Projects
The Towada Art Center has been dedicated to conversations with the community, constantly striving to be open to the city while, at the same time, opening up the city to new experiences. The Towada Oirase Art Project serves as a platform for a dialog between artists and residents. Interaction through research and production provides insight into regional issues and a place for local experimentation to find new possibilities.
Funded by
The Agency for Cultural Affairs
Artist
Ari Ookubo
Born in Tokyo in 1974. Graduated from Musashino Art University in 1998. Completed certificate course at Goldsmiths University of London and received her MA Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts at University of the Arts London.
Recent exhibitions include 17 Reasons Why I Put Stones in My Bread, switch point (2013); Portrait of Sun Hayashi, LOOP HOLE (2014); Ghosts of the Museum, Art Tower Mito (2015); Our Era: Art in the Post-Industrial Society, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (2015); BLACK CIRCLE is NOTHINGNESS, Galleria Finarte (2016); FUJINOYAMA BIENNALE 2016 (2016); and MERZ @ HAGIWARA PROJECTS (2017).
Date
Mar 3rd – Mar 26th, 2017
Open
9:00 – 17:00 (Last entry at 16:45)
Closed
Mondays (except for National Holidays, in which case the museum is open on the holiday and closed the following Tuesday)
Admission
Free
Location
Central Towada
Art in the City
Old Ace Camera Storefront: 16-55 Inaoicho, Towada
※5 minute walk from Towada Art Center
Related Events
Dates
February 18 (Sat)
February 24 (Fri)
February 25 (Sat)
February 26 (Sun)
March 5 (Sun)
March 19 (Sun)
March 23 (Thur)
Locations
Towada Art Center
Towada City Plaza
Towada Chamber Of Commerce & Industry
Admission
Free
Details
Details vary by class. See below for more information.
School for Teachers — Rock Your Class with Playful Learning (Japanese)
February 18 (Sat)
Lecturer: Noboyuki Ueda
School for Professionals — Pickle Installations with Local Vegetables (Japanese)
February 24 (Fri)
Lecturer: Ricca Fukuda ※FULL
School for Parents and Children — Having Fun Together (Japanese)
February 25 (Sat)
Lecturer: Ryoji Arai ※FULL
School for Professionals — Picture Books and Me (Japanese)
February 26 (Sun)
Lecturer: Ryoji Arai ※FULL
School for Teachers — Nurturing Communication with Appreciation Education (Japanese)
March 5 (Sun)
Lecturer: Sachiko Sugiura
School for Parents and Children — Mischief Studies (Japanese)
March 19 (Sun)
Lecturer: CANVAS (Akifumi Kumai and Atsuo Terada)
School for Parents and Children — Art & Design Camp (Virtual 3 Days, 2 Nights) (Japanese)
March 23 (Thur)
Lecturer: Fukazawa Art Laboratory (Isamu Joseph Yamazoe and Kabu)
Registration
Please register by calling, faxing, or emailing the Towada Art Center.
Tel: 0176-20-1127
Fax: 0176-20-1138
E-mail: info@towadaartcenter.com
When e-mailing, please put the class you wish to attend in the subject, and please include your name, age, and phone number.
Your registration will be confirmed upon response from the museum.
When calling, ask for Mitome, Sasaki, or Niioka
Deadline
Two days before the class date
Lecturers
Artists and Experts
Nobuyuki Ueda
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1950. Inspired by Sesame Street, he moved to the US upon graduation from Doshisha University. He received his M.A. from the Central Michigan University Graduate School before moving to the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where he obtained his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.). He specializes in educational technology. He has helped create countless environments for studying art and learning environment design, all centered around the idea of “playful learning.” From 1996 to 1997, Ueda worked as a guest researcher at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education、and from 2010 to 2011 was enrolled at MIT Media Lab as a visiting researcher.
February 18 (Sat)
School for Teachers — Rock Your Class with Playful Learning (Japanese)
Ricca Fukuda
Sweet and confection researcher. Graduate of Musashino Art University. Her recipe books include Wrapping Food (フードを包む) and Delicious Frozen Desserts All Year Long (一年中おいしいアイスデザート), and she is the author of many columns, including Manga Kitchen (まんがキッチン) and Hoodlums Always Wreck the Table (ゴロツキはいつも食卓を襲う). She has also produced her own confections and kitchen apron.
