching the destination (wrong writing zip #), and a parcel was returned to France. . What is this? I’ll be leaving New York sooner or later, so maybe this happen was premonition to look ahead to the future?
Today is the installation date for the Fridge Art Show hosted by Eric Ginsberg. (<– click to find its detail) I included two objects and three short videos. (“IMPERMANENCE” “A tale of Mimi and Lou-lou” and “Shadows Walking Along the Hudson River” ) The venue is a hotel in the Seaport area, and the event starts tomorrow, so check back soon. Fridge Art Far Video Lounge <– you can watch participant’s videos
Fridge Art Fair logo by Eric Ginsberg” fairy’s nest “” hermit crab “seaport area
ミシガンからオハイオ、そしてアップステートニューヨーク、ニューヨークシティさらにフィラデルフィアやワシントンDC, オハイオ経由でミシガン帰還、と４月７日〜４月２２日までベン・ミラーのマルチフォニックギター演奏・ワークショップの旅は続行中。4月13日(@ the Millenium)と14日(@ Main Drag Music) はブルックリン。ただ一言。『とっても楽しかった。』 ベン・ミラー ← クリック
at Main Drag Music
Ben Miller’s multiphonic guitar performance and workshop tour continues from April 7th to April 22nd, started from Michigan to Ohio, then upstate New York, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Ohio before returning to Michigan. During Brooklyn on April 13th (@ the Millenium) and 14th (@ Main Drag Music). Just one word, ” It was so much fun! ” Ben Miller <— click
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.
