Wyoming Mountains

Wyoming Mountains, a set on Flickr.

Making of "Water hitting a rock" painting

Documentation of the painting making process. The painting is 4" x 4", acrylic on canvas, This painting was inspired by my Summer trip to Izu peninsula, a country side, of Japan where I visited a few famous water falls.
 In addition, I would like to mention that this piece is a  part of the bigger sculptural piece in progress..The final piece contains 6 paintings in an aluminum attache case  with build in lighting system.

Interview with a Robot

Interview with a Robot:

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Exclusive Interview with Robo 1:

Robo 1, the first robot of the Robo series, telling you his story.

Do you have a name besides Robo 1?
"My serial number is RX-01, and I was the first one to be created at the lab, so many at the lab refer me as Robo1, but I like to go with Rex after Tyrannosaurs Rex, because I am actually designed to be 300 times physically stronger than human."

Ok, Rex, what did you have for breakfast?
"Coal and Water. No, haha, I am just kidding. I am 100% electronically powered, not a steam engine. I have been reading about steampunk a lot lately, so its on my mind. I go to the re-charging chamber every night, but I can go 60 days without recharging. Also, my body generates electricity from light and my kinetic movements. "

So, do you ever need unwind?
"C'mon, you need to drop the old stereotype about robots. We are not all workaholics, though we are very efficient. I am a fun loving being, you know what I am saying? I like to dance."

Where do you dance?
“Everywhere! Hallways of the space station, inside of the landing vehicle. Even in my recharging chamber, even though I can only move my shoulders in there."

Rex, thank you for the interview. Last question, what is your motto?
"Enjoy life to the fullest."

New Lotus

New Lotus
Originally uploaded by hijun

On going group show

"Meditation in the Rain" acrylic on canvas, 32" x 32" (15" x 15" each)

I have a ongoing group show at Tenri gallery, 43A West 13th St, NYC. (Bet 5th and 6th ave. Near 6 ave.) Please stop by!

Mon-Thu: 12-7 Sat: 10-3 Fri/Sun: Closed

"Mono-eye Mandala", "Lotus Mandala", "The return the Mono-eye" color pencil on paper, 4.5" x 6.5"

"Mono-eye Mandala" found a home at the reception night. Thank you for all who came!

The Wish Mandala with the Wish Flags (The Final stage)

Visit Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Dowell, MD to see my latest installation, The Wish Mandala with the Wish Flags.

See more photos on Picasa

Wish Mandala over view: https://picasaweb.google.com/junishida/WishMandala02?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Wish mandala

Wish Flags details: https://picasaweb.google.com/junishida/WishFlags?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Wish Flags

The Wish Mandala is ready to have the Wish Egg.

The Wish Mandala is finally ready to have the Wish Egg! When I declare that Mandala is finished, immediately rain fall down hard even though Sunlight was still on. I took it as a good omen.
Watch "The Wish Mandal is ready for the wish egg!" on YouTube

Securing the Wish Mandala

My Mandala may look like it was made by simply placing found objects, but in actuality, there are several tricks that I used to secure my piece against weather. I am not doing anything to prevent decaying of natural materials, since that is part of my piece: Insects and fungus slowly degrade the materials. However, I make sure that each units stays at same position for a few months.

One of my methods I use is to peg. I sharpened one side of twigs and bigger branches, and use them as pegs.

For instance, to set up the pole, I used these homemade tools and dug a little bit more than 1 foot deep, almost exact same diameter to the pole. Then I pegged around the pole. Each pegs presses each other and secure the pole to the ground.

In circle part, I used the combination of pegging and also tension setting. Each wood is tightly placed to each other. The tension locks all.

I make pieces while thinking about storms and people accidentally bumping it. So, if someone tries to kick my piece to destroy it, (Why would they want to do such a thing by the way. They will have negative Karma.) they'd better have steel toe shoes. They are securely grounded and it is not easy to move.

Another Mandala: the return of the mono-eye

I made another Mandala for my upcoming group show at Tenri gallery, 13 st., btw 5th and 6th ave. (6th av. side.) 5" x 7", color pencil on paper. It will be sold for benefit for Japan. The show stars on 13th. I think I will call this " the return of the mono-eye." Mono-eye is the animal-plant hybrid that appeared to my old surreal period of my works. It came back!!!

North elements: Red

North, Red.....This totally works! I will arrange them in order once they are dried a bit. (Rain all day yesterday.)

Group show at Tenri gallery

I finished this piece today, color pencil drawing, 5" x 7", for the charity  for Japan part of my up coming show at Tenri gallery, 13th st, btw 5th ave and 6 ave, next to one of the the New school building. The piece will be sold for $50 (This show only price. ) The show start 13th of September. The reception is on 16th from 6 pm. Come and see!

