Reflecting on my first exhibition.

Two weeks have passed since the exhibition on April 15th and 16th, "Spinning: Yu Yamauchi Textile Exhibition."

I thought I could take a breather once the exhibition ended safely, but I've been constantly busy with orders and various other things. (The day after the exhibition, I was even in meetings until late at night regarding the next gallery exhibition.)

I don't feel very settled mentally, but since May looks like it will be another whirlwind, I've decided to take it easy today.
Well then, finally, here is a reflection on the exhibition from two weeks ago, as a record for myself.

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Around the end of last year, I had a very brief, passing conversation with Mr. Hirata, who lent me the venue this time, about "doing an exhibition in March or April of next year."
Throughout the winter, I went about my daily work wondering what would happen and thinking it might not happen at all, but in early March, things suddenly started moving concretely.

Following Mr. Hirata's wish to "focus on the young people at the Machi-Sen (Mihara Community Center)," we didn't have an official executive committee, but in practice, that's how it felt, and I prepared for the exhibition with everyone's cooperation.
Since becoming independent, I have occasionally had relationships where I cooperate with others or receive help, but basically, I've been a solo player, and it's been a long time since I felt like we were building something together like this.

The reason I tend to choose solo play is that I've never been good at relying on others, and I've always thought, "It's easier and faster to do everything myself (though I have to give up on quality and volume)."
However, this time I had no choice but to rely on everyone. After all, I hadn't scheduled exhibition preparation during that period and had already booked other work...

But everyone who helped me this time was so generous in accepting my reliance on them—it made me wonder, "Are you angels?"—and they skillfully handled communications with the town office, arranged exhibition equipment, and secured personnel. Their sense of tempo was truly wonderful, and I learned a lot.

As for me, I was feeling unwell due to female hormones just before the exhibition...
And since nearly 20 people were helping as staff over the two days, I felt pressured that I couldn't be absent, which kept me from sleeping at night...
I mostly knew my own physical weakness, but I didn't realize my mental state was this fragile too. Haha.

But, but, I managed to get through the exhibition itself!
I really owe it all to everyone. I received so much power not only from those who helped me but also from those who came to visit. I even received such kind words. Ah, tears. Tears.

I had expected about 70 visitors over the two days, but to my surprise, 95 people came on the first day and 108 on the second.
Thanks to coverage by NHK and the San-in Chuo Shimpo on the first day, some people came on the second day saying they had "seen it on TV or in the newspaper." Furthermore, even the day after the exhibition, about 5 groups came by mistake on the wrong date, which I felt bad about.

It was truly an amazing thing.
I talked with many people and laughed a lot, but what stayed with me the most was when someone who helped as staff (and who I am always very indebted to) contacted me the day after the exhibition to say, "Thank you so much for letting me have such a wonderful experience at my age."
In that moment, I felt like my three years as a Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad member had been rewarded. I came to this town, and I worried because I was told that some people didn't think well of my activities, which were "not like a typical Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad member," but even in a small town of 3,300 people, there are many different ways of thinking, and it's natural for criticism to arise. In fact, it's better that it exists.

My term as a Community Revitalization Cooperation Squad member ends at the end of this May. (Deeply moving)
I hope to continue activities in this place that can bring even a little joy to the people who are important to me. I won't be so greedy as to ask for massive joy for everyone.

I'm glad I came here.
I'm glad I met all of you.

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The venue where I held the exhibition this time is a very magnificent old folk house that flourished with Tatara ironmaking in the Edo period.
The current owner (the 11th generation!) carried out a major renovation (major restoration) from March to November of last year, lifting the house and fixing it from the foundation, as the floor was sinking. That said, the basic structure of the house was not changed, so the magnificent ceiling beams and pillars remain, and it feels as if the atmosphere of that time is being exhaled from those timbers... The owner, Mr. and Mrs. Hirata, say there is a "time-space distortion" when you pass through the entrance, and it is truly just like that; when I visit the house and return, I fall into a feeling as if I had gone to a very distant place until just a moment ago.

In such a wonderful space, my work was like a fox borrowing the tiger's power, but the house seemed to find it amusing as well.

I am very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Hirata for their help with this exhibition.
They are a couple who exude brightness and depth (brightness because of their depth?), and while being drawn into their fascinating stories, I even found myself talking about things I had never told anyone before.
The "time-space distorted old folk house x Mr. and Mrs. Hirata" accepted me even when I said strange things (probably. Haha).

Because of that, during the period related to this exhibition, I was able to rely on others and be honest.
Thanks to everyone, I feel like something is moving in a very good direction. Thank you.

Now, time to pay it back!

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I had planned the next exhibition for June, but due to construction at the venue, it looks like it will be around July.
That venue has quite a worldview, being a cafe, snack bar & gallery, retail shop & sauna.

Tokikaze https://g.co/kgs/Gv9iaM

The sauna construction is dragging on, but the other spaces are sparkling new!
I went to hang out during cafe time to borrow Wi-Fi (I'm managing without Wi-Fi at the Yamauchi house), but the conversation with the staff and other customers was so fun that I couldn't get any PC work done. Haha

I usually live a life where I really don't talk to people, so I'm happy to have a place like this where I can talk to someone if I go.
And Shimane is becoming more and more fun.

Since there are few young people, there's a feeling that if you're just hanging around, you'll get pulled into things, which wasn't really the case in the city.
Right now, I might be feeling the least lonely I've ever felt in my life. That said, I'm not clinging to groups either; it's a very good feeling.

Somehow, I spent quite a lot of time writing this.
I was supposed to be taking it easy! Haha

Shifu-ori Yamauchi
URL https://shifuori.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shifu_ori_yuy/