Is fate something strange?
Kanagawa Gallery Walk
File.5 Tiptoe
( Yamamoto Shino/Gallery Watts)
I received a direct mail about a colorful scarf that will make winter more fun.
The artist is Ono Fuminosuke, a dyeing and textile artist living in Tokyo.
He used to come and visit us occasionally around the time Galerie Watts, where I work, opened (20 years ago).
The sender is Gallery Tiptoe in Hayama.
The gallery moved from Takarazuka to Hayama 10 years ago, and before opening her gallery in Takarazuka, the owner, Kayoko Iwata, would often come to Watts and talk about her dream of "starting a gallery someday," which eventually came true.
I was surprised and nostalgic to find out that these two were connected, so I immediately headed to Hayama to meet them!
Take a bus from Zushi Station to Hayama, get off at "Kazahayabashi" and walk towards the residential area. There are quite a few houses with kayaks on their eaves, as you would expect from a seaside town. The road signs are also stylish.
(This was my first time seeing it, so I looked it up and apparently it helps reduce speed because it gives a three-dimensional appearance.)
The house marked by a blue door is Gallery Tiptoe.
We deal in items made by artists that can be used to enjoy daily life, including tableware, clothing, and objects.
The opening party was in full swing, and there was a wide selection of delicious looking dishes. The catering was provided by the chef of the popular wine shop "a day" in Zushi, and the food was colorful, just like Ono's creations, incorporating seafood from Hayama and vegetables from Kamakura.
At Tiptoe, the menu is designed to suit the nuances of each exhibition.
"Of course the food is delicious, but it also brings me great joy when elderly customers who now live alone say they look forward to eating in a warm atmosphere," says Iwata.
The table setting, using ceramics, glass, lacquerware and other tableware by artists who have exhibited here, is beautiful, and it has taught me the joy of using tableware in a similar way at home.
"When I choose tableware for a party, I hope it will inspire the sensibilities of both the customers and the artists. It's an exciting process for me, too."
Now, the main character, Ono, graduated from the Department of Design at Tokyo Zokei University and the Graduate School of Plastic Arts at Musashino Art University, and then got a job at Issey Miyake, where he says he discovered the fun and possibilities of textiles.
The pop shirt, tie, and jacket details he was wearing revealed the high sense of style that only a textile lover can have.
Ono is an independent artist who creates art pieces using paper and textiles, as well as wearable items.
Iwata, who was fascinated by the artist's work, offered him the job more than a decade ago, and this will be his sixth solo exhibition since his exhibition in Takarazuka.
Scarves and stoles made from dyed wool or silk combined with shrunk felt add a lightness to winter fashion, which tends to be dark in tone.
When worn, the splendor is more than just the color, and is a result of the playful touches that only sculptor Ono can bring to the piece.
"Mr. Iwata loves roses and grows them in his garden, so in the beginning he would make requests like, 'Make it with a rose-like feel.' I think I learned a lot from all the different things he threw at me. Now he tells me, 'Just do whatever you like,' and I'm free to play around."
Creations born from a relationship of trust between artists and the gallery are sure to attract customers. The gallery was bustling with customers who had been looking forward to the exhibition since they received the direct mail.
One of the coats on display this time was made of colorful yarn trapped inside a mesh, giving it the impact of an abstract painting.
"I can't sew, so I leave it to a friend whose sensibility I trust when making clothes," said Ono. As I listened to him talk, I was surprised to find out that that friend was actually my friend! It's a small world out there (laughs).
What's great is that since Tiptoe moved to Hayama, we have been making a book of each artist's solo exhibition as a record. The photographer who visited for Ono's fourth book was also a friend of mine, so I was reunited with a familiar face!!
Photographer Masaharu Sato has lived in Hayama for 15 years. He has participated in the long-running Hayama Art Festival (co-hosted with Hayama ART WALK since 2018) and is helping to promote local cultural and artistic projects.
A long time ago, I introduced Sato to Iwata, which led to Iwata deciding to move to Hayama, and it seems that Sato now takes the photographs for direct mail and other materials.
As these connections continued to come together, it was a joyful moment for me to look back on the history of Watts.
I brought home a vivid polka dot scarf, which I've already started using to add a pop of colour to my autumn and winter fashion.
People who meet me compliment me on the beautiful color, and the scarf has become a medium of communication. It's also fun to see the connections that develop from there!
Fumino Ono's exhibition will be held until Sunday, December 16th.
Gallery Information
Tiptoe
〒240-0112
Kanagawa Prefecture, Miura-gun, Hayama-machi, Horiuchi 1422-10
TEL: 046-854-8256
*Opening days: Generally open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Open during special exhibitions. (Reservations required for Sunday visits)
"access"
▶︎Bus from JR Zushi Station (Platform 1, 2) / Bus from Keihin Kyuko Shin-Zushi Station (Platform 1)
Get off at "Kazahayabashi" and walk for 3 minutes