A Commitment of an environmental artist.

As I consider myself as an environmental artist. Tobe true to the claim, I try not use power tools and mechanized vehicles, as much as I can and I try to use only natural materials for my piece. My piece is about the harmony and interconnection of the world. I try to make sure my piece has low impact to the installed site. Quite often, nature cohabits with my piece and creatures take refuge under my piece.

Yes, I sometimes have to break self imposed rules. Tree trunks were cut by a chainsaw, and I used monofilaments for the support of the vertical cotton cords for this Wish Mandala.

But rest of woods are all hand cuts, hand carried or a bike carried.

Watch the Murray Monterey in action.
http://youtu.be/n9RnBnO_zTc

Adding new elements

I am adding new elements that represent four directions.

Mini Zen garden part of the Wish Mandala

There are 4 mini zen gardens representing 4 directions in the Wish Mandala!

A side project. Robo 1

Side project

Work in progress

Human and land

A famous Zen master, Daisetsu Suzuki, wrote an essay in 1930’s about his worry toward the uaban life. He said when people start living an apartment and have no contact with lands, people stop caring surrounding. He concluded that one must maintain the contact with lands, in order to understand the interconnection of the universe. I was ammused that he said this in 1930.

Yesterday and today, I was digging holes to place trees as a flag poles.

There was a thunder storm at the midnight. I was looking at lightning for a hour at 1am till 2pm.

I noticed the clear difference of the hardness of the ground before and after the rain next day. This might not news to you if you were a framer of a gardener, but I was enjoying the fact I physically experienced the differences, and in fact I posses the knowledge of people who work with lands. As I was digging holes, setting up flags, looking at the movement of wishing flags, and imagining winds carry away all wishes, I was also thinking of all the people who would dig ground, like coffee farmers in Guatemala. I was imagining their lands, their sweats, their lives. With my action, I share the solidarity with them. I am aware that I am romanticizing, but my sweat is also real. By working on the field, I become one of them. I was also thinking of the time I buried dead puppies that my dog had. I had a collie, named Lassie when I was a teenager. Collies tend to have large number of puppies at the same time, and sometimes few were born with much undeveloped state like Kangaroo babies. Once Lassie had 11 puppies, but four were born prematurely and did not survive. I dag small holes and buried them. I had a joyful time with survived 7 puppies, but I also remember the sad moment. Dogs can cry. I saw tears in Lassie’s eyes when she noticed those puppies were not moving.

There was another thunderstorm this late afternoon. I was reading the air, guessing when the rain starts. Many people had commented me that they feel sorry that I had to work under such hot weather. Yes, it is hot out here, my bandana is completely soaked, and even my leather belt is drenched, but the truth is that I am totally enjoying being out side, listening sounds that woods makes, feeling breeze, noticing both sunlight and shades, observing small changes in my surrounding. I am making the connection to the land. I have a good feeling with my piece.

Back in Annmarie groove

I arrive Annmarie two days ago, and I am happy to be back in my creation mode. My friend Luis told me a one technique that I found effective to get back to the creative state after a break; playing the exact music when you stooped. ( happened to be "Fernando" by ABBA) I suppose you can use another sensory method like using same luminous or same scent.

First thing I did was to check out the condition of the installation, which was totally fine after all weather elements. Also, I reset up the studio area, and then start working on re-calibrating well used stamps for flag making. It took me a full day to clean up, re-carve all stamps, and I made a few new. I was at the flag making station this weekend, and I met a girl who wishes for a pink duck. So far I had made a dog, a cat, fish, a dinosaur and now two duck stamps for those who wants to have pets. I still need to make horse and hamster.

I have read all wishes. One common wish is finding a cure for certain diseases. One wish I got today was saying " do not get very sick again"and it was wrote by a child. May the wind grants this child wish. One lady was bit choked while writing her wish for a cure. Perhaps writing reminded her someone who has or had the condition. I hope my project can take off some weight from her mind.

Now I have a good stuck of flags made by guests. I will start incorporating them to my installation piece very soon.

Many stamps

I have been making many stamps for guests to create their wishing flags. I made around 20, big and small, include an image of my cat, Sano, that I made yesterday. She has been showing up my creation.

Mandala project: Purification ritual

It always rains in the early stage of making my Mandala. And it is not just little drops. I expect thunderstorms. And it happened again, here in Annmarie. When the rain storm pounded on my installation ground, I took it as that was the sign that I was successfully communicated to the universe and it approved my intention, and the ground was blessed and purified. Of course one can argue it was a just a matter of humidity, pressure, and temperature, but I knew something.

(Colors intensified after the rain.)