Rica Takashima's Et Cetera : El Barrio Comes in All Colors Shapes and Sizes

Something that is ordinary to one person can be a strange practice to others. At the same time, that strange practice can be exciting to yet another. Rica wants to express the differences between cultures as something fun and exciting, rather than as creating conflict and friction.

In 1995, Rica started drawing the semi-autobiographical Manga portraying everyday lives of lesbians, in Japan’s premier lesbian magazine at that time. She struggled with her sexuality since her young age, but there were no movies/novels with themed positive lesbian stories even in 1980s. Her questions towards traditional Japanese patriarchal family values and discrimination against LGBT motivated her to start to draw conceptual Manga to public. Her project Manga book was published in 2003 and 2012 in English and Japanese, and Italian version in 2011. After she immigrated to the US with her family in 2008, she collaborates her work with Pride March, NewFEST LGBT film festival, and other diverse organizations.

She also created manga illustrations of We Can Do It! series, which encourages women in diversity.

Manga sculpture, El Barrio Comes All Colors, Shapes and Sizes was funded by Flow15, Randall’s Island park alliance, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, and Made Event 2015

Rica, Miho and Meechan Cat was awarded as Demystifying NFTs by Technology Gap and New York Foundation for the Arts, 2022

Her interactive public installation Aliens in New York has been supported by New York Foundation for the Arts since 2013 which Rica started in Tokyo Harajuku open street since 1994.(The name at the time was Aozora Art/Blue Sky Art)

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Monday, February 22, 2016

Women in Comics group art show

I participate in Women in Comics group art show

at Medialia Rack andHamper Gallery.

If you missed to see my sculptures,

ElBarrio Comes in All Colors, Shapes and Sizes

last year,

It is a good chance to see this documentary and brand new pieces of

Young Lord Boy and Girl.

Also you can get the DIY paper sculpture that is sold only at Bronx Museum Shop.

The group art show includes other 16 cartoon artists’ original works.

The Opening party will be on 27^th 4-7pm.

I will be waiting for you!

FROM PANEL TO PANEL: OUR VOICES

February 20 - April 23 Wed-Sat, 12-6pm

335 W. 38th St., 4th Fl.

(bet. 8th & 9th Aves.)

TEL: 212-971-0953

www.medialiagallery.com

Monday, November 30, 2015

Please choose “Aliens in New York” art project for #GivingTuesday !

Hello.

Please choose “Aliens in New York” art project for #GivingTuesday with a tax-deductible donation!

I am working on writing Manga report of my art project “Aliens in New York” 2015.

The Manga story will be continued from last year and 18-25 colored pages. I will distribute the pdf Manga to people who made $3＋donation during 2015 calendar year. It is a rare chance to read Rica's story Manga, who has continued a strip panel comic at Weekly Japion Paper for 12 years!

The last year's fun Manga report is here.

http://www.aozoraart.com/pdf/AliensNY_report2014.pdf

The art project is supported by NYFA, New York Foundation for the Arts, thus your donation is tax deductible. (Only in the USA, sorry) All contribution will be used to the art project. For instance, I accomplished this year’s challenge with creating four special pedestals, which was my first step to develop my art project into a universally inclusive design. Now, it is possible for small children and wheelchair bound people to use the sculptures easily and safely without any assistance from the museum’s staff. Your warm support made this possible.

Please make a donation on the link of NYFA below. You'll see an orange button to a donation page.

http://goo.gl/XX2wpZ

Plus, if you make a $20＋donation, you will get one DIY paper sculptures kit by mail. This is a 1/20 model of actual woman sculpture of El Barrio Comes in All Colors, Shapes and Sizes, that I created for Flow15 outdoor art project at Randall’s Island, New York. Each kit has my sign and serial number. You’ll love this! The actual sculpture was mentioned as Best Public Art 2015 summer in NYC at many websites.

“Aliens in New York” project is an audience participatory public art which I started the art style in Harajuku Tokyo since 1994. I have poured my art life to the project. The aim is to provide art experience to community, being and imagine transforming to other people using Peekaboo-board art devices, promoting mutual understandings among different ethnicities, religions, races, genders, and other social standings, and making better life, place and future.

119 people participated to four time workshops, and more than 5000 people enjoyed the Aliens in New York art project, and 10 volunteer staff worked with me in 2015. Please give me more opportunity to distribute the art project to many people with your support.

Let's make better future with Arts!

Rica Takashima

Saturday, October 31, 2015

The last tour of FLOW.15

Hello.

I have one art exhibition in NYC right now, and it is closing on middle of November.

Group of sculptures, named El Barrio Comes in All Colors, Shapes and Sizes, is placed on Randal’s Island, as a part of FLOW.15 out door art show.

My blog of Flowis here.

You can read some Manga of behind story of the sculptures.

The last FLOW.15 Tour will be held on Friday November 6, 4pm.

I am thinking of a very special thing on that day.

Please swing by the tour.

I know the time, 4pm, is early and not easy to come for general people, but I will be staying there until 6pm. I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Rica