Art in Danchi
Outline of our activities in 2011
In 2011, there were six TAP programs. These included Art inDanchi, and Han-nō Han-gei both of which had been launched
the previous year and will be on-going as core projects over
several years. The Kids’ Program, International Exchange
Program and Environmental Programs continued, and a new
project was established; the Art Assistance Program which
supports artists and artistic organizations in and around Toride.
Our two core programs aim to create and develop new values
and life-styles to make living in the suburbs more attractive.
Our project aims and content, however, were reviewed, inresponse to the March 11 earthquake and nuclear emergency inFukushima. Throughout the year, individual participants wereconcerned how best to move forward. The outcome from thelast year’ s activities will be brought to those of 2012.

Han-nō Han-gei

TAPPINO was opened in 2009 and another space ICOIINO + TAPPINO in December
2011 to promote interaction with art in daily life. The TAPPINO site was closed in 2011
and its role passed to the next space. The building itself was made into the artworkCamera TAPPINO! by artist Satō Tokihiro to commemorate its closing. Satō is also theDeputy Production Manager of TAP. The new space ICOIINO + TAPPINO is jointly run
by the complex's residents’ association and local volunteers, aiming to be a space fordifferent generations to get together. It also functions as an oyasumidokoro, a day
centre for the elderly, managed by the Division of Welfare for the Elderly, Toride City.
In another program, the Partner Artist program, artists Fukazawa Takashi, TokuhisaWilliam, Miyata Atsushi + Sasa Moe, and Kitazawa Jun used theICOIINO + TAPPINO site in Toride-Ino apartment complex, forindividual projects and conducting research.
TAP is also redesigning the Ino apartment complex in both aphysical TAP is also redesigning the Ino apartment complex inboth a physical and social sense, proposing alternative uses forthe former TAPPINO site (a joint program with the OpenA) to theUrban Renaissance Agency (UR), and also launching theDanchi (apartment complex) Innovators Project. The team forpromoting this project is composed of members such asarchitects, gardeners, artists, and media-artists, in addition tolocal residents.

This project, directed by artist Iwama Satoshi
aimed at finding a way to live in our future
through thinking and acting communally on the radiation-contaminated ground. Using rented farmland named “Gohyaku-tsubo(literally 1,650m2 area)” as the site for the project, the ground was first measured for radioactive contamination.

Then we conducted decontamination work on a portion of the ground by ourselves. On another site Kamoroom, seminars
were held to study fields other than art, with workshops on food which is directly connected to life. At the end of the fiscal year,
a forum was held bringing together participants of different generations and points of view in the public art gallery Kirari near
Toride station. This project will be on-going as a platform for social innovation, inviting participants from different occupations,of all ages and backgrounds.

Kids’ Program
From the beginning of TAP we have annually held the First Graders’ Art Works toexhibit art by Toride's first graders. Each year has a different theme and all works areexhibited in the same event regardless of their level of quality. This program has twoobjectives: firstly, it is to let the children, who are just on the brink of entering society,feel that their art work can reach others. Secondly, it is to generate non-verbal forms ofcommunication within the local community, which accepts and appreciates thechildren's work.
In 2011 the theme was 'Such seeds, I’ d love to grow.' 804 children painted seeds,
from which a variety of ideas sprouted. In the exhibition site, 'Gallery Tours withArtists' were conducted, in which visitors were able to talk with the artists while looking
at children’ s work. Alongside this was the regular program 'Write a letter to a
Friend’ s Work' in which visitors were encouraged to correspond with the children,and all first graders could receive a letter from visitors.
Also in 2011 a new program was started; a talk event entitled 'Fun things make you
smile: what is play for children? what is art?'. In this event, we discussed therelationship between children and art, with Mr. Harashima Hiroshi, Professor Emeritusof the University of Tokyo, Trustee of the Japanese Society of Child Science as aguest speaker.

Art Assistance program
In response to the increase in the number ofToride-based artists and people who support theseartists and their practice, the City is incorporating art into
its measures and policies aiming to have art take root
and further develop in Toride.
In a new venture, the Art Assistanceprogram, the local
City's '2011 Art Partnership Program, Toride' operated
along with our own program 'Toride Art Relay' supported
the work of eighteen artists and groups based in andaround Toride in terms of finance and public relations. Awide variety of artistic activities took place throughout thearea, including presentations by artists of their work,workshops, participatory art events, and making plans offreebies for individual shops. This initiative to develop theart infrastructure will continue in coming years.

International exchange program
The artist selected in the 2008 Open Call, Satō Miku spent July toSeptember at the Seoksu Art Project in Anyang city, Korea, with which
TAP has had an agreement since 2008. During her residency Satō ran
workshops and an open studio, as well as pursuing her own art practice,In the JENESYS Program, in partnership with the Japan Foundation,
Laura Preston, a young curator from New Zealand, stayed in theToride-Ino Danchi for a month.
Preston interacted with residents at the ICOIINO + TAPPINO site, thelocation of our core program 'Art in Danchi', giving a presentation on her
activity and purpose in visiting Japan. Preston also participated in the'Han-nō Han-gei' forum as a round-table participant. We could share ourconcept and practice of the community-based art project with a young
creator from abroad , who has her own view on TAP.

Environmental program'Gas Tank – Camera Obscura' and 'Spherical Gas Holder– Design Competition'
Taking advantage of a regular open-inspection period conducted every
ten years a spherical gas tank was transformed into an art work byconverting it into a huge camera obscura.
This project was initially planned by Satō Tokihiro, Deputy Production
Manager of TAP and Professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts, andwas realized with the major cooperation of the Higashi-Nihon Gas
Corporation. A special lens was fixed to the top of the gas tank, allowing
light inside. Through this lens, the townscape was reflected onto a sheet
covering the floor of the tank. As the reflection was dependent on good
weather, some visitors unfortunately were not able to see a clear image.
However, just the experience of entering the massive metal space of thegas tank was certainly impressive in and of itself.
In addition, the outer surface of the tank was painted with a design byartist Kijima Maki, winner of the 'Spherical Gas Holder– Design
Competition' held the previous year. The gas tank is now a celebrated
artistic icon in Toride.