Visual Arts
Highlights
Georgetown artist Yuri Kinoshita’s woven light installation hovers over the bar in Moksha, a new Indian restaurant in Bellevue Square. You can also see another installation of hers in the window of the SAM Gallery downtown at 1220 Third Ave. downtown. Call (206) 343-1101 for more.
“Each moment we live our lives shine” is a group show that pairs drawings by artists with poems by poets to stimulating effect. The work of artist Jayong Yoon in included. On view till Jan. 26. Also on view now till Feb. 23 is “Nostalgia and Progress: 20th Century Japanese Prints” that looks at Japanese prints made just before WW II. Cullom Gallery at 603 S. Main St. Call (206) 919-8278 or go to cullomgallery.com for more. Open Wed. – Sat.
“Modern Twist: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art” is a group show showcasing contemporary artists working this meticulous craft. This touring exhibit comes from the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture and was curated by Dr. Andreas Marks. On view through Feb. 3, 2013. Connected activities include demonstrations on “Tea, ikebana And Japanese Bamboo Art” on Friday, Jan. 11 from 4 – 7:30pm plus a presentation by Rob Coffland entitled “When a Basket is Not a Basket” at 6:30pm.Also don’t miss “BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet”, a group show that features more than 40 contemporary fiber artists including work by Jisean Lee Isbara, Paul Komada and Jan Hopkins. Through Feb. 24, 2013. Bellevue Arts Museum. Call (425) 519-0770 or go to www.bellevuearts.org for more.
“Now Here is also Nowhere” is a two-part meditation on non-linear accounts of how – in making artworks about ideas and intangible concepts – artists continually question and destabilize the nature of the art object. The work of Korean performance artist Kimsooja (an outdoor video of her performances around the world can be viewed in the front window of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation offices near Seattle Center) is included in this group show. Part 1 is now on view in the South Gallery through Jan. 6, 2013. Henry Art Gallery on the UW Seattle campus. 15th Ave. NE and NE 4lst Street. (206) 543-2280 or go to www.henryart.org for more.
“Women Take Over” is the poster you’ll see all over town advertising Seattle Art Museum’s much anticipated traveling show, “Elles: Women Artists from the Centre Pompidou” on view through Jan. 13, 2013. SAM will stir in women artists from their own collection as well (including the work of Japanese mixed-media artist Yayoi Kusama who recently had a massive retrospective at the Whitney). For details go to www.seattleartmuseum.org/ells. Also at the museum through May 5 of 2013 is a group show entitled “The distant relative who calls at midnight” which links together work from Aboriginal Australia, India, Canada and parts of the US. 1300 First Ave. For more, call (206) 654-3100 or go to www.seattleartmuseum.org.
Seattle artist Paul Komada brings two traditions together in the new work found in the upcoming show entitled “Knit’in Paintin’. ” Opens Jan. 2 and on view till Feb. 2. SOIL at 112 Third Ave. For more, (206) 264-8061.
Local artist Tina Koyama has fiber sculptures on view in a group show of Northwest Designer Craftsmen members. Also former IE graphic designer Olivia Zapata has work in a group show of “Small Works.” Both shows at Columbia City Gallery through Jan. 13, 2013. 4864 Rainier Ave. S. For more, call (206) 760-9843 or go to www.ColumbiaCityGallery.com.
Tacoma Art Museum’s “Best of the Northwest” exhibition (on view through March 2013) features work by Paul Horiuchi, Mark Takamichi Miller, Kenjiro Nomura, Frank Okada and Roger Shimomura. “Memories And Meditations: A Retrospective of Michael Kenna’s Photography” remains on view through March, 2013. This British photographer’s series on Japan is sublime, with evocative images of the snowy landscapes of Hokkaido. Tacoma Art Museum. Call (253) 272-4258 or go to www.TacomaArtMuseum.org.
In a show of new work by Vashon Island sculptor Elaine Hanowell entitled “Dog Monkey Crow”, one feels a haunting connection with the soul of each creature. Also open for First Thursday on Jan. 3 from 5 – 8pm. On view till Jan. 26. New additions include glass art by Kurimi Conley and New Fairtrade textiles from India by Anita Butail. ArtXchange Gallery at 512 First Ave. S. Call (206) 839-0377 or try [email protected].
Seattle artist Saya Moriyasu’s work is featured in the following places. A group show entitled “Eastern Traditions/Western Expressions” at Boise Art Museum through Jan. 10, 2013. 670 Julia Davis Dr. in Boise, Idaho. Call (208) 345-8330. A group entitled “[email protected]” at SeaTac Airport’s Concourse A (ongoing). The group show entitled “Japan’s Beckoning Cats – From Talisman to Pop Icon” at Bellevue Arts Museum opening Feb. 22 and on view till August 4, 2013.
Also “Meet Me at Higo” permanent exhibit- Part Two” presented and sponsored by the Wing is a multi-media presentation and self-guided tour that tells the origins and history of the store as a Japanese American five and dime. All at Kobo at Higo, 604 South Jackson. Email [email protected] or call (206) 381-3000.
