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.
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.
神舘美会子さんと和田良三さん、お二人の楽しくも深い話は何度聞いても笑いを誘われ、同時に考えさせられる。今年中に編集をなんとか終了させました！皆様のお時間のおありの時、訪問してくださるととってもうれしいです。こちらです。 『多文化都市ニューヨークを生きる』 <—ここをクリックしてご覧ください。ありがとうございます。 *this video is only in Japanese.
My area is a little far from the hot spots in Brooklyn, and it looks like an ordinary town, but as for me, the smell of the soil from when it was once a farmland, the feel of the sea breeze from the Coney Island, the sweat, dust, laughter, crying babies, and songs, that I sense some kind of Akashic records strangely.
チャーチとフラットブッシュコーナーの、サンタと記念撮影イベント：Photo event with Santa, at Church & Flatbush Ave corner人毛のヘアピース、色の自然さはさすが：Humanhair hairpiece, amazingly looks naturalエラスムス高校：Erasmus Hall High School that attended many famous peopleお気に入りの眺め：my favorite view
ハロウイーン明けの上旬、近所の大学生たちがD Jと共に、カボチャ投げイベント開催。このままコンポストに蘇れば良いのだけど、、何だかな〜：After a several days of Halloween, local college students(with DJ) hold a pumpkin-throwing event. It would be nice if it could be revived as they are in the compost, but somehow…カシャとブルックリン植物園に行った：I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden with Kasia.植物園内の銀杏並木：Ginkgo trees in the botanical garden.美会子さんから頂いた、あたしの軽食。お気に入りの人形ゴリンと：My snack that I received from Mieko. With my favorite doll Gorin.
I visited my dear friend Y.H far from Manhattan. She is in a world where her memories are cut off. I talk to her who lives in the memories of my heart. I say somethings, she laughs. I’m grateful to be able to confirm our friendship.
The lunch box at the Respect for the Aged Party hosted by “JAA/Japanese American Association of New York” was amazing! I thought, “Ah, what a waste” to eat it. Japanese food culture is simply delicate & artistic. Well, one early evening after the rain, I & friends couple went for a walk around the nearby Brooklyn College campus. The inside of the historic college library was once again well-stocked. By the way, the other day, I passed by the New York University Cancer Center, where Orin attended before his death, for the first time in a while. Tears welled up a little. . Now, I went to visit K at the hospital in East Village. We could see a wonderful rainbow from her hospital room. On the way home, I was stopped by several people asked me, “Did you see that amazing rainbow earlier?” The good thing about rainbows is that it makes people look up. (smile)
On October 13th, a publication commemorative lecture by Mieko Mitachi and Ryo wada was held at JAA. (“Living in a Multicultural City of New York” co-authored by the two, which was introduced on this blog) A lot of nice people came together, and the time passed quickly with deep speeches from different perspectives and questions from the audience. Please wait a moment until the video is uploaded.
所用でシープスヘッド・ベイに出た。そそられる盛り付けじゃない？：I went to Sheepshead Bay on business. Isn’t it an intriguing arrangement?Fさんが大輪の向日葵を下さった。: F -san from NewBurgh gave me a large sunflower.コニー・アイランド帰り。Oちゃんの灰を撒く予定が楽しいお喋りに終始した。: Return from Coney Island. The plan to scatter O’s ashes was all about fun chatting.ついに！昨年11月のΟのビデオを編集しようって気運。ハドソン河岸を撮っていたはずがOの影オンパレードだった : I’m editing a video of the Hudson River that O shot last November.マーシー駅。3年半ぶりかも。: Mercy station. It’s been three and a half years.ワーセンター。お元気そうなT氏とYさんにも再会を果たす。: Williamsburg Art and Historical Center. To Mr. T and Ms. Y who seem to be doing well have a reunion.ここでOはビデオを撮り、アタシは編集を手伝った。仲良くずっとやって来たよ: Here O shot the video and I helped edit it. The two of us, we were absolutely good team.
F.C, a friend of me & Orin, has an art history class at the Senior Center in Midtown East Manhattan, so I attend it from time to time. It’s a senior center, but active artists gather, each one has their own interesting experiences of art. Next week’s lecture will include a talk about historic buildings in New York City, so I thought that I would introduce some unique buildings on Flatbush Avenue. I went out to take pictures of some of the buildings in the area. They’re not only like this, more and more jumping into your eyes! I really wanted to make a video of the scenery of Flatbush, however I should say goodbye to August! Time flies.
“Flatbush, African burial ground”. (<–click ) I was able to go visit. The scale cannot be compared with Manhattan’s African burial ground. But the fact is as same as heavy with any burial ground. Once upon a time, it is the background of Kings county/Flatbush prosperity as a large plantation area at that time, where people brought and forced to work as slaves, then without returned to their mother country they passed away in foreign place. A local group firmly manages and supports this historical fact that is about to be erased into oblivion.
