Visual Arts
Highlights
“Signs of Life” is a contemporary jewelry art show with companion literary journal. The show features work by nine artists who are paired with nine writers in a unique publication that celebrates both literature and jewelry art. On view through Oct. 24. With work by Bifei Cao, Yong Joo Kim, Jeong Ju Lee, Myung Urso, Dukno Yoon and others. Facere is at City Center at 1420 – 5th Ave. in downtown Seattle. (206) 624-6768 or go to www.facerejewelryart.com.
Handcrafted miniature kites (some no bigger than your thumb and all guaranteed to fly) by Nobuhiko Yoshizumi of Kyoto, Japan are on view through Oct. 27. Paper Hammer Gallery. 1400 Second Ave. (206) 682-3820.
Photographer Canh Nguyen shows images from his “Tool Series” at G. Gibson Gallery’s back gallery. Each object seems to assume a heroic yet humble identity all its own. A searching yet powerful look at the photographer’s father completes this small show. Through Oct. 20. 300 S. Washington St. (206) 587-4033 or go to www.ggibsongallery.com.
“Social Order: Women Photographers from Iran, India and Afganistan” gives Seattle a chance to see the vision of women from another part of the world. With Shadi Ghadirian, Gazelle Samizay, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Manjari Sharma and Priya Kambli. Oct. 26 – Dec. 15 at Photographic Center Northwest. 900 – 12th Ave. (206) 720-7222 or go to www.pcnw.org.
It’s been hard to see Seattle artist Joseph Park’s work in local galleries since he has not been locally represented for years now and shows at a San Francisco gallery—so run, not walk to Roq La Rue Gallery in Belltown to see his witty post-Cubist paintings included in the show “Pureheart” on view through Nov. 3. 2312 Second Ave. (206) 374-8977 or go to www.roqlarue.com.
See new works in print, collage and mixed media by talented Seattle artists Romson Regarde Bustillo and Kamla Kakaria Ends Oct. 27 at Shift Collaborative Studio. Romson’s show is entitled “Chasing devices and softening tools.” It’s an investigation and documentation of meta cerebral modifiers, multi-dimensional viewers and soul spacing. Kakaria’s show entitled “Festivals” is an attempt to bring back the artist’s memories of Hindu festivals. 306 S. Washington St. #105. Go to www.shiftstudio.org for details.
“Sang-mi Yoo: Tracing/Retracing” is a show by this Texas-based South Korean artist in which memory and perception of place are explored through a mixed-media installation with laser-cut felt and larger format lithographs. Ends Oct. 27. Pratt Gallery at Tashiro Kaplan Studios at 312 S. Washington, Studio A1. (206)328-2200 or go to www.pratt.org.
“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” set to open Oct. 11 and remains 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. (206) 654-3100 or go to www.seattleartmuseum.org.
A pair of new shows on Indian art are currently on view at Seattle Asian Art Museum through Dec. 2. “Many Arrows From Rama’s Bow: Paintings Of The Ramayama” tells the compelling story of the moral and epic struggles of kinds, warriors, wives and brothers as they travel through the world of humans, animals, gods, and demons. Art depicting these scenes and heroes will be shown. “Women’s Paintings From The Land of Sita” looks at a group of women in villages of northern Bihar, India and how their ritual painting on the walls and floors of their homes became known world-wide with the use of handmade paper. 1400 E. Prospect in Volunteer Park. (206) 654-3100 or go to seattleartmuseum.org.
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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” opens Oct. 6 and 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. (253) 272-4258 or go to www.TacomaArtMuseum.org.
“Conversations” is a show of new work by Vashon Island artist Donald Cole whose abstract work has been influenced by his travels through Asia. Oct. 4 – Nov. 17. Artist talk on Oct. 20. At 1pm. ArtXchange Gallery at 512 Fist Ave. S. (206) 839-0377 or try [email protected]
UW Design Professors Sang-gyeun Ahn and Karen Cheng have work in a group show at Jacob Lawrence Gallery in Art Building 132 on the UW Seattle campus. Through Oct. 19.
Quilt artist Shingo Nakano from Japan is in a group show entitled “Material Men: Innovation & The Art of Quilt Making” billed as the first large scale group show of men’s work on the West Coast. On view through Dec. 20. La Connor Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 Second St. in La Connor, WA. Call (360) 466-4288 or go to www.laconnerquilts.com.
“Where Have They Been? Two Overlooked Chinese Female Artists” is the quirky title of a new show that looks at two Chinese female artists who prioritized the careers of their husbands while sacrificing their own. The work of calligrapher Ch’ung-ho Chang Frankel and abstract painter Lu Wujiu is featured. On view through Dec. 30 at Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St. in Volunteer Park. Call (206) 654-3100.
The work of California artist Judy Shintani is included in “Rootbound: Heaven and Earth 4,” a group show of site-specific, temporary public art at Carkeek Park on view through Oct. 31. Sponsored by COCA, Carkeek Park Advisory Council, Seattle Parks & Recreation, 4Culture and City of Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. For details, go to www.heavenandearthexhibition.org.
