「社會文明嚴自…」在工藝交流館的白牆上，有著斑剝快褪色的字跡，是誰寫的呢？楊爺爺分享，在他42歲時被派到大溪分局工作，所以住進來了這間平房，在大溪分局一直工作到65歲退休。從小也沒學過畫畫，就退休後的閒暇之餘開始拿起筆筆，在這平房的外牆上隨興彩繪，劃出他心中的美麗山水。木博館在一開始的警察宿舍群做調查訪談時就被楊爺爺牆上的彩繪作品感到驚艷，當時的楊爺爺已經91歲了，驕傲的與大家分享他的創作。
這棟水泥磚造平房後來交給了木博館做修護工程，在房屋整理時，
發現有過去日式的木建築結構，所以透過一些線索將可能的木造房子還原。而原本的平房卸下加蓋的屋頂、外牆則是將高度降低保留一半變成了像圍牆的功能。原本希望牆上的楊爺爺創作也能和牆一起留下來，可惜隨者時間的流逝，牆上的創作都已經褪色或斑剝而消失了，現在只能看到門口這對字跡了。
當初楊爺爺對創作的熱誠與勇於嘗試創作，也轉換成了現在的工藝交流館的精神，在這棟館舍的展覽中，期待不同的工藝家們也能像楊爺爺一樣，將心中最美的創作呈現給大家。
On the white-washed wall of the Arts & Crafts Exchange Hall are mottled traces of handwriting, the ink is just about completely faded: “Social civilization as…”
Whose handwriting is this?
Mr. Yang, now a grandfather, explains that when he was 42, he was transferred to the Daxi precinct and became an occupant of this bungalow. He retired from the force when he turned 65. Yang never took any painting lessons ever, but since retirement, he began to dabble in creating spontaneous landscapes on the outer wall of this bungalow, putting real silhouettes to the vistas of his imagination. The staff were awestruck by the beautiful murals when they conducted field research and interviews of inhabitants of the police dormitory units. At that time, Mr. Yang was a chipper 91-year-old, and he could not have been happier to discuss his creations.
This concrete block bungalow was later turned over to the Wood Art Ecomuseum for repair, and when the cleanup was ongoing, the staff discovered a Japanese-style wood housing structure and with that, they followed a few clues and tried to restore the structure to what it was. The annexed roof of the bungalow was removed; the height of the outer wall was halved, giving it the semblance of a fence. The staff have hoped to preserve Mr. Yang’s creations and the wall but with the passing years, Yang’s murals faded in color and became mottled. The handwriting by the door is all that’s left.
Mr. Yang’s passion for art and courage to explore uncharted territories are the guiding light of the Arts & Crafts Exchange Hall. We hope that aspiring craftsmen would also channel Mr. Yang’s courage and imagination, and deliver their best work for display here for all to enjoy.
