- J
The Plan
Hello! My name is Stephen and I am an artist/game designer living in Brooklyn, NY. I lived on the small island of Okinawa from 1986-1989 and have been wanting to return my entire adult life.
Although my time there was short, it was incredibly formative.
I am raising funds to travel back to Okinawa for a month long, self designed artistic residence. I want to explore the island, immerse in its culture and document the experience through observational drawing and painting. Later in the year, I will compile this artwork into a book titled "Okinawan Odyssey".
I am planning to visit Okinawa for a month in March 2019. I would like to a rent a car and an air bnb for the month I am staying. The island itself is very small and easily navigable by car. Driving from one end to the other takes about three hours!
The Backstory
As an Air Force officer, my father was assigned to Kadena Air Force base in 1985.
We lived off base for the first year when we moved. It was a small apartment in a tiny Japanese village surrounded by sugarcane fields. My sister and I would walk to the local convenience store and spend a handful of yen on unfamiliar Japanese candy and treats.
My mother worked off base for a Japanese art dealer named Akira Kanda who specialized in woodblock prints. I occasionally spent a day with her at her gallery, absorbing the astounding work of artists like Toshi Yoshida and Hiroto Norikane. I was so taken by the prints, I'd often make drawings and notes for the artists.
These experiences really cemented my aesthetics at a very early age. I've been obsessed with Japanese woodblock prints and culture ever since.
Because of the exotic nature of the country and my young age, my memories of Okinawa have always felt encapsulated in time and shrouded in an unexplained mysticism. Despite the passing of time, I remember my life on the island with vivid clarity. Whenever I dream of returning, the feeling is akin to a sort of spiritual pilgrimage; A return to an impossibly distant home.
"Trucks of Redhook" a digital painting I made in 2017. I am hoping to create a body of work in this style based on the landscapes of Okinawa!
The Costs
Okinawa is halfway around the earth and comes with a significant price tag. I've done a fair amount of research and here's my estimated itemized budget:
$800 - Flight and travel between NYC and Okinawa
$1000 - Rental car for the month
$800 - Room and board for the month
$900 - Food and travel expenses
How can you help?
This trip means everything to me. I've been planning it for more than 10 years now and life is just too short to wait any longer. I am incredibly hopeful that I will reach my fundraising goal (or surpass it!).
Any amount you wish to donate is helpful and endlessly appreciated. A donation of $25 or more is particularly helpful but, please, donate what you want/can.
Will I get a reward for my donation?
Yes! If you donated an amount of $25 or more, you will receive a signed print featuring artwork from the trip.
If you donate $100 or more you will receive a set of three prints!
Thank you!
Hello! My name is Stephen and I am an artist/game designer living in Brooklyn, NY. I lived on the small island of Okinawa from 1986-1989 and have been wanting to return my entire adult life.
Although my time there was short, it was incredibly formative.
I am raising funds to travel back to Okinawa for a month long, self designed artistic residence. I want to explore the island, immerse in its culture and document the experience through observational drawing and painting. Later in the year, I will compile this artwork into a book titled "Okinawan Odyssey".
I am planning to visit Okinawa for a month in March 2019. I would like to a rent a car and an air bnb for the month I am staying. The island itself is very small and easily navigable by car. Driving from one end to the other takes about three hours!
The Backstory
As an Air Force officer, my father was assigned to Kadena Air Force base in 1985.
We lived off base for the first year when we moved. It was a small apartment in a tiny Japanese village surrounded by sugarcane fields. My sister and I would walk to the local convenience store and spend a handful of yen on unfamiliar Japanese candy and treats.
My mother worked off base for a Japanese art dealer named Akira Kanda who specialized in woodblock prints. I occasionally spent a day with her at her gallery, absorbing the astounding work of artists like Toshi Yoshida and Hiroto Norikane. I was so taken by the prints, I'd often make drawings and notes for the artists.
These experiences really cemented my aesthetics at a very early age. I've been obsessed with Japanese woodblock prints and culture ever since.
Because of the exotic nature of the country and my young age, my memories of Okinawa have always felt encapsulated in time and shrouded in an unexplained mysticism. Despite the passing of time, I remember my life on the island with vivid clarity. Whenever I dream of returning, the feeling is akin to a sort of spiritual pilgrimage; A return to an impossibly distant home.
"Trucks of Redhook" a digital painting I made in 2017. I am hoping to create a body of work in this style based on the landscapes of Okinawa!The Costs
Okinawa is halfway around the earth and comes with a significant price tag. I've done a fair amount of research and here's my estimated itemized budget:
$800 - Flight and travel between NYC and Okinawa
$1000 - Rental car for the month
$800 - Room and board for the month
$900 - Food and travel expenses
How can you help?
This trip means everything to me. I've been planning it for more than 10 years now and life is just too short to wait any longer. I am incredibly hopeful that I will reach my fundraising goal (or surpass it!).
Any amount you wish to donate is helpful and endlessly appreciated. A donation of $25 or more is particularly helpful but, please, donate what you want/can.
Will I get a reward for my donation?
Yes! If you donated an amount of $25 or more, you will receive a signed print featuring artwork from the trip.
If you donate $100 or more you will receive a set of three prints!
Thank you!