Upcoming Artist-in-Residence Programs in Tokyo and Aomori

Tokyo Wonder Site and Aomori Contemporary Art Centre are both calling for applications for upcoming artist-in-residence programs.

TWS’s International Creator Residency program, a three-month residency from January to March 2011, is open to practitioners, researchers and curators working in a broad range of fields encompassing visual art, architecture, design, video, music and performing arts. Based in Tokyo’s happening Aoyama district, the two creators selected will be expected to “perform new creative activities based on … subjects which are [at the] core of our projects such as ‘Art and Environment,’ ‘Cultural diversity and the activities of New Art Centres’ or ‘Possibilities of collaboration.’” The deadline for applications is May 31, 2010. Download the application package here.

Although perched way up on the northern tip of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Aomori Contemporary Art Centre’s location far from the country’s major metropolitan hubs hasn’t seemed to do it any harm. The Centre itself was designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando and its buildings are described intriguingly on the Centre’s website as being “buried deep inside the surrounding forest.” The Japan Foundation’s Japanese Artist-in-Residency website gives a nice outline of the Centre, its programs and the local area.

ACAC’s 2010 autumn residency is based on the theme of “surprise” or “wonder” (“bikkuri” in Japanese) and the five artists selected will be expected to address the theme in the group exhibition held at the end of the roughly two-month period, which starts September 13 and finishes November 26 this year. Applications must be received by May 28, 2010. The application guidelines and form can be downloaded here.

art, art, art

ART FAIR TOKYO, Japan’s largest art fair, is on again this weekend at Tokyo International Forum in Marunouchi. This year, 138 galleries will be displaying around 3,000 artworks, many of which will be available for sale. If that isn’t enough to wear you out, there are also a couple of seminars and some guided tours. The excitement kicks off tonight with a special guest/press preview and continues for the next three days, ending on Sunday the 4th. Tickets are 1,200 yen pre-purchase or 1,500 yen at the door. Get more information here.

Also this weekend is a new event with the slightly misleading moniker ART FAIR FREE. Although considerably smaller than ART FAIR TOKYO, this group exhibition offers a fun alternative to the earnest sales-driven atmosphere of its bigger, much sweatier cousin. Part silent auction, part swap meet, ART FAIR FREE gives the financially challenged a chance to get in on the game by way of a barter system in which would-be buyers offer stuff for art. Not to mention simultaneously doing away with that pesky “first-in-best-dressed” rule AND giving you the chance to clean out your closet.

Here’s how it works: 55 artists will contribute works. If you spot one you really, desperately can’t live without, you can request a special (yes, special) email address where you can write to the artist, proposing a trade. If the artist wants what you’re offering more than any of the other offers they receive, you get the artwork and the artist gets that brand new exercise machine you bought two years ago and still haven’t unwrapped.

ART FAIR FREE will be held at VACANT in Harajuku from Friday, April 2 to Sunday, April 4. The successful bidders will be announced at a party on Sunday night. Entry to the exhibition is 1,000 yen. Click here for more.