Visual Arts
Highlights
It’s with sadness that we note the passing of respected Seattle graphic artist Mitsuru “Mits” Katayama. Born in 1929, he passed away on Nov. 14th, 2014. He grew up on a farm in Sumner until he and his family were incarcerated at Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho. After the war, he finished high school at Garfield and went to art school. Next he served in the army during the Korean War. Upon his return, he married Kazzie and raised a family. His career as a graphic artist started as part of a couple firms before he branched out on his own, becoming a member of Graphic Studios which consisted of talented young independent artists. He won numerous awards for his ads, logos and book illustrations which featured pleasant color and inventive design and always, a refreshing sense of humor. One of his most popular projects was the design of signs for the children’s zoo at Woodland Park. When I interviewed him for the Archives of American Art, it was like pulling teeth to get him to talk about his own accomplishments in the field. He was a sweet, gentle guy who was more comfortable touting the talent of others instead of blowing his own horn. Yet his refreshing graphic art design leaves a lasting legacy we can all enjoy. Thanks, Mits!
Seattle ARTRESOURCE Gallery presents a mini-retrospective of the late Northwest painter Frank Okada through Jan. 25th. Okada’s work should be better known, his mastery of brush and color tonalities is unmatched but subtle. Layers of pigment brushed on meticulously brings forth an accumulation of shadings that culminate in a sublime meditation upon mood, spirit and color that can be easily overlooked by a casual glance. Take time to absorb the presence of each painting and you will be richly rewarded. Born in Seattle and the younger brother of noted Seattle writer John Okada, author of the classic Northwest/Asian American novel, “No No Boy” (UW Press), Frank Okada taught for almost 30 years at the University of Oregon in Eugene while at the same time maintaining a full-time career as an artist. He received his B.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy and spent time in New York during the heyday of the Abstract Expressionist movement. He also received Whitney, Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships and spent time in Europe and Asia before settling into a teaching career. Okada spoke of his work as “the remembrance of the anguish and subsequently the stoicism of (his) parents’ generation, as a consequence of their internment during the Second World War, which evokes a mesmerizing melancholy and sadness.” Seattle ARTRESOURCE Gallery is at 625 First Ave. upstairs in Suite #200. Hours are Tues. – Sun. from 10:30am – 5:30pm. (206) 838-2695 or email [email protected].
ARTSWEST Gallery in West Seattle has a couple of interesting shows coming up. “Tim Cross, Mugi Takei: Big! Little Self” combines the talents of these two artists together. Cross does large paintings created by transferring Laser and Xerox prints to silk using matte medium. Takei’s watercolors fixate on several distinct images of women. One lies prostrate, floating several feet above the ground while another woman rests her hand on her abdomen. On view through Jan. 10th. Trung Pham and Edward Lee are part of a group show entitled “On Capturing Transient Bodies” that also includes the work of Patty Haller, and Ingrid Lahti. Opens Jan. 15th and remains on view until March 7th. 4711 California Ave. N.W. (206) 938-0339 or go to artswest.org. Open Thurs. – Sat.
“Family Recurrence” is the title of a show of paintings by Devon Midori that explore a psychic space, inspired by the artist’s trip to her grandmother’s farm following her suicide. On view through Jan. 5th at Martyr Sauce Gallery. 122 South Washington St. in Pioneer Square. (206) 624-0495 or go to matyrsauce.com. Open Mon. – Sat.
Korean American Seattle-based fashion designer Jean Glover and husband Craig Glover open their new store located in Pacific Place highlighting their sophisticated women’s designs and a sneak preview of their upcoming spring 2015 line.
“Castle Rock is for Lovers” is a show of paper cuts by Laureen Iida. The artist writes that the show “is an homage to the matriarchs of my family who both endured incarceration during WW II at Tule Lake Relocation Center in Northern California. These images come directly from my grandmother’s sister’s collection of personal photos dating back to the 1930’s. Through examining these glimpses into the past I learn about my family’s complex history.” On view now through Dec. 19th. Cornish College of the Arts Alumni Gallery at 1000 Lenora.
“Hand and Wheel – Contemporary Japanese Clay” looks at the long-standing ceramic tradition in Japan and surveys the work of modern ceramic artists working from the traditional to the contemporary. Organized by the Portland Art Museum and curated by Maribeth Graybill, Ph.D., The Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Curator of Asian Art. On view through June 21, 2015. 1219 S.W. Park Ave. (503) 226-2811.
“Withered Lotus Cast in Iron” is the title of the first solo exhibit of the distinguished Chinese artist Pan Gongkai, son of the renowned twentieth-century master Pan Tianshou. A contemporary master of ink painting, Gongkai prepares large-scale compositions without interruption, in sessions that often last more than twelve hours. He considers this physically demanding process as a key performative element of his work. For the Frye Art Museum show, Pan has created a large-scale, site-specific ink painting which will extend the entire length of the museum’s largest gallery. (206) 432-8288. Frye Art Museum is at 704 Terry Ave. or go to to www.fryemuseum.org.
