Something of a modern Renaissance man, Jesse Schlesinger has a plethora of artistic passions, from sculpture and woodworking to architecture, interior design, drawing and photography. A second-generation carpenter with a degree in Art, his work and career focus on an underlying theme of “place,” exploring how the natural environment, architecture and historical precedent contribute to experience and understanding. His longtime involvement with a small farm in Santa Cruz, California is also an important influence in his work.
A two-time recipient of JUSFC’s Creative Artist Grant program, Jesse met his 2020 project partner Masayo Funakoshi during his first visit to Japan in 2013; they formed a fast friendship based on their shared creative interests and many mutual friends and colleagues. After initially studying sculpture at the Pratt Institute, Masayo switched to culinary school, then trained in the kitchen of New York’s renowned Blue Hill Restaurant. She traveled to Europe and regions of Asia to further explore food culture, then served as chef on an Australian yacht and for an established hotel in Bali. In May 2018, Masayo opened her own studio, tea salon and private restaurant Farmoon in Kyoto.
In his proposal for the 2020 U.S.-Japan Creative Artists Fellowship Program (NichiBei Artists), Jesse sought to explore the idea of sustainability through the lens of food and agriculture. The project would also highlight the importance of local, small-scale economies by focusing on traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Masayo and he planned to visit towns throughout Japan, learning from and collaborating with local farmers, cooks and craftspeople, eventually sharing their experiences through a temporary, experimental and functional restaurant, presented within an architectural installation.
Earlier this year Jesse visited Japan and spent several weeks with Masayo traveling, meeting with potential partners and further developing the project. “Looking back at my calendar from the three weeks I spent in Japan, every day was packed with meetings, travel and exploration related to our project development,” he recalls. “Masayo and I worked well together and learned a great deal about each other during this focused time: from ideas and philosophies to communication patterns and language, to habits, inclinations and hopes.”
“We made great progress in developing our project goals and ambitions as well as format and intent, gradually realizing that the scope may well extend for years and across borders, potentially including similar undertakings in the U.S. and elsewhere. It was exciting to recognize we were at the beginning of a collaboration that we feel has such tremendous potential.”
The pair traveled from Tokyo to Saga Prefecture and explored Arita, a town with a profound history in Japanese ceramics. They then traveled to Unzen, where they were hosted by the owner of a wonderful vegetable stand specializing in local ingredients and agricultural products. He introduced them to two local farmers, one in particular who is renowned in Japan for seed saving with a focus on heirloom varieties of vegetables.
They cooked with geothermal steam in Unzen and Beppu for the first time, which Masayo hopes to incorporate into their project . They also traveled to Kyoto, Osaka, and the Okinawan cities of Naha and Nakijin, each with unique histories and craftspeople.
“Everywhere we went, we received the most warm, generous hospitality,” Jesse says. “It was also wonderful to attend the JUSFC reception at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo in February, and to meet the other U.S.-Japan artistic pairs and JUSFC and NEA representatives. It was special to meet them in person after all this time communicating remotely, and in appreciation for all the amazing opportunities they’ve made possible.”
“In light of the changing landscape caused by the pandemic, I think the key for us NicheBei artists will be adaptation,” Jesse adds. “Travel and personal engagement were going to be a big part of our project, so we are discussing the new reality for those plans.”
For now Jesse and Masayo wait until it is safe for him to travel to Japan again, and to travel comfortably within the country and interact with others as the project proposes. “I’m quite optimistic that our project — with its focus on environmental and economic sustainability, small-scale agriculture, local crafts, artisans and small businesses — will be timely in highlighting issues whose importance has become even more critical during this unprecedented time.”
Follow Jesse Schlesinger on Instagram, and Masayo Funakoshi on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about JUSFC’s Creative Artists Program and Grants, visit our website here. Please also follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates on our NichiBei Creative Artists and other programs.