[Monthly Report] February 2024 | 2024.03.05
We would like to report on our activities in February 2024.
1. What I did this month
Continuing from January, we inspected the works and facilities and carried out emergency treatment to prevent further damage.
Architectural and structural experts and Art Front Gallery staff inspected buildings related to the Triennale and considered short-term and long-term repair methods.
We provided first aid to Suzu Theater Museum, Shiosai Restaurant, Kayako Nakashima's work, and Hiraki Sawa's work.
We visited people involved in the Triennale, including those at evacuation centers in the Otani area.
2. Activity report
■Inspection of folk utensils and first aid at Suzu Theater Museum
From February 1st to 2nd, Kiyoshi Kawamura of the National Museum of Japanese History, artist Yoshitaka Nanjo, and staff from Art Front Gallery checked the damage to folk implements and inspected folk implements that were about to fall over. We performed temporary fixing.
■Inspection of works/buildings
From February 9th to 11th, architect Aya Yamagishi, structural designer Genhide Tao, and Art Front Gallery staff will be exhibiting Suzu Theater Museum, Suzu Theater Museum Annex, Kayako Nakashima's works, We inspected Hiraki Sawa's works, Carsten Nicolai's works, Hiki House, and the former Suzu City Lifelong Learning Center (Iida area) buildings, and compiled policies for building repairs.
Inspection of Kayako Nakashima's work
Inspection at Suzu Theater Museum
■Clearing and cleaning of Shiosai Restaurant
From February 10th to 12th, Shiosai Restaurant manager Motoki Kato, NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization, and Art Front Gallery staff cleaned up damaged tableware and overturned cooking utensils inside Shiosai Restaurant. We cleaned up, organized, and prepared for the restaurant's future use.
Before
After
■Cleaning up Hiraki Sawa's work venue and correcting the position of the entrance pillars
On February 12th, Hiraki Sawa's work venue was cleared of the collapsed wall and cleaned, making it ready for use once lifelines are restored. The pillars at the entrance had tilted due to the earthquake and had shifted from the stones, so we hit the pillars with a mallet to correct their position.
After
■First aid for the foundation under the floor of Suzu Theater Museum, etc.
From February 25th to 29th, artists Yoshitaka Nanjo, Yasuhito Suzuki (OBI), Miyuki Takenaka, Sakiko Kawabe of the National Museum of Japanese History, Aya Yamagishi of architectural renovation and spatial design, and NPO Staff from the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization and staff from Art Front Gallery worked to preserve works and folk implements at the Suzu Theater Museum. Osamu Nampo, chairman of Support Suzu General Incorporated Association, and Motoki Kato, manager of Shiosai Restaurant, also came to help.
We checked the state of damage to folk utensils such as gozen meals and agricultural equipment, and collected and separated the scattered folk utensils by section. The folk utensils that survived the fall were reinforced and fixed to prevent them from collapsing due to aftershocks.
Regarding Miyuki Takenaka's work, which had damaged mobiles, etc., we cleaned it up together with the artist.
There was a possibility that the damage would spread due to the misalignment of the concrete between the pillars and the foundation, but we made temporary repairs by hitting the pillars with a mallet and filling in the space between the pillars and the concrete with sand.
Filling sand on a collapsed slope
Cleaning up with Miyuki Takenaka
Collection of folk implements
Folk tools collected and sorted by section
Pillars and foundations displaced by the earthquake
■Fixing shelves and tidying up folk utensils at Suzu Theater Museum Annex
From February 25th to 29th, Ms. Sakiko Kawabe of the National Museum of Japanese History, staff of the NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaboration Organization, and staff of Art Front Gallery fixed shelves that were at risk of falling and fixed shelves that were scattered. We were able to clean up the household utensils and secure the flow of people through the annex.
■Coordination of support activities by Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
On February 9th, Deputy Mayor Kaneda of Suzu City requested cooperation from the Japan Association of Corporate Executives Secretariat regarding the procurement of temporary housing equipment.
On the 16th, Suzu Mayor Izumiya explained the current situation in Suzu City to member companies of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and appealed for support through the corporate hometown tax payment.
On the 27th, Art Front Gallery staff explained the current situation in Suzu City to member companies of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and appealed for support through corporate hometown tax payments.
*Suzu City is requesting support for the following:
▽Life reconstruction
There is no progress in disposing of large amounts of debris and wood chips. Are there any technologies that can be utilized?
There is no prospect of sewage restoration. Is there any technology that can utilize wastewater?
▽Industrial revival
Once there is a prospect of rebuilding one's life, industrial reconstruction will be necessary.
We would like to seek cooperation from companies that have the know-how to take advantage of Suzu City's various species (tourism, education, fishing, agriculture, diatomaceous earth, Suzu ware, alcohol, fallow fields, etc.).
▽Symbol of reconstruction
Looking further ahead, I think we will need a symbol of recovery. It may be a long time from now, but I would like to be able to hold a festival again in Suzu City.
■Fram Kitagawa reports on the situation in Suzu
On February 15th, art director Fram Kitagawa held a conversation with thinker Hiroki Azuma and reported on the current situation and challenges of Suzu.
■Report on art festival/urban development research collaboration project
On February 27th, Art Front Gallery staff gave a report on the current situation and challenges of Suzu City at a study group on art festivals and urban development hosted by sociologist Toshiya Yoshimi.
3. Situation of Suzu
Electricity has been restored to almost all parts of the city. However, water outages continue throughout most of the city. The water treatment plant in Horyu, which serves 90% of the city's population, is now operational, and repairs to the water supply system are underway. It seems that water will reach the distribution reservoir in the Iida area in mid-March.
As for the sewage, there seems to be no prospect of recovery yet.
There are 1,157 people (as of March 5th) at evacuation shelters in the city (7,122 people at peak time [as of January 6th]). There are many people who have been evacuated for the second time and have to leave due to circumstances surrounding the accommodation of their evacuation destinations, and accepting such people seems to be an issue.
Regarding temporary housing, it appears that there were requests for 1,936 units (as of February 29). Construction is currently underway for 879 units (as of March 5th). The temporary multistory housing devised by Shigeru Ban seems to be useful because it allows for effective use of limited land.
Several restaurants, including Robatayaki Asai, Tenzo, and Nizami Coffee, have reopened their doors only on weekends.
4. About activities in March
First aid work for artworks and facilities, which can be carried out mainly by Art Front Gallery staff, has largely been completed. From now on, the work will be carried out by contractors. Since it seems difficult to deal with vendors within Ishikawa Prefecture, we will continue to look for vendors, including those outside the prefecture.
Demolition of residents' homes also seems to be progressing.
In cooperation with Suzu City, we will create a system and environment that will allow us to preserve cultural properties, even if it is a small effort.
From April onwards, requests for support from local residents are expected to increase.
As the number of volunteers, construction workers, and others coming and going will increase, we will also consider creating a place to stay and stay.