Thursday, December 15, 2016

Borderless: In Perspective

My old photo piece is part in a group art show.
Borderless: In PerspectiveLiTE-HAUS Galerie+ Projecraum, Berlin, Germany 



This photograph is from the very first art project “Order Made Family” that I hold in 1995.


Here is a description about the photo.

Nikki’s Family: Order Made Family, Peekaboo art project
Photograph 1995

Due to my questions that many Japanese people still persist an idea of patriarchal stereotype family, I held Order Made Family, a participatory public art project, on the street in Tokyo. The project asked passersby to define the word family. Would it involve living together, or being related to each other by blood, financial ties, or emotional bonds? Each participant chose from a list of possible individuals of who would embody their ideal family picture. These individuals neither had to be parallel to their actual family make-up, nor did the artwork have to visually match the label or identity of that family member. Then they had to pick Peekaboo-sculptures to present each of the individuals they had selected. 

Now, numbering over 100, these life-sized Peekaboo-sculptures include various ages, races, and nationalities. The Peekaboo-sculpture selected didn’t have to reflect the actual age, sex, race, or nationality, or even animated creature state of that family member who, in turn, already may not mirror the participant’s actual family make-up. After each Peekaboo-sculpture had been picked, it was labeled to identify who that sculpture represents in the family. I asked other passersby to help sticking their faces through the Peekaboo-sculptures to take their virtual family pictures.  Commemorative photographs that match the numbers of participants were taken with instant camera, and the photograph was given to each participant as a souvenir.

Resulting family portraits included members who were multinational, same-sex, cohabitating friends, and even aliens in addition to more traditional combinations, all of were borderless and explored modern interpretations of the definition of family.  

This Nikki’s family photograph is one from about 800 family portraits that taken at Order Made Family during 1994-2000 in Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Kouenji in Tokyo, Japan.


Tuesday, December 13, 2016

応援どうも有り難うございます!

いつもAliens in New Yorkのアートプロジェクトを応援してくださってどうもありがとうございます。

皆さんが寄付してくださったおかげで、2016年もLGBTQをテーマにした子ども向けのワークショップをしたり、環境問題についての家族向けのイベントや、美しい日本の文化を紹介するイベント等をすべて、無料で提供する事が出来ました。
ここをご覧下さい。
http://aliensnewyork.wixsite.com/mysite/blog

どうかこの活動を来年も持続出来るように、今年も寄付をお願いします!
寄付は税金控除になります。

寄付してくださった方には高嶋リカオリジナル手作りのミニカレンダーをもれなく差し上げます。ホリデーカードになっているので今の時期にピッタリです。
届いたカードがそのままカレンダーとして一年使えるので、ちょっと気が利いたスモールギフトになります。
オフィスやロッカー、冷蔵庫などにピッタリのミニサイズ。
(25 x 16cm) 表紙は干支の酉です。



カードの中はブランクですので、あなたのメッセージが自由に書き込めます。
10ドルの寄付で1枚。15ドルで2枚です。
(高嶋リカから1枚あなたに御礼として届けますから、プラス1枚届くことになります。控除額は材料費と郵送料を差し引いたあと$7一枚/$11二枚になります)

ここのNYFA(NY州芸術財団)のページからAliens in New Yorkのアートプロジェクトを応援してください!どうかお願いします!!!!!!
まだ運営に慣れていないのでいまだに赤字なのです。
Aliens in New York page at New York Foundation for the Arts

来年は、車いすや高齢者の方々でも楽しめるような顔出しクンアートへの拡大と、
日本文化の紹介に力を入れること。
またトランプ後には、プロジェクトの目的である、地域のダイバシティの紹介と相互理解がよりわたしたちの社会に必要だと考えています。

どうかご協力のほどお願い致します!お待ちしています!
高嶋リカ拝

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Thank you for your support in 2016!

Thank you very much for supporting Aliens in New York, Peekaboo-art project.

With last year’s donation, we held projects themed LGBTQ, Recycle, and Cultural understanding to public in total five days at three locations in 2016.

