"Enjoy Every Moment Together" a journey with Harumo Sato

Harumo Sato’s latest project was commissioned by a government agency executing a series of rebuilds and expansions of elementary schools and community centers in the Deanwood neighborhood of Washington DC. Harumo spent months planning with her operations team trying to decide how to travel and transport a work of art during a pandemic. Weeks before departure, restrictions on air travel to DC reassured the operations team that the master plan—driving a truck and towing an RV trailer across the country—would be the travel method of choice, providing shelter and transportation to get Harumo and team to the job on time.

Practicing social distancing during this trip was a must. Harumo and her husband Ian Farneth are expecting a baby boy this year. Harumo’s and the baby's health were the number one priority for Ian. Avoiding contact with COVID-19, and shipping art initiated a road trip, consciously thinking of the team’s mental and physical health while getting to a job site. Harumo was particularly excited about creating works of art that would live amongst students, and did not want to cancel due to the pandemic.

Submitting to the right proposals has led Harumo to being selected in the final rounds of several promising commissions while allowing her to explore new ideas. Artists who would present multi dimensional artworks and murals were encouraged to apply. An opportunity to work on a new concept that had been on her things to do aligned with the project.

One Harumo’s new works is titled "Cheer up for the Future,” and features a wolf standing on the top of a ridge, surrounded by neighbors living in a magical kingdom of nature. The wolf is accompanied by a relaxed cat on a branch and a grand elk cooling his hooves as he drinks from a teal green body of water. Two otters featured in the mural bathe in sunlight that shines through the windows of the school hallways. This mural directly faces another mosaic "Enjoy Every Moment Together." They are displayed down a long corridor of sunlit classrooms, where the outdoors are visible to the students throughout the day.

“Various Shapes of Relationships," another of Harumo’s murals, has a playful feel to it, and includes a mountain lion splashing in blue water. Bears, antelopes, foxes, owls, turtles, and bison all coexist in Harumo’s abstract landscape. This portrait of coexisting harmony faces the art department.

The twenty foot long mural was installed with seven feet tall paneling, offset, and centered on a brick wall. Harumo's team created a permanent private collection for the school by creating two tangible works of art, showcasing the importance of creating artwork and how it can be presented for preservation and value.

"Enjoy Every Moment Together" is a two dimensional mosaic assembled at her studio in Mountain View, California. This work of art took Harumo two months to create. She conceptualized her work with adaptive technology using CNC operators to fabricate her illustrations and assemble components. Seeing the concept evolve was a fun process for Harumo; it was like playing with a puzzle, except its pieces are adhered permanently.

Harumo’s illustrations become tangible this way as she physically assembles her squirrel illustrations. The reflective and neon colors transform into mushrooms in grass, deer, and a flying squirrel. Once assembled, she layers hand embellishments on top, adding another personal touch to the work. The mosaic was designed to be interactive and durable for children at play, with its highlighting contour lines and imagery shapes. The edge of the material is soft to the human touch and accessible for anyone with a macular or vision disability; this provides the opportunity to feel the artwork to define the contour of the illustrations. Harumo has a friend with a vision disability, and seeing her artwork is a big dream of his. That inspired her to look into what type of artwork she could create to give someone the ability to “read” illustrations.

Professionally packaged in an eight foot tall shipping crate, Harumo’s mosaic needed to arrive safely from California to DC. Carrying it on a flight was not feasible, even if flights were empty at the time. Shipping crates of artwork anywhere is expensive. Instead of paying art handlers, Harumo and her team rented a truck big enough to haul the crate across the country. The truck towed an RV trailer, which gave Harumo a safe, socially distant place to live while on the road. Planning took several months, and the trip lasted a total of sixteen days on the road, with three weeks spent living as temporary residents of DC.

Once at the work site, Harumo and her team worked cohesively with the architects and contractors to install the artwork for the students—kindergarten through fifth grade—to enjoy. The site's settings seemed similar to other projects Harumo has worked on in the Silicon Valley tech sector; the interior and exterior of campus came equipped with some special perks you’d find at a tech office building. Eco-conscious planning of the school grounds included filtered water refill stations to encourage students to reuse water bottles. Rooftop gardens provide lessons in gardening and an organic food source. There is also a fully equipped gym, digital monitors, and computers for every student.

