Serving Lives
 

                                                                                                          

On the morning of March 11, 2011, I was at a hotel room in Paris with my friend Greta. Flipping
channels, I found myself staring at the Big Wave washing everything away over and over again. It looked so surreal. From the moment, I was glued to TV and Internet news trying to comprehend what was really happening. Deeply saddened for the people affected, I had the urge to make art and do something for Japan.

 

Back in Dublin Ireland where I was residing at that time, I started reaching out. Jenn Kirby, my musician friend joined me. And I met a girl, Chika, from Fukushima, Japan, then accordingly was introduced Riken Komatsu, a photographer living in Fukushima who was documenting the entire phenomena. He kindly let me use his photos for my project. With Jenn’s music, I put Riken’s photos together and made a video. On April 3, 2011, at Centre For Creative Practice, Dublin, I did a performance for Tsunami Fundraising.  This is how Riken, Jenn and I connected together.

In September 2011, Io Palmer invited me to work on “Serve and Project” conducted by Io & Lisa. I had a solid idea in my heart of “ how noble is it is to feed people” by seeing all those images from Riken. When I saw his photos of serving food, I immediately got the theme “ Serving Life”.

Serving food for people literally serves lives. As a starving artist myself, getting food is always  a priority and I have worked for food just to survive number of times. I can not forget all the people who have kept me alive by feeding me. And this is the theme of my artwork “Serving Life” with photos by Riken Komatsu.   

We can only survive by serving each other.  

Riken Komatsu, Web Magazine

http://www.tetoteonahama.com/info/

Riken Komatsu, photo, Jenn Kirby, music,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh7UmIYWWNQ

Riken Komatsu, photo, Jenn Kirby, music, Hiromi Okumura, edit and performance, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfhF-iRmn88

Peace,

Hiromi Okumura

May, 2012

Reaping What We Have Sown by Carolyn Speranza

Carolyn Speranza created a fantastic piece for Cyberfeast III. I have always admired her integration of cutting edge design and art production techniques into thought-provoking visual pieces.  Beautifully constructed, compelling message:

http://speranza.net/2012/04/13/reaping-what-weve-sown/

CyberFeast III - Artists & their Websites

Created by Io Palmer and Lisa Link, Serve & Project is a public art initiative  that explores the cultural, political, and economic issues surrounding the production  and consumption of food. For CyberFeast III, artists were invited to create imagery on a napkin  that interpreted food from different perspectives. 

01.	Serse Luigetti Perugia, Italia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUX0OHW3Z1k
02.	Ashley Anderson Atlanta, GA
03.	Jacinda Russell Muncie IN http://www.jacindarussell.com/
04.	Mary Walker West Kelowna B.C. Canada http://www.quillskywritings.com/
05.	Alanna Richardson Norwich, Norfolk England http://www.e-c-a.ac.uk/nuca-2011-degree-show-review/
06.	Janet Braun-Reinitz Brooklyn, NY http://www.brooklynrail.org/2009/03/local/nonfiction-art-on-the-wall-inspires-duo
07.	Carolyn Speranza Pittsburgh, PA http://speranza.net/
08.	Jaromir Svozilik OSLO, Norway http://www.svozilik.com/
09.	Cynthia Milionis San Francisco, CA http://www.cymili.com/art/
10.	Rochelle Shicoff Brooklyn, NY http://rochelleshicoff.weebly.com/
11.	Simon Warren TRING, UK
12.	Mary Ann Castle Bronx, NY
13.	Hannah Barnes Muncie IN http://www.hannahbarnesart.com
14.	Leo Morrissey Winston-Salem, NC
15.	Ann Mansolino Whittier, CA http://www.annmansolino.com/
16.	Chris Griffin New York, NY
17.	René Rodriguéz Portland, OR http://www.rene-e-rodriguez.com
18.	Masha Yukhananov Brighton, Massachusetts http://www.artmashka.com
19.	Reza Safavi Pullman, WA http://www.hi-reza.com
20.	Hiromi Okumura Pullman, WA http://www.hiromiokumura.com/
21.	Eric Norman Pullman, WA http://ericnormanart.com/
22.	Wendy DesChene’s Advanced Drawing Class
23.	Ashley Stevens
24.	Candice McCollough
25.	Erin Edwards
26.	Lindsey Wilson
27.	Pleas Tolbert
28.	Justin Foster
29.	Cory Anchors
30.	Tina McConnell
31.	Terrica Payton
32.	Rebecca Campomanes
33.	Meghan Stewart
34.	Kara Ffield
35.	Cary Walker
36.	Jessica Leonard
37.	Wendy Osher PIttsburgh, PA http://www.wendyosher.net/
38.	Darrell U. Black Frankfurt, Germany http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/darrell-black.html
39.	Kim Rae Taylor Cincinnati, OH http://www.KimRaeTaylor.com
40.	Ryosuke Cohen Osaka, Japan http://www.ryosukecohen.com/board/top.html
41.	Melissa Eder New York, NY 10003 http://melissaeder.com/home.html
42.	Claudia Sbrissa Brooklyn, NY http://www.claudiasbrissa.com/
43.	Mae Aguinaldo Makati City, Philippines http://www.wearmesa.blogspot.com/
44.	Amy Reff
45.	Ursula Kelly London. UK http://www.ursulakelly.com/
46.	Luciana Servulo São Paulo, Brazil http://www.wix.com/lucianaservulo/lsl
47.	Wendy Osher PIttsburgh, PA http://www.wendyosher.net/
48.	Mary K Weeks Albany, NY http://www.marykweeks.com/http://www.marykweeks.com/
49.	Brett Lysne Pullman, WA http://blysne.wordpress.com/
50.	Aine Scannell Scotland http://ainescannell.com/
51.	Jared Wittenmyer Burlington, IA http://jaredwittenmyer.com
52.	Dickie Webb Edinburgh UK http://www.dickiewebb.com/
53.	Wendy Deschene Waverly, AL http://www.wendydeschene.com/
54.	Jonell Jaime Pulliam Charleston, SC http://jjpulliam.com/home.html
55.	Erik Benjamins Boston, MA http://erikbenjamins.com/Main/erik_benjamins.html
56.	Courtney Lee Weida Bronx, NY http://sites.google.com/site/courtneyleeweidaresearch
57.	Calcagno Cullen San Francisco, CA http://nycletters.blogspot.com/
58.	Daniel de CullaBurges, Spain http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profile/DanieldeCulla
59.	Cheryle MelanderMinneapolis, MN http://cherylemelander.blogspot.com/
60.	Lisa Link Boston, MA http://www.lisalink.net