Please help the art project by tax-deductible donation and get an original mini calendar!
This mini calendar is a perfect card/gift for holiday season.
It can be sent as a holiday card and they can use it as a calendar.
The three drawings are by Rica Takashima.
Since they are small, they can use it in the office, locker, or on a fridge.
(10 x 6.5 inch)
There are two pages to write messages to your receiver.
This is a perfect item to start the Year of the Rooster with.
One card for $10, and Two cards for $15.
(Your tax-deductible cost will be $7/one $11/two after deducting the transaction and postal expenses) 

Please visit the NYFA page to donation for Peekaboo-art project Aliens in New York.

Please write “Holiday” at Note section.
This special opportunity lasts until end of December.

Your kindness donation will be used to events like transportation, creating new Peekaboo-sculptures, etc. The theme for the next year will be “diversity and cultural heritage” to reduce discrimination.

Thank you very much,

Rica Takashima

Friday, October 14, 2016

Kiku: The Art of Japanese Gerden 2016

Hi!

I am excied to tell you I will be part in
 Kiku Matsuri  at New York Botanical Garden on October 15, 16.
This is Mum flower festival.
You can explore Japanese Culture like, Taiko drumming, Haiku poem, etc,
and ofcourse Peekaboo-sculptures!

This is a brand new Kiku Peekaboo-sculpture.
I created this special one for NYBG.


Beside this, Bonsai, Kokeshi, Yukata, Oiran, Hatobue, Hakata, and Hakama Peekaboo-sculptures will be there.
Enjoy autumn day with seeing maple tree, mum exhibition and Japanese Culture at New York Botanical garden.
I will be there all day long at the garden.
Please say Hi when you swing by.
Looking forward to seeing you!




Friday, October 7, 2016

NYCC2016 fri

I walked around NYCC today, said Hi to my friends and enjoyed the day.
I saw a poster of lost pup.
I pasted a pic of the poster here just in case someone find him/her.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

QUEENS ART INTERVENTION 2016


Aliens in NY, art project will part in Queens Art Intervention(QAI)
Diversity Plaza, September 17 Saturday 1-4pm

Fun Peekaboo-sculptures will appear in Diversity Plaza again!
Please visit and explore the diversity of the place, have fun and get a free reusable shopping bag and a portable ashtray. 
Think green, go clean, and feel better in our community! Please stop by!




Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Queens Art Intervention 2016



How was your summer?
I had a nice summer vacation in Japan.
I went to Tokyo (this is my home town), Niigata, and Osaka.
I went to bunch of very Otaku places like Maid Café, Animate geek store, Game theme café, Pokemon Center and Pokemon Store.
I caught the special Kamonegi (Farfetched) Pokemon two times.
I enjoy very much.

                                              My Kamonegi!

I will have Peekaboo-art shows in Queens.



Aliens in NY, art project will part in Queens Art Intervention(QAI)
Corona Plaza, September 10 Saturday 1-4pm

Fun Peekaboo-sculptures will appear at four sites in Corona at the same time! 
Please visit and explore the diversity of the place, have fun and get a free reusable shopping bag and a portable ashtray. 
Think green, go clean, and feel better in our community! Please stop by!

Peekaboo-sculpture will be set at green marks.



Saturday, July 16, 2016

My original paintings are available!

Hello.

Did you konow you can get a copy of my original DIY paper sculpture at The Boronx Museum shop?

Now, my original paintings and birthday cards are available at The Bott Shop!

A group art show will be held on 23th July, noon-5pm

Please drop by this show!

THE BOTT SHOPPE - Studio & Store
design studio / art gallery / gift shop606 Mamaroneck Ave South, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914-630-4234
@bottshoppe



Paint Can, 12 x 16

Disposable Cigarette Lighter,  4 x 6      

Charm of the Snake Year ,  5 x 7     

Bottle of Mouthwash,  4 x 6     

Cough Tablets, 5 x 7   

Small Cactus,  8 ½ x 11     
Birthday Card series