Studio Kura was founded by Hirofumi Matsuzakion on the property where he grew up. Hiro was trained as a printmaker in Berlin when he invited the first visiting resident artist to stay at his parent’s property and share the detached studio/shop. The next year Hiro accepted six resident artists after which his parents said, “No more!” and he started looking for other locations. Today there are three additional houses with large studio spaces that are near the original studio, workshop, and office. In total there are twelve of us in residence this month.
The last two artists arrived at our house yesterday and today; women from Barcelona and Hong Kong. The other residents are from Melbourne, Australia, Paris, France, NYC, Chicago, two gals are from Estonia, and there is a young couple from China currently studying in Seattle, Washington.
Their work ranges from sculpture to painting to photography, sound sculpture, cyanotypes, and architectural drawing. Everyone is at varying career stages and it’s a refreshing range of age and experience.
I’ve found it invigorating being here with so much time to focus on my work. I knew I wouldn’t be working with clay and decided I’d plan an approach to my work once I arrived. Hiro has boxes, barrels, and stacks of scrap wood that I’ve been picking through to create a new series of wall pieces.
CC and I leave Saturday through Monday for Osaka and Kyoto. It’ll be good to see more of the country. Till then I’ll keep making things.
