Highlights
Spectrum Dance Theater present composer Bela Bartok’s “The Miraculous Mandarin” May 17 – 19 & 24 – 26 at 8 p.m. outside in Hing Hay Park at S. King St. & Maynard Ave. S. in Seattle’s Chinatown/ID neighborhood. A “behind the scenes historic tour” is co-presnted as well by the Wing on Sat., May 19. Call (206) 325-4161.
Noted Northwest photographer Johsel Namkung celebrates his 93rd year with the publication of his long awaited retrospective book entitled “Johsel Namkung/ A Retrospective”. 2:30 – 6:30 p.m. reception to the general public. On Sat., May 26 in the Walker Ames Room of Kane Hall on the Seattle UW campus. For details, email [email protected].
The Friends of Asian Art Association present a talk by noted Northwest ceramic artist, Patti Warashina entitled “A Life of Ceramics”. She will discuss the varied influences that affect her contemporary surrealist imagery. May 6 at 1:30 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Stimson Auditorium. $5 minimum donation at the door. For details, email [email protected].
New York-based writer Rajesh Parameswaran makes an impressive literary debut with his short story collection entitled “I Am an Executioner: Love Stories” (Knopf). Thurs., May 3 at 7 p.m. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave. on Capitol Hill. Call (206) 624-6600.
Celebrate “Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month” on Sunday, May 6 from 11:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. Headliners include what may be the last public performance of the popular local soul/funk band of the70’s, Nine Lives and the local reggae band, Kore Ionz plus many other groups. Kids activities, food booths and displays by the API Women and Family Safety Center, Art Contest Winners, Asia Pacific Cultural Center and the Wing. Free Admission. Seattle Center’s Center House. Visit www.seattleapi.com and www.facebook.com/apiheritage for more information.
Noted Seattle-raised artist Roger Shimomura will talk about his work and how it is influenced by Asian American social/political issues. Microsoft Art Collection Program’s Artist Lecture Series. Friday, May 4 at noon. 34/2615-Quinault in Redmond.
“IDxID: New Identities” is the title of a group show juried by C. Davida Ingram. The work explores identities and identifications and how they shape our world. Featured is work by by Adrian Chesser and Timothy White Eagle, Frederic Moffet, Kat Larson, Kathy Liao, Mihai Coman, Rafael Soldi, Robert Terry II, Zel Brooks, Ilvs Strauss and others. Opening reception on May 3 from 5 – 8 p.m. On view through June 28. Open on Thursdays from 2 – 8 p.m. and Fridays & Saturdays from 12 – 6 p.m. IDEA Odyssey, 666 S. Jackson St., Seattle. For details, go to www.ideaodysseygallery.com.
Gamelan Pacifica is a local Indonesian percussive orchestra that keeps the tradition alive while extending it with new compositions. Featured soloist and guest is Ki Midiyanto from Indonesia. May 12 at Cornish College Of the Arts. 710 E. Roy St., Seattle. Call (206) 726-5151 or visit www.cornish.edu.
“Seattle’s Nippon Kan: The Discovery of Seattle’s Other History” is a talk by Edward Burke. Burke and his wife, Elizabeth were caretakers of that historical building for many years and they collaborated on this book. Sat., May 19 at 4 p.m. At the Wing, 719 S. King St., Seattle. Call (206) 623-5124 or visit www.wingluke.org.
