Art In Suncheon

Though a beautiful city, Suncheon doesn't have a large collection of art galleries in the city proper.  A few can be found near the fashion district, and there are a couple here and there outside of the city.  

My favorite art gallery to visit in Suncheon doesn't look like a gallery, nor is it near the fashion district.  It is located along the Dongcheon, which is the river that cuts through the city.  After the building was erected a few short years ago, I decided to go into the place after taking a long walk on the river walk, because all the signs said that it was a restaurant and a cafe.  I thought I would catch my breath and have something cold to drink.  The art hit me as soon as I walked through the doors.  All along the walls some sort of art can be found.  There were even a couple of small installations, too.

To make a long story bearable, I was able to meet the artist and his wife who own and operate the restaurant/cafe/gallery.  He has done a lot of work both inside and outside of the building.  Once the couple learned that I like photography, they said that they would show me their gallery located downstairs.  It is nice, and the work that is exhibited is very, very nice.  I won't spoil it for you, so you will have to take a look for yourself.

I've taken some of my Korean friends to the gallery, and they have asked me how I found out about it since it isn't obvious.  I replied that I found out about it the same way I learned about many places in this area:  I walk to it, bus to it, or have someone drive me to it, and I start talking to people.

Here are a couple of photographs of the gallery.

Resto Cafe

© Mark Eaton

Resto Cafe II

© Mark Eaton

It is located on the eastern side of the Dongcheon.  If you walk along the river walk, be it northward or southward, you will see it for this simple reason:  the river walk was constructed in such a way that it raises out of the river basin to the front of the building.  And then it drops back into the basin.  You can drive there, of course.

I would ask about seeing the art in the gallery only after the hostess seated me, and only after I ordered coffee or a meal.  It is a nice way for everyone to become familiar with everyone. 

Scenes Along the Dongcheon Part 2

Yesterday afternoon I took a very long and much needed walk along the Dongcheon.  The Dongcheon is a river that flows through the city in which I live, and it feeds into Suncheon Bay.  

I have hiked and biked from my home to Suncheon Bay by traveling along the river a few times; however, at the present time no one is being permitted into the bay area on the Suncheon side.  It is hoped that by preventing anyone from entering the coastal areas of the bay that the A1 Avian Influenza will not gain a foothold and/or not spread to other areas.  Along the trail I hiked yesterday, there was a young man guarding and preventing non-residents from passing the barrier that has been placed across the trail.

These are some of the scenes I found interesting during my walk:

Bird Atop the Machine

© Mark Eaton

The Two Bridges

© Mark Eaton

Perspectives

© Mark Eaton

Road Above the Road

© Mark Eaton

I have yet to grow weary taking in the scenes along the Dongcheon. 

Scenes Along the Dongcheon

The Dongcheon is the river that runs through Suncheon with its final destination being Suncheon Bay.  I have walked and biked to and from the bay starting from my home, which isn't too far from the river itself.  A pleasant trek aided by a nice walking and biking route that runs along the river.

Upstream from Suncheon, farms and other agricultural concerns are found.  This cow and calf captured my attention while I was spending some time upstream.  One of these days I'll make the effort to follow the river into the mountains.

Cow and Calf

© Mark Eaton

Hiding Place

© Mark Eaton