Kumagai Morikazu: Cherishing All Lives

This is the morning view of Mt. Fuji from my apartment before going to the exhibit.

I took the train to the Shizuoka Prefectural Art Museum to see the Kumagai Morikazu: Cherish All Lives exhibit before the exhibit ended.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I liked the picture on the promotional posters. The exhibit was all in Japanese except for this sign outside the exhibit. Most of the titles were very simple and I was very happy that I could pick out the kanji for many of the title words, like cat, dog, turtle, bird, woman, tree, etc.

Kumagai Morikazu (91years old), 1971 

Kumagai Morikazu lived from 1880 to 1977.  In Japan that means from the Meiji era to the Showa Era. He has been called one of the grandfathers of Japanese Modern Art. The art work in the exhibit were arranged chronologially.  The earlier work seemed dark, but realistic. Later the paintings and drawings were brightly colored and more simplistic.

I couldn't take photos in the museum, but I found a few on the internet.

Portrait of a Lady 1918

Small Fry 1958

Cherry Blossoms 1964

Cat 1965

It's good to be exposed to many forms of art.

Utsunomiya - Futaarayama Shrine

After visiting Utsunomiya Castle Park, I went to Futaarayama Shrine. As with all shrines it seems, there were many many steps!

Halfway up the steps, to the right and the left is another/different shrine called Sugahara Shrine.

At the top of the steps, is the gate to Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine, which was founded about 1600 years ago.  The city of Utsunomiya grew up around it.  Over the years, many fires destroyed different parts of the shrine. The main building burned during the Boshin War (1868-1869).  The current main building was reconstructed in 1877.

To the left of the main shrine buildings is yet a third shrine, Hatsutasu Inari Shrine.

And back down again.

I enjoyed my quick visit to Utsunomiya.  After the shrines, I headed back to the train station to go home.  It was a good weekend trip!

Friday Finish - Brazilian Butterfly

My stitch group is currently working on a small Brazilian Embroidery project.  We are making little pins, using a rounded plastic disc as the base under the embroidery.  I made a little butterfly, with a beaded edging.

I can hardly wait for our next get together to see what the others are doing!

Utsunomiya Castle Park

I got off the train in Utsunomiya and walked to Castle Park from the train station. I couldn't pass up seeing a Japanese castle, or in this case reconstructed turrets and a museum on the grounds of where the castle used to be. It was a pleasant walk from the station to the park.

I never expect English signage, but I'm always happy to find it.

You can come in and look around, but take your shoes off first.

This one is just like the other one.

This sign isn't in English, but I still understand.

There is a large elevator and a concrete tunnel between the turrets, with a museum.

I'm happy I was able to see another castle park. (If you are interested in Japanese Castles, check out my Castle Page to see the castles I've visited.)