Takashi Akamatsu 赤松たかし

Q: What is medium of art you deal with?

(あなたのアート表現のメディアはなんですか？）

Mix Media is what I'm dealing with.

Q: When did you start becoming dedicated to your means of artistic expression? What was the trigger?

（いつからそのアートを始めましたか？きっかけは何でしたか？）

I've just started doing it since I came to San Francisco. So it's been about 2 years since then. My friend, Akira who is also an artist of SIR, encourage me to paint. That was the trigger.

Q: What / Where do you get your inspirations from?

（普段どのようなところからインスピレーションを得ますか？）

Music, Art, Family, Friends, the Internet, Photography, or something else that I don't even realize.

Q: What made you join this SIR exhibition?

（SIRのアートショーに参加するきっかけになったのは何ですか？）

Akira & Aoi & Satoshi.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your vision of your art work at the show"EARTH." How do you interpret the theme "EARTH" as one of the Four Elements of the nature?

（今回のショー”EARTH" -土- に展示する予定の作品のヴィジョンについて教えてください。自然の四要素のひとつである「土」を、アートショーのテーマとしていますが、それをどのように解釈していますか？）

Earth is what life comes from and returns to. The law of nature produces rebirth of life. Expressing the internal life of earth depicts the incredible force of nature. The ability to mix other elements and to create a completely new life is one of the mystic and essential benefits of earth. We all share this element from the past generations to the present generation, and the future generations to come.

Q: Do you love Japan?

（日本を愛していますか？）

Yeah man. But I also love other countries such as US, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Taiwan, China, and so on... One World.

Peace & Love

Q: Do you have any message to the audience ..

（観客／読者のみなさんに一言。。）

Thank you! Arigato!

Have a nice day! :)

Posted by Takashi Akamatsu

Taiko Fujimura

Q: What is medium of art you deal with?

Mixed media, both 2D and 3D.

Q: When did you start becoming dedicated to your means of artistic expression? What was the trigger?

When I was a teenager, music was a form of art which I came into contact with how powerful art can be. It was a very moving experience for me and I thought, “I want part of this.” Music, visual arts, dance...I tried a few disciplines back and forth and I found that fine art is the one for me about five years ago.

Q: What / Where do you get your inspirations from?

Things like I see, hear, smell or my memories or experiences...

Q: What made you join this SIR exhibition?

I read about the founder, Aoi Yamaguchi in the Hokubei-Mainichi Newspaper and I was very intrigued by her activities. I wanted to have a circle of Japanese friends who are artists and musicians to share similar experiences and views.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your vision of your art work at the show "EARTH." How do you interpret the theme "EARTH" as one of the Four Elements of the nature?

The earth is the foundation of life as if mother gives us birth and energy to grow. My painting, “Mother Earth” is my interpretation of the theme, “Earth” itself.

Q: Do you love Japan ?

Yes, I love Japan.

Q: Do you have any message to the audience..

Hope you enjoy the artwork at the "Earth" show as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Please visit my art shows when you get a chance and say "hi" to me. Art is for everyone and I am very easy to talk to. My upcoming shows information is listed at:

www.taikofujimura.com
www.myspace.com/taikofujimura
www.facebook.com/taikofujimurafineart

Looking forward to meeting you!


Posted by Taiko

Zaion First Album "Nomadic Journals" Released

One of the key members of SIR's music team, Zaion has released his debut album "Nomadic Journals" on December 18, 2009.

His inspiration for this album was triggered from his trip to Australia, Singapore, Thailand, China and Tibet in 2007. "I began to make this album because I wanted my memories from this trip to be packaged into one tangible shape. I remember the fresh air of all the places I have been for the first time, and warm smiles of local people who welcomed my presence," Zaion says.

CDs are available for purchase at record stores nationwide in Japan, and MP3 downloads will be available on iTunes in February. You can listen to a digest of the whole album on his myspace.

Zaion will be performing his live set at our art show, Four Elements vol.3 EARTH @ Space Gallery.

1. Nomadic Landscapes

2. A Perfect Day feat. Alpchkbt

3. Fluidity of the Twilight

4. Deeper Layer feat. Sonarr

5. On the Side Road

6. organ Trip feat. Shing02

7. Ciecle on the Lake

8. The Wolf

10. Departure

He has advertised this open video project for Organ Trip feat. Shing02, and this music video's animation was created from the materials that have submitted by a lot of unique talents all over from the country.

