The role of artist is to deliver messages to the audience with artistic languages. The question for the artist is how to deliver the message in an interesting way.

Carrier pigeon, the title of this exhibition, was once used as a medium to deliver messages. The artists will deliver our messages through the medium of painting.
The artists participating in this exhibition are all Japanese. We hope you will enjoy seeing how the Japanese artists express what they have sensed in the culture of New York, a community made up of many different people.

Being artist living in NYC and Japanese nationals are the common thread running through these artists.
They are also each employed as assistants in the studio of the contemporary artist Tomokazu Matsuyama.

Hiroaki Konaka

Light Flow (Flower) 1

silver metal leaf, dye ink, and acrylic on canvas, 14×14 inch, 2021

Light Flow (Flower) 2

silver metal leaf, dye ink, and acrylic on canvas, 14×14 inch, 2021

Untitled

silver metal leaf, dye ink, and acrylic on canvas, 14×11 inch, 2021

Anniversary Flower

silver metal leaf, dye ink, and acrylic on canvas, 20×16 inch, 2021

Utopia

silver metal leaf, dye ink, and acrylic on canvas, 20×16 inch, 2021

Mariko Fujimoto

Early Summer

acrylic on canvas, 35.8×45.9 inch, 2015

Remember

acrylic and crayon on canvas, 6.3×10.7 inch, 2021

Taishi Shingu

String of Life

acrylic on canvas, 48×36 inch, 2021

Wavering Lights#1

acrylic on canvas, 20×16 inch, 2021

Wavering Lights#5

acrylic on canvas, 20×16 inch, 2021

Takura Suzuki

Tree Back Then 1

oil and inkjet print on canvas, 35×24 inch, 2021

Tree Back Then 2

oil and inkjet print on canvas, 35×24 inch, 2021

The World Amigurumi Exhibition is now open to the public and we are taking all the steps possible to make it safe for guests to visit the exhibition. We have officially extended the exhibition until the end of March 2021! We hope to see everyone at the exhibition in our safe environment!

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the New York State government policy to shut down non essential businesses, we will be closing the World Amigurumi Exhibition and the RESOBOX gallery until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and wish that everyone stay safe and healthy!

After taking a quick break from the World Amigurumi Exhibition, RESOBOX is back with an all new refreshing theme and loads of new crochet artists joining in for their new exhibition. The amigurumi industry is constantly expanding, as is the World Amigurumi Exhibition! RESOBOX, as a Japanese cultural community center located in New York, is bringing back the celebration of amigurumi with a new theme by a diverse selection of artists.

As the World Amigurumi Exhibition is constantly growing, RESOBOX has decided to take a look at a worldwide and vital problem – endangered species that are constantly decreasing. Supporting endangered species is and spreading awareness is a topic that RESOBOX holds dearly to their hearts, and they have decided to support the cause by making it the theme for the exhibition this year!

In total, they’ve gathered pieces from over 100 artists from 42 countries who’ve found and recreated endangered species (animals, plants, etc.) located within their region as amigurumi. Using the Red List of Threatened Species published the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), which lists species of animals/plants/insects/etc. that are most on the verge of extinction, crochet artists from all over the world have used their creativity to craft beautiful amigurumi pieces to help spread awareness. Through the exhibition RESOBOX, would like to advocate the importance to protect the many species on the list together with the many amigurumi artists around the world.

See the unique and enticing endangered species amigurumi at the World Amigurumi Exhibition vol. 5!

Find out how Mookie makes new friends with endangered species!

In The Press

• Experience A Tight-Knit World of Amigurumi at ResoBox in LIC by Joe DiStefano on About Travel
• World Amigurumi Exhibition 2: Crocheted Culture Celebration! Blog by Petits Pixels (French version)
• All Around the World by Inside Crochet Magazine

What are Amigurumi?

Amigurumi (lit. crocheted or knitted stuffed toy) is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. Amigurumi are typically animals, but can include artistic renderings or inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features, as is typical in Japanese culture. (Wikipedia)

Amigurumi stems from animism, a philosophy in the foundations of many Japanese traditions and customs. Animism is the belief that gods belong to everything: water, food, nature, buildings and houses, even technology. In Japanese, this is called Yaoyorozu no Kami. In fact, Japanese people often put eyes, arms, and legs onto non-human objects and give them imaginary lives in order to feel closer to these objects and show them respect as co-existing partners in this world.

As a Japanese cultural center located in Queens, NY, one of the most diverse cultural areas in the world, RESOBOX Gallery wants to explore how the ideas of animism and amigurumi are perceived in other places internationally.