Spring perks up with play offerings by local brother and sister, Kathy and David Hsieh who between the two of them have done much to enliven our local theatre scene with their companies – SIS Productions and React Theatre. Kathy finally brings a regretful closing curtain to her “Sex in Seattle” series, a popular look at the joys and foibles of Asian American single women dancing around those scary words such as “relationship,” “commitment” and “marriage.” See how it plays out as the characters you have known to grow and love walk off into the distance one last time. “Sex in Seattle 20:Happily Ever After…” was written by Hsieh, directed by Lisa Anne Glomb and stars Leilani Berinobis, Audrey Fan, Henry Drew, Tom Falcone or Don Fleming, Gordon Hendrickson, Kathy
Hsieh, Mike Premo, Serin Ngai or May Nguyen and Moses Yim. Opening night gala with party and reception on April 27 and play runs through May 26 on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m. Q & A sessions follow every Friday/Saturday night from April 28 – May 25. Please note that this last production is at a new venue in Fremont. The West of Lenin space at 203 N. 36th St. Advance tickets at Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com. For reservations, call (206) 323-9443 or go to [email protected]. Group rates available. More information at (206) 323-9443 or go to www.sis-productions.org. After too long an absence, David Hsieh beings his commitment to multi-cultural casting to theatre with the beginning of a regular season again. For the opener, he has chosen Chay Yew’s “A Language of Their Own,” the award-winning play on the complexity of relationships, gay or otherwise to the Seattle stage. The play, directed by veteran director Victor Pappas and starring Joseph Steven
Yang, Hsieh himself, Trevor Cushman and Alex Adisorn with live music played by Evan Crockett. Starts April 20 and plays Friday and Saturday evenings through May 12. Purchase early and save up to 25% off your tickets. Order tickets at ReAct’s website or through Brown Paper Tickets or email [email protected] For details, go to www.reacttheatre.org. At Richard Hugo House at 1634 Eleventh Avenue on Capitol Hill.
“Along the Silk Road” is a program series presented by Seattle Asian Art Museum to accompany the present exhibit entitled “Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats.” The Silk Road Dance Company perform May 5 at 6 & 8 p.m. They perform traditional and fusion dances, dress and music from the Middle East and Central Asia. Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Stimson auditorium in Volunteer Park. Call (206) 654-3121 or visit: www.tickets.seattleartmuseum.org/public.
For those willing to make the trek to Portland, the Northwest Film Center present a month-long retrospective featuring the films of the famed Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli. “Fable and Fantasy: The Masters of Studio Ghibli” runs May 4 – 27. All films feature new 35mm prints made especially for the retrospective. Whisell Auditorium in the Portland Art Museum. 1219 SW Park Ave. Call (503) 221-1156 or visit www.nwfilm.org for details.
Visual Arts
The work of noted Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto is included in a group show entitled ‘Can’t Get There From Here” on view May 17 – June 30. Lawrimore Project at 117 S. Main, Suite 101. Visit http://www.lawrimoreproject.com for details.
Recent natural disasters and “the dispersion of ash, smoke, clouds, wind, and water” fill the surface of Aaliyah Gupta’s work on view May 2 – 26 at CORE Gallery. Open Wed. – Sat. CORE Gallery, 117 Prefontaine Place S. Call (206) 467-4444 or go to www.coregallery.org.
M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery at Seattle Central Community College presents an intriguing look at Chinatown through three distinctly different lens. “Three Wongs: Chinatown Photographs” will showcase the work of Dean Wong, Rick Wong and Barry Wong. Through unrelated, these three photographers share the same touchstone of inspiration for their work. Opening on Wednesday, May 2 from 5 – 7 p.m. On view through May 24. Gallery hours are M-F from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. with evening hours on T & W from 5 – 7 p.m. M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery, 1701 Broadway on campus across from the cafeteria. Call (206) 934-4379 or go to www.seattlecentral.edu/gallery.
Paintings by Yuriko Miyamoto are on view at Form/Space Atelier at 2407 First Ave. Open Wed. – Sat. (206) 349-2509 or visit www.formspaceatelier.com.
Japanese installation artist Motoi Yamamoto who works with salt, an element associated with death in Japanese culture has work in the group show entitled “Making Mends” which explores the healing power of art. Seattle artist Margot Quan Knight has work in this show as well. On view through May 27. Bellevue Arts Museum at 510 Bellevue Way NE. Call (425) 519-0770 or go to www.bellevuearts.org.
