The first two months seemed a bit overwhelming. Searching for an apartment and
settling into day to day life took longer than I wanted, but in hindsight went very
smoothly. If I had not prepared for my research before coming to Japan, did not
know some Japanese, nor have contacts in Japan it would have been very difficult to
get started. My university did not begin classes until October so I did preliminary
research and gathered equipment and household items in the meantime. To organize
my thoughts and in order to recall my grant experiences I began a blog on my
website: (http:www.jimmykuehnle.com) My project has two parts and goals so I will
report on both of them.

One part is to examine the art system in Japan and to produce a new body of
performance and sculptural work. From the internet and local sources I made a list of
art galleries in Nagoya and hit the pavement with my bicycle. I visited most of the
galleries meeting gallery directors and artists in the process. I now go to galleries
weekly to see updated shows and to develop relationships with the art community in
Nagoya. I have attended art openings in Nagoya and make trips to Tokyo to see
galleries, museums and artists. I have an appointment to meet Nishi Tatsu, a Japanese
artist living in Germany, when he has a show in Hiroshima this December. I have
met artists from Denmark who exhibit in Japan and manage an artist exchange
program.

My personal work began with the process of locating special plastic coated
polyester fabrics to make inflatable suits with. I want to make work that is influenced
by my time here, but making art is hands on. I can think all I want about art but to get
anywhere I just have to do it. I approach this beginning time like I did in graduate
school by starting with something familiar, in this case inflatable suits. I expect my
work will begin to change as it already has from my experiences and interactions here
in Japan. I completed my first suit last week and did a practice performance at a
University Art Festival at my school last week. I will perform this in Nagoya City
this month and at The Kyoto Museum in Kyoto (京都文化博物館) where I will
participate in the Amuse Artjam 2007 exhibition, December 1-2. I will also exhibit at
Aichi Prefectural University of Fine arts and Music this December in a show featuring
foreign research students. Part of being an artist is generating publicity in addition to
studio work. I am preparing press releases for my upcoming performances and have
made numerous contacts in the art world.

The other part of my project is to research the public art process in Japan with
the ultimate goal of completing a commissioned work. I have met with a city planner
at Nagoya City University who put me in touch with city planners at Nagoya City
Hall. There I met with a different city planner and a city adviser to talk about my
ideas. This process will take time and I will nurture these relationships. I have asked
prominent public arts commissioners in America for suggestions of Japanese contacts
in the public art world and have begun communication. This weekend in Tokyo I will
meet with Takuma Takahara, a former Public Artist representative. We will visit
public art sites in Tokyo and discuss possibilities. He introduced me to Uchida
Kazutaka who received guidance from Isamu Noguchi. This second part of my
project will be the most difficult and may spill over past my grant. I will do my best
to complete it but either way when my grant stops I do not plan to.

These first two months have been an adjustment period. Self motivation
without outside constraints is a new skill to learn. I want the chapters of the book so I
know how far I have come but I am writing the chapters as I go. Even though I
thought I would be farther along now I think the first two months were satisfactory
and now I must work hard to make the last ten months spectacular.