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The Workshop Location The Pine Grove consists of 60 odd pine trees; a lovely perch above the city, in harmony with the sea below. The main building within the Pine Grove was built during WWII by the Japanese, in 1942 and 1943. The Japanese built it for the Southern Pacific theater of war. Originally the building served as Naval Headquarters. The Japanese Navy Company 303 occupied Pine Grove. Even recently, a few soldiers from Company 303 have returned to seek out their former place of duty. When they saw the Pine Trees they were deeply moved. In 1947 The Pine Grove was handed over to the R. O.C. Army. At that time the facilities became an American soldiers’ leisure center. When American and Taiwanese relationships became frosty in the 1960s, the buildings and Pine Grove fell into a period of disuse and decay. |
In July and August of 2000, artists in Hualien
(The Hualien Cultural Heritage Foundation) held an International Driftwood
Installation Artwork Exhibition in the Pine Grove. It began as a small,
visual arts workshop but later expanded to include other, various arts
activities. Pine Grove borders Mei Lwun Hill to the west and faces the Pacific Ocean to the east. The location served well as a military lookout in the past, because of its sweeping view of the harbor. After reconstruction of the facilities, the Pine Grove will serve more peaceful ends, as a literary and fine arts center, the pride of Hualien. The Pine Grove features many indoor areas as well as outdoor spaces. Artists may choose freely where they wish to work. The artists will be staying at the nearby Catholic center. Breakfast will be provided at the Centre Lunch and dinner, most of the time, will be at the Pine Grove. |
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