James Jack

I have just completed an installation piece for the show “Threshold: Sustainable Art.” It is a sand painting that draws a link between cultural, urban and personal roots. Living in Tokyo I am confronted by the rapidly changing landscape of my neighborhood. I am amazed how quickly a building is torn down, the land sold, a new structure is built and then it is occupied. In the midst of these constant changes I wonder what lies below the surface of these buildings? With this in mind karma sent me a surprise one night when I realized the potential of this large wall next to an empty lot.

I learned that the old man who lived in this house had died last year and it took one week before they discovered he was dead. The house was eventually torn down in August and the land is now for sale. The owner of the house next door was very enthusiastic about my idea of painting a circle on his wall to bring the space back to life. We repaired the wall together on a Saturday afternoon talking all about the meaning of life. I told him why I chose to use sand from an area in Utah where my extended relatives live. Slowly I began to realize that the soil in the empty lot was part of my installation just as much as the wall itself.

Getting to know the owner of the building was the beginning of my involvement in the neighborhood. In the process of mixing sand and painting on the wall I heard many stories about the area from neighbors. Standing in the empty lot I also had the opportunity to speak with a diverse range of passers by such as this group from Beijing (below.) The piece is designed to slowly drip off the building as elements such as rain, wind and sunlight affect the surface. Although the exhibition is scheduled to end on November 7th the owner would love to have the piece remain longer. Although the materials I used are ephemeral the social space surrounding it has sparked new community relations that will last far beyond the life of the circle on the wall.

My works are on display as part of the 15th Annual Kiryu Saien exhibit in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The project is quite unique as it serves as a catalyst for reinvigorating historic sites with contemporary art. For example the building where my work is on display was used as a silk factory for making kimonos and remains in the possession of the owner of the local shinto shrine. The space is very raw and open and feels very open to the elements outdoors.

I have been going to the area regularly over the past four months and on my first trip to the area I sat by the Kiryu riverside just observing the landscape. I started photographing single blades of grass and as I was doing so an old man asked me what I was doing. When I told him that the grass and landscape in his town are really amazing his eyes lit up and he invited me to his house for tea. We proceeded to talk about his garden, his family and the land. Thus the stories of the area and its people became woven with my personal experience and I went back to Tokyo with a fragrant mint plant to grow on my rooftop.

Threshold: Sustainable Art

October 19th- November 7th, 2009

旧坂本小学校｜東京都台東区下谷1-12-8
TEL［050-5525-2144］
E-mail｜threshold_main@yahoo.co.jp

15th Annual Kiryu Saien Exhibition October 3- November 3rd, 2009

Information Center: Moriyoshi Studio, Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture

〒376-0034　桐生市東2-14-27

TEL/FAX　0277-47-3560
URL　http://www.kiryusaien.com
E-mail　kiryuu_saien@ybb.ne.jp

Exhibition Hours: Saturday and Sunday 11-17:00

I just finished re-installing my work in Niigata after the Echigo-Tsumari Trieniial closed on September 13th. My work is now on display at Shorin-ji Zen temple in Matsudai town indefinitely. The monk and his wife are very excited that my works will last for a few months to a few years in all of the in between spaces around their temple grounds.

The whole experience was very moving as I felt the works really took on a new life as they found new places to reside in the moss, rocks, gravestones and ponds surrounding the temple. The winter will be strong and harsh on them this year but it will be interesting to see what influence nature has on the works as the seasons proceed.

I just got back from Niigata where I am working on an installation made out of local materials such as ash, stones, mud and sand. It was quite an exhausting week in the countryside as my body has grown a bit lazy from daily life in Tokyo, but it felt meaningful to be literally “digging in the dirt” each day to see what materials I could uncover.

Each day I spent time talking with the neighbors, finding out more about the history and stories of the town of Naka-Senda where the exhibit is located. I found all kinds of surprises in the process- for example I was given fresh vegetables by the elders of the village while inquiring about the elementary school we are exhibiting at. I also held a workshop that brought members of the local community back into the school to form some cones together. Many different people have touched the cones and the handmade aspect of each cone is crucial to the piece.

This installation is part of the Dynamo: Conquering Snow section of the Echigo-Tsumari Triennial open from July 26th to September 13th. The overall aims of the exhibit are to address social and environmental issues by creative means thus bringing international attention to the countryside of Japan.
Here are some photos of the materials that I collected from the area to make the cones along with views of the Mini-Landscape.