The Wing has the following shows and activities. “George Nakashima: A Master’s Furniture and Philosophy” on view till Jan. 20, 2013 looks into the world of this master craftsman/furniture maker originally from Seattle who would go on to make a name for himself in a studio in rural Pennsylvania. “Fashion: Workroom to Runway” is on view till April 21, 2013. It shows how the fashion world has been touched by Asian Pacific Americans. Work and contributions by local and nationally known designers. One activity connected to this show is “Fashion night at The Wing: Runway Show” set for Sat., Jan 19. “Unfolding the Art of Paper” is on view until Jan. 6. An on-going exhibit “I Am Filipino” continues and offers a gateway of history through the telling of personal stories from Filipino American local families. Also small exhibits examine the identity and culture of Sikhs in America and the history of the “Killing Fields” in Cambodia.“Vietnam in the Rear View Mirror” explores the complex, interwoven identity of Vietnamese Americans as seen through the eyes of a younger generation. Family Fun Day on from 1 – 3pm has a workshop on A YouthCAN exhibit entitled “Ghosts in The Field” opens Oct. 12. “HomeLessness” opens Dec. 7 (6 – 8pm) and continues through August 18, 2013. “New Years ALL YEAR ROUND” opens Jan. 19 and remains on view till June 30, 2013. “Paul Horiuchi And Contemporary Paper Artists” opens Feb. 15 and continues until July 14, 2013. For information on all of the above, go to www.wingluke.org or call (206) 623-5124.
Performing Arts
Classical pianist HJ Kim performs Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Jun Markl conducting the Seattle Symphony as part of the Wyckoff Masterworks Season on Jan. 10 & 12. For tickets, call (206) 215-4747 or go to www.seattlesymphony.org.
Highlights
A Mochi Tsuki ceremony is held on sun., Jan. 6 from 11am – 3pm on Bainbridge Island at IslandWood located at 4450 Blakely Ave. NE. Seattle Kokon Taiko will perform and local exhibitions will be on view. For details, go to www.bijac.org.
“Oshogatsu 2013” creates the atmosphere of a Japanese New Year celebration in Olympia. Jan. 26 from 10am – 6pm.The Sakura Friendship Ceremony commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the “Gift of Trees” given by Japan to the US as a symbol of friendship is part of the event. Sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, Sankei Travel, radio station “ROXY” and local companies. Go to http://celebratejapan.org for details.
Washington State Korean-American Day Celebration Ceremony includes a Show case Performance on Jan. 13 at 3pm at Highline Performing Art Center at 401 S. 152nd St. in Burien. RSVP by emailing [email protected] or by calling (253) 852-0474.
Can Can Cabaret presents their current show entitled “Tune in Tokyo” that tries to catch the energy of today’s Japan pop dance. Through March 30 at 94 Pike St. (206) 652-0832×2 or go to thecancan.com.
Artist Trust, the non-profit organization that supports the arts in Washington State have their annual benefit art auction set for Feb. 23, 2013. For details, go to www.artisttrust.org.
A special traditional blessing and shishi-mai Lion Dog blessing for new years will be held from Jan. 1 – 10 at Seattle Choeizan Enkyoji Nichiren Buddhist Temple at 501 S. Jackson St. #202 . (206) 356-7405 or go to [email protected].
Everett Community College Nippon Business Institute’s annual New Years gathering and seijin-shiki (coming of age ceremony) includes a performance by Sound Singers. Everett CC’s Jackson Conference Center at 2000 Tower St. in Everett. Call (425) 388-9195 for details and to register for this event.
Some new releases in the music world include the following –
Soul-pop singer/songwriter David Lee has a debut album entitled “Without Any Guard” set for Feb. 2013 release. The late Willie Mitchell, one of soul music’s most respected R&B record producers who worked with Al Green helped produce Lee’s debut. A single from the album entitled “We’re All Meant For Something Good” is available for free download and/or stream. For details, feel free to email Amanda Charney at The Musebox at [email protected].
Guitarist Rafiq Bhatia grew up in an Ismaili Muslim family of South Asian descent in North Carolina with previous generations hailing from East Africa. His music is available from the Rest Assured label on an EP entitled “Strata” and a full length album entitled “Yes It Will”. Award-winning pianist Vjay Iyer guests on the album. 28 year old jazz vocalist Sunny Kim was born in South Korea but lived as a child in Malaysia and Thailand before settling in New York to study music. Now she comes full circle by returning to Seoul and asking the question, “what does it mean to be a jazz musician and Korean?” Studies with Jazz musicians Steve Lacy and Roswell Rudd informed her experience as an up and coming vocalist. “Painter’s Eye” is her latest release on the Sunnyside label. Both Bhatia and Kim were profiled in the December 2012 issue of JazzTimes.
