Big Mural
Workshop in Higashi Kurume, Japan
21 - 23 July 1999
SHINHO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ART JAPAN
"KIDS' GUERNICA" by ART JAPAN started in July 21 at the gym of Higashi-kurume Daiku Municipal Elementary School in Tokyo. Coordinator was Ms. HOSODA Kazuko of the school. This image rose up from the sketch of trees around the school yard in art class. At that time, children seemed to be enchanted by the trees and they naturally started wondering their own lives.
The tree in the center was originally a cherry tree and transformed into a wondeful life tree with various flowers and leaves by our imagination. Miya happened to find a fish-shaped knot on a trunk through the woods. We named the knoted tree a Soul Tree because it had already died. Soon after, we heard a tragedy that the fish could no longer live in the ditch because of the pollution and we decided show our regret.
A gurdian diety for the spirits of miscarried children is in front of a temple. Several decades ago or more, people sometimes suffered from famine and some fetus were miscarried or newly born babies died. We added cheerful children and parents around it.The trees and pond in the garden always heal us and let us dream. This is because we named it Healing Tree.
"Beautiful cherry bloosom, we enjoy eating it after falling. We live in a flower country." This is a haiku poem by Mayumi which made us realize the existance of other creatures around us. Thus, we finished our mural to show the happiness of a peaceful world of various creatures living together.

ORGANISER OF WORKSHOP
HOSODA Kazuko (Higashi-kurume 9th Municipal Elementary school)
ITO Yasuo
TEACHER

HOSODA Kazuko (Higashi-kurume 9th Municipal Elementary school)
TAKIZAWA Ayako (Higashi-kurume 5th Municipal Elementary school)

SAPORTED BY:
SHINHO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Higashi-kurume 9th Municipal Elementary school

HIRANO Miyo
TANBA Fumie
OKAZAKI Yukiyo
IWASAKI Mikako
HAYASHI Kasuyo
NAKANO Yumiko

PANASONIC


Children:
NORIKO Hirano, 14 TANBA Wakae, 14 NAKANO Satoko, 13 OKAZAKI Haruna, 14 IWASAKI Nanase, 13 HAYASHI Noriko, 13 TANAKA Ayako, 14 OKUNO Sakurako, 14 TANAKA Miya, 13 MATSUI , 14 Miyako, 13 OZAWA Midori, 14 INOUE Midori, 14 SAKAI Akiko, 13 KANEKO Erika, 13 FUJIWARA Yui, 13 SHITAKA Aya, 13 KANENO Hiroko, 13 IMAI Misaki, 13 TUCHIDA Mayumi, 13 KOJIMA Mami, 14 TAKIDA Asako, 13