Highlights
Noted modern composer and Seattle native Paul Chihara will return to town to witness the performance of his new piano quintet, “La Foce” on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at UW’s Brechemin Auditorium as part of the “East-West Piano Arts Series” coordinated by Regina Yeh. Zhou Long and Bright Sheng are some of the composers, (206) 685-8384. www.music.washington.edu.
Bay Area artist David Kwan shows his multi-channel video/audio installation, “Terminus” in the Jack Straw Media Gallery from Feb. 9 – April 20. Kwan was inspired by the end-of-land vistas in Puget Sound and collected images and sounds at various terminal points. Opening reception is Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. Kwan gives a talk on Feb. 10 at 11 a.m., 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., (206) 634-0919 or log on to [email protected]
Seattle Asian Art Museum presents a new exhibit entitled “Of Nature & Friendship – Modern Chinese Paintings from the Khoan and Michael Sullivan Collection” on view from Feb. 15 – July 29. This show features over 60 Chinese paintings from the 20th century collected by respected Chinese art historian and critic Michael Sullivan and his wife, Khoan. Become a museum member and treat yourself to an early Members Preview to the show on Feb. 14 from 2 – 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. talk by Josh Yiu, SAM assistant curator of Chinese art. On Feb. 15, two art historians will talk about Chinese art. Michael Sullivan will talk about his experiences with artists exploring modernism in China and the role of the art historian and critic. Professor Wan Qingli will speak from his dual perspective of art historian and working artist whose work is included in the collection. Public tours of the show are offered from Feb. 18 – July 29 on Sundays at 1 p.m. with the exception of April 8, May 13 or June 17 – 1400 E. Prospect in Volunteer Park, (206) 654-3100.
Internationally-known soprano Sumi Jo joins pianist Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming and the Seattle Symphony conducted by Steven Mercurio for a concert at the Taper Foundation Auditorium at Benaroya Hall on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m., (206) 215-4747 or log on to www.benaroyahall.org.
Visual Arts
An installation of sculptures created entirely from white flour on the floor is Mi Wu’s contribution to a group show entitled “Snow White, Sterling Silver.” Other work by Haley Renee Bates and Teresa Illene Redden. Opening Feb. 8 from 6 – 8 p.m. Artists’ talk on Feb. 17 at noon. On view through March 10 at Catherine Person Gallery at 319 Third Ave. S., (206) 763-5565.
Hiroshi Oe shows his basketwork at The Fountainhead Gallery at 625 W. McGraw St. through February, (206) 285-4467.
Work by Hiroki Morinoue, Setsuko Watanabe, Miho Morinoue, Jeer Rattanagkoon and others now on view at Mikijio Arts at 114 First Ave. S. in studio #4. Call (206) 624-2588 for hours.
View Joby Shimomura’s stained glass art during an Open House on Feb. 10 from noon – 5 p.m., 619 Western Ave. on the second floor.
“Stereotyping the Asian Feminine” is a new show by Gazelee Samizay. It opens Feb. 13 from 6 – 9 p.m. and will remain on view through March 10. Using 20th century films of Asian stereotypes as a source book, these photos are an intricate collage of sex, love and politics. Retail Therapy at 905 E. Pike, (206) 324-4092.
SAM Gallery has two new shows. First up is “Here And Now,” a group show that focuses on the recent work of eight Seattle artists. Elizabeth Jameson and Junko Yamamoto are included in this show. The gallery’s series, “In Focus – Seattle Galleries at SAM Gallery” features a group show of artists from the collective SOIL. Included in this show which runs through Feb. 28 is the work of Etsuko Ichikawa, Saya Moriyasu and Yuki Nakamura – 1220 Third Ave., (206) 434-1101.
“Made In China” is a show of 10 Chinese artists that reflects the diversity of influences sculpting today’s China. Through Feb. 23. ARTXCHANGE at 512 First Ave. S., (206) 839-0377.
The work of Mark Takamichi Miller is in a show of new portable works purchased by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and Seattle Public Utilities at the Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery through April 30. The group show, “People + Place,” includes 48 artworks by 35 artists in various media. Opening reception on Feb. 13 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. 700 Fifth Ave., 3rd Floor. (206) 684-4748.
“How the Soy Sauce Was Bottled” features the work 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. On view through Nov. 20. – 409 7th Ave. S., (206) 623-5124.
“Dim Sum at the On-On Tea Room – The Jewelry of Ron Ho” 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.
A group show of jewelry art entitled “Heart Of The Matter – an exploration of materials” features work by Sakurako Shimizu on view through Feb. 15. Facere Jewelry Art Gallery at 1420 Fifth Ave., Suite 108, (206) 624-6768.
David Ho’s digital painting is included in a three-person show at “Roq La Rue Gallery through March 3. Opening on Feb. 9 from 6 – 9 p.m., 2312 Second Ave., (206) 374-8977.
Gallery 110 has a group show entitled “Blackfish Gallery Exchange” by members of a Portland cooperative art gallery. The work of Robert Dozono is included. Through February – 110 S. Washington, (206) 624-9336.
