I walked to the Prefectural Art Museum for this Theo Jansen exhibit without knowing what I was going to see. After seeing the exhibit, I checked it out on the internet. About 30 years ago, the Dutch artist, who originally trained as a physicist, began building large mechanisms out of PVC that seem to be able to move on their own, with the help of the wind. He named these creations Strandbeest, and are intended to be a fusion of art and engineering.
I thought the exhibit covered only a small part of the usual exhibit area. The creatures were large and there were quite a few people at the museum when I was there, so it was a little hard to take pictures.
Some of the exhibit had a hands on component, like the one below where museum goers could push this Strandbeest to see how it would move in the wind.
I think this board was to show how they move.
Some were quite large.
There were also videos showing the movement of these creatures on the beach.
The exhibit has been moving to different museums around Japan.
I made the huckweaving samples into little zipper pouches. I used 12 mm zippers from Daiso. They were handsewn.
I made this bigger piece into a table cover, blue fabric on top and purple backing. It measures about 25 inches square.
My friend invited me and two other friends to come to her home in Fuji last night for pizza made with vegetables from her garden. She had everything set out and ready to go when we arrived.
This was the first pizza before it was cooked. (I forgot to take a picture of it when it came out of the oven.)
The second pizza had carrots and green vegetables.
The third one had eggplant, green vegetables, and tuna.
The fourth had tomato and basil.
Oh my gosh! These were the best pizzas ever! The pizza was followed by these fancy fruit desserts.
It was a fun evening and the food was fabulous. I am very fortunate to have such good friends. I look forward to getting together with them again soon.
Japanese Pattern 12
New Start - scissors pocket. Stitching finished and I plan to use the fabric on the right for the lining.
New Start - Christmas ornament. Stitching done, needs to be finished into ornament.
Sunday I took the train to Shizuoka City to meet up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. We had a nice time catching up.
First, we enjoyed lunch at an Asian restaurant called Colonial Kitchen. We each ordered, then shared our meals.
Very close to the restaurant is this shrine. We had visited this shrine in 2018, and as it happened, the same time of year. It was again the Half Year Festival.
I think this is the name and address of this place.
Here is what this is about: First, you go through the straw hoop and come around to the left. Next, you pass through the hoop again and go around to the right. Finally, you go straight through and touch the papers hanging down. This is supposed to end the bad things that happened in the first six months of the year and let you start out the second six months fresh. Or something like that.
This cute tiny car was parked at the shrine. I don't know, but I imagine it belongs to the priest.
Next we went to Sumpu Castle Park and walked around, talking.
This is the famous Tokygawa Ieyasu statue.
Finally, we went to a coffee shop and each had a cappuccino.
After this, it was getting late. We said good-bye and promised to get together again soon.
Progress is being made, but it's hard to show. I have almost one side connected to the flip edge and have quilted a few more hexagons. Rainy days are good for working on this project.