G. Gibson Gallery’s “Homage To Elles” includes women artists represented in the gallery. Expect to see work by Diem Chau, Saya Moriyasu and Thuy-Van Wu included in this show. Up till Nov. 10. With work by photographer Michael Kenna in the back. 300 S. Washington St. (206) 587-4033 or go to www.ggibsongallery.com.
Saya Moriyasu’s work is also featured in 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.
“Meet Me at Higo: An Enduring Story of a Japanese American Family” is a new permanent exhibition here created through a National Park Service grant to preserve the history of Japanese American internment with assistance from Wing Luke Museum. On view until Nov. 4. In Nov. & Dec., look for pop-up shows featuring a glimpse of Northwest artists/designers recent work from their studios. At Kobo at Higo, 604 South Jackson. E-mail [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 . “Unfolding the Art of Paper” is on view until Jan. 6. “Inside/Out: APA Girls and Suicide” through Nov. 18 is an exhibition exploring the complex topic of young Asian Pacific American women and suicide – providing a place for dialogue around this important issue. 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. “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 Oct. 20 from 1 – 3pm has a workshop on how you can create your very own yoyo. Sam Ung is a restaurant owner in Seattle’s ID/Chinatown but he has also written a memoir entitled “I Survived the Killing Fields” which he reads from on Oct. 20 at 4pm. A YouthCAN exhibit entitled “Ghosts in The Field” opens Oct. 12. “HomeLessness” opens Dec. 7 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.
Cullom Gallery specializes in showing artists influenced by the Japanese printmaking tradition both there and in the West from ancient to the modern. Printmaker Annie Bissett’s series on the virtues and vices of money in “Loaded” stays on view till Oct. 27. 603 S. Main. (206) 340-8000 or email [email protected].
Seattle artist Louise Kikuchi has her work in a group show entitled “Circular From The Permanent Collection” Through Jan. 1, 2013. Museum of Northwest Art at 121 S. First St. in La Connor, WA. (360) 466-4446 or visit http://www.museumofnwart.org
The work of Paul Horiuchi is included in a group show of Northwest artists entitled “Masters” on view through Oct. 28 at Smith & Vallee Gallery at 5742 Gilkey Ave. in Edison, WA. (360) 766-6230 or go to www.smithandvallee.com.
Seattle Keiro has recently re-designed their outdoor garden. An open house was recently held to celebrate the new design. 1601 E. Yesler Way in Seattle. Call (206) 323-7100.
At the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center – a Japanese American History Museum, you’ll find the following. Their permanent exhibit is “Oregon Nikkei: Reflections of an American Community.” On view till Jan. 2013 is “Coming Home: Japanese Americans in Portland After World War II”. Call (503) 224-1458 or go to www.oregonnikkei.org.
Blackfish Gallery in Portland has the following: A show for painter Mario Caoile entitled “Recent Paintings” comes Oct. 2 – 27. Sculptor/installation artist Kanetaka Ikeda has a show of new work for March of 2013. Visit www.blackfish.com for details.
The Portland Japanese Garden offers the serenity of a Japanese garden plus numerous classes, art shows and workshops year around. Portland Japanese Garden, 611 S.W. Kingston Ave. Call (503) 233-1321.
Through Nov. 4 is a show entitled “The World in the Palm of Your Hand: Chinese Snuff Bottles from Pacific Northwest Collections” at Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem, Oregon. Go to www.willamette.edu/museum_of_art/.
Local artists are not only exhibiting their work in Seattle but nationally and internationally as well. Here’s some recent news.
Etsuko Ichikawa, known for her pyrographs (drawings using burning glass) on paper keeps pushing boundaries. Her work is currently on view in a gallery space at 125 Wellington St. in Central Hong Kong run by D’art, a Hong Kong-based art consultant. A show of her pyrographs and aquagraphs (drawings using water and soot) will be on view Oct. 10 – Feb. 10, 2013 on the walls of the restaurant, “TASTE at SAM,” the restaurant next to Seattle Art Museum downtown. Opening reception is Oct. 10 from 5 – 6 p.m. Ichikawa’s work is also in a group show entitled “Elles@SAM Gallery” Oct. 10 – Feb. 10, 2013. The gallery is at 1220 3rd Ave. downtown. Opening reception is Oct. 25 from 5 – 7 p.m. A forthcoming solo show by the artist will be at Waterhouse & Dodd in New York City at 104 Greene St. Nov. 15 – Dec. 15. The show includes a short film and a single large scroll. An 8-page exhibit pamphlet about her installation at the University of Wyoming Art Museum on Nachi waterfall entitled “NACHI – Between The Eternal and The Ephemeral” has just been published. “Fire And Water” is an article on Ichikawa’s work written by Christopher Schnoor that appears in the Sept. 2012 issue of Sculpture magazine. Her public art commission entitled “Spectrum of Light” was completed and installed in May at Frederickson Elementary School in Puyallup. This colorful installation was inspired by a rainbow. In a sponsorship from 4Culture, she is in the process of thinking about making pyrographs on the beach this winter using a portable furnace or what the artist calls a “hotshop in a suitcase. “The Echo Project’ is the second sound project Ichikawa has worked on. This one involves recording sessions in unused nuclear cooling towers in Elwa, WA.
