Visual Arts
Highlights
Bellevue Arts Museum just received a major grant from the National Endowment of the Arts in support of their presentation of a major exhibition of major Northwest ceramic artist Patti Warashina entitled “Patti Warashina: Wit and Wisdom.” The show opens July 12, 2013. For details, go to www.bellevuearts.org.
“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 World War II. Cullom Gallery at 603 S. Main St., open Wednesday through Saturday, (206) 919-8278 or go to cullomgallery.com.
Seattle artist Weng Gavino completed a large intaglio mural piece entitled “The Philippine Sun Kindles the Salmon Run,” depicting the story of the salmon akin to the Filipino journey in American society, struggling and spawning a legacy of justice and community building. The mural is part of a 7-foot tall kiosk entitled “Honoring Filipino Americans in Chinatown International District from 1911 to 2010.” It was unveiled recently in a public ceremony and will be one of four ethnic planned kiosks to be installed in the neighborhood. For more information, contact Maria Batayola at [email protected].
Glenn Richards presents The 12th Annual Mingei Pottery Show on view through Dec. 23. This show features the work of 18 exceptional Northwest potters who find inspiration in the tradition of Japanese folk art. The work of Reid Ozaki is included in this group show. 964 Denny Way in Seattle. (206) 287-1877 or go to www.glennrichards.com.
“Modern Twist: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art” (see related article in this issue) 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. 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. (425) 519-0770 or go to www.bellevuearts.org.
“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 I 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 henryart.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” 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.
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. (206) 264-8061.
The work of David Cho is included in a group show entitled “Super Smart Art Mart” at True Love Art Gallery at 1525 Summit Ave. (206) 227-3572 or go to trueloveart.com
The work of Moon Lee and Meiko Hara is included in the show “With a Bang! (Not a Whimper): End-of-Year Group Exhibition at Gallery IMA. On view till Dec. 29. 123 S. Jackson. (206) 625-0055 or go to www.galleryima.com/
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. (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. (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. (206) 839-0377 or try [email protected].
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
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 show entitled “Circular from the Permanent Collection” through Jan. 1, 2013 at Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane. 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.
On view till Dec. 20 is ceramic work by Hanako Nakazato and Betsy Williams. 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. 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. An ongoing 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 Dec. 15 from 1 – 3pm has a workshop on how to make parols (Filipino Christmas lanterns) taught by Roger Del Rosario of Kultura. 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. The museum’s gift shop, Marketplace presents a “Holiday Shop-O-Rama” series of events through December. On Dec. 22, get a 15% discount from 12 – 5pm. From 10am – 12pm, Early Bird Special with 25% off scarves and 20% off jewelry. Complimentary gift wrapping available. For information on all of the above, go to www.wingluke.org or call (206) 623-5124.
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
Performing Arts
Highlights
Increasingly in music, you find musicians taking more active control over their own music by starting their own record labels so they can have a say in how their music is presented to the world. Recently jazz saxophonist/composer Jon Irabagon started his own label, Irabbagast Records. The first two releases showcase different groups he’s playing with now. “Unhinged” by Jon Ibrabagon’s Outright and “I Don’t Hear Nothin’ But The Blues Volume 2: Appalachian Haze.” For details, try http://jonirabagon.com/
The pounding of homemade mocha made from sticky rice is a traditional Japanese new year’s ceremony. You can participate and witness this fun event at two different venues. On Sat., Dec. 29 from 10am – 3pm. The Seattle Mochitsuki is held at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church at 3001 – 24th Ave. S. Pre-sale orders by Dec. 25 at www.jcccw.org or call (206) 568-7114 for details. Another 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.
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 www.thecancan.com.
A New Year’s Eve Goma Fire Ritual takes place from 11pm – 1am on Mon., Dec. 31 at Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple at 1518 S. Washington St. in Seattle. (206) 325-8811.
Artist Trust, the nonprofit 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].
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.
The 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
“San Soleil” is considered one of the late Chris Marker’s greatest films. It explores the melancholy beauty of memory and the complex journey into time in a trip that moves from Japan to Africa and places in between. Screens Dec. 20 at 7pm at Northwest Film Forum at 7pm. 1515 – 12th Ave. (206) 829-7863 or go to nwfilmforum.org. On a related note, Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Emiko Omori based in San Francisco has just completed an homage to her mentor entitled “To Chris Marker – An Unsent Letter” currently making the rounds of national and international film festivals.
Highlights
In an attempt to recreate the tradition of Kokusai Theater, a popular Japanese movie theater which was located in Seattle’s Chinatown/ID neighborhood , the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington has been hosting a movie screening event called “Matinee Eiga” every Sunday at 2pm “Shall We Dance?” that included the American debut of noted Japanese actor Koji Yakusho as a salaryman bent on learning ballroom dance to romance his wife screens on Dec. 23. Takeshi Kitano’s “A Scene at the Sea” is set for Dec. 30. Suggested donation is $3 to $5. 1414 S. Weller St. (206) 568-7114 or email [email protected].
Noted Asian American filmmaker/sound technician Curtis Choy has worked on many well known film productions besides his own works. Now he offers DVD’s of some of his award-winning documentary films on subjects as diverse as writer Frank Chin, poet/community activist Al Robles and the plight of the I Hotel on sale for a limited time only at 10% off with free shipping through Dec. 31. Makes for great Christmas gifts for the film lover in your family. For more, go to http://www.chonkmoonhunter.com.
“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
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. 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. 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.
Art News/Opportunities
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.
Professional visual artists with a lengthy track record who need financial assistance might try the Gottlieb Foundation. Go to http://gottliebfoundation.org/grants/ for details.
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 malpaisreview.com.
NEA Literature Fellowships available for translation projects of prose, poetry or drams from other languages into English. Deadline is 1/3/13. Go to http://bit.ly/R7nwWT for details.
Congratulations to local drummer/composer Paul Kikuchi who received a City of Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs City Artist Project Award. Projects help fund new works and works-in-development in various artistic disciplines year by year.
Local musician Brian Chin’s newest recording just out is entitled “Eventide”. It contains five pieces specifically commissioned through the Universal Language Project. For more information, go to www.chinmusik.com.
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 Dec. 31, 2012
