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 Fuminori, a dyeing and textile artist living in Tokyo.
He used to come and visit me occasionally when Gallery Watts, where I work, first 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 Takarazuka gallery, the owner, Kayoko Iwata, often visited Watts and spoke of 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'd expect from a seaside town. The road signs are also quite stylish.
(This was my first time seeing it, so I looked it up and apparently it helps to 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 will help you enjoy your life, including tableware, clothing, and objects.
The opening party was just underway, and there was a wide selection of delicious looking dishes. The catering for this event was by the chef of "a day," a wine shop in Zushi that has many fans. 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.
"Not only is it delicious, but it also brings me great joy when elderly customers who are living 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 given me the opportunity to try using tableware like this at home.
"When I choose tableware for a party, I hope it will stimulate the sensibilities of both the customers and the artists. It's an exciting process for me as well."

Ono, the main character, graduated from the Department of Design at Tokyo Zokei University and the Graduate School of Art and Design at Musashino Art University before joining Issey Miyake, where he says he discovered the fascinating possibilities of textiles.
The pop shirt, tie and jacket details he was wearing revealed the high sense of fashion that only a textile lover can have.

Ono is an independent artist who creates artwork using paper and textiles, while also creating wearable items.
Iwata, who was fascinated by the work, approached him more than a decade ago, and this will be his sixth solo exhibition, counting from the one in Takarazuka.

Scarves and stoles made from dyed wool or silk combined with shrunk felt add a touch of lightness to winter fashion, which tends to be dark in tone.
When worn, the splendor that can be felt is not just due to the color, but also due to the playful touch that is unique to sculptor Ono.

"Mr. Iwata loves roses and grows them in his garden, so in the beginning he would make requests like, 'Make it so it has a rose-like feel.' I feel like I've learned a lot from all the things he's thrown at me. Now he tells me to 'try it out however you like,' so I'm free to play around."
Creations born from a relationship of trust between artist and gallery are sure to attract customers. The gallery was bustling with customers who had been waiting in anticipation since they received the direct mail.

The coat on display this time, made of colorful yarn trapped inside a mesh, had the impact of an abstract painting.

"I can't sew, so when it comes to making clothes I leave it to a friend whose sensibility I trust," said Ono. As I listened to him talk, I was surprised to discover that the friend was actually my friend! It's a small world out there (laughs).

What's amazing is that since Tiptoe moved to Hayama, we have been creating a book summarizing the artist's solo exhibitions as a record. The photographer who visited to photograph Ono's fourth book was also an acquaintance of mine, so it was a familiar reunion!!
Photographer Masaharu Sato has lived in Hayama for 15 years. He has also participated in the long-running Hayama Art Festival (co-hosted with Hayama ART WALK since 2018), 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 I heard that Sato now takes the photographs for direct mail and other materials.
As these connections continued to come together, it was a joyous moment for me to reflect on the history of Watts.

I brought home a vivid polka dot scarf, which I've already started incorporating into my fall and winter fashion.
People I meet compliment me on the beautiful color, and this scarf has become a medium for communication. It's also fun to see the connections that develop from there!

Ono Fuminori's exhibition will be held until Sunday, December 16th.

Gallery Information
Tiptoe

〒240-0112
1422-10 Horiuchi, Hayama-machi, Miura-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
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 (Platforms 1 and 2) / Bus from Keihin Kyuko Shin-Zushi Station (Platform 1)
Get off at "Kazahayabashi" and walk for 3 minutes