What is your relationship with water? Part II

For "Weathering Art" exhibition, I will have these typed sheets available for purchase for $10 each. Opening is today, and I'll be there with lots of these typed sheets. All proceeds go to the Climate Science Watch, which was founded by late Rick S. Piltz. 

In 2011, I met Rick at the Blue Mountain Center, a residency program for artists, writers, musicians and activists. Rick was a whistleblower on federal climate policy and climate change advocate. He exposed the White House tampering climate science. He was inspiring, genuine, courageous and just such a gentle human being. One morning, I took a photo of him standing on the dock looking at the lake contemplating. Sadly, Rick passed away on October 18^th, 2014. He was 71.

“In the spring of 2005, Rick resigned from his position with the Coordination Office of the U.S. Global Change Research Program to protest the Bush Administration’s political interference with climate change communication. He did so at considerable personal cost and risk. His departure also demonstrated a great level of integrity, authenticity and commitment to the science community and the American public. He soon established Climate Science Watch and over the last decade continued to be a strong, independent and eloquent voice on climate science and policy.” (Taken from Climate Science Watch website)

If you’re interested in purchasing one of these sheets (unframed), please email me at: naoe@naoesuzuki.com.

WEATHERING ART: Creative expression in the era of climate change

January 25 - February 28, 2015

Reception: Sunday, January 25, 4-6pm

Collapse: video by Lydia Eccles, Saturday, February 28 at 7pm

The water is rising... Weathering Art brings together visual artists exploring what it means to be facing environmental catastrophe on local and global levels. Using traditional, innovative and experimental media the collected artists in this iteration of Weathering Art each convey an acute awareness of our precarious relationship with the planet.

Featuring the art of Lydia Eccles, Lisa Lunskaya Gordon, K. Gretchen Greene, Denise Manseau, Patrick Gentry Pierce, Anna Shapiro, Andy Siegel, sam smiley, Naoe Suzuki, Michal Truelsen, Ellen Young.

Curated by Mary Ann Kearns, Lisa Lunskaya Gordon and Curator Emeritus, Dan Osterman.

BrickbottomGallery

1 Fitchburg Street, Somerville, MA 02143

617-776-3410

Gallery Hours: Thursday - Saturday, 12 - 5pm

What is your relationship with water? Part I

I type this same question on rice papers that were soaked and stained in tea/coffee and water. I type this phrase over and over to meditate on the question. It is an ongoing activity that I have just begun last month.

I use a vintage manual typewriter. I like typing on a manual typewriter, but I also like it because it slows me down a bit to ponder what I’m typing. It gives you a whole different space in your mind. To me, it becomes meditation on the question.

The first answer I came up was simply, "We need water." And I realized that we're in a dependency relationship with water, yet we're a very abusive partner. Instead of respecting and protecting, we keep abusing water, the most vital and essential source for our own survival. Without water, we simply perish after three to five days the most. I remember the quote from W.H. Auden. "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water."

See work in progress.

Meet my new typewriter, Royal Aristocrat

I had a great time at Cambridge Typewriter today. I’ve been meaning to drop off my old Royal typewriter for service, and I finally did it today. I also needed a new ribbon. I knew this shop would be a dangerous place for me. Of course, it proved to be a far more dangerous store than any jewelry stores or shoe stores for me. I dropped off my old one and walked out with a "new" old Royal. Meet my new beautiful portable typewriter, Royal Aristocrat here.

My new typewriter, Royal Aristocrat

Tom, the owner, was so generous and he let me type on several different typewriters. Oh, so many beauties. He kept bringing me one after another. I had specific ideas for what I wanted to use and what kind of papers and size, and so on, so I brought my papers. I decided that I would need a couple of more typewriters for my upcoming solo show in the fall. And I wanted a good working typewriter for my new project.

Underwood typewriter - another beautiful typewriter

I tried Royal Quiet DeLuxe, Royal Aristocrat, Underwood, Adler, Olympia, and some other models. Like I said, so many beautiful ones. I felt in love with Underwood, but in the end, I chose this one, because I felt like my fingers were gliding when typing, and felt so smooth. I also liked slightly larger typeface. It’s perfect.

I walked out with this beautiful typewriter in a case, feeling really happy. (I tried not to look for other beauties, but there was one red Royal which had just came in, and Tom hadn’t had a chance to service yet….. I wonder if it’ll be still there when I go back to the store next weekend to pick up my old one…..)

I don’t own an iPhone, any other type of smart phone, iPad or even GPS. But I spent a couple of hundred dollars easily on this Royal Aristocrat. As I said, a typewriter shop is a dangerous place for me.

I’m really excited about my new portable typewriter. I typed some when I got home. The type looks great, and I love the feel. I'm just in love.

… and so many other interesting typewriters! 

I wonder if this one will be there when I go back to the store?
Do I have a chance to see this one again? 

Indeed, this one is a special one. I love the orange!

Check out Tom's blog, Life in a Typewriter Shop. You can read about his busy typewriter shop and learn more about many beautiful old typewriters.

Skin like water

When I’m swimming, especially in the lake or pond, I sometimes imagine that my body is a part of the lake’s ecosystem. And my body, skin, and everything else starts to dissolve and becomes another living organisms in the lake, just floating. It gives me a tremendous release to imagine this way. All the weight that my “body” was carrying is gone including ego, sometimes. I’m literally spread thin but go far in the water, stretching, interacting, dissolving and connecting with other living organisms. My skin no longer exists to hold any of my “inside.” My skin becomes water.