Go on a video tour of 2016’s World Amigurumi Exhibition!

Contributors

Helen E. Moss (Mookie’s Mother)
MITSUE (Website | Facebook)

Where in the World Are Our Amigurumi Artists?

See the full artist’s list below!

World Amigurumi Exhibition Vol. 5 Artist List

The first installment of SHOKUNIN will feature the venerable Japanese textile company Tomoe Senko and opens on Monday, November 4, continuing until Tuesday, November 26. Tomoe Senko, based in Morioka, Japan, has been producing hand-dyed products for more than 110 years. The fifth-generation head of Tomoe Senko, Mr. Makoto Tojo, will be making a special appearance in New York for the event.

Tradition

Tomoe Senko will exhibit tenugui (traditional Japanese hand-dyed towels) and hikeshi hanten (traditional Japanese firefighter uniforms) that have been worn during the Morioka Hachiman Shrine Matsuri (Fall Festival), which has been celebrated for more than 300 years. Each group that participates in the festival has a different design for its hanten and tenugui––we will introduce you to the distinctive designs along with the history of each group.

The craftspeople of Tomoe Senko have passed the torch to a new generation––they are young and talented, and also highly skilled. They may be young, but the craftspeople know the traditional techniques and have been creating their own new methods as well. Chusen, a traditional Japanese hand-dyeing technique, is used for tenugui and kimono. Nassen, another traditional hand-dyeing method, is used for hanten, noren (fabric door panels), and flags. Tomoe Senko has specialists in these two different methods, and there are also steaming and washing craftspeople who make the products possible. All the craftspeople put their hearts into their work, using skills they have perfected over years. We hope you will see and feel their passion through this exhibition and take some of it home with you.

Evolution

The fifth-generation owner of Tomoe Senko, Mr. Makoto Tojo, has opened two new factories near the original factory. He has incorporated new technologies and developed new products. Because the artisans of Tomoe Senko have mastered traditional hand-dyeing techniques, they can use those as a base for creating new ideas, giving them unlimited possibilities. Tomoe Senko also has its own sewing team, so from dyeing and printing to finishing the final product, many skilled people put life into the cloth. Tomoe Senko will be bringing new products, including printed sashiko clothing and goods, for this special event.

We will have an opening reception on Thursday, November 7, from 7pm to 9pm. Our sponsor Sake Discoveries will provide Nanbu Bijin, producer of award-winning Japanese sake, as welcome drinks from Iwate throughout the evening. During the reception, we will connect the dye house with Resobox via the Internet, so you will have a chance to meet the shokunin who made these beautiful products and share a moment of time together. Attendees will also receive a special free gift, the Tomoe Senko exclusive “Three Most Famous Noodles” tenugui!

You can take part in a hand-dyeing workshops on Saturday, November 9, and Sunday, November 17.

• Natural Indigo Tie-Dyeing Tenugui Scarf Workshops
• Discharge-Dyed Tenugui Workshops

If you have any questions, please contact the organizer of SHOKUNIN:

Ruri Kippenbrock
Wuhao New York, Inc.
212.231.8126
info@wuhaonyc.com

モノをデザインする人、モノを作る人、モノを売る人、そしてモノを買う人。全てが繋がることで、モノは循環している。「職人」コレクションは、モノを作る人にスポットライトをあて、今注目されているニューヨークLIC (ロングアイランドシティー)のアートスペースRESOBOXより、日本のモノとそのモノを作る人達を紹介しながら、期間限定にて展示販売するシリーズものの企画である。

第一弾は、岩手県盛岡市より巴染工株式会社が出展。「伝承と革新」をテーマに、巴染工第五代社長東條誠氏をお迎えし、１１月４日より１１月２６日迄、１００年以上続いている手染め製品、手ぬぐいや半纏等を主に、展示販売をする。

「伝承」

３００年以上継承されている盛岡八幡宮秋祭りで、身に纏われている火消組半纏と手ぬぐい、令和の今も変わらずに、職人の手により、本染めにて一枚一枚大切に染められている。今回の「職人」コレクションでは、その半纏と手ぬぐいを特別に販売。１０組程ある火消各組には、それぞれの組の名前と印、そして歴史があり、展示販売中は、半纏や手ぬぐいと共に、火消組の歴史も紹介する。

巴染工職人は、世代交代が終わり、新しい世代の職人達の手により、伝統が継承されている。昔ながら技法にて、半纏は捺染、手ぬぐいは注染にて染められている。その他浸染にて、前掛け等も染めている。彼らの若い感覚と伝統技術によって、一枚一枚染め上がり作られた製品、そのモノの後ろにいる新世代の職人達の姿を、この展示販売会を通じて、感じていただけたら幸甚である。

