LONGSTAY2016

Outline

PARADISE AIR currently seeks an artist or art group who wishes to create work while residing at PARADISE AIR in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, as part of LONGSTAY Program 2016.

PARADISE AIR is an artist-in-residence program created in 2013 to revitalize Matsudo in light of its history as an inn town. During Japan’s Edo Period – while many towns developed under the rule of Feudal Lords and Samurai who worked to expand the Shogunate’s Imperial Fief – Matsudo flourished as an independent city untethered by feudalistic growth. As an inn town, the prosperity of Matsudo stemmed from the foot traffic of the Mitokaido highway, and from the nautical trade that bustled along the Edo River, but, most importantly, Matsudo has long been fabled for exceptional townsfolk. The people of Matsudo remain praised by visitors for their remarkable hospitality and obliging nature.

Program Theme

 

 

The theme “START,” which holds some composite meanings, marks a fresh beginning. In the 4 years since we started the program, we have hosted many artists from various countries and regions. The rewards of our activities are starting to shine like “STARs” in the sky. We hope that the stars of “ART” that you create this year in Matsudo will connect with other stars to form new constellations. This year also marks a new “START” for PARADISE AIR with a new operating structure. We hope you find as many stars as you can in our town, which aims to be a part of the greater constellations of the world. You might discover something completely different or new when you connect with others here.

Feel free to interpret the word “START” to draw your own star map of the people, town, and the present from your point of view.