Toshi Makihara

• July 2008:
  James Fuhrman: Contemplative Spaces
  
  
  
  The sound performance at Michener Art Museum was successful. It was quite challenging because the performance took place outdoor, and I performed three sculptures.

• July 2008:
  OYWPP (One Year Wissahickon Park Project) on YouTube
  
  
  
  Merian Soto and her dance company, Performance Practice had performed 16 outdoor performances in the beautiful Wissahickon Park (Oct 2007 - June 2008). Some video clips are uploaded on YouTube. The URL is http://jp.youtube.com/oywpp.

• July 2008:
  James Fuhrman: Contemplative Spaces
  
  
  
  at Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown PA (215) 340-9800
  A sound performance (7/18, 7PM) featuring Toshi Makihara and large outdoor sculptures by James Fuhrman. Rather than using the sculpture as a musical instrument, Makihara coexists with it and supports its sounds to arise from within. Makihara tries to let itself speak its own story. The The previous performance (November 2007) can now be seen on YouTube. The photos of the performance are here. Exhibition: 7/18/08-10/26/08

• May 2008:
  Ausdruckstanz - Inprints In Motion
  
  
  
  at CEC Meetinghouse Theater, 3500 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia. Reservations: (215) 438-2744
  Ausdruckstanz / Imprints in Motion presents the premier of "Physiognomy of the Spirit," directed and choreographed by Brigitta Herrmann. Live music by Toshi Makihara. Participating dancers include Kristin Narcowich, Rebecca Patek, Josie Smith, Zornista Stoyanova, Emily Sweeney, Sheila Zagar, and the Group Motion workshop community dancers Kathie Brown, Elizabeth Finestone, Vickie Seitchick, Nina Sherak and Suzanne Wright.

• March 2008:
  New CD, "WE NEED YOU" released by Public Eyesore
  
  
  
  Public Eyesore released a new CD titled "WE NEED YOU" featuring the trio consisting of John Dikeman (tenor saxophone), Jon Barrios (bass), and myself (percussion). The music was recorded in june 2006 at a concert in Philadelphia. I used 1-drum-1-cymbal set. An MP3 file is available for download here.

• February 2008:
  Toshi Makihara (sound performance) on YouTube
  
  
  
  The sound performance (1/11/2008, Philadelphia) featuring myself and a large wooden sculpture by James Fuhrman can now be seen on YouTube. The URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQDNWsJLnkA The photos of the performance are here.

• February 2008:
  Japanese Blog
  I opened my Japanese Blog Site. Unfortunately, it is in Japanese only. The address is at http://toshimakihara.blogspot.com.

• February 2008:
  Tap, Jazz, Improvisation at Rutgers-Camden Jazz Festival
  featuring Alexandria Bradley (tap dance), Zornitsa Stoyanova (dance), Khary Shaheed (percussion), Toshi Makihara and others TBA
  
  
  
  Free Admission, Saturday 2/23, 1-4PM at Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts: Rutgers-Camden Jazz Festival presents an exciting interdisciprinally performance featuring dancers and musicians from various backgrounds. The performance will feature the tap master Alexandria Bradley, the Modern choreographer / dancer Zornista Stoyanova, the hand percussion virtuoso Khary Shaheed, and myself also on percussion. The performance will span from traditional Jazz Tap to experimental improvisation with a lot of powerful rhythum of drums and percussion.

• January 2008:
  Merian Soto: One Year Wissahickon Park Project
  
  
  
  Philadelphia PA: The winter cycle of the One Year Wissahickon Park Project will begin on Sunday January 27 at 10:30 AM at The Livezy Waterfall just south of Valley Green Inn off of Forbidden Drive. The performance will feature the dancers, Danielle Kinne, Shavon Norris, Jumatatu Poe, Olive Prince and Noemi Segarra, and the musician Toshi Makihara. Depending on the weather the performance will go from 30 to 45 minutes rain or shine. Cancellations only in extreme weather. Please check the Project Home Page for the updated information.

• January 2008:
  James Fuhrman (sculpture) - Toshi Makihara (sound performance)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Friday 1/11, 7PM at Gershman Y Galleries, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia 215-446-3027
  A sound performance featuring myself and a large wooden sculpture by James Fuhrman. I presented a sound performance using James Fuhrman's large sculpture as the sound source. This was an amazing experience for me. Rather than using the sculpture as a musical instrument, I tried to be with it. I tried to let itself speak its own story. And during the performance, I tried not to compete with the enormous presence of the sculupture. The video will be uploaded on YouTube soon. More photos are here.