1,000 bronze cranes made by American sculptor are displayed in Hiroshima
Nov. 4, 2016
by Riho Masuda, Staff Writer
John Tuomisto-Bell, a sculptor from the U.S. state of Arizona, has made molds of paper cranes folded by students at Hakushima Elementary School, located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, and produced 1,000 bronze cranes. An exhibition of these cranes opened on November 3 at the Hiroshima Prefectural Culture Center in Naka Ward. It closes on November 5.
A large sheet of paper, 3 meters long and 6 meters wide, is spread out in the exhibition room in the basement, and 1,000 bronze cranes with a wingspan of about 6 centimeters are scattered on it. Mr. Tuomisto-Bell wants visitors to carefully take in the cranes, which are imbued with the children’s wishes for peace. The artist, too, has incorporated his desire for peace in this work.
Mr. Tuomisto-Bell heard about the story of Sadako Sasaki from his daughter, who studied at Hiroshima Shudo University, and thought of turning paper cranes folded by elementary school students of the A-bombed city into bronze statues. Ayako Imai, 54, an elementary school teacher in Saeki Ward, who viewed the work, said tearfully, “I can sense the feelings of the children who tried so hard to fold their paper cranes, wishing for peace.”
(Originally published on November 4, 2016)
John Tuomisto-Bell, a sculptor from the U.S. state of Arizona, has made molds of paper cranes folded by students at Hakushima Elementary School, located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, and produced 1,000 bronze cranes. An exhibition of these cranes opened on November 3 at the Hiroshima Prefectural Culture Center in Naka Ward. It closes on November 5.
A large sheet of paper, 3 meters long and 6 meters wide, is spread out in the exhibition room in the basement, and 1,000 bronze cranes with a wingspan of about 6 centimeters are scattered on it. Mr. Tuomisto-Bell wants visitors to carefully take in the cranes, which are imbued with the children’s wishes for peace. The artist, too, has incorporated his desire for peace in this work.
Mr. Tuomisto-Bell heard about the story of Sadako Sasaki from his daughter, who studied at Hiroshima Shudo University, and thought of turning paper cranes folded by elementary school students of the A-bombed city into bronze statues. Ayako Imai, 54, an elementary school teacher in Saeki Ward, who viewed the work, said tearfully, “I can sense the feelings of the children who tried so hard to fold their paper cranes, wishing for peace.”
(Originally published on November 4, 2016)
