On March 17th, we held an opening reception for “Senga Small Works”, an exhibition of small works donated by our members, at Gallery Michi New York. “Senga Small Works”, which also include works from Montreal exhibition, has been extremely successful, and is now rescheduled to continue until mid May, a month longer than originally scheduled.

Gallery Michi New York is actually a hair salon located in Manhattan’s midtown. Its exhibitions, which utilize the hair salon’s vast wall space, have been very successful, receiving positive reactions from the customers. “In some ways, getting favorable opinions from our customers is harder than pleasing art critics,” laughs the owner, Ms. Michi Tahara. “Comparing to my Japanese customers, American customers are more honest and direct in both commending and criticizing art works. They can be pretty blunt,” she says.

“Senga Small Works” at Michi Gallery New York is different from other exhibitions held at more conventional galleries that it provides artists a chance for maximum exposure while offering visitors an opportunity to view art in a relaxed atmosphere. Perhaps we should try this kind of exhibitions more often.

Despite the short notice, the reception was attended by many guests including Michi customers and their friends. As was the case in Montreal, people here too seemed to be most fascinated by expression methods and paper-cutting techniques used in senga. Those who have been away from Japan for a long time complimented that what they see in senga is what they remember of their homeland, and that it brings back that old peaceful feeling.

Helped by the affordability, several small senga works – hanging scrolls being the most popular - were sold during the reception alone.

I’d like to express my sincerest appreciation for everyone at Gallery Michi New York and all my New York friends who made this exhibition a reality.