“Hungry Planet: What the World Eats” is a fascinating photo exhibit that takes 10 families from around the world and looks at what they eat, day in and day out. Remains on view through June 10. UW’s Burke Museum at 17th Ave. NE and NE 45th in Seattle. Call (206) 544-5590 or go to www.burkemuseum.org.
“Soaring Voices, Recent Ceramics by Women from Japan” is a group show presenting 85 ceramics by 25 contemporary artists. Through May 12. Western Gallery in the Fine Arts Complex at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Call (360) 650-3963 or go to www.westerngallery.wwu.edu.
A spring flower arrangement exhibition by the Ryuseiha and Yushoryu Ikenobo Ikebana School is set for May 6 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Nagomi Tea House, 519 – 6th Ave. S. in Seattle. Seattle floral demonstrations at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Free. Call (206) 528-1472.
“Where We Meet: Encountering Nature” is a global group show that contemplates our human relationship with nature as part of “Earth Day” activities. Includes four artists from China, Korea, Japan and the US. See the work of Wang Jiang, Yuko Ishii, Gillchun Koh and Jane Alden Stevens. ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave. S. Call (206) 839-0377 or visit: www.artxchange.org.
Local members of the Sogetsu school of Ikebana will have their annual flower arrangement exhibition on May 12 & 13 at Swansons Nursery in Seattle. 9701 – 15th Ave. NW. 6 – 9 p.m. on Sat. and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sun. Call (425) 744-9751 for details.
Aljoya presents an art exhibition featuring the work of ZZ Wei and Alfredo Arreguin. Show will be on view through June 25, 2012. 450 NE 100th St. in Seattle.
Designer Harriett McNamara creates one-of-a-kind jewelry and adornment from scrap metal, antique hardware vintage discoveries, ceremonial beads and stones. On view from May 5 – 26 with opening reception on May 5 from 4 – 6 p.m. “Meet Me At Higo” is part two of a multi-media presentation of the history of Seattle’s original five and dime. Opening reception on Sat., May 19 at 6 p.m. will feature Ken Mochizuki, author of the catalog. Sponsored by the Wing. At Kobo at Higo, 604 South Jackson. Email [email protected] or call (206) 381-3000.
Noted Seattle ceramic artist Patti Warashina has work in the group show entitled “Around The Bend And Over The Edge: Seattle Ceramics 1964 – 1977” through May 6. Henry Art Gallery on the UW campus located at 15t Ave. NE & NE 41st. Call (206) 543-2280 or visit www.henryart.org for details.
Seattle Art Museum downtown has the following – On the second floor see an offering of ToshikoTakaezu’s large ceramic jars in the “New Acquisitions” show along with Brendan Tang’s send-up of Chinese Ming dynasty vessels meets techno-pop shapes inspired by Japanese anime and manga. On the third floor, explore a new show entitled “The Seattle Art Museum & Seattle Artists in the 1930s and 1940s” which celebrates the work of Northwest artists whose careers were fostered by the director and patrons of the museum. Includes work by Mark Tobey, Morris Graves and Emilio Amero. SAM Next series is Seattle Art Museum’s contemporary art exhibition program intended to shed light on cutting-edge contemporary young artists and the work they are doing. Selected sixth in the series is New York-based multi-media artist Mika Tajima. Tajima combines painting, sculpture, design, performance, video and sound to create immersive installations that expand the possibilities of each medium. On view through June 17, 2012. SAM,1300 First Ave., Seattle. Call (206) 654-3100 or visit: www.seattleartmuseum.org for details.
On view till August 5, 2012 will be a show entitled “Colors of the Oasis, Central Asian Ikats” which features 40 colorful robes created during the 19th century using the labor intensive process known as ikat. Also Elliott Bay Book Company presents with the Gardner Center For Asian Art & Ideas a reading by historian Paul French of “Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China” (Penguin) on Mon., May 7 at 7pm in Stimson auditorium. All at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 Prospect Ave., Seattle. For more information, call (206) 654-3100 or visit www.seattleartmuseum.org.
