Seika Yochien Art Exhibition 2013

This is the fourth year I have attended the Seika Yochien Art Exhibition.  The first year was with the Putaansuu's - William was in his last year at Seika.  I was so impressed then with the kids' work!  Seeing William's work was one of the main reasons I was keen on sending the boys (Dougie & Ian, anyway) here after we PCS'd.

This year was Dougie's third and Ian's first (click here to see 2012).  Seeing how far Dougie has come over the past three years really impresses me.  No more colored macaroni picture frames - this year he made a pottery tea cup with Yuki Daruma (Snowmen) and snow falling

He made a bust of himself - and it was a surprisingly good take on himself!

The Older classes took a class trip this summer, and sketched the camp they stayed in

They also went on a number of field trips this year and took their sketch pads with them.  The Nippon Maru (a masted sailing ship)

The Imperial Palace

They even did scrolls in their best calligraphy.  Each one got to pick what they wrote.  Dougie's friend, Lindsey, picked "りんぐ" (ringo) - apple.  Dougie picked "たこ" (tako) - octopus!

My favorite was Zach's...  "おいす" (oisu) - chair.  Loved that!

Ian's class made a Hebi Garden (snake garden - 2013 is the year of the Snake).

I asked where his was. He shrugged.  Then jabs his finger at a red (aka) one and said, "There it is, mummy!"  Sure enough!  Turned it over and there was his name!

He walked all the way around the Hinamatsuri table (dolls of the Emperor and Empress for Doll Festival/Girl's Day) and then announced, "That one is mine!"  And it was!  The Emperor looks as if he may have gotten fresh with the Empress - and she gave him a black eye...

The first year we were here, I thought Dougie's self-portrait was interesting (in a cute way...) - I could not understand why he used brown for the hair.  Almost a year later he told me, "That is a picture of YOU, Mummy!"

Well, that explained the lack of glasses and the brown hair!  Ian actually gave me blond hair and gave it an Edvard Munch, The Scream, sort of look...

He said it was my "Scary Face"...  huh...

My favorite is the handprint.  He really does have a hand on my heart ;)

The kids get tickets to ride the shinkansen - one of their favorite things to do!

 

Satoh-san uncoupled the passenger cars and took one little boy for a ride on the engine.

Stefan decided to help give it a push...

Ian kept Satoh-san company after re-coupling the train and making one last pass

Past the Choo-Choo bus...

The classes all make whatever the zodiacal calendar is for the year.  2013 is the Year of the Snake (Hebi).  They are all on display on the stage.  Red and White and symbolize energy and purity, respectively.  

As one dad put it, we all had front row seats to Whitesnake.  Finally!

My Little Pony, Pablo

Today was observation day at Seika for Ian's class, the Pony class.  This is the youngest class at Seika, kids who just turned three or are approaching three (Ian).  They sang some songs:

And made a drawing of their parent(s):

Ian got his Cra-Pas - Kamei Sensei (Ian's teacher) quizzed them on their colors.

Ian drew a head...

  

And tried to put the paper back onto his "oranji"... (this is WHY we do not take the papers off...)

And then presented me with his picture!

Pleased as can be!

Holding his picture with his Sensei.  He is holding the portrait sideways (top is to the right), - the colors on the top of the picture are actually to the left of the face - those are fireworks.

I think little Pablo has a future in abstract art :)

Beautiful Sky

Awhile back, Stefan came trucking out of school waving this in front of himself, going on about  "You have to save this!" "You. Have. Got. To. Save. This!!!"

The conversation that followed went something like this:

Stefan: Mom, don't get rid of that.  Ms. Dupont, my art teacher, wants to see it again at the end of the year.

Me: ?????  Wow, this is beautiful!  Now, what was that you were trying to say?!?

Stefan: We called it Beautiful Sky.  Well, Caleb named it that because that is what he says the sky looks, like, beautiful.  And it's the sky.  So, he called it, "Beautiful Sky".  I agreed.  But, I called it Optical Illusion.  Because it looks like that, too. But I think Beautiful Sky is good, too."

Me:  Phew.  I am out of breath.  Where were we?  Ah, at saving this...

Stefan: Yeah.  She says she needs to see it again at the end of the year.  Mine was picked.

Me: ?????  Picked? For...???

Stefan: Uhhh... I don't know.  Something.  But it was one of only three in the first grade.

Me: ?????  Ohhhh..... ?????  I feel like I have had an "Optical Illusion" of a conversation...

I don't know about you, but I hesitate to EVER say that I will save something.  Ever.  Paper scraps, "Mom - you have got to save these!"  Noooooo....  Plastic BBs found in the park, "Moooooommmm...  these are the coooooolest.  I want to save them.  All. Of. Them."  Oh, no.  And, NO!  But I digress...

This was save-worthy.

Things were made more clear just a couple of weeks ago, when I got this letter:

In short, it reads:

Dear Parents of Stefan Anthony,

Congratulations!  Stefan's artwork was selected to be displayed in The SUN.  It is the DoDEA's Pacific area (Japan, Okinawa, Korea and Guam) annual journal presenting literary, musical and visual arts excellence from Kindergarten through grade 12.

Your child's will be giving are certificate from the area Arts Director, a certificate from the Sullivan's School and a copy of The SUN #38.

We need your permission ASAP to reprint your child's artwork.

Again, congratulations!

Well, as my dad would say, HOT DAMN!!!

Permission granted!  What an honor!  So, Stefan gets published later this spring.


It really is a Beautiful Sky!

Seika Yochien, Rose Class Art Work

No catchy title today.  The work says it all...

Today was Dougie's last day in Rose Class with Osawa Sensei at Seika Yochien.  He brought home all of his artwork.  The art that some of these kids accomplish is truly unbelievable (in American school, we would all assume the parents "helped" with it...).  Dougie's is much more Pablo Picasso-esque.  Perhaps even Edvard Munch (think, The Scream...).


Most of the subject matter is picked for them, but, clearly, not all.  I still need to quiz Dougie some more about what some of the subject matter.  At the Art Exhibition, he claimed he did not even do some of them.  They all have his name no them and the Japanese are not know for disorganization.


So, until I get "the real" explanation of some, enjoy my interpretations or make up your own!

Cover

Usagi - Rabbits

Tea Pot and Cup

Tie-Dye by folding

Chou-Chou: Butterfly

Bee!

Hip? Ball & Socket Joint?  

One Happy House and Garden.  OK, I don't know...

Ghost flying away from the sunset?!?  Must ask...

???  Need to inquire... Guesses?!>

"Dougie" "Kent"... Is that Encho Sensei (the principle) bent over the podium?!?
Clearly, the attendance of himself and his good friend, Kent, were the important features...

"My Bed"

Close-up of "My Bed" - notice the bunks, red quilts, patterned sheets (different for he and Stefan...) and pillows... 

Ku-Ri-Su-Ma-Su Tsu-Ri

Sweet Potato Digging 

Family Portrait: Who is missing?!?

Snail

Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Chrysanthemum

Hina Matsuri: Doll Festival

Otsukimi: Festival of the Harvest Moon 

Ku-Ri-Su-Ma-Su

Ya-To (Yacht)

Oimohori: Sweet Potato Digging

Shishi-mai: the Lion Dance

Setsubun: Evil Out (throw beans at the Oni/Demons) - Happiness In (throw beans inside your door)