Film/Media
Highlights
Seattle Asian American Film Festival makes a welcome return to the local scene. A variety of films by or about Asian Americans will be shown at Wing Luke Museum. The purpose of this event is to seek out, promote, produce and develop Asian American artists with a commitment to original and innovative media works. Jan. 25 – 27. Co-sponsored by the International Examiner. For full details see accompanying program guide in this issue and go to http://seattleaaff.org to purchase tickets.
Congratulations to Masanobu Takayanagi whose crisp, jabbing cinematography perfectly captures the frenetic rhythm of a working class Philadelphia family in David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. Now playing at select Seattle theatres.
“Lost Years _ A People’s Struggle For Justice” is a Chinese Canadian documentary film created by Kenda Gee for the Canadian Broadcasting Company. This award-winning film screened at last year’s SIFF in Seattle and is now available in a DVD edition. Go to www.lostyears.ca/vip for details.
The Written Arts
Highlights
David H. T. Wong’s new graphic novel “Escape To Gold Mountain: A Graphic History of Chinese in North America” tackles an important subject and makes a whole cultural history of a people accessible to young adult readers. He will talk about the book on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7pm at Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Stimson Auditorium. Wong is a Vancover B.C.- based architect and urban ecologist. Co-presented by Gardner Center for Asian Art & Ideas and Elliott Bay Book Company. 1400 E. Prospect in Volunteer Park. Go to www.seattleartmuseum.org for details.
Noted fiction writer Julie Otsuka, winner of the 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award (When The Emperor Was Divine”, “The Buddha in the Attic” on Knopf) reads from her work followed by a lecture and a Q&A session. Jan. 29 at Benaroya Hall. Presented by Seattle Arts & Lectures. For tickets and information, go to www.lectures.org.
For lovers of contemporary fashion, Taschen Books has just published a series of monographs on noted fashion designers. Included in the series are books devoted to the work of Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. For details, go to www.taschen.com.
“Becoming Mexipino” is a new book by Rudy P. Guevarra Jr. that traces the earliest interactions of both Filipinos and Mexicans and their relationships with Spanish Colonialism particularly in the San Diego area. For details, go to www.asiabookcenter.com.
……………….
Elliott Bay Book Company sponsors and co-presents fascinating readings by authors in venues across the city and in their own bookstore as well. Some not-to-miss events include the following. Looking ahead to January, poet/educator Lawrence Matsuda reads with Carol Guess, and Scott Alexander Jones on Jan. 7. All of the authors have recently published books on Black Lawrence Press. Matsuda’s poem “For All the Government Took” originally published in “A Cold Wind From Idaho” (Black Lawrence Press) will be published in the Feb. 2013 issue of Nostalgia Magazine. Jaimal Yogis reads from “The Fear Project” (Rodale) on Jan. 21 at 7pm.Elliott Bay Book Company is at 1521 Tenth Avenue in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Call (206) 624-6600 or visit www.elliottbaybook.com.
Congratulations to singer/producer, poet, rapper, manager and actor Hollis Wong-Wear who was noted in the Jan. 2013 issue of City Arts for “The Future List – The Artists And Tastemakers Who Will Define 2013”. Go to cityartsmagazine.com for details.
The Book Larder is a new bookstore with a demonstration kitchen in the center of its space. This bookstore focuses on books on food and has a varied series of events open to the public with book talks, cooking demonstrations and workshops. Some activities are free and others require pre-registration and a fee. This event is free. Contact the store for details on each event. The Book Larder is at 4252 Fremont Ave. N. (206) 397-4271 or email [email protected].
Seattle Town Hall has served as a back porch forum for the city with its’ clever mix of discussion topics, authors and performing arts events. 1119 Eighth Ave. (206) 652-4255 or email [email protected].
“Japanese Eyes, American Heart – Vol. II: Voices from The Home Front in World War II Hawaii Islanders of Japanese Ancestry” collected by the Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board covers the period of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of Japanese living on the islands during that dramatic time. For details, go to www.bookshawaii.net.
“Debts & Lessons” is a forthcoming new poetry book by Lynn Xu on Omnidawn books.
“Ashulia” (Tavern Books) is a new chapbook of poetry by Zubair Ahmed who was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 2005 his family won the DV (Diversity Visa Program) lottery, which enabled them to immigrate to the United States. He currently studies Mechanical Engineering and Creative Writing at Stanford University. His first full-length collection entitled “Dhaka City” is forthcoming from McSweeney’s Poetry Series. Go to www.tavernbooks.com for details.
Art News/Opportunities
Seattle Kokon Taiko Winter Beginner classes are offered Jan. 7, 14, 21 & 28. Registration by Jan. 4. For details, go to www.seattlekokontaiko.org
A master class that teaches the basic skill, techniques and principles of Chinese painting is available in a class in Seattle Central Community College’s Continuing Education Program Jan. 10 – Feb. 28. Interested? Call (206) 934-5448 to register.
Asian-American poets are encourage to submit new work to a special issue of the Malpais Review, a respected Southwest literary magazine. For details, go to www.malpaisreview.com.
