Chairman's Foreword Tomio Tsukui| Nasunogahara International Sculpture Symposium in Ohtawara2012

Chairman's Foreword Tomio Tsukui

　

Due to the COVID-19 infection that has been rampant, we had to give up holding the Nasuno-ga-hara International Art Symposium last year. 
Although there are no signs of the end, we have decided to reduce the scale of our business this year and hold 'The 3rd Artist in Residence Otawara' so as not to stall the promotion of art and culture.
At Artist in Residence, in addition to the sculptures and paintings of the traditional symposium, contemporary art is incorporated into our Art Production Department.  We invited six up-and-coming artists, including three of them living in Tochigi prefecture, and had an Open Studio Programs.  At the Institute of Art Cultural-Studies, the process of sculpture production was made in  public.  In the shopping district of Kurobane, we were able to complete two shutter arts with the cooperation of the local people. 
It was difficult for visitors to come from far away due to the COVID-19, but I think we were able to widely disseminate it both inside and outside the city by publishing it on the web and SNS.
During the period, the art-production was done after taking all possible measures against the COVID-19 infection, which caused a lot of inconvenience to the artists.  We hope that many people will see those works that they have created and will be able to reduce the feeling of obstruction of the COVID-19 as much as possible.

In conclusion, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the people concerned for having guided and supported us in holding this event.