Art Exchange – 20th anniversary: The official representative from Shiga-prefecture, Mr. Teru Ueyama made some remarks at the opening
The 20th annual art exchange with the Japanese city paired with St. Johns runs through March 28 at the Briggs Public Library in downtown St. Johns. The choir of 4th and 5th graders from Riley Elementary under the direction of their music teacher, Ms. Shirley Anne Ries, sang a selection of Japanese children’s songs following the remarks by the head of the Clinton County Arts Council, Ms. Jenny McCampbell, and fellow organizing committee member Guven Witteveen.
The official who represents our sister state, Shiga-ken, in Japan, Mr. Teru Ueyama, also made a special appearance and spoke to the audience. Refreshments were provided by Big Boy of St. Johns and the Friends of the Library, with support also from the City of St. Johns. Special thanks to the artists from all the district elementary schools, including St. Joseph.
Many of the St. Johns artists whose works were selected for the exchange were in attendance at the program too, along with their parents and other family members. Also in attendance were art teachers Ann Den Herder and Kelly Parsons; Jason Gnegy, Director of Curriculum for St. Johns Public Schools; Anne-Marie Potter, Principal at Eureka Elementary; and St. Johns City Manager, Dennis LaForest.
Background to the exchange
Starting with the Japanese teacher from Shiga-ken who got the exchange program of elementary and junior high school art going in 1995, this annual event brings over 100 pieces of original children’s art from Konan-city to its friendship city of St. Johns, Michigan to display alongside the local students’ own creative work, which then travels to Japan for display there.
In 2015 the timeline begins with the arrival of Japanese art in the fall of 2014, then the gathering of St. Johns elementary and middle school pieces early in 2015. Then on February 21 the town art teachers, together with the organizing volunteers sort, group, and fasten the pieces of both countries onto 10-14 foot fabric banners on both sides.
On February 28 a group of high school students in the National Art Honor Society at the next door town of Ovid come to hang the art at the town library in St. Johns for a 4 week period.
The Tuesday night that follows this installation Saturday is the opening reception, complete with refreshments, brief remarks on the sister city and the artists of both sides. After a short program of songs in Japanese by students of one of the St. Johns elementaries, under their music teacher’s direction, the families and friends tour the art.
Previous slidesets of the installation are online at mishigan.blogspot.com