The following photograph rich article features scenes that Takeshi Yamada sees when he goes to shop for groceries in Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York. All the photographs featured here were taken by Yamada unless noted. For years numerous films, TV news segments, DVD, and Youtube clips produced in American and Canada have featured the eccentric life of Yamada in Coney Island. This manuscript was produced by Dr. Eriko N. Bond, noted art critic and book author in New York City, as told by Yamada.

JOURNEY TO THE GROCERY STORE

Coney Island, summer 2007

By Takeshi Yamada and Dr. Eriko N. Bond

Part 1

Takeshi Yamada stands in front of his house wearing his signature artist’s ensemble

consisting of a black tuxedo and bow tie.  For Yamada, the tuxedo is the timeless

artist’s attire, and he wears a tuxedo every day - even when he goes grocery

shopping or beach combing with Seara, his pet sea rabbit.  The fishing net,

French beret and 5-dozen New Orleans Mardi Gras beads are optional.  

(Photo credit Joanna Ebenstein, April 7, 2007.)

In the summer of 2000, internationally famed, award winning artist and educator Takeshi Yamada moved to the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, New York, from downtown Chicago, where he had lived for 13 years. He was one of the most active artists in Chicago, where he also ran his own fine art gallery, the Yamada Art Center, to exhibit the artworks of like-minded unique artists. At the time he had over 400 art exhibitions internationally, and had taught/lectured at over 30 educational institutions internationally. Yamada had also won many dozens of prestigious awards and international recognitions including the “Key to the City”, “Who’s Who in America”, “One Thousand Great Americans”, “The Worldwide Honours List”, and “2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century”. Moving to New York City was truly a drastic change in his creative life and career - and he was ready for it.

In 2002, Yamada purchased a 2-story and 3-bedroom house that was to be his residence and art production studio, located only one block from the Coney Island - Stillwell Avenue subway station in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York. Incidentally, Yamada’s house is right across from the lost Dreamland Amusement Park.

It is said that if the Steeplechase amusement park represented fun and sexuality, and the

Luna park was the juxtaposition of art and youth, that Dreamland (1904-1911)

 was the Bible brought to Brooklyn with hints of showmanship.

Yamada finds the Coney Island area anthropologically and geopolitically quite fascinating compared to the other places he has lived - Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States. The following photographs capture the scenes that he sees on his way to the local big supermarket from his house in Coney Island. WHAT YOU SEE HERE MAY BLOW YOUR MIND.

The next door down from the house of Takeshi Yamada is the “Riviera”. It is a palace-like upscale banquet hall for wedding ceremonies and receptions. It is one of the largest banquet halls in New York City. During the busy summer season, grand scale receptions are held every weekend. Many fancy stretch limousines and classic cars can be seen in front of the Riviera - and Yamada’s house - at the intersection of Stillwell Avenue and Neptune Avenue.  (September 7, 2007.)

This auto shop, located on Neptune Avenue, right across the street from Yamada’s house, features a hand-painted old sign with a blond mermaid in a strapless bikini for modesty. She can be seen at all times from the window of his house. (August 29, 2007)

In the middle of nowhere, this mysterious store suddenly appears for no particular reason. (OK - pigeons are said to be released during wedding ceremonies at the Riviera.) The owner of Neptune Pigeon Supply also owns the auto body shop the next door down. Yamada said “they sell only pigeon feed and not bird taxidermy artworks there, sadly.” (September 5, 2007)

Hand Car Wash business at the corner of Neptune Avenue and Cropsey Avenue. This is one of the largest automobile shops in the area. This image is the “Cyclone” roller coaster, currently in operation at the Astroland Amusement Park in Coney Island. (The actual Cyclone roller coaster is only 10 minutes walking distance from Yamada’s house.) This shop has eight large murals similar to this. They are all hand-painted airbrush paintings. Mural 1 of 8. (September 9, 2007)

This image is of the “Wonder Wheel”, currently in operation at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in Coney Island.  (The actual Wonder Wheel is only 10 minutes walking distance from Yamada’s house.) Mural 2 of 8. (September 9, 2007)

Coney Island lighthouse, mural 3 of 8. (September 9, 2007)