Diem Chau, multi-media artist who works with crayons, ceramics, textiles and paintings stays continually bush. She spent early Sept. doing a crayon craving demonstration at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City at a “Fashion’s Night Out” event. She is currently in a two-person show with Korean artist KAPPAO at Galleria Patrica Amocida in Milan, Italy from Sept. 18 – Nov. 10. The gallery is at Via Lattanzio 77, 20131 Milano, Italy. Her work is also in a group show curated by Stefano Catalani of Bellevue Arts Museum entitled “The Mysterious Contents of Softness” Sept. 15 – Dec. 30 at Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Locally she will be in a group show entitled “In Honor of Elles,” Oct. 4 – Nov. 10 at G. Gibson Gallery at 300 S. Washington. Oct. 4 reception from 6 – 8 p.m. Go www.gibsongallery.com.
Ceramic artist Akio Takamori currently teaching in the Ceramics department at the University of Washington has a show of his work entitled “Eqivalents” in which he contrasts two large ceramic figures from different eras of history due to open at Kunstforum Gallery in Switzerland Dec. 8 – Feb. 2, 2013. In March of 2013, the same show will open at the Ariana Ceramic Museum in Geneva. Visit www.kunstforum.cc for details.
And up north in Vancouver, B.C. are the following shows. On view through Oct. 14 is a large-scale wooden tableau by Kota Ezawa at Vancouver Art Gallery. Visit www.vanartgallery.bc.ca for details. Brendan Tang’s ceramics (recently seen at Seattle Art Museum downtown) combine hybrids of traditional Asian vessels and current pop cultural sensibilities that makes one smile and contemplate how ancient and modern readily co-exist. See his new work at Gallery Jones Oct. 4 – 27 in Vancouver B.C. Visit www.galleryjones.com.
Performing Arts
Highlights
“HOW TO EAT SUSHI – The Expert Way – Featuring Master Chef Shiro Kashiba” is the title of a multimedia presentation in which you’ll learn the history and tradition of sushi. Local Master Chef Kashiba and Chef Daisuke Nakazawa will talk about proper techniques and sushi etiquette. Those in attendance will be able to sample sushi utilizing Pacific Northwest ingredients paired with sake. On Sat., Nov. 3rd from 2 – 4pm. Nagomi Tea House at 519 Sixth Ave. S. Tickets at sushiexperts.eventbrite.com or call (206) 623-0100 or email [email protected]. $20 General and $15 for students (discounts for groups of four or more). Presented by Hokubei Hochi Foundation and the Japan Foundation.
Few theatre pieces are as anxiously awaited this fall as Book-It Repertory Theatre’s adaptation of Jamie Ford’s bestselling pop fiction about young love in troubled times, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.” Set on the eve of WW II, the author cleverly layers Northwest and American history with glimpses of different ethnic communities in Seattle and how they co-exist and collide. The internment of Japanese Americans, an inter-ethnic romance between Japanese and Chinese Americans and the evolution of jazz and blues clubs on Jackson Street after hours. A few extra performances have been added due to popular demand. Through Oct. 21 at the Center House Theatre at 305 Harrison St. Seattle Center. (206) 216-0833 or go to book-it.org.
The Okinawa Kenjin Club of Washington State hosts a concert by Okinawan musicians and taiko drummers entitled “Ryukyu Charm III” on Sat., Oct 6 from 3 – 5pm at Highline Performing Arts Center. 401 S. 152nd St. in Burien. Call (425) 308-1878 or (206) 372-3291 for details.
“Revealed: Savor The Stories, Culture & Food of the I.D.” is performed Oct. 20-23. Details are sketchy right now but who could go wrong with a night of theatre and food and the tales that steam off the plate as presented by SIS Productions. Looks like a winner! For the time being, try sis-productions.org for more details.
Earshot Jazz presents music concerts year around in the Puget Sound but their fall festival is by far, the largest—don’t miss the opportunity to hear local, national and international performers from all genres of music including but not limited to jazz only. Oct. 12 – Nov. 4 at various venues around Puget Sound. Some possibilities include the following: JOct. 17 brings a high energy double-bill of Vijay Iyer Trio and Cuong Vu’s Trigger Fish to Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya. Iyer, a gifted composer and pianist has won virtually every award this year for his recent recordings. His adventurous approach to a music that mines both the jazz and South Asian music traditions has the attention of critics. Local hero Cuong Vu returned from New York to teach music at UW and in the process has energized the local music scene with his playing and collaborations with young players in the area. He brings a smoking first-call New York rhythm section of Ted Poor on drums and Eric Revis on bass. Bay Area global pop music group Rupa & The Fishes play Oct. 26 at the Kirkland Performance Center. Mainstream jazz pianist/composer Sumi Tonooka does a solo turn at the Chapel on Oct. 28. For a full schedule, go to www.earshot.org or call (206) 547-6763.
