Mendocino Sister Cities Association
Official Website
2nd Annual Sister Cities Art Exchange Show
Mendocino artists Bob Rhoades, Sharon Garner and Paulo Ferreira
ceremoniously open Sake kegs at the Artists Reception Opening
in Omachi at the first Mendocino Art Exchange Show
On June 17, 2009, nine Mendocino County artists, sponsored by the Mendocino/Miasa-Omachi Sister Cities Associations, boarded JAL airlines to Tokyo, Japan. This was Mendocino’s first artist exchange trip to Miasa-Omachi. The nine artists who traveled to Japan included Sharon Garner (Board member and trip leader), Sachiko Kusachi, Ling-Yen Jones, Deborah Lennox, Paulo Ferreira, Walt Padgett, Carmen Fraser, Bob Rhoades, and Maeve Croghan. Twenty additional local artists’ work was also exhibited in the show.
The Mendocino artist exchange relationship with Mendocino’s Sister City, began last year during the month of May, when three Miasa-Omachi artists visited Mendocino, with a total of 9 artists exhibiting their work in the Abramson Gallery. The student exchange program has been in existence since 1992, and now with the addition of the art exchange, the dream of it’s founders, Bill Zacha and Toshi Yoshida, has been fulfilled.
When the artists arrived in Omachi, they were royally greeted by City Officials, home stay hosts and two lovely Geisha! They were immediately taken to see the two galleries that displayed their art and all were very impressed. One of the galleries was a traditional Japanese home, now a museum, that was craftily converted into a lovely showcase for hanging art. The second gallery was a large double room loft above a business. Spacious and airy, this gallery housed paintings, photographs, weavings, mobiles, jewelry and wearable art. In both galleries the pieces were beautifully and impeccably displayed. All of the artists were honored to have their work exhibited in these locations! In addition, their hosts did a wonderful job blanketing the city’s local businesses and galleries with posters and brochures announcing the show and reception (held several days later). Next, the artists were taken to the Omahci City Government building where they were received by the Mayor of Omachi, Toru Ushikoshi, and several City Officials for an official welcome to Omachi! Each artist was given a beautiful gift of an artists’ pencil/pen box, crafted from hand made Omachi paper. Many of the artists then gave the Mayor gifts they brought as a way to say, “thank you” for the beautiful art show!
The homestays, by all accounts, were wonderful! The homestay hosts made every effort to immerse their guests in Japanese culture and hospitality! Each day the group was taken on various trips to art museums (including the Matsumoto Museum of Art, which will host the Mendocino show during several weeks in September), an incredible wood block art museum, temples and various Omachi places of great interest, such as the Salt Road. They were even able to witness a Buddhist ceremony that only takes place every 7 years! This tradition requires that the monks read all of the texts of Buddha and the artists just happened to be in Omachi during this very special celebration.
One would be remiss to not mention the fabulous food and numerous parties prepared in honor of the artists’ stay! The reception for the art show opening was no exception! Held in the converted Japanese house/museum it was complete with fabulous traditional Japanese finger foods, molded white chocolate decorated cakes prepared by Sharon Garner (at her homestay) an exchange of local Mendocino Wines (each artist brought two bottles of local wine and/or beer) and Omachi Sake! Bob Rhoades educated the Japanese hosts with descriptions of each wine and later, Sharon Garner, Paulo Ferreira and Bob Rhoades were honored by being asked to ceremoniously open small kegs of locally brewed sake with small wooden mallets!
The final evening was spent at the famous PokaPokaland, which is an onsen (Japanese hot springs). The accommodations were luxurious and the food wonderful. A lovely traditional meal was served in a private room, complete with singing, hugs, tears and sad farewells. After 5 days in Miasa-Omachi, the artists split up into several groups to travel in Japan on their own.
All in all, the trip was wonderful; a time that will not be forgotten by those who went. The artists will share many fond memories, inspired by their surroundings and the art that they viewed, and some may want to travel to Japan again in two years! Next May, the Japanese artists will return with their new show. We are looking forward to their visit and hope that the Mendocino Community will come and enjoy their incredible works of craft and art at the Mendocino Art Center.
The other 20 Mendocino artists who participated in the Omachi Art Exchange Show were: Alexis Moyer, Carolyn & Vincent Carleton, Carolyn Zeitler, Eduardo Smissen, Felicity Waterman, James Thomas, Joelle Signorelli, Julie Higgins, Laura Pope, Marc Yasskin, Mark Oatney, Michael Henderson, Michael Reilly, Miriam Owen, Patty Shanahan, Stephen Garner, Tangerine Steinbrecher and Toby Hutchins.
Please keep visiting the Mendocino Sister Cities Association’s website: www.mendosca.org and clicking on Future Events to keep apprised of current events and trip notices! For further information you can call President Mike L. Evans at 937.3663 or Sharon Garner 877.3988.
Sharon Garner
MSCA Board Member
2009 Art Trip Leader
Omachi Art Exchange Show poster
More 2009 Art Photos