「革新」

巴染工では、本染製品を生産している本工場の他に、新工場も設立され、新しいプリントの技術を取りいれながら、様々な製品の開発進めている。昔ながらの伝統的な手染め技術が基本にあるからこそ、プリントプログラムを作成するにも、通常のイメージでは浮かぶことがない様なアイデアが生かされ、新製品が生まれている。自社の裁断縫製チームも備えており、熟練職人と若い職人と共に、日々染めあがった布を、一枚一枚のモノへと進化させている。今回の展示販売会では、昔ながらの刺し子生地にプリント加工をしたアパレル製品等を販売予定。

「職人」コレクションを通じ、モノ作りの場所で、日々活躍している職人達の姿を見ていただきたい。

１１月７日（木）にオープニングセレモニーを開催予定。当日会場では、Sake Discoveries寄贈岩手県の名酒「南部美人」を楽しんでいただきながら、インターネットにて、巴染工本工場とニューヨークを繋ぎ、昔ながらの工場の風景を実際に見ていただき、職人達とニューヨーカーとが、時を共有できる時間を設ける予定。その他、軽食も準備予定。当日会場に来ていただいた方には、巴染工より、オリジナル手ぬぐい「盛岡三大麺」柄手ぬぐいのプレゼント。

実際に手染めを体験していただくワークショップも開催予定。１１月９日（土）と１１月１７日（日）の二日間。

問い合わせ先：

「職人」コレクション企画運営
WUHAO NEW YORK INC
225 W 36TH STREET, ROOM 604
NEW YORK, NY 10018(電話) 212 231 8126

キッペンブロック琉璃

The main material of company Hakata Ori Textiles is silk. Japan has produced the best quality raw silk, which is often used for Japanese kimonos, after improving the breeding of silkworms for a long time. Hakata-ori textile is a beautiful silk fabric and one of the most well-known traditional Japanese craft arts, with a history of more than 770 years. These techniques are now used for interior products! 

When it comes to Hakata Dolls, locally produced unglazed clay is used to make Hakata doll figures and is colored very carefully by hand, so that the artisans can, in detail, furnish distinctive calmness and meticulous expressions to the Hakata Dolls. The themes of Hakata Dolls vary from “beautiful women” to “Kabuki players”. 

Are you interested in painting your own dog doll? Come join our workshop on Oct 26th! Find out more at our website: https://resobox.com/event/paint-your-own-traditional-japanese-doll/

RESOBOX will hold a Japanese craftsmanship exhibition on October 26th and 27th at their RESOBOX East Village location. Titled “Creations from Southern Japan: Traditional, Vibrant and Intricate Dolls and Textiles,” the exhibition explores the various textiles, dolls and other fine craftsmanship from the Hakata area in Japan. As so, RESOBOX is looking for a few people to join a focus group for the exhibition! Compensation will be $10 per person. If you are interested, please fill out the form below and show up promptly at your selected time.

Creations from Southern Japan Focus Group Sign-Up Form

Since ancient times, the Japanese has had a unique mindset that God is present in everything around us.

From nature and phenomena to even the kitchen at home.

Many of ENGIMONO (lucky charms) that remain throughout Japan are connected with the people’s faith and express the people’s wish for good health and huge harvest.

ENGIMONO (lucky charms) are created based on the customs and beliefs from various parts of Japan.

It reflects the local characteristics from each part of Japan.

It is obvious that every piece is delicate and are created using a unique molding sensation. Each piece is handmade one by one using special materials from the local regions.

Moreover, most of them have their own local beauty.

**All artworks will be available for purchase!

Opening Reception with Special Guests Shintaro Segawa, Yachiko Daruma and LOBO51

Sunday, September 22 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Please join us for the opening party for ENGIMONO!

Guests will have the chance meet the owner of the exhibition ENGIMONO, Shintaro Segawa from “YAMABIKOYA.” YAMABIKOYA handles traditional Japanese toys, mainly from the Kyushu area but also from other parts of Japan. Daruma artist Yachiko Darum will pay a visit to the exhibition as well! Lastly, we will have a live painting event performed by our special guest LOBO51 who is the artist of the “YAMABIKOYA” sign. We look forward to seeing you all!

LOBO51, originally from Kumamoto, started their live-paint activities unit “GOA” in 2001. Since 2001, they have presented mural paintings, CD jacket productions, logos, signage productions, order canvases, welcome boards and more. Their free-style live-painter title allows them to paint freely in various spaces including Japan and overseas.

The concept is to embody an image consisting of sound and space.