Additionally, artwork depicting the planet's ecosystems, natural assets, and animals, showcase the earth’s habitat. Vibrant colors were requested to be maximized in her latest series of murals: primary color renderings from blues to reds give a glowing contrast that almost seems three dimensional. Viewing the artwork feels like it is jumping out from the walls.

The staff and the contractors, including Harumo’s team, kept saying how they wished this was their school when they were kids. Harumo’s works were very well received, and there could potentially be a second round of her art installation due the clients' satisfaction and admiration for her on time delivery and making the best of current difficult situations due to the pandemic.

There are many other projects in the works that Harumo cannot discuss at this time, but be on the lookout for more of her art in 2021. This fall, she’ll be focused on her new baby boy. Congratulations to Harumo and Ian!

Photos by JT - Web/ IG @freezeframe_43

POW! WOW! Nepal

Lauren Napolitano @peptalks just wrapped up POW! WOW! Nepal with a team of artists from all over the World, in collaboration with the POW! WOW! World Wide Family.

After visiting and experiencing the event in our beloved City, Lauren knew that POW! WOW! Nepal was something the Koslei School in Kathmandu for underprivileged children could have benefit from. What this family of artists did for the school is truly beyond words. How they interacted with the students is heart warming, moving, and inspirational.

For one week we followed the artists on social media as they immersed themselves into Nepal’s beautiful people and culture. They worked intensely to paint a whole school with the students, and host DIY workshops.

It’s incredibly humbling witnessing such dedication and tribute to what being a giving person is all about.

POW! WOW! World Wide is a family of artists supporting a Public Art movement that brings people together, and contributes to undeserved communities. Many thanks to all the artists that continue to support small organizations that do huge projects with very little.

We will be posting, images, and videos of their experience to share with you all. For more info visit @powwownepal

Supported by @montanacans @montanacans_usa @47brand @monsterenergy @olukai @powwowworldwide

artists: @cryptk @lolo.ys @caratoes @shrineon @imagine876 @peptalks @pro_gress @burtonursaeminoris @pmtattoos @kitrutter @saadhux @artworkofkai @camnepal

📷 by @toesonthegoes @minouye @pravashpdn @pro_gress

Live Painting at Eastridge Center grand re-opening

Juan Carlos Araujo, founder of E7S, had the opportunity to do some live painting at Eastridge Center's grand re-opening. At Entrance C (where Barnes and Noble used to be), you will see the indoor mural he created and the canvases he painted inside the window storefronts. 

Eastridge, being the Nation's largest enclosed shopping mall in the West, was first opened on May 17, 1971 with the original Anchors: Macy's, Liberty House, J. C. Penney, Joseph Magnin Co., and Sears. Many of us who grew up in San Jose has some history connected to this place. If you haven't had the chance, visit Eastridge Center. Aside from the stores, food and activation of various events, they also have 4 murals around the exterior buildings by artists Aaron De La Cruz, Brendan The Blob, Cyrcle and Lila Gemelos. 

Andrew Schoultz new mural in San Jose, CA (April 2015)

Back in April 2015, Andrew Schoultz started work on a new massive mural in San Jose’s Japantown neighborhood. Measuring at 150ft wide by 24 ft tall, Andrew, with friends who came to volunteer, worked over 10 hour days to complete the mural in just 5 days! This is our 11th mural…. part of our E7SWallSJ project.

Much of Andrew’s work is based on the relationship between humans and nature and current political/social issues. It’s really interesting to hear Andrew discuss his views on these things as he gets deep into these issues and really makes you think twice about many of the things people are blind to these days.

Just having the ability to see how he works as an artist by adding layers, colors and textures was an experience of its own. During his time in San Jose, we were able to spend some quality time, taking him to some local arts shows and having him try local eateries.

Many people came throughout the 5 days to check out the mural in person. Some just drove by slowly, admiring the vibrancy and majestic quality to this piece. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, it’s located on 6th and Empire Streets in San Jose’s Japantown. Grab a bite to eat and walk on by to see in person!