The Wing has a new show “I Am Filipino” which looks at Filipino identity through personal stories and photographs. “Asian American Arcade” is a new exhibition. Follow video games out of the arcade and into the art gallery where related artworks explore questions of identity, community, imagination, learning and the power of play in our lives. Through June 17, 2012. “Meet Me at Higo: An Enduring Story of a Japanese American Family” is a new show of a famous neighborhood general store on view until May 27, 2012. Accompanied by a catalogue with essay written by Ken Mochizuki. “From Fields to Family: Asian Pacific Americans and Food” is a show which explores the traditions, techniques and mouth-watering stories of food through culture and cooking techniques passed on through home and restaurant over the years. Through July 15, 2012. “New Years All Year Round” on view till July 1. “Vintage Japantown: Through the Lens of the Takano Studio” on view through Sept. 16. Family Fun Day on May 19 features “Rock Paper Sketch” taught by a group of designers on how to make a balloon robot. From 1 – 3 p.m. Patricia Tanumihardja reads from her cook book entitled “The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook-Home Cooking from Asian American Kitchens” and will demonstrate how to make homemade black bean sauce. May 5 at 3 p.m. Enjoy the First Thursday Historic Hotel Tour on May 3 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at a discount. Member Appreciation Day takes place on Sat., May 12 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. with activities, a sneak preview of upcoming shows and a chance to win a gift certificate. For information on all of the above, go to www.wingluke.org or call (206) 623-5124.
Photographer Carina del Rosario’s work is included in a group show this spring. “Shadows and Reflections” curated by sculptor June Sekiguchi at Ida Culver House in Seattle through July 16. 12505 Greenwood Ave. N. (206) 452-3206.
Artists Susie J. Lee, Henry Tsang and Jin-Me Yoon were selected to participate in “The 10th Northwest Biennial” which will be on view through May 2012. Work was selected by TAM curator Rock Hushka and independent art curator Renato Rodrigues da Silva. Call (253) 272-4258 or go to www.TacomaArtMuseum.org.
The Museum of Northwest Art in La Connor, Washington has a group show entitled “Tulipieres: The Tulip Vase Revisted” on view through June 10. The work of Makiko Ichiura, Saya Moriyasu and Patti Warashina is included. Also on view is a group show entitled “Works on Paper from the Permanent Collection” which includes the work of Paul Horiuchi, Norie Sato and George Tsutakawa. 121 South First St. in La Conner. Call (360) 466-4446 or go to www.museumofnwart.org.
“Emer’gence From Place” showcases the work of 8 indigenoius artists from around the Pacific Rim. The work of three Maori artists and two Native Hawaiian artists are included. Clatsop Community College Art Gallery through May 11. (503) 325-2449 or go to www.clatsopcc.edu/community/art-gallery/pacific-rim-art exhibit-emergence-place-new-traditional-indigenous-art for information.
Roger Shimomura’s work is in a group show at the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. entitled “Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter.” Through Oct. 14, 2012. Go to www.npa.sl.edu. After the show closes, it will tour including venues in Washington State.
Coverage of early Japanese American history in the region is included in the permanent exhibit at White River Valley Museum, 918 “H” St. S.E. in Auburn. Call (253) 288-7433 or go www.wrvmuseum.org.
The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center preserves the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the area. Their permanent exhibit is “Oregon Nikkei: Reflections of a Community.” “Forthcoming shows will be “Kokeshi: From Tradition to Tools,” “Coming Home: Japanese Americans in Portland After WWII” and “Roger Shimomura: Shadows of Minidoka.” Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, 121 NW 2nd Ave. in Portland. Call (503) 224-1458 or e-mail: [email protected].
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.