“Skin like water”

My yoga teacher has been saying this many times in the class. I’m curious. I know what she means, but where did she get this phrase?

Move body with a flow, like water, on the skin level instead of muscle, and not forcing or trying too hard. Surrender is important in yoga. When you surrender, all of the sudden, hard moves become easier. Letting go and surrender.

When I am swimming, I think I do both; working hard and surrender. I’m not a really strong swimmer, like my friend Henri who is a natural fish in the water. I work too hard at first, and I think I do that in almost everything else in my life. In the water, working too hard exhausts you and you won’t last too long. I try to relax my muscle as much as possible and try to let go of my habit of working too hard. My body becomes lighter as soon as I do that, and I can breathe easier. And I can swim longer.

The same goes for just about anything, I think. Not just for swimming, yoga or art, but for all aspects of life. But surrender is sometimes extremely difficult.

You don’t tell your brain to make a command to “surrender.” It’s not the same, and it doesn't work.

Water helps me to get a bit closer to the place of surrender.

Skin like water.

Sixteen years ago today at MacDowell

No. 16
This is actually a post from my other blog, Altered Book Pages: Floating words and art on book pages.

This was sort of my "diary" and it was exactly sixteen years ago today at MacDowell. I still remember the darkness in the woods, but I also remember the moon light so bright that I could walk in the woods without a flashlight.

I also made two amazing artist friends while I was at MacDowell, and we've been good friends for sixteen years. Reflecting on the past as the end of the year approaches, I'm grateful for our friendships for all these years. I'm also grateful for the strengths I was able to gain at each challenges in my life with support and encouragement from all my friends.

Gregg Woolard, Jon Rappleye and me in NYC

Thanks, Gregg and Jon for your friendship for all these years.

And thanks to all my friends, colleagues, teachers, and families for including me in your life and being a part of my life this year. (And if you're reading this, thanks for reading!)

May the New Year brings much joy and happiness to all. 

Toi et Moi

Some nights, I still miss Ash. After a long day at work, sometimes all I want is a fluffy companion and a nice cocktail.

Toi et Moi: Explication

Toi et Moi: Epreuve

Toi et Moi: Piano

Toi et Moi: Inquietude

Visible Soul

I’ve been making cat drawings on old book pages from a French poetry book called “Toi et Moi” (You and Me) by Paul Géraldy (1885–1983.)

Toi et Moi - Defaite
Ink and mineral pigment on old book page
2014

I don’t know French, so I can’t read the poems. I once tried to give this book to a poet friend of mine who loves Paris and knows French. He politely declined by saying that he has way too many books in his place, and cannot bring any more books home (such as this one.) And he added, “And you may want to use this book for your art, Naoe. So, why don’t you keep it for yourself?”

And I’m using it now. I’m glad that I still had this book, and the title and feel of these old book pages just seem so right for what I’m doing. This work is for my beloved cat, Ash.

Ash passed away last October. She was seventeen years old, a sweet cat, blind and deaf, intelligent, patient, a hunter in her youth, and a Zen master in her old age. She was full of wisdom, always on her own pace but also easy-going as cat can be. She easily adapted to a new environment whenever I moved (and I moved four times in her life.) She was loved by many people. A number of friends took turn in taking care of Ash while I was away at art residency a few months before she passed away. It needed a team of friends to do so, including giving her infusion time to time. With her blind eyes, she could see infinity, and she could see the depth in your heart. In her last month, I was in the studio working everyday, and she was always besides me, side by side, almost joined by hips like a conjoined twin. She kept me a company. On her last night, she slept in my arms all night. In the early morning the next day, five minutes after I woke up and while I was watching her, she took her last breath. She gave me time to say good-bye to her. I told her I loved her and she could go.

Toi et Moi - Passe

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”

-Jean Cocteau

After Ash was gone, my eyes kept looking for her in every corner of the house. I kept seeing traces of Ash everywhere. And I still do, and I feel her presence.

Toi et Moi - Meditation

* * * * * * * * *

Ash will be joined by lots of cats who were loved, adored, spoiled and captured in many different forms of art by artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Kiki Smith, Andy Warhol, Edward Weston and many more. I think Ash would be really thrilled. I wonder if this might even help her status in the cat heaven. I hope so.

Toi et Moi - Habitude

Toi et Moi - Tendresse

 * * * * * * * * *

Visible Soul: Celebrating the feline as muse through painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture. 

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”

-Jean Cocteau

The exhibit will highlight the feline-inspired work of established and mid-career artists while giving a well-deserved nod to the felines of antiquity and early cinema. 

Visible Soul: Celebrating the feline as muse through painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture.

Curated by Andrew Mroczek

Reception: Thursday, May 15th, 6-8pm

VanDernoot Gallery

Lesley University

1815 Massachusetts 

Cambridge, MA 02140

Featuring works by: Ulisse Aldrovandi, Juan Jose Barboza-Gubo, Leonard Baskin, Louise Bourgeois, Carlos Cardenas, Jan Groover, Karin Gulbran, Yui Kugimiya, Duane Michals, Bob Mizer, J. Morrison, Karen Moss, Mueller & Robinson, Bernard Picart, Andre Ruesch, Carolee Schneemann, Kiki Smith, Naoe Suzuki, Arne Svenson, Louis Wain, Andy Warhol, Shen Wei, Edward Weston, Neil Winokur, and many more…

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Visible Soul is dedicated to the lives and memories of Mr. Grover and Pigeon, who were, quite possibly, the world’s most adorable, ill-behaved cats. (Andrew Mroczek)