Artist experiences Arkansas through HS Sister City exchange program
Artist Takuya “Taku” Onozaki experienced a month of living in the U.S. and enjoying Arkansas’ nature by way of the Sister City Artist Exchange program.
An experienced oil painting artist from Hanamaki, Japan, Onozaki participated in several workshops in addition to displaying his work in Hot Springs Village, at Emergent Arts and Arts & The Park throughout April.
“The plein-air workshop was very challenging, but I enjoyed seeing Ouachita lake. Everything seems bigger compared to what I’ve seen from my home. I can’t explain the feeling it brings,” he told The Sentinel-Record through Japanese translator Mayumi Staton.
Onozaki said he will never forget the people who hosted him, a choir concert in the downtown theater and the barbecue courtesy of Dr. Randy Hill.
“I wish I could stay for a whole year. I feel very happy and lucky to have come here,” Onozaki said.
Onozaki is the facilitator at the Runbini Museum of Art, an art facility dedicated to supporting disabled persons in Hanamaki.
“Throughout the world, there are disabled people, but everyone can still be amazed by art,” he said.
During his stay in Hot Springs, he began an 8-by-4-foot abstract oil painting that he will finish in Japan. He said he prefers to work on large canvasses, as he believes the material is high quality and holds a rich history.
One of his three hosts and fellow artist, Gene Sparling described his time with Onozaki as “a barrel of laughs.”
“I only know one word of Japanese, while it was a challenge, I think it was a good enriching experience for both of us. People that really want to communicate don’t need a common language, without it you can still communicate deeply,” Sparling said.
Sparling said he was willing to jump at the opportunity to support the Sister City program.
“I’ve got a beautiful farm and I think Taku
been killed and over 1,800 have been wounded by Israeli fire since the weekly protests began on March 30. The U.N., European Union and rights groups have accused Israel of using excessive force against unarmed protesters.
Israel says it is protecting a sovereign border and accuses Hamas of using the unrest to plan and carry out attacks. Marchers have thrown stones and burned tires at the fence and flown flaming kites over it to try to set Israeli fields on fire.
On Friday, a Palestinian crowd attacked the main cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza, disrupting shipments of cooking fuel, gasoline and building materials, and causing millions of dollars in damage. Israeli officials said it could take weeks or months to repair the crossing.
“Unfortunately, the crossing is closed today and will remain closed until the foreseeable future due to severe damage caused by Palestinian rioters,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman. “It is still unclear how long it will take to fix and replace the necessary parts.”
The Israeli military announced that it bolstered forces on the Gaza border with combat battalions, special units, intelligence forces and snipers. Israeli warplanes also dropped leaflets in Gaza, urging residents to stay far from the fence.
“You deserve a better government. You deserve a better future,” the leaflets said. “Do not approach the security fence nor participate in the Hamas display that is putting you in risk.”
A high-ranking delegation of Gaza’s Hamas rulers headed Sunday to Egypt, amid diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the mass rally. But one of the Hamas participants, Khalil al-Hayya, said there were no breakthroughs and the march would go on as planned Monday.
The army said it was also reinforcing its troops in the West Bank with several combat battalions and intelligence units in case of possible unrest there as well.
Sunday’s celebrations coincided with Israel’s “Jerusalem Day,” the 51st anniversary of what it refers to the city’s “unification” during the 1967 Mideast war.
Israel immediately annexed east Jerusalem — home to the city’s most sensitive Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites — in a move that has not received international recognition. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
In an annual ritual, tens of thousands of Israelis marched through Jerusalem’s Old City to mark the day. Revelers sang, danced and waved Israeli flags.
Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu told his Cabinet that there would be a “series of decisions” to build up Jerusalem, including its contested eastern sector. Shortly after, the government approved construction of a $57 million cable car system that will link west Jerusalem to the Old City.
Although Trump has said his declaration does not set the final borders of the city, his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has been perceived by both Israel and the Palestinians as taking Israel’s side in the most sensitive issue in their conflict. Only two countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, have said they will follow suit. Most of the world maintains embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the Jerusalem issue must first be resolved.
In a reflection of the deep sensitivities, dozens of countries — including Britain, France and Germany — skipped Sunday night’s celebration at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Netanyahu, who frequently clashed with President Barack Obama, has found a welcome partner in Trump. The new administration has lined up solidly behind Netanyahu in his dealings with the Palestinians and delighted him last week when it withdrew from the international nuclear deal with Iran, Obama’s top foreign policy achievement.
Addressing the crowd Sunday evening, Netanyahu said Israelis would be “eternally grateful” for Trump’s decision on Jerusalem.
“Thank you, President Trump, for your bold decision. Thank you for making the alliance between Israel and the United States stronger than ever,” he said.
Netanyahu said Trump’s decision recognized a 3,000-year Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the “truth” that Jerusalem will be Israel’s capital under any future peace deal.
“It’s been the capital of our state for the past 70 years. It will remain our capital for all time,” he said.
Kushner and Ivanka Trump sat in the front row near Netanyahu during the ceremony but did not speak. Netanyahu called their presence a “national and international statement” that “touches our hearts.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Trump was fulfilling a key campaign promise by moving the embassy. “The United States has no greater partner than Israel,” he said.
Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group in the U.S., expressed concern that the embassy move would backfire.
He accused the White House of putting the interests of a small group of hard-liners ahead of the larger interest of promoting peace with the Palestinians.
“Making a move like this removes the U.S. as a credible mediator,” he said.
The Palestinian ambassador to Washington sharply condemned the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in a statement Sunday.
“Tragically, the US administration has chosen to side with Israel’s exclusivist claims over a city that has for centuries been sacred to all faiths,” said Husam Zomlot.