Art - Peace - and Coping with Disaster

POKETTO is an interactive installation by Artist Niizeki Hiromi. 
It is on display at

Arts for Peace:  With One Accord
June 10-17, 2011
United Church on the Green
New Haven
A series of music and art events.

She will be at the site Friday, June 17th, the last day of the event.

Japan, where I was born and lived for 25 years, has been experiencing, right now, massive natural and manmade disaster and lost huge amount of lives/things. It is not the matter of one country any more.  I would  love to hear what is valuable for us, what is reality of our life.  "Imagine here is a pocket. If you may find any you like, what would you wish?"

CMA Teaching Artist Niizeki Hiromi has conceived the Poketto art installation as a means to engage our community in a healing response to the earthquake and tsunami that occurred on March 11 in North Eastern Japan. Poketto will enable children and families in Japan and New York City to communicate with each other through a cross-cultural art exchange. We welcome participation from Japan and the rest of the world by way of Facebook and Twitter.

There are two "POKETTO" Facebook pages, one is in Japanese:
       http://www.facebook.com/pages/ポケット-poketto/205360116155261
and another in English:        
        http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poketto/151281431602544

          Statement "POKETTO"

Sixties, in Tokyo, my brother, mother and I laid down on Futon on Tatami as shape of Chinese character River, “川”. Talking how was the day in the school, classmates, Bento lunch etc, while finding snakes and faces among growth rings of wood of the ceiling before to sleep in. My brother and I wanted mom to know all what happened in the day, tried to remember every little things.

Now, 2011. Although time and situation could be different, would you feel like sharing what you want to say or know what others may want to share? Imagine here is a pocket. If you may find any you want in a pocket but only one, what would you wish?

Money? What do you like to buy with it? Why?
Camera? What do you like to shoot with it? Why?

Try to think what you really think important for you. Write it down. Draw it. Create it in 2D or 3D. E-mail it. It will be printed out and put in one of many pockets on the wall of installation POKETTO. I will be working at the site sometime, sewing pockets on the wall filled fabric tarp with needle and thread. […].

You can peek what others left in pockets.

For those looking to provide direct financial assistance to Japanese individuals and families impacted by the disasters, the Japan Society (www.japansociety.org/earthquake) is one several reputable charity organizations that may be contacted.