Performing Arts
Japanese jazz pianist Keiko Matsui appears with her band at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley from May 3 – May 6 starting at 7:30pm. 2033 6th Ave. Go to www.keikomatsui.com for details.
Jim Fox, Christopher Roberts and Nat Evans will have new compositions written for the qin (Chinese zither) in a concert entitled “New Music for the Qin” set for May 5 at 8 p.m. Good Shepherd Center at 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. on the 4th floor.
American Asian Performing Arts Theatre & Hengda Dance Academy present the HDA annual performance entitled “Rhythm Of Dance – 2012, Song Of The Seasons” by Hengda Dance Academy (see related story elsewhere in this issue) under the artistic direction of Li HengDa. May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and May 12 at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Theaterat Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue. Call (206) 287-9998 or email [email protected] for tickets.
Circus performer/contortionist Ling Rui appears in the new Teatro ZinZanni show, “Caliente!” through June 10, 2012. 222 Mercer St. near Seattle Center. For tickets, call (206) 802-0015 or buy at the box office in front of the theatre.
“Cho Cho Fashion Show” which features local boutiques and jewelry shops takes place on May 4. Kodomo no Hi 2012 is the third annual children’s day event with Japanese cultural activities and performances. Set For May 6 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Both events at Japanese Cultural & Community Center at 1414 S. Weller St. at 6 p.m. Call (206) 568-7144 for details.
Japanese singer Daisuke Oi has a “Welcome Back Concert” on Sat., May 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Tacoma Community College, 6501 S. 19th St. in Tacoma. (245) 426-1771 or (360) 692-1005 for details.
Pan-Asian food and cultural performances fill the ID Spring Roll 2012, the annual fundraising event for Seattle’s Chinatown/ID. May 10 from 6 – 9 p.m. Georgetown Ball Room at 5623 Airport Way S. in Seattle. For details, go to www.idspringroll.org.
The Kabuki Academy holds a shamisen concert on May 12 from 1 – 4 p.m. Nagomi Tea House at 519 – 6th Ave. S. in Seattle. Free but donations welcome. Call (253) 564-6081.
Pork Filled Players present their unique form of sketch comedy in a program entitled “Spamorama” with special guests on Wed., May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Theatre Off Jackson at 409 – 7th Ave. Go to http://www.porkfilled.com for details.
Ragamala presents a north Indian classical vocal concert by Aditi Kaikini Upadhya with accompaniment by supporting musicians on harmonium and tabla. Sat., May 19 at 7:30 p.m. On the Seattle campus of UW in the Music Building’s Brechemin Auditorium. UW students get in free upon proof of current enrollment. Go to www.ragamala.org for details.
Film/Media
“Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, the documentary film about one of Japan’s greatest sushi chefs continues its’ Seattle run at the Harvard Exit on Capitol Hill.
“Safe” is a new action thriller starring Jason Statham who is on the run from both Chinese and Russian gangsters as he tries to project a young Chinese girl who knows all the answers as portrayed by Catherine Chan.
Kid’s activities tied in with art shows and a screening of a children’s film take place at the “Free First Saturdays + Kids Flicks” program at Seattle Asian Art Museum every first Sat. of the month from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. “Wonderful Wardrobe” on May 5 lets kids explore the show “Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats” and design their own wearable art. The 1:30 p.m. screening is “Little Women.” Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Prospect. Visit: www.seattleartmuseum.org for details.
“Lost Years” is a documentary film from Canada that deals with the history of Chinese immigration from Asia to North America. Produced by Kenda Gee and Tom Radford. It has already won a host of awards in Canada and screens May 23 & 24 at this year’s SIFF. Some scenes were shot in Seattle. Go to www.lostyears.ca for a look.
While Tarsem Singh’s modern take on “Snow White” is harmless, light-weight fun – the real stars of the show are the fanciful set design and wonderful eye-popping costume design by Eiko Ishioka.