Space and air, light and shadow, color and sound.

Repeated line development and color experiment,

Eventually all the pieces will be connected and become Oneness on Canvas.

See them at the opening reception for “ENGIMONO” this Sunday, September 22 from 7 to 9pm!

1st Place Winner
Edward Cody Huddleston from Georgia, USA

lone streetlight
a firefly
flickers back

2nd Place Winner
Eduard Tara from Iasi, Romania

gardening
her shadow full of
forget-me-nots

3rd Place Winner
Martha Magenta from Bristol, England

night watch . . .
I follow her gaze
to the stars

As we did not receive enough haikus to announce a winner for the Youth division, we have decided to select and congratulate one child for their outstanding haiku as an honorable mention!

Honorable Mentions – Adult Division

Debbie Scheving from Washington, USA

wisp of a cloud –
on the infant’s cheek
a fallen eyelash

Jennifer Carr Munoz from Sante Fe, New Mexico

still waters –
fish nibble bits
of sun

Helen Barysheva from Moscow, Russia

children’s playground
fallen leaves
take off again

Honorable Mentions – Youth Division

Dinesh Srikar Mekala from Andhra Pradesh, India

hide and seek
one more banyan leaf
lands on my head

Thank you all for participating in the RESOBOX International Haiku Contest! We want to warmly congratulate the winners! Their haikus will be on display at our RESOBOX LIC location from August 18 to September 8, 2019. Please feel free to join us for the Artist’s Talk event with judge Natalia L. Rudychev this Sunday, September 1st at 7:00pm!

Artist’s Talk Event

***SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!***

RESOBOX is holding its very first Haiku contest in partnership with Haiku artist Natalia L. Rudychev! Please submit your own Haikus for a chance to be a part of the upcoming Haiku exhibition, “Poetry of Nature.”

Theme: Haiku are to be written in the spirit of the following quote by Lafcadio Hearn (from an essay “Bits of Poetry” that appeared in Hearn’s book In Ghostly Japan, 1899)

The common art principle of the class of poems under present consideration is identical with the common principle of Japanese pictorial illustration. By the use of a few chosen words the composer of a short poem endeavors to do exactly what a painter endeavors to do with a few strokes of the brush — to evoke an image or a mood — to revive a sensation or emotion. And the accomplishment of this purpose — by poet or by picture maker — depends altogether upon capacity to suggest, and only suggest. […] a poet would be condemned for attempting any completeness of utterance in a very short poem: his object should be only to stir the imagination without satisfying it.

Send us your best creations. Entries must be in English. Each entry must be the original, unpublished work by the author, and should not be under consideration or publication elsewhere. Appearance of a haiku in any social media renders it ineligible.

Divisions:

• Youth Division (ages 5-15)
• Adult Division (ages 16+)

Topic: Free
Form: 3 haiku per entrant
Awards: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and three Honorable Mentions
Prizes: Certificate of Recognition, Books on Haiku, Public Display at RESOBOX LIC during the event.
Judging: Blind
Judge: Natalia L. Rudychev (http://www.thepoetryofbreath.com/1.html)

*Email submissions only*
Please send your emails to wendy@resobox.com with the following information:
Subject line: RESOBOX International Haiku Contest + Age of the Author
Include: Full name, postal address, email, phone number

Three haiku per entrant, there are no rules to syllable count, between one and four lines written in the spirit of the theme quote above.

Submission period: June 19 – July 24, 2019

There are so many techniques and culture that has been lost or long forgotten. I was born in Kyoto, surrounded by full of heritage and traditions. I never thought that these things around me was so valuable, so fragile, and so easily gone forever. As I grew up here in the US in Virginia, its was the turning point of my life. One day I was asked, “Why doesn’t your country value your culture more?” It was shocking. I never thought of such nor never imagined how things were so rapidly changing in Japan.

As I returned to Japan, I started working as a character designer for the game industry. It was the state of art of the period, and was the most promoted job. But as I worked more, I felt that I was missing something in my life. I was just messing with data and things were all digital within the monitor. I wondered what I wanted to become. Then I remembered the question that I was asked while in the states.

I looked for a field of traditional work that was about to cease its history. That is how I became one of the only three Japanese automata builder. I also wanted to be unique, so I decided to be an artisan specializing in a precision miniatures especially of a Japanese folk toys. I am self taught as there was no where I could learn what I wanted to know. From there creating something “different” became my life. My hands create various things that fit on the palm of the hand. All the pieces on the palm shine as the stars in the galaxy, and talks to whoever is seeing it.