Organ Trip Music Video

Directed and animated by Andy Care

Check out Zaion's official website:

http://www.zaionrecordings.com/

"Cool feat. Big Tone" 7" Release by CHIKARAMANGA (of Giant Panda)

Alright, we've got two weeks until the exhibition of "EARTH" begins. We'll keep you updated with what's going on in the life of SIR members, and some "behind the scenes" sneakpeaks...

For the night of reception event, we'd like to welcome Chikaramanga from Tres Records in Los Angeles. He is known as MC/DJ/producer from the Hip Hop trio Giant Panda, and one of the founders of Tres Records. He is currently working on his solo project - a series of 7" vinyl releases in collaboration with other artists from his label. Check it out!

Artist: Chikaramanga (of Giant Panda)

Title: Cool feat. Big Tone

Cat# TR396-065

Format: 7”

Track List:

Side A

Cool feat. Big Tone

Side B

Cool - Instrumental

About Chikaramanga

Raised in Shibuya, Tokyo, Chikaramanga (General Manager and one of the founders of TRES Records), developed his Hip Hop career starting off as a DJ in ’93. After a year of rocking the crowd (both on the tables and on the mic), he began to take on the roll of the MC more seriously, but in his native tongue. With this natural progression that most DJ’s seem to go through, Chikara eventually found himself making beats. With all three titles under his belt, it was time for this Japanese MC/DJ/Producer to make his next move. So in ’97, he moved to the United States.

Here in the U.S., he met future group mates, Newman and Maanumental, and in 2001 they became Giant Panda. In 2005 they dropped their debut album, Fly School Reunion, and in 2008, had their sophomore album, Electric Laser (Chikara serving as a DJ/MC/Producer). He’s currently putting together his “producer” project, which will include collaborations with his close friends and affiliates. This project will be a series of 7 inch releases.

The first song to be released from the series features Detroit native, Big Tone. The track is appropriately titled, Cool. The title itself, explains the entire vibe of the song. From the comping of the keys, to the loose style of Tone, and from the subtle horn lines, to the swingin’ chopped drums, Chikaramanga made this track do exactly that. It remains cool, and allows the listeners to do as well. With a jazz sample laced with drums to match, the complex, yet easy flowing wordplay of Big Tone pieces it all together to make the perfect debut single from Chikara’s special 7 inch project.

About Big Tone:

Big Tone is one of the latest acts to come out of the TRES Records label. With his solo album “The Art of Ink”, his long list of production credits, and the great opportunity to be featured on Jay-Dee’s Welcome 2 Detroit LP, Big Tone is definitely hailed as another great artist to come out of Motor City.

Check out TRES RECORDS Official Website:

http://www.tresrecords.com/

A New Decade Has Arrived! Now "Into the Ring, Sumo-style"

"Happy New Year, everyone. A new decade has arrived! May your 2010 be filled with happiness, good health and peace..." (Taiko Fujimura)

Taiko, a new member of SIR, is very excited about her first group art show of the year 2010. Please come visit and say hi to her at the reception on 1/15. You will see her newest photographs of sumo wrestlers. Please don't miss out!

***

Tue. January 12 ~ Mon. January 25
"Into the Ring, Sumo-style"
SomArts Cultural Center, Bay Gallery
934 Brannan Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Gallery Hours:
Tue ~ Fri: 2PM ~ 7PM
Sat: 12 Noon ~ 5PM

Reception:
Friday, January 15, 6PM~9PM Free

Facebook invite

Facebook page

***

For more info. about Taiko, please visit: www.taikofujimura.com

METEOR 2010.01.09 1st strike

noa- will kick off the New Year with Monthly livepainting Session and Music event, called METEOR, at Space Gallery. Livepainting Session of noa- and invited artists will shed the lights of beauty and transient, and become a meteor shower with Music.

The shower will be visible on 2nd Saturday of every month of 2010.
Open 7pm, with the peak in activity being between 8pm and midnight, depending on the particular location of the stream.
donation at the door

Space Gallery
1141 Polk st, SF, CA 94109
415-377-3325
www.spacegallerysf.com/

More info at -----> www.followyourline.com/meteor