Exhibitions:
1 work chosen for exhibition in New York Society of Illustrators Annual Student Exhibition. 1982
2 works chosen for exhibition in New York Society of Illustrators Annual Student Exhibition. 1983
NAGOYA ARTS FESTIVAL. 5 works exhibited. Organized and implemented a community wide arts festival with exhibits including paintings, photos, performance art, video and media from the community. Nagoya, Japan. 2012
ABUNDANCE IN LOSS. 4 works displayed in a collaborative exhibition on the theme of human dignity and worth. New Delhi, India 2016
CATS. 7 works exhibited (5 pictures, 2 sculptures) exhibited. Collaborative exhibition in downtown Nagoya, Japan with the Tsunagatai Art Group 2016
IN-BETWEEN. 3 works exhibited in a collaborative exhibition on the theme of transition and the plight of refugees in Germany. Berlin, Germany 2017
THE COLOR OF SKY AND SEA. 6 works exhibited. Collaborative exhibition in Downtown Nagoya, Japan with the Tsunagatai Art Group. 2017
UNFOLDING. 21 photographs, quotes and 100 Japanese paper umbrellas installation. Solo exhibition at the Aichi Cultural Center in downtown Nagoya, Japan. The theme of the exhibition was brokenness, vulnerability and the beauty of community. 2017
GOD’S STORY. 5 works exhibited. Organized and implemented a community wide exhibition. This exhibition included over 200 paintings, sculptures, and all art mediums examining the themes of: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. 2018
Peter Bakelaar
My Story:
Peter was always interested in art. He graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Illustration. He became a graphic designer and worked for an advertising agency. He and his family moved to Japan in 1990 with Mission to The World to help churches grow and be a positive influence in Japan.
Over the last 10 years Peter was encouraged to explore using his art background and talents in a more expressive way in Japan. Through many talks, discussions and reading books, ideas started to form.
Peter attended four art residencies. Two were in India, one in Berlin and one in Cuba. Through these residencies, Peter saw art used to give a voice to people in society that had no voice. Peter saw art impacting communities and engaging people in producing beauty and excitedly sharing common interests. Two venues (Studio Tsunagaru, Gallery nani) where eventually opened that are devoted to showcasing beauty, creatively addressing social issues, providing a place for collaboration and open dialog, and developing residencies devoted to expanding world views and mentoring artists in excellence.