Art News/Opportunities
Former Examiner Editor and Wing Luke Museum Director Ron Chew was profiled by Mike Dillon regarding his new book entitled “Remembering Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes: The Legacy of Filipino American Labor Activism” published by the Alaskero Foundation with the UW Press in the March 28 issue of Seattle City Living. Go to www.CityLivingSeattle.com for details.
King 5 news anchor Lori Matsukawa is the cover story in the Paril 2012 issue of Northwest Prime Time newspaper.
Seattle-area teenagers are invited to apply to the YMCA’s Global Teens Program which has programs in Columbia, Japan, Senegal or Taiwan. For details, call Monica Quill Kusakabe at (206) 382-4362.
Washington State artists working in all disciplines are encouraged to apply for the 2012 Grants for Artists Projects (GAP). Each grant will provide support for individual artist projects up to $1,500 per project. There will be a free workshop on how to apply on April 25. Go to www.artisttrust.org for details on this and many other grants and opportunities.
Photographers are invited to apply for the exhibition “Where Are We Going? – Our Destiny Through the Eyes of Photojournalists” (Exhibit dates are set from May 18 – June 29.) Submission deadline is April 30, 2012.C Art Gallery at 855 Hiawatha Place South in Seattle. Email: [email protected] for details.
Lead Pencil Studio (the artist/architectural team of Annie Han & Daniel Mihalyo) was commissioned through a national call-to-artists program, organized by STart & Sound Transit Public Art Program to create public art at Sound Transit’s future Brooklyn Link Light Rail Station in Seattle’s “U” District. For details, go to www.soundtransit.org/start.
Photo Center Northwest is busy. “Long Shot – 24 hours, Hundreds of Photographers, One Photo Center” is a 24-hour marathon set for June 1 – 2 and the exhibit of the results set for July 28. Also a call for entries for their 17th Annual Photo Competition Exhibition with juror W. M. Hunt with a deadline of May 18. And finally two Printing Sponsorships for 2012 are offered which includes 100 hours of free printing. Deadline for that is May 1. For details on all of these and their programs and classes, go to pcnw.org or call (206) 720-7222.
Lisa Hasegawa, Boyd Sugiki, Romson Regarde Bustillo, Kamla Kakaria and
Tina Koyama are just some of the talented local artists listed as teaching at Pratt Fine Arts Center ‘s Spring 2012 sessions. If you want to see a schedule or more information on how to sign up, go to www.pratt.org.
Seattle Metals Guild sponsors a program called “The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project”. The Guild collects used jewelry which is cleaned and repaired and then passed on to women in shelters and the Dress for Success program at the YWCA. Donations can be made at the Bellevue Arts Museum at (425) 519-0770 and Seattle Art Museum at (206) 654-3100.
Columbia City Gallery is an artist-run collective that represents over 30 local multi-media artists. The space has a Guest Gallery which showcases artists that reflect an ethnically diverse neighborhood. Do you have a great exhibit idea to propose or need more information, email: [email protected] or Lauren Davis at [email protected].
Poets & Writers’ Readings/Workshops Program offers small grants for literary events taking place in Seattle and covers writers’ fees for public readings and workshops. Go to www.pw.org funding for details.
“Enemies of The People,” the award-winning documentary film by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath that interviews living architects of the “Killing Fields” is now available on DVD with additional footage and extras. Go to [email protected] for details.
Novelist Julie Otsuka won the 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction for her latest novel. It was selected from over 350 submitted works.
Artists, writers, scientists, and musicians can apply for this Art and Ecology’s Artist-in-Residency offering up to 3 ½ months stay in Sitka, Alaska. Go to www.bit.ly/ha9p4C for details. Deadline of April 20, 2012.
NEA Challenge America Fast-Track Grants support small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations – those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability. Go to www.bit.ly/zQBw66 for details. Deadline is May 24, 2012.