According to writer John King, the first ukulele was probably made by Portuguese cabinet makers from the Madeira Islands who emigrated to Hawai’i in the 1870s to work in the sugar cane fields. At the turn of the century, the ukulele and the role it played in Hawaiian music captivated first the mainland and then spread internationally. An icon of the jazz age, its use could be found in all forms of popular music until the 1960s when interest waned. In the last few years, this humble stringed instrument has been re-popularized by musicians from Hawai’I like the late Israel Kawakawio’de and Jake Shimabukuro. Shimabukuro’s virtuoso playing of the instrument has him touring internationally. He comes to Seattle on behalf of a striking new release entitled “Grand Ukelele” produced by Alan Parsons who worked on the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” On this new recording he seamlessly fuses classical, blues, bluegrass and rockabilly and even imitates the sounds of a music box. Catch him on Oct. 24 as part of the “Live@Benaroya Hall” series. (206) 215-4747.
ACT Theatre has some interesting things coming up this fall. From October 12 – November 11, look for a collaboration with the local South Asian community in their presentation of the classic Indian tale, “The Ramayana”. Adapted and crated by Yussef El Guindi and Stephanie Timm and co-directed by Kurt Beattie and Sheila Daniels. This engrossing story follows a young hero named Rama who goes on a quest to rescue his wife from an evil king. The characters are fundamental to the culture of India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Burma and many other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. With a multicultural cast of 14 in 30-plus roles. A series of performances and talks running before and during staged productions follows. Professor Heidi Pauwels speaks about “Many Sitas” on Nov. 3. Call (206) 292-7676 or go to acttheatre.org.
“Florodora Reimagined” is a Pinoy take on an 1890s musical set in the Philippines during the Philippine War. Adapted by Charles Baker & Co-produced by Arnoldo. Directed by Maria Batayola. Oct. 19 performance is free. Oct. 20 has an admission charge with dinner seating at 6 p.m. A Pinoy Words Expressed/ Kultura Arts Production. Funded in part by the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. For tickets, go to www.brownpapertickets.com (Search: Florodora). Filipino Community Center at 5740 MLK Jr. Way S. Go to www.fcseattle.org for details.
ARTS CRUSH is a city-wide program of arts activities that take place in theatres all over the Puget Sound. Now through Oct. 19. Call (206) 770-0370 or go to www.artscrush.org for complete details.
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OHANA Restaurant & Sushi Lounge presents “Live Jazz Mondays” with Deems Tsutakawa. 2207 – 1st Ave. in Seattle’s Belltown. (206) 956-9329 or visit ohanabelltown.com.
The NVC Foundation presents Friday night dance lessons featuring East Coast Swing from through Oct 19 and Line Dance on Nov. 2. 1212 S. King St. in Seattle. Contact Bev Kashino at [email protected] or Curtis Luke at [email protected].
A two-day workshop on creating Japanese Temari is held on the weekend of Oct. 20 and 21 at Asia Pacific Cultural Center at 4851 S. Tacoma Way in Tacoma. Space is limited to pre-register by calling (253) 229-3100 or email [email protected].
The White River Buddhist Temple Bazaar is set for Oct. 21 from 11am – 3pm. Available will be Japanese snack foods, produce and handicrafts. 3625 Auburn Way N. in Auburn. (253) 833-1442 or visit www.wrbt.org.
The Washington Center For The Performing Arts in Olympia present Imperial Acrobats of China – Chi Shaolin and their production entitled “The Tale of The Dragon” on Nov. 1. 512 Washington St. SE in Olympia. For tickets, call (360) 753-8586 or go to olytix.org or washingtoncenter.org.
Broadway Center for the Arts in Tacoma has the following – Classical pianist Cecile Licad performs with NW Sinfonietta on Nov. 10. 901 Broadway in Tacoma. (253) 591-5890 or visit www.broadwaycenter.org.
STG Presents Global Dance Party on Nov. 2. An evening of dance traditions from around the world on one stage. 1932 second Ave. Call 877-784-4849 or visit stgpresents.org
The Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue has the following – Nov. 9 brings Huayin Performing Arts Group’s production of “Enchanting China/Burning Phoenix” 11100 NE 6th St. (425) 450-3810.
Seattle Butoh Festival brings together members of the DAIPANbutoh Collective, a local group inspired by the original Japanese dance genre of butoh with special guests SU-En Butoh from Sweden and for the first time in America, Atsushi Takenouchi of Jinen Butoh with his partner, composer/musician Hiroko Komita. Oct. 22 – 28. For details, go to www.daipanbutoh.com. Tickets available via Brown Paper Tickets. Takenouchi will also do a series of workshops in Portland Oct. 29 – Nov. 2 at Headwaters Theatre at 55 N.E. Farragut St. Seattle performances/workshops at Velocity Dance Center at 1621 – 12th Ave. Visit http://witd.org/service/atsushi-takenouchi for more information on Takenouchi.
A new season at Benaroya Hall has many highlights. Some possibilities are listed below. Seattle Symphony with new conductor Ludovic Morlot let their hair down a bit as they perform a concert entitled “Sonic Evolution” with guests – Seattle singer/songwriter Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs and British rock drummer Alan White of Yes/John Lennon fame. With brand-new symphonic compositions inspired by Blue Scholars, Alice in Chains and Yes. Oct. 26 at 8.p.m. Northwest Sinfonietta (Seattle performances at 7:30 p.m. in Benaroya Hall with each concert repeating on Sat. night in Tacoma and Sunday afternoon in Puyallup) brings pianist Cecile Licad in a program of Chopin on Nov. 9. Call 888-356-6040 or visit nwsinfonietta.org for the above events with Licad. For Seattle Symphony events, call (206) 215-4747 or go to www.seattlesymphony.org.
‘Bunka No Hi” known as Japanese Culture Day is on Nov. 4 from 11am – 5pm. It is a celebration of Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage with performances, cultural demonstrations, games and other activities. At Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington located at 1414 S. Weller St. in Seattle. (206) 568-7114.
“A Little Nightmare Music” is the first extended show by violinist/singer Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo. Both trained at Yehudi Menuhin School in London and their collaborations bring excellent classical music together with a wild sense of humor. Nov. 5 at Town Hall. 1119 Eighth Ave. Call (206) 652-4255 or go to www.townhallseattle.org for complete details.
“The Air is Different” (482 Music) by Tomas Fujiwara & The Hook Up is dedicated by this New York-based drummer to his grandfather and grandmother who had a Buddhist temple in Japan. Go to www.TomasFujiwara.com for details.
“Initial Here” (Greenleaf Music) is the second recording by bassist/composer *Linda Oh. Oh says, “this album tells a story about identity. Cultural and musical. I wanted to go in a few different directions to explore some more extreme emotions.” Born in Malaysia and raised in Australia, Oh came to New York five years ago. Go to www.lindaohmusic.com for details.
“My Nocturne” (Tippin’ Records) by Teriver Cheung features all new compositions by this Hong Kong-raised jazz guitarist, now a resident of New York. Classical training and a love of piano give his music a poetic yet dark lyricism. Go to www.tippinrecords.com for details.
Seattle-based composer/performer Byron Au Yong created a multimedia night-garden in 2004 for his musician grandfather in collaboration with Steve Ditore, Chishan Lin, John D. Pai and Lorraine Pai at Jack Straw New Media Gallery. Now the haunting music for that installation entitled “YIJU” (Present Sounds Recordings) is released. Go to www.hearbyron.com for details.
Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra led by Bay Area educator, drummer, composer and ethnomusicologist has long produced music that reflects the very real multicultural riches that our country’s musical heritage truly represents. Their most recent recording entitled “India & Africa – A Tribute to John Coltrane Live @ Yoshi’s” (Water Baby Records) explores and extends the great saxophonist/composer’s early forage into the musical traditions of those two countries. Go to www.anthonykbrown.org.
Trumpet player/composer/educator Cuong Vu, who teaches music at UW latest release entitled “Leaps Of Faith” (Origin Records) captures an energetic live set of his original compositions back in 2010 at the Chapel Performance Space. With Ted Poor, Stomu Takeshi and Luke Bergman. Visit www.cuongvu.com for details.
Jazz drummer Akira Tana anchored many a rhythm section while living and working in New York including his own group co-led with bassist Rufus Reid. A few years ago he moved back to his home state of California where he works out of the Bay Area. His newest recording entitled “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (Sons of Sound) takes a swinging band with funk and grease to spare and turns them loose on some James Bond movie themes. It has always been a jazz tradition to take popular tunes from Broadway, Tin Pan Alley, movie themes and just use them as vehicles for swinging improvisation whether it be Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker or Miles Davis. Akira’s crisp stick work and the organ of Gary Versace keep things cooking. Go to www.akiratana.com/ for details.
Jazz musician Russel Baba first made a name for himself playing free jazz in the lively Bay Area scene of the late 60’s/ early 70’s. But he also got schooled in the taiko tradition, playing with his wife Jeanne Mercer in Sensei Tanaka’s San Francisco Taiko group. When they moved away from the city, they re-settled near Mt. Shasta and called it home base ever since. Near the mountain, they have continued the Asian American taiko tradition with their own group and school. Their son Masato grew up in this tradition and plays taiko as well. “Korewa Korewa” and “Tadaima” are two recent releases from this taiko family that incorporates taiko, fue, saxophone and digeridoo. For details, go to www.shastataiko.org for details.
“Let It Ride” is the new recording by Rippingtons saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa (Native Language) distributed by distribution 13. With David Benoit, Russ Freeman and Tom Schuman. On tour this fall with The Rippingtons and The Sax Pack. Go to www.jeffkashiwa.com/ for more.
Congratulations to Paul Kikuchi’s Portable Sanctuary who received a grant from Chamber Music America (CMA) in the category of “New Jazz Works: Commissioning and Ensemble Development.”
Film/Media
Highlights
“Evenings With Ai Weiwei” is a series of five rare documentary films by this Chinese political activist, architect, photographer, filmmaker and performance artist. He has characterized his encounters with Chinese authorities as a “kind of performance art”. Presented by the East Asia Center and the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at UW. Monday, Oct. 29 – Friday, Nov. 2nd in Smith Hall 120 on the UW Seattle campus. A Q & A session follows each screening at 7pm. “Fairytale set for Oct. 29 at 7pm documents the artist’s project for “documenta 12” in Kassel Germany in which he invited 1001 Chinese citizens of different ages and various backgrounds to live in a factory to create a massive performance factory which they would take to Germany. “Disturbing the Peace” set for Oct. 30 documents the artist’s investigation of civil rights advocate Tan Zuoren who exposed the corruption which resulted in poor building construction after the 2008 earthquake and his subsequent arrest. “Ordos 100” set for Oct. 31 looks at a massive construction project in inner Mongolia curated by the team of Herzong & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei who had previously worked together on Beijing Olympics’ “Bird’s Nest” stadium. “So Sorry” set for Nov. 1 covers the trial of civil rights advocate Tan Zuoren first encountered in “Distrubing the Peace” as seen by the artist and his efforts to prepare for an exhibition in Germany. “One Recluse” set for Nov. 2 looks at the case of Yang Jia who attacked a Public Security Branch Bureau injuring and killing several officers. Jia’s mother mysteriously disappears during the trial of her son. Go to http://depts.washington.edu/aiweiowei/?page_id=2 for details and www.ybca.org for details of the films.
A number of years ago, a friend of mine was teaching a class on Asian American Studies at a major university back East. As he gazed at the opening day’s attendance sheet he saw that most of the students had Caucasian names and wondered where all the Asian Americans were. But as the students entered the classroom one by one, most of the faces had Asian features. As he read off the names, he realized most of the students were Korean adoptees looking for a way to connect with their identity. I thought about that when I saw information about a new film entitled “Somewhere Between,” (see related article in this issue) a new documentary film by Linda Goldstein Knowlton about four Chinese girls given to orphanages and eventually adopted by American families, the victims of the government’s one child policy instituted in 1979. This film attempts to give voice to and the perspective of the young adoptees and not just their parents as they attempt to grapple with who they are as they enter young adulthood. Starts Oct. 19 for one week at a Landmark Theatre in Seattle (probably the Varsity). Go to www.somewherebetweenmovie.com for more information.
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Attention anime enthusiasts and gamers who love Japanese pop culture and can’t wait for next year’s Sakura Con. Aki Con 2012 comes to the Hilton Bellevue Hotel Oct. 26 – 28 . 300 – 112th Ave. SE in Bellevue. Pre-registration going on now. For details, email [email protected].
Opening in late Sept. is a Russell Crowe action feature entitled “The Man with the Iron Fists” that takes place in feudal China.
Zhang Mengqi’s “Self Portrait With Three Women” (2010) screens on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. at Seattle Central Library/ Washington Center For the Book’s Microsoft Auditorium downtown. The film is about a young woman’s search for her dreams through the life history’s of both her mother and grandmother and how the generations are intertwined in ways more complicated than imagined. The filmmaker is in her 20s and is a freelance dancer, living in Beijing. Screened as part of “New Geographies of Feminist Art: China, Asia and the World.”
The Written Arts
Highlights
Seng “Sam” Ung is the well-known Seattle Chef and owner of Phnom Penh Noodle House. He is the author of “I Survived the Killing Fields” and will talk about that war-time experience as part of Trusted Advocates’ “Our Stories Our Voices – A Monthly Program of Universal Stories From our Diverse Communities”. Oct. 19 at 6pm at White Center Community Center at 9421 – 18th Ave. SW in the Hillborn Room. For details you can call (206) 795-0833 or go to [email protected]. Free but donations are accepted. In a related event, Sam Ung will read from his book on Oct. 20th at 4pm at the Wing. The Museum is located at in Chinatown/International District. (206) 623-5124.
Noted British writer Hari Kunzru’s new novel, “Gods Without Men” crosses history and time as it moves from 1775 – 2009 and locations as diverse as Manhattan, Southern California and Iraq. Kunzru reads on Oct. 23. As part of Seattle Arts & Lectures 25th Anniversary Season. (206) 621-2230 or go to www.lectures.org.
Professor Kevin Kumashiro , Director of the Center for Anti-Oppressive Education in Chicago will talk about his new book entitled “Bad Teacher: How Blaming Teachers Distorts the Bigger Picture” (Teachers College Press). Nov. 2nd at 11am at UW’s Seattle campus in HUB Room 334.
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. Outdoor/nature writer Dylan Tomine reading from his new book about introducing nature to his children on Oct. 21 at the bookstore. Also looking forward to November: Former Sunset Magazine staff writer Linda Lau Anusasananan talks about her new book entitled “The Hakka Cookbook – Chinese Soul Food from around the World,” in a series of appearances in the Northwest including Portland, Seattle and Vancouver B.C. Go to www.The HakkaCookbook.com and select “events.” And to avoid a complete conflict of interest, I must confess that Linda is my sister and I did the artwork for the book. Elliott Bay Book Company is at 1521 Tenth Avenue in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. (206) 624-6600 or visit www.elliottbaybook.com.
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. Contact the store for details on each event. The Book Larder is at 4252 Fremont Ave. N. (206) 397-4271 or email [email protected].
The Gardner Center for Asian Art & Ideas presents their new Saturday University Lecture Series entitled “Myanmar and Its Many Peoples” on Saturdays till Dec. 1 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. This series features specialists on Myanmar (formerly known as “Burma”) who will introduce its ethnic diversity and trace the changes from a kingdom to British colony to military state, from ancient Buddhist architecture to activist Buddhist monks, and up to the current peace process. Professor Stanley Abe talks about “The Modern Moment of Chinese Sculpture” on Oct. 17. Finally on Nov. 14, the artists Wu Mali and Navjot will be introduced and talk about their work. Call (206) 442-8480 or go to www.seattleartmuseum.org/gardnercenter for details on all these events. Many of these events are presented in conjunction with UW’s Jackson School of International Studies and Elliott Bay Book Company.
The poet is often the visionary, leading us to places in the future before there are even words to describe it. Cathy Park Hong takes us on such a journey in a new book entitled “Engine Empire,” (see related article in this issue) her look at how the internet occupies people’s minds. Of course, some may say that world is already here. Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Open Books, A Poem Emporium at 2414 N. 45th in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. (206) 633-0811 or go to
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. Local author/moderator Eric Liu presents “Seattle Voices” on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Liu engages in conversation with some of the most interesting and inspiring people in Seattle. On Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Tamin Ansary gives a talk about “The Untold History of Afghanistan” in which he gives a complex history of that country that goes deeper than the picture of a struggling democracy and more than just a headline Islamic war between fanatics. 1119 Eighth Ave. (206) 652-4255 or email [email protected].
“Journey of Heroes” is a new manga book about the 442nd Japanese American fighting battalion during WWII. The project was directed by Stacey Hayashi and the art was done by Damon Wong. For details, go to [email protected]. The team had a recent booksigning in Seattle.
Seattle writer Richard Chiem has a new short story collection entitled “YOU PRIVATE PERSON” out this September on Scrambler Books. His short story appears in the September issue of CityArts.
“In the Shadow of the Banyan” (Simon & Schuster) by Vaddey Ratner has generated great advance praise. The author takes her childhood experiences living through the horrors of the “killing fields” and weaves it into a haunting novel.
“A Hundred Flowers” (St. Martin’s Press) by Gail Tsukiyama is this veteran novelist’s latest offering. It tells the story of a high school teacher who speaks out against the Communist Party during a period of supposed openness only to be imprisoned.
“Soul Calling: A Photographic Journey through the Hmong Diaspora” (Heyday) by Joel Pickford is the first photographic recording of the Hmong people’s journey from Laos to the United States. Pickford captures the Hmong experience through a long history of persecution, survival and adaption. The Fresno Art Museum will premiere a major exhibition based on this book on September 28, 2012. With this show will be an exhibit of pab ntaub (story cloth art) by Houa Vang. The exhibit runs through January 2013. For details, go to http://www.fresnoartmuseum.org/exhibitions/upcoming. Today, over 260,00 Hmong live in this country as our friends and neighbors. For details on the book, go to www.heydaybooks.com.
“Prisons and Patriots: Japanese American Wartime Citizenship, Civil Disobedience and Historical Memory” (Temple) is a new book by Cherstin Lyon that provides a detailed account of forty-one Nisei, known as the Tucsonians, who were imprisoned for resisting the draft during WW II and parallels that with the courage of civil rights hero Gordon Hirabayashi who resisted the draft, fighting a legal battle against curfew and internment. Part of the series, “Asian American History and Culture,” Lyon is Assistant Professor of History, California State University, San Bernadino. Go to www.temple.edu/tempress for details.
“San Francisco Chinatown – A guide to Its History and Architecture (City Lights) by Philip P. Choy is the first book of its kind that goes beyond the “oriental” façade of this community to reveal a history rooted in the political past of the city, state, and nation. This book is both a history of America’s oldest Chinese community and a guide to its architectural history. For details, go to www.citylights.com.
Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton are local literary treasures and their translations of contemporary Korean literature continue to shed light on a subject that deserves a wider recognition. With “River Of Fire And Other Stories (Columbia University Press) by noted Korean woman writer O Chong-Hui, we bear witness to a nation recovering from the ruins of war, family dysfunction, decline of traditional, rural culture and the rise of the city and industrial development – all done through the women’s eyes and voices. For details, go to www.cup.columbia.edu. The Fulton’s no doubt will be doing a local reading of this book.
New York forager/ author Tama Matsuoka Wong is the author of a new book entitled “Foraged Flavor: Find Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer’s Market.”
“Angel Island – Immigrant Gateway To America” (Oxford) by Erika Lee & Judy Yung and winner of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Award for Adult Non-Fiction is now out in a new paperback edition. This book on the immigrant history of the West Coast’s version of New York’s Ellis Island will stand as the definitive resource for years to come.
Chinese Canadian author David H. T. Wong has written the first graphic book to explore a century of Chinese North American history entitled “Escape to Gold Mountain: a Graphic History of the Chinese in North America” (Arsenal Pulp Press).
Art News/Opportunities
“EXPOSED” is a photo contest on Little Saigon. SCIDpda sponsors a contest open to all for the best images of that neighborhood taken. Go to EXPOSEDLittleSaigon.com for all the details.
Terri Hiroshima has been appointed to the Seattle Arts Commission by Mayor Mike McGinn. A Puget Sound resident since 1992, she has worked in Seattle’s non-profit sector for more than 18 years. She is currently Director of Marketing & External Relations at Crosscut Public Media, an online news outlet that focuses on in-depth coverage of Northwest issues. Her background in the arts has included marketing and communications roles at Seattle Theatre Group, Empty Space Theatre and One Reel.
SOIL Art Gallery is a collective of local artists. They have their 2012 SOIL Auction fundraiser with a Halloween theme on Oct. 26 from 6 – 10 p.m. Food, drinks, a costume contest judged by local art curators and a chance to buy 12 original drawings by your favorite artists are some of the temptations. So come out and support your local artists. At WithinSodo at 2916 Utah Ave. S. Call (206) 264-8061 or go to http://soilart.org for more details.
Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs has a funding program aimed at arts jobs. “Arts Mean Business” will fund jobs crucial to the implementing of sustainable revenue strategies for Seattle arts organizations. Go to www.seattle.gov/arts or email [email protected] for details.
The City of SeaTac presents a Juried Fine Art Exhibit” set for Oct. 4 – 25, 2012 at SeaTac City Hall at 4800 South 188th St. in SeaTac. Entries must be delivered on Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on the third floor lobby of SeaTac City Hall. $15 entry fee per entry. For details, call (206) 973-4680.
The city of Enumclaw is seeking artists to display their work in participating local businesses during the Enumclaw Chamber Winter Wine Walk on Nov. 17, 2012. For an application, contact Gary LaTurner at [email protected] or call (360) 802-0239.
Boston-based artist Mikyoung Kim was selected to create public art for the new Sellwood Bridge in Oregon. Kim is planning a multi-media collage of elements based on locally found objects and materials. The artist has worked on a variety of projects from Miami to Seoul and Washington D.C. The work is scheduled for completion in 2015/2016. For details, go to www.racc.org.
A Japanese Buddhist sculpture of the late Heian Period (794-1185 CE) is the latest Japanese art acquisition for Seattle Art Museum and comes as a gift of the Monsen’s. This Amida Buddha will be on view beginning July 21 at SAAM’s Foster Galleries.
Portland artist Una Kim and students at Portland State University are creating a mural for Portland Center for the Performing Arts Keller Auditorium. Estimated completion of the project is set for mid-August. (503) 248-4335.
Local musician/composer Eyvind Kang is returning to his alma mater, Cornish College of the Arts as an adjunct professor in the music department. Kang plays viola and violin and collaborates with musicians around the world. Known for his frequent appearances on guitarist Bill Frisell’s albums as well as several of his own albums, Kang will start teaching in the fall.
Congratulations to composer/pianist Vjay Iyer whose work has received numerous awards this year. He was honored by being included in a record five categories of The 2012 Downbeat International Critic’s Poll. No other artist in the magazine’s history has ever taken five titles simultaneously. The Jazz Journalists Association honored him with “Pianist of the Year” at their 16th Annual Awards Ceremony. He was also chosen as one of the inaugural recipients of the Doris Duke Artist Award and named a winner of The Greenfield Prize for excellence in multidisciplinary arts. Iyer’s latest release “Accelerando” is just out on the ACT Music + Vision label.
Japanese Studies Fellowships program gives scholars, researchers, and doctorial candidates the opportunity to conduct research in Japan. Deadline of Nov. 1, 2012. Go to http://bit.ly/kklDZe for details.
Looking for politically inspired fine art from the Northwest region. Deadline is Dec. 31, 2012. Go to http://bit.ly/LFucXl for details.
Politically inspired fine art from Northwest artists (Wash., Oregon, Alaska and Idaho) is sought for an exhibition. Go to http://bit.ly/J661WI. Deadline is 12/31/12.
Northwest Folklife seeks performers & instructors for the 2013 NW Folklife Festival. Download applications at www.nwfolklife.org. Deadline is Dec. 1, 2012.