“Art Prints of Sadao Watanabe” is on view through Dec. 30th. This exhibit showcases Christianity through the folk art “Biblical Prints” of Japanese printmaker and artist Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996). On display will be stencil prints, original stencils, and tools of the artist as well as monographs from the East Asian Library Collection on mingei and mingei artists. At the Allen Library North Lobby, East Asia Library in Gowen Hall on the 3rd Floor. (206) 543 – 4490.
KOBO Gallery at Higo in Japantown/International District has the following – The ever popular annual fall show, “8th Simple Cup Show Invitational” opens on Sat., Nov. 1st, 2014 and remains on view until Dec. 31st. This version features work from not only North America/Japan but for the first time introduces to the Seattle audience, the work of Korean contemporary ceramic artists as well. Go to koboseattle.com for updates. 604 S. Jackson St. (206) 381-3000.
“Red Ribbon Salon” is a group show of Northwest artists including the work of Paul Horiuchi. Remains on view until Dec. 23rd. Seattle ArtREsource Gallery. 625 First Ave. #200. (206) 838-2695 or go to seattleartresource.com.
“Live On: Mr.’s Japanese Neo-Pop” – The disaster of the March 11, 2011 tsunami and nuclear accident came as both a shock and inspiration for Japanese Neo-Pop artist Mr. In response he created a massive installation composed of everyday objects from Japanese life. It forms the centerpiece for this show with a series of new paintings and other work. Organized by SAM, this retrospective is his first solo exhibition in a U.S. museum. A protégé of Takashi Murakami, the icon of Japanese Pop art and a member of the otaku subculture, Mr.’s work is marked by an obsessive interests in anime and manga. This exhibition is organized by SAM in collaboration with Kaikai Kiki Co. Ltd., Galerie Perrotin and Lehmann Maupin Gallery. In the Tateuchi Galleries of the Seattle Asian Art Museum and remains on view until April 5th, 2015. “Conceal/Reveal: Making Meaning in Chinese Art” is a show that features a collection of Chinese Art curated with the intent of drawing a thematic line of “layered meaning” between all pieces. Opens Dec. 20th and remains on view through June 21st, 2015. 1400E. Prospect St. in Volunteer Park. (206) 654-3100 or go to seattleartmuseum.org.
Curator/sculptor/installation artist June Sekiguchi unleashes a whirlwind of activity by showing the fruits of her creative labors in various guises/projects/exhibitions and we are the richer for it. Her massive piece entitled “Pineal Canopy” comprised of 36,000 hand tied knots dipped in wax and threaded through 368 router pinecone disks is included in the BAM Biennial “Knock on Wood” on view through March 29th, 2015. 510 Bellevue Way NE. (425) 519-0770. As a compliment to the Bellevue Arts Museum show, ArtXchange Gallery will feature a three -person show of their gallery artists in “Knock on Wood” at their space from Dec. 4th – Jan. 31st, 2015. The work of June Sekiguchi, Humaira Abid and Elaine Hanowell will be on view with opening reception on Dec. 4th from 5 – 8pm. 520 – 1st Ave. S. (206) 839-0377 or go to www.artxchange.org. “Taki” (waterfall in Japanese) is a site specific piece to be permanently placed in the Ethnic Heritage Art Gallery of Seattle Municipal Tower inspired by the famous woodblock print by Hokusai entitled “A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces”. 700 5th Ave. in downtown Seattle on the 6th floor. This piece can be seen from Oct. 23rd, 2014 on along with other pieces by Marita Dingus, Humaira Abid and Gustavo Martinez as curated by Preston Hampton. Finally Sekiguchi will be involved in a group show entitled “The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human” which intends to examine the stigma and silence surrounding mental illness. A variety of people, from mental health advocates to community leaders/organizations will come together to speak about mental illness and its effects on our society. Sekiguchi’s son, Quin Breeland has created QR code links to the artists’ works and will have an audio/visual experiential multi-media piece. Opening reception for this show is Jan. 9th, 2015 from 4 – 6pm. Tours by artists paired with mental health professionals are scheduled throughout the exhibition. Sekiguchi tours with Eli Hstings, marriage and family counselor and assistant director of Pongo Teen Writing on Jan. 13th at 12pm. At Seattle City Hall at 600 4th Ave. in the 4th floor lobby and Anne Focke Gallery.
“To Be Alone Together” is an group exhibition co-curated by Emma Jane Levitt and Shelly Leavens through the Dana and Toni Rust Curatorial Fellowship at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Connor. The curators try and capture the solitude and interaction of Northwest art by having contemporary Northwest artists respond to work by Northwest artists in the museum’s collection. Work by Paul Horiuchi and Norie Sato are in the group that are shown. Contemporary artists Paul Komada and singer/songwriter Tomo Nakayama respond to specific artists as well. 121 S. First St. in La Connor. Oct. 4 – Jan. 4th. (360) 466-4446 or go to www.museumofnwart.org.
