| The blank white walls of
the gallery were like a giant canvas, anticipating
the artist’s inspired strokes. They exuded
possibility, but they also echoed a foreboding
reminder of the challenge that lied ahead and
the pressure of last minute doubts. Did we
have enough art to fill this space? Had we
arranged the walls in the best way? Were we
going to be able to finish setting up the gallery
in an afternoon?
 For the 2004 JAGS committee, this was the
moment of truth. In a few hours we would
discover if all our planning and negotiation
had brought us to the point where we needed
to be. Did we have enough to turn the Changing
Perspectives Art Exhibition of our meetings,
letters, plans and posters, into a reality?
JAGS is the catchy acronym used for the
JET Art Group of Shimane, a group of volunteers
who are participants of the JET Programme
(assistant teachers, coordinators of international
relations, and sports advisors contracted
to organizations and schools to teach English
and promote internationalization). This year’s
committee included eleven members from seven
countries who worked from December 2003 to
bring “Changing Perspectives,” an exhibition
of art by foreigners living in Shimane, to
the Shimane Art Museum.
“Changing Perspectives” began in 2002, the
brainchild of a very creative and enthusiastic
assistant language teacher, Paula Black.
The aim was to provide an avenue for all
foreigners living in Shimane (not just JET
participants) to express their perspective
of Shimane through art, and in doing so,
provide locals with an opportunity to view
their prefecture and country through a foreigner’s
eyes.
 This year marked the third exhibition for
“Changing Perspectives;” however, it was
a first to be showcased by the Shimane Art
Museum, a serene and respected place located
on the shores of Lake Shinji in Matsue. Securing
this venue represented a great milestone
for the JAGS committee, for it has an impressive
permanent exhibition of both Japanese and
western art, including works by Monet and
Gauguin. Yet, it also amplified our apprehensions:
could the artwork of “Changing Perspectives”
compete with the masters?
The white walls waited as we laid each piece
of art out on the gallery floor. One by one,
the works emerged from their bags or boxes,
and, one by one, our last-minute anxieties
faded. Each work had its own creative power;
a unique life of its own breathed by its
creator. Allocating each work to a particular
place in the gallery, JAGS members and some
very helpful volunteers fell naturally into
their roles. With our experience ranging
from plenty to none whatsoever, many of us
found ourselves learning from each other
and from situations as they arose.
Almost seven hours later, the house lights
came down and the spotlights came on?a dress
rehearsal for the 12-day performance that
would begin the following day. About 110
exhibits from 30 individuals had, somewhat
miraculously, found their perfect space.
The committee were in awe at the powerful
creative statement that had been constructed.
 In over two weeks, just over 1300 people
visited “Changing Perspectives.” While many
people came because they had seen media coverage
on television or in the newspapers, or had
a connection with the international scene
in Shimane, many visitors also just happened
to wander by our exhibition and become enticed
by the pleas of JAGS members to “take a closer
look.” Such visitors were never disappointed
by their chance encounter with “Changing
Perspectives.” They emerged from the gallery
beaming, some taking the time to talk to
us in depth about the works of art that particularly
moved them.
Ms. Black, who now works in the International
Students department of a tertiary education
school in Melbourne, Australia, said, “It
is fantastic that the exhibition has been
able to continue with each new year of the
JET program. It serves as a great opportunity
to link the thinking of foreigners in Shimane
to Japanese people and share their experiences.
I hope that the exhibition continues for
many years to come.
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