3 Years in Sendai - 20- Time Spent at the Miyagi Museum of Art.

The Miyagi Art Museum located along the river Hirose and within walking distance of the Sendai International Center was the place you would find me hanging out whenever i have the free time to do so while living in Sendai. The Museum had a special attraction that had been a draw for those who live in and around the Sendai area and were into doing creative works. Th museum offered an open studio program that allowed those who had interest in doing creative art albeit painting, sculpture, printmaking or photography among other things were given space and often tools and equipment along with instructors to aid them in their projects. and all at no cost.

 There were two or three large studios which had some of the most up to date equipment to facilitate various projects and the instructors were ever on hand to assist in getting the work done. It was a heaven for artist like me and several other 'Gaijin' artists or foreigners who needed the space and  assistance due to  obvious reasons.  

This was also the place where one gets to meet local artist and exchange ideas  while benefiting from each other through sharing of art and culture. I never came upon such a facility while living in the United States for the 21 years of my life, not even in San Francisco where Art was the happening. No one had the time the money nor the space to share for free, as a matter of fact everyone I knew was into their own thing that any need of help was an intrusion. 

True to the Japanese spirit, children were given priority in being entertained to do the workshops at the museum and Sai sensei was one of the most entertaining character when it came to taking care of kids visiting the studios.

 Pimenta San was from Brazil and married to a Japanese. Mr. Pimenta's specialty was doing Tibetan Art especially the water color Mandala type painting. It took a special kind of dedication to be able to do this art as it required total meditative state of patience doing it. 

When looking at his finished work one would not believe that it was done by an artist from Brazil. He spent allot of time visiting Mongolia where he studied this technique of painting.

Goko San was  the 'Otai' or old Timer at the studio when I was there and  he was a print maker who utilized pieces of boards  and various items  to produce a colorful abstract print.

Full of dedication and passion this gentleman  often was lost in his own world of creativity. that he appeared to be like a small boy having a good time.

 The materials he used came from discarded materials anything flat and offered unique texture and  designs that can be reproduced as a colorful print.

An artist working with etching plates.

 A lady who has great ways with Lithography

Sometimes i get and audience when it came to oil painting.

I was alive back then and it was the moment in time and space when i could have created anything and walked away with some amount of satisfaction.

It was a great group of  people hanging out at the Miyagi Museum of Art inj Sendai back then each inspiring the other to create in an atmosphere of  friendship  and understanding.