YAMAGATA, Yamagata Prefecture--Artworks created out of debris by children in disaster-stricken Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, will be on display in Zagarolo, Italy in March.
YAMAGATA, Yamagata Prefecture--Artworks created out of debris by children in disaster-stricken Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, will be on display in Zagarolo, Italy in March.
The project is the brainchild of Yamagata-based artist Tomo Inugai, 32, who set up the charity Watanoha Smile to raise money for children to travel. Inugai hit upon the idea of making art from the rubble when he visited Watanoha Elementary School in Ishinomaki as a volunteer shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck. The school served as an evacuation center at the time.
The children used buckets and pieces of wood to create the bright and colorful works.
The first exhibition, named after the charity, was held in Yamagata in April last year and has been held in 12 other venues, including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
Visitors said it was encouraging to see the exhibits, according to Inugai, who quoted one as saying, “(Through the craft works) I can imagine the children being quite positive, which cheers me up.”
The NPO has received 700,000 yen ($9,067) in donations.
The current exhibition, being held at the Yamagata Manabikan in Yamagata, will run through Jan. 22.
"I hope many people will see the exhibits," Inugai said.
The exhibition in Zagarolo was proposed by a Japanese resident in Italy, who happened to see the exhibition in Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture.
With the full cooperation of the city, an exhibition will be held from March 25 to April 22.
On display will be 70 artworks and 30 photos, including portraits of the children.
The city said it wants to invite 10 of the children while the exhibition is showing.
The NPO seeks around 3 million yen in donations for the children’s travel.
Should you be interested, visit (https://readyfor.jp/projects/watanohaSmile)