By Alan Lau
Highlights
“To Sleep So As To Dream,” Kaizo Hayashi’s beautiful celebration of Japanese silent cinema, is screened with new music and “benshi” narraration as performed live by Aono Jikken ensemble on Jan. 19 & 20 at 7 p.m. Get your tickets early as performances tend to sell out fast. Also Northwest Asian American Film Festival stages their opening night gala on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. — $15 will get you into the movie and the reception afterwards at 9:30 p.m. as well. If you are planning to attend the reception only, there is a $10 suggested donation. This festival is Washington state’s largest showcase for Asian American films and videos. The full festival schedule is posted on www.nwaaff.org. Both of the above events are at Northwest Film Forum on Capitol Hill, 1515 12th Ave., (206) 267-5380 or 1 (800) 838-3006 or log on to nwfilmforum.org.
The Shen Wei Dance Arts present their contemporary take on “Rite of
Spring,” Jan. 18 – 20 at 8 p.m. The New York Times has called the work of Shen Wei “startingly imaginative.” World Dance Series at Meany Hall on the University of Washington campus, (206) 543-4880.
“Made In China” is a group show of 10 Chinese artists whose work reflects the diversity of influences sculpting today’s China. Opening reception is Jan. 4 from 5 – 8 p.m. Through Feb. 23. ARTXCHANGE at 512 First Ave. S., (206) 839-0377.
Visual Arts
“How the Soy Sauce Was Bottled” is a special exhibition featuring the artwork of Heinrich Toh, James Lawrence Ardena, June Sekiguchi, Saya Moriyasu and Susie Jungune Lee who created new works based on the Wing Luke Asian Museum’s permanent collection. This will be the last show in the present Museum site before it moves. Opening reception is Jan. 4 from 5 – 7 p.m. On view through Nov. 20, 2007 – 409 Seventh Ave. S., (206) 623-5124. A simple disclaimer – I was one of the jurors for this show.
The work of Boyd Sugiki is included in a Pilchuck Glass Exhibition, Jan. 5 – 28 at William Traver Gallery in Seattle, 110 Union St. #200, www.travergallery.com.
The work of Timea Tihanyi is included in a four-person show at Davidson Contemporary in the Tashiro/Kaplan Building, Jan. 5 – 27, (206) 624-7684.
South Korean artist Jun Kyu Lee presents his first American solo show entitled “The Border of Reality and Illusion” in which a surreal landscape plops you down into the solitude of his subconscious world. Opening reception is Jan. 11 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Show runs Jan. 4 – 29. Shoreline Community College Gallery in the Administration Building at 16101 Greenwood Ave. N., (206) 546-4101 x4433.
“Modern Cave Paintings” is a show of Jason Matsune’s prints of landscapes printed on canvas. Opening reception is Jan. 3 from 6 – 8 p.m. with the First Thursday Art Walk opening on Jan. 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. Through Jan. 27. Gallery 110 at 110 S. Washington, (206) 624-9336.
“Disturbia” features new installation works and take-home art by Amy Lin all dealing with this theme. Opening reception is Jan. 4 from 5 – 8 p.m. On view through Feb. 3. Shift Studio at 306 S. Washington #105 in the Tashiro/Kaplan Bldg., [email protected].
The Seventh Annual Seattle Print Fair takes place Jan. 13 & 14 at Seattle Center Pavilion. Original prints from 1500-2006 are for sale from 18 leading U.S. and Canadian print dealers. Free admission, www.seattleprintfair.com or (206) 624-6938.
“Home: Where We Came From, Where We’re Going” incorporates the stories of Katrina survivors with art and photographs of post-Katrina New Orleans created by the survivors and artist/curator Emilia Muller-Ginorio. Through Jan. 25. M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery6 at Seattle Central Community College, (206) 344-4379 or log on to www.seattlecentral.edu/artgallery.
Union St. Electric Gallery shows sculptor Yuki Nakamura’s “White Vanishing: Light And Shadow” through April. The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs manages the gallery. Call (206) 233-3930. www.seattle.gov/arts.
“Dim Sum at the On-On Tea Room – The Jewelry of Ron Ho” (see review in this issue) is a long overdue retrospective of the work of this creative jewelry artist and local Northwest treasure who has crafted personal stories out of carefully gathered antiques and folk art pieces. On view at the Bellevue Art Museum through Feb. 18, 510 Bellevue Way N.E., (425) 519-0770, www.bellevuearts.org.
The work of Emma Oh, Mizu Sugimura, and Miyoshi Tsuji is included in the “Arts Alive Juried Exhibition” through Jan. 8 at the Federal Way City Hall Art Gallery, 33325 Eighth Ave. S., (253) 835-6901. www.cityoffederalway.com.
Carolyn Staley Fine Japanese Prints is showing recently acquired “ukiyo-e” and modern prints including the Hiroshi Yoshida series on North American landscape with one scene featuring Mt. Rainier. Gallery is closed Jan. 18 – 29 to attend print fairs – 2001 Western Ave., #320, (206) 621-1888, www.carolynstaleyprints.com.