February 24(Fri)
School for Professionals — Pickle Installations with Local Vegetables (Japanese) ※FULL
Ryoji Arai
Illustrator and picture book author. In 2005, he was the first Japanese person to be awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an international children’s and YA literary prize founded by the Swedish government. He continues to work across genres and is currently the artist director on the Yamagata Biennale.
February 25 (Sat)
School for Parents and Children — Having Fun Together (Japanese) ※FULL
February 26 (Sun)
School for Professionals — Picture Books and Me (Japanese) ※FULL
Sachiko Sugiura
Born in 1966, Sachiko Sugiura is a social designer and professor in the Department of Arts and Culture at Musashino Art University. Graduated from Ochanomizu University with a major in Philosophy, Ethics, and Art History. Studied Education at University of Wales Cardiff. After working as a education program a coordinator at the 1st Yokohama Triennale, a public program curator at the Mori Art Museum, and a program coordinator at the Kyoto University of Art & Design, Sugiura has served as an associate Professor of Musashino Art University since 2012. She has been in her current position since 2014.
Sugiura is head of Museology & Appreciation Education for teacher certification renewal training at Musashino Art University. Also, in collaboration with a neighboring junior high school, she has long led a social design project that works to create connections between junior high and university students in the area.
March 5 (Sun)
School for Teachers — Nurturing Communication with Appreciation Education (Japanese)
CANVAS (Akifumi Kumai and Atsuo Terada)
CANVAS is an NPO which aims to nurture the soil that cultivates rich ideas by providing a place of creation and expression for children.
Since its founding in November 2002, CANVAS have held workshops in various spaces across Japan, including art museums, elementary schools, and after-school facilities.
March 19 (Sun)
School for Parents and Children — Mischief Studies (Japanese)
Fukazawa Art Laboratory (Isamu Joseph Yamazoe and Kabu)
A sculpture and greening laboratory operated by Isamu Joseph Yamazoe and Cab in Setagaya-ku’s Hukazawa area. Hukazawa Art Laboratory has hosted sculpture classes for children, staged landscaping and greening projects, art events and exhibitions both domestically and internationally. Recent activities include (BEPPU PROJECT), an artist dispatch program to elementary and junior high schools, sculture program (CANVAS), Greeting Greens project (artists and children), Hammer-Head Studio (BankART 1929), and Water and Land – Niigata Art Festival 2015 (Maruyama Junko + Kabu).
March 23 (Thur)
School for Parents and Children — Art & Design Camp (Virtual 3 Days, 2 Nights) (Japanese)
Locations
・Towada Art Center
10-9 Nishi-Nibancho, Towada
・Towada City Plaza
18−33 Inaoicho, Towada
*10-minute walk from the museum
・Towada Chamber Of Commerce & Industry – Fourth Floor Conference Room
4-11 Nishi-Nibancho, Towada
*3-minute walk from the museum
Dates
January 21 (Sat)
January 22 (Sun)
February 4 (Sat)
February 5 (Sun)
February 11 (Sat)
March 4 (Sat)
Times
Times vary. See the schedule below for more details.
Location
Towada City Plaza
Capacity
10 people ※FULL
Admission
Free
Requirements
・18 or Older
・Conversational English
How to Register
Please register by phone or e-mail.
Phone: 0176-20-1127
E-mail: info@towadaartcenter.com
When e-mailing, please make the subject “Volunteer Guide Registration” and include your name, age, employer or association, and phone number.
When calling, pease ask for Narumi or Tsuchii.
Deadline
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Notes
・The first lessons will feature a short talk on English and interpreting by Towada resident and interpreter guide Naoko Miura.
・We recommend that you attend all classes.
・Please bring pen and paper or a laptop.
・Please dress warmly.
Lecturer Profile
Alex Peter Queen
Born in Nebraska in 1988. Entered Eastern Washington University at 13, and became the school’s youngest lecturer at 17 while in graduate school. At 19, joined the JET Programme, again as its youngest participant, and moved to Mutsu, Aomori, before working for Keio University. Co-founded Queen & Co. with Michael Warren in 2016. Queen & Co. have developed a wide range of activities that center around translation, including digital asset management, systems development, and digital media production.
Michael Jason Warren
Born in Minnesota in 1984. Graduated from UCLA in 2009. Joined the JET Programme and moved to Gonohe, Aomori, before working for Keio University. Founded the Gonohe Music Festival in 2013. Co-founded Queen & Co. with Alex Queen in 2016. Along with the Gonohe Music Festival, his work in Queen & Co. focuses on supporting Aomori Prefecture.
