Wind Chimes

1991, 48" x 40"
Omoide Collection

In the old days on the streets of Tokyo, the vendors’ songs marked the time of the day.  Natto-uri came in the morning, selling fermented soybeans in thick straw tubes.  By afternoon, Takezao-ya was calling out the virtues of his bamboo laundry poles.  Often he was followed by Medicine Man, whose appearance was heralded by the sound of the metallic drawer handles beating a rhythm against the chest he carried on his back.

Toward evening, the wind-bell vendor came on his tricycle.  The sound of his colorful chimes seemed to cool the air.  The poet Takahama Kyoshi observed:

“From the eves

the peal of chimes filled the air…

the wind is rising.”

I wanted to paint “the peal of chimes” on this canvas.