I am an Artist, and I am an Artisan at the same time. I will keep creating something different, with the techniques that have been passed on for generations, spiced with my sense and flavor.

Join artist Hiromu Moulinette (Morine)’s workshops on how to make his miniatures and pieces! Find out more in the links below:

• June 22-23, 2019 (2:00pm) | Paint your own Daruma and Fortune Cat
• June 22-23, 2019 (4:15pm) | Asobi no Tsugi ~ Fixing Pottery and Ceramics using Traditional Japanese Methods

What is Youkai?

It has long been told in Japan that when one encounters a strange or peculiar phenomenon he/she suspects that Youkai must be manipulating this.
It is said that Youkai not only punishes people for their laziness and selfishness but also teaches them to take good care of things and to respect nature and environment. Many Japanese have long been familiar with Youkai.

His passion for photography started after meetings those in need in society who are disabled and struggle with physical and or mental illnesses. His thoughts toward this population were a little bit biased initially, but they were dramatically changed after a meeting with a mom and her disabled child. He offered to take a photo of the child, thinking that likely they would reject the offer. To his surprise, they were rather happy with the offer from a professional photographer like Makoto. He realized that his work could shed a light on those in need.

This single event eventually led him to focus on portraits. He has captured portraits of over 300 people so far, all standing straight with their feet shoulder width apart, looking directly at his lens. This specific portrait style got an attention and now called “Ishizuka-Dachi.” This is his first “Ishizuka-Dachi” photo exhibition.

Generous monetary supports, totaling $17,000, from his supporters and friends in both Japan and US made it possible to hold this exhibition.

Makoto Ishizuka himself will be in the gallery during the exhibition. Please feel free to come by. He is looking forward to meeting you there. Thank you.

They’re small, but so much more. Cute, yet realistic. Plus, they look delicious!

This bowl for a miniature bowl of ramen, for example, has to harden first. Then an hour is spent whittling it into just the right shape. For a miniature bento (box lunch), everything is made by hand, including the box. The rice, the deep-fried shrimp and all the other ingredients are hand-made, and the whole process takes over a week.

Welcome to the subtle and multi-layered world of Japan’s miniature food models!

In addition to models, you can find fashion accessories such as rice-ball and pastry ear studs and brooches.

There’s only one for you in the world. Why not find the miniature food that’s just right for you?

Are you interested in making miniature food items? Come join our workshop! Even beginners can easily start making their own miniature foods. The fun starts at 1 o’clock PM on Sunday, May 26!

この展覧会は、1930年に設立された日本の木材製品メーカー、ヨネモックによって作られたけん玉です。

展示されている全作品の中で、独自のレーザー切断技術を駆使した16種類のニシキダマのデザインは、日本の職人技の傑作です。藤山らいんを使ったけん玉の古代日本のデザインは、江戸時代初期（1600年頃）からの画家タワラヤソタツによる屏風-Eをモチーフにしています。「っけっか」「うめいこかもん」などの伝統的な和柄は、けん玉で表現できます。

また、プロのけん玉選手に人気のLEGAXIS（3種類のデザイン）を出展します。この作品は、日本で毎年開催される「けん玉ワールドカップ」で生まれ、14の国と地域から約400人のけん玉選手が集まり、2日間で合計53,000人の客が集まりました。

けん玉をつくった職人が壁のパネルに紹介されます。ゲストは、けん玉を創り出してきた職人たちの伝統的な技法とも、、、、、革新的なアイデアで情熱を感じるでしょう。愛を組み込んでいます。、そう。すること。創造的にされたけん玉をお楽しみください。

展覧会その他のパネルでは、それらのけん玉が生まれた鳥取県が、その主要なブナ林で有名な大山山（1729 m）の説明と、177以上の青銅製の水木しげるロードが紹介されます。客は、鳥取が「2019年の日本の旅行先トップ10」で、外国人がその年に訪れるべきランキングの1位にランクされた理由を経験しましょう。

I have been advocating my slogan “From unnecessary to important” through my art activities of carton.

Everyone knows carton is tough and handy, but on the other hand, you might have seen them as scrap and gotten an image of dirty garbage. What kind of story, however, does the carton have inside? After stuffs are put inside far beyond the sea, what story takes them here, and dumps them here? Collecting those storytelling carton, and wishing to reuse them as wanted.

I want you to discover the value depends on each individuals.

You might find anything valuable when you happened upon some trash.

If you see it as trash or treasure, it is totally up to you.

I want everyone to have new perspective.

Open Studio Date:
March 16th: 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm
March 18th: 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm / 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Card Wallet Workshop: March 16th and March 17th (Find out more: Create Recycled Card Wallets with Carton!)