Karin Yamagiwa Madan and Suzanne Kaufman explore the stories of highly stylized characters in a mixed-media format in “Wookin’ Pa Nub” at Bluebottle Gallery at 415 E. Pine St. through February, (206) 325-1952.
The work of the sixth generation of potters from Hida Takayama in Japan shows through Feb. 23 at Kobo located at 814 E. Roy, (206) 726-0704.
“MasterMinds” is a group show of abstract works from the UW Ceramics Program. Akio Takamori, Susie Lee, Yuki Nakamura and Timea Tihanyi all have work in this show. Opening reception is Feb. 8 from 6 – 8 p.m. On view through March 3. Kirkland Arts Center at 620 Market St., (425) 822-7161.
“Things Otherwise Left Unsaid” is a show featuring the work of Heinrich and Cheryl Toh at Rhino studios & Gallery in Issaquah. Through Feb. 17, 58 Front St. N., Second Floor, (425) 392-5040.
Seattle-based artist Yuki Nakamura has her first solo show outside of Seattle at the Peeler Art Center at DePauw University in Indiana. Up till March 4, (765) 658-4336.
Performing Arts
Composer/arranger & musician (Aono Jikken) Esther Sugai joins Dean Moore and friends in an evening of ambient gong music on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. The L.A.B. at 12510 15th Ave. N.E., (206) 364-8815.
Viswa Mohan Bhatt, Indian guitar virtuoso who has collaborated with many musicians such as Ry Cooder, performs in a concert, “International Guitar Night,” with three other master guitarists of different genres. Feb. 10 at 8 p.m., Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave. in Kirkland, (425) 893-9900. www.kpcenter.org.
Sometimes referred to as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukelele,” Jake Shimabukuro turns that small island instrument into a virtuoso performance of genre-breaking, breathtaking music. Feb. 20 at the Triple Door, 216 Union St., (206) 838-4333.
On The Boards presents the U.S. debut of Theatre Replacement’s “Sexual Practices of the Japanese” Feb. 22 – 24 at 8 p.m. The group looks at the sexual stereotypes surrounding Japanese culture with a trilogy of one-acts that move from crowded commuter train to a Tokyo love hotel. Along the way they touch on office politics, work parties and Ichiro – 100 W. Roy, (206) 217-9888 or log on to www.ontheboards.org.
As part of the music series, “In Depth: Three Continents, Three Composers,” the Seattle Chamber Players will perform a concert entitled “The Singing Garden of Toshio Hosokawa” on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. at Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall. Considered one of Japan’s greatest living composers, Hosokawa evokes the textures, forms and colors of both East and West. This will be the first retrospective of his music presented in the United States. A post-concert talk with the musicians will follow. Tickets: Benaroya Hall or ticketmaster.com, (206) 286-5052.
Written Arts
Seattle-raised writer and poet Paisley Rekdal will read from a new volume of poetry on the University of Pittsburgh Press on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. At Open Books: A Poem Emporium, 2414 N. 45th in Wallingford, (206) 633-0811 or [email protected]
Award-winning writer, filmmaker and organic food advocate Ruth Ozeki (“All Over Creation,” “My Year of Meats”) will give a talk at Cascadia College in Bothell entitled “Hybrid Vigor: Mixing science and fiction, splicing politics with poetics, and crossbreeding points of view.” Feb. 28 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in Room OO5 of UWZ. A discussion of her novel, “My Year of Meats” takes place Feb. 14 from noon – 1 p.m. in Room 161 in Building CCZ, (425) 352-8000.
Film & Video
As part of their “Remarkable People” documentary series, KCTS will air a half-hour program on retired Microsoft executive and now Seattle philanthropist Scott Oki on Feb. 15 at 9 p.m., (206) 728-6463.
“Satyajit Ray’s India” is the title of a mini-retrospective of some of the major films of the late Indian director. “Daughters” on Feb. 11, “The Big City” on Feb. 18 and finally, “The Middleman” on Feb. 25. All films screen at 1:30 p.m. in the Stimson Auditorium at Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, (206) 654-3121.
For those of you willing to travel, the 30th Portland International Film Festival plays Feb. 9 – 24 at various movie theatres throughout the city. Some highlights include: Feng Xiaogang’s “The Banquet” from China stars Zhang Ziyi as a widowed empress who remarries a new emperor while secretly plotting his death. Hong Kong director Peter Ho-Sun Chan”s “Perhaps Love” is a musical about a love triangle. Rakekysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Rang De Basanti” is a “Bollywood gone hip-hop” spectacle that includes romance, tragedy, history and social commentary. Lee Sang-il’s “Hula Girls” shows how a northern mining town in Japan comes up with the idea of a Hawaiian Village with Japanese hula girls to turn a depressed area into a tourist mecca. Bong Joon-ho’s “The Host” is a South Korean spoof of “B” monster movies with pointed political and social satire. Jun-ik Lee’s “King And the Clown” looks at two 16th century street clowns faced with execution. To save their lives, they must make the king laugh. Pen Ek Ratanaruang’s “Invisible Waves” is an eccentric twist on the Japanese “yakuza” gangster genre done Thai-style. Ngo Quang Hai’s “Pao’s Story” is a coming-of-age film set in a Hmong village in Vietnam. www.nwfilm.org. (503) 228-7433.