“Near/Far” is the title of a show by former Seattle Cornish student Lauren Iida (see related article about Iida’s current shows and her Cambodia project in this issue) now living in Cambodia. Her show of intricate paper cutaways Guest Curated by David Strand help her process and preserve her experiences with the people of landscape of that country. She is working on literacy campaigns and establishing libraries for children in rural areas. Her work explores notions of figure and place that transcend geographic and cultural borders. On view through Jan. 23rd in the Entry Gallery. Artist’s reception will be on Thurs., Dec. 11th from 5 – 8pm. Gage Academy Of Art at 1501 10th Ave. E. in Seattle. (206) 323-4243 or email [email protected].
“Chiang Mai Art: “A Thai Print Studio” highlights the print art scene in this ancient Thai city to the North. Traditional and contemporary printmaking from students at Chiang Mai Art on Paper Studio. Opening reception on Jan. 8th from 6 – 8pm. Show on view from Jan. 2nd – 3lst. Davidson Galleries at 313 Occidental Ave. S. in Pioneer Square. Go to www.davidsongalleries.com for details or call (206) 624-6700.
“Looking Forward and Looking Back” is the title of a group show of Northwest artists that features the work of George Tsutakawa. Through Dec. 24th. Woodside/Braseth Gallery at 1201 Western Ave. (206) 622-7243 or go to woodsidebrasethgallery.com. Open Tues. – Sat.
“The Momentum of Beauty” is an “Art Conversation” group show featuring local Northwest Artists as well as nationally known and internationally known artists/curators. Dec. 4th – 27th at Seattle’s SOIL Gallery. Includes Jo-ey Tang of Palais de Tokyo in Paris who recently curated a group show entitled “Inside China” (for more on that go to http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/blog/joe-ey-curator-palais-de-tokyo-paris-discusses-inside-china/. 112 Third Ave. S. in downtown Seattle. Go to www.soilart.org for details.
Local artist Naoko Morisawa received 2nd place in the “miniature work” category during the White River Valley Museum’s Art Walk.
Seattle photographer/educator Carina del Rosario has the following events now up or upcoming. Her “Passport Series” is on view until Feb. 9th, 2015 in the Paul Schell Gallery at the Mayor’s Office in Seattle City Hall. On view by appointment only. Starting from March 2015, a selection from Carina’s “Passport Series” will be included in Wing Luke Museum’s upcoming post-1965 Immigration Act exhibition. For complete details on all these events, contact the artist direct at [email protected].
ArtXchange Gallery presents the following – “Against the Grain” is a group show showcasing the work of gallery artists Humaira Abid, Elaine Hanowell, and June Sekiguchi currently featured in Bellevue Art Museum’s “Knock on Wood” biennial exhibition. The show includes carved wood, site-specific installation, painting and scroll-cut sculpture. Remains on view through Jan. 31st. Painter William Song has his first solo show exhibiting his non-representational paintings that range from pure color fields to patchy swaths that use several hues spread by the deft strokes of a painter’s knife. Opening reception is Thurs., Feb. 5th from 5 – 8pm. Remains on view through March 28th. 512 First Ave. S. (206) 839-0377 or go to artxchange.org. Open Tues. – Sat.
Hallie Ford Museum in Salem, Oregon presents “Roger Shimomura: Works on Paper” which will open Nov. 8th and remain on view through Feb. 1, 2015. Organized by Director John Olbrantz to complement the travelling exhibit, “Roger Shimomura : An American Knockoff” which opens at the museum next January. The exhibition features 29 prints drawn from local and regional collections, including works from his “Minidoka Snapshots” and “Minidoka Identities” suites, both of which deal with internment camp issues. 900 State St. in Salem, Oregon and part of Willamette University. (503) 370-6855 or go to willamette.edu/arts/hfma.
“Labor: A Working History” is an exhibit following the path of workers’ rights locally and on a national scale beginning in the 1800’s with Hawaiian and Native-American laborers for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Through Dec. 31st, 2014 at Clark County Historical Museum at 1511 Main St. in Vanouver, WA.For details, call (360) 993-5679 or visit www.cchmuseum.org.
There are two major art shows by contemporary Asian artists in the Bay Area that might make a trip to California worthwhile. A first-time U.S. show by the late Japanese artist Tetsuya Ishida and installations by dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei on the former penitentiary island of Alcatraz.
“What I am seeking (now) is an expression of anguish, but not something depressing that ends in self-pity…not to show off my anguished feelings but a form of humor that laughs off such emotions. It is close to nonsense.” So would write the late Japanese artist Tetsuya Ishida (1973-2005). A melancholy man opens his shirt to reveal a detailed map drawn or tattooed upon his torso. Behind him, a line of bright fire stretches across a blue stream. Later, a remarkably similar face appears in the seat of a baby’s stroller, a toodler in red overalls guiding it through the grass. Next, the head is transported into the cab of a backhoe, an open beer tilled from the bucket, filling a glass extended by someone out of frame. This is the world of Tetsuya Ishida. “Tetsuya Ishida: Saving the World with a Brushstroke” is the first U.S. exhibition of paintings by this artist, who died in 2005. Ishida blended dreamlike realities with everyday life and melancholy isolation with bizarre wit, producing a body of work that triggers