Traditions: Ohio Heritage Fellows; 201; Yasue Sakaoka interview, part 5 of 5

Q:

YASUE: I examine it and see if... if it’s really something I like. And sometimes I feel good or ok, this is ok with me. That’s my reaction. Well, because I make art and I am known as an artist and somewhat committed, I enjoy some results, of course, so I enjoy exhibiting, making my art public.

Q:

YASUE: I’m not so sure. I would be doing probably things like this, is not intended for children’s play. That’s one of the things I would enjoy doing more.

Q:

YASUE: I found a possibility working with abstract shapes and with other visual arts elements, transparency, light and dark, space, mass, so they can be very satisfying. You will enjoying seeing the one at Stivers. It’s in plastic, so it does more than paper. It’s transparent.

Q:

YASUE: I am inspired by people who are consistently working with their own medium. And, like Jean, a good friend now, she is always with her teaching material, correcting papers, preparing for lectures with visual materials or doing her work. It’s difficult to get hold of her unless you know exactly when she is free to answer a phone call. Other people inspire me. Sometimes works. Sometimes they’re unreachable. Too big, like David Smith, yea, and Reese Nevelson. She went big. But there are many others who can inspire me with their working habits, respect for their own material.

Q:

YASUE: One thing I’d like to say is that Ohio is very healthy and has the great support system for people who have creative. It includes the Ohio Arts Council, many other councils. If you went out to smaller communities, there is usually a small group promoting fine arts. I don’t think this happens in Virginia where I have lived and taught. And Pennsylvania has very old systems. But, Ohio is really very refreshing and very, very uh, helpful for creative people and I really express my appreciation for their support.

Q:

YASUE: Please come to the (inaudible) I will show my highlights from the eighties. I came to Columbus, Ohio in January one, 1980, yea, with my beetle, with references yea. I couldn’t find a job. Do not resign a tenured job, which I had done. And I could teach in part time in the continuing education. It was surprisingly easy to get off that little part time job. So I came and I started teach. I started (inaudible), yea, I did one uh, semester (inaudible) with the Ohio Dominican. I taught in the capital universities when it was without walls. But all of these are part time works. That’s how things are working today too, yea.

Q:

YASUE: I’m comfortable. It’s healthy. Without some traditions that I c—the ones you find in Virginia, cocktail parties, debutante parties, all kinds of traditions, but really necessary, yea. Ohio is not to make difference in Washington, you know that? Because its approach is very refresh and very unique. Probably many places are vital than with practices and traditions, you know, and this is other things, you know.

(Off camera conversation)

END