Ongoing at the Seattle Asian Art Museum is “Discovering Buddhist Art – Seeking the Sublime” which looks at works from SAM’s permanent collection.
The Burke Museum on the UW campus presents a pair of connected shows together. “Vanished Kingdoms: The Wulsin Photos of China, Tibet, & Mongolia, 1921 – 25” present rare images of that part of Asia along with “Sacred Portraits – Eleven Tibetan Thangkas” (large painted portraits on cloth from the Museum’s own collection). Both shows on view until Feb. 4. The Museum is located on the UW campus at N.E. 45th & 17th N.E., (206) 543-5590.
Zen Priest Richard Kirsten Daiensai and Calligrapher Chiyo Sanada show their work inspired by Japan at Two Vaults Gallery through January, 602 S. Fawcett in Tacoma, (253) 759-6233.
The work of Yuki Nakamura and Mark Takamichi Miller is included in a group show entitled “Building Tradition: Contemporary Northwest Art” through April 29. Whatcom Museum at 121 Prospect in Bellingham, (360) 676-6981 or log on to www.whatcommuseum.com.
“A Day With Words: The Calligraphic Art of Jung Do-jun,” an exhibition by the master Korean calligrapher is on view through Jan. 7 at the University of Oregon, Jordan Schnitzer.org. Museum of Art at 1430 Johnson Lane in Eugene, Ore., (541) 346-3027 or log on to jsma.uoregon.edu.
“Ansel Adams at Manzanar” features over 50 vintage prints of life in the World War II concentration camp by this noted American photographer. Through Feb. 18. Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, (213) 625-0414 or log on to www.janm.org.
Performing Arts
Seattle Symphony’s Assistant Conductor Carolyn Kuan conducts a number of concerts for children. “Discover Music!: Music for the Theatre with ARC Dance Company” is set for Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. and Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. “Meet the Beat!: Music for the Theatre” also includes the ARC Dance Company on Jan. 16 at 10:30 p.m. Teachers wishing to reserve seating should call (206) 215-4784.
Seattle Children’s Theatre presents the world-premiere production of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” inspired by an ancient Greek fable. Through Jan. 27. Khanh Doan is in the cast as Miss Grapevine. The set design is by Carey Wong – 201 Thomas St. at Seattle Center, (206) 441-3322.
Two celebrations mark the New Year. Seattle Betsuin New Year Celebration takes place on Jan. 7 starting at noon, 1427 S. Main St., (206) 329-0800. The annual Mochi Festival takes place on Jan. 7 on Bainbridge Island. Participants can watch and participate in the annual mochi pounding ceremony. At Island Wood at 4450 Blakely Ave. N.E. www.islandwood.org.
Written Arts
Elliot Bay Book Company has the following readings in their on-going series: ReAct Theatre will perform plays from “365 Days/365 Plays,” the ambitious theatre project by Suzan-Lori Parks from Jan. 15 – 21 daily. Log on to www.365seattle.com for a complete list of performances. Isabel Stirling reads from “Zen Pioneer: The Life And Works of Ruth Fuller Sasaki” (Shoemaker & Hoard) on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Sasaki helped bring the teachings of Zen Buddhism to the West. All readings at Elliott Bay Book Co. in Pioneer Square, 101 S. Main St., (206) 624-6600.
Film & Video
Nobuhiro Yamashita (“The Black Ark”) shifts gears from drama to a wacky, delightful comedy entitled “Linda, Linda, Linda” which tells the story of high school girls who form a band for a talent contest. Missing a lead singer, they pick the next girl who walks around the corner who happens to be a Korean exchange student. Dec. 29 – Jan. 11 at the Grand Illusion Cinema in the University District, 1403 N.E. 50th at University Way N.E. & N.E. 50th, (206) 523-3935.
Awards/Opportunities
Western Washington artists working in all media are invited to submit entries for “The Gallery at Tacoma Community College’s Fifth Annual Juried Local Art Exhibition.” Deadline is April 27. Entry forms at www.tacomacc.edu under The Gallery. Or call (253) 460-4036.
World-renown photographer Masumi Hayashi passed away in 2006 in an apparent double homicide dispute with a neighbor in Cleveland. She had an exhibition in 2003 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles entitled, “Sights Unseen: The Photographic Constructions of Masumi Hayashi.” The exhibit included her photocollages of abandoned prisons, EPA Superfund Sites and Japanese American and Japanese Canadian WWII concentration camps. Her photocollages were composed of as many as 140 individual images combined to build a panorama view of an outdoor landscape.
Skowhegan, a residency program for advanced visual artists, is now taking applications for their 2007 season. Paul Chan is part of the visiting faculty. Takes place June 9 – August 11, 2007. Deadline is Feb. 1, 2007. To apply, log on to www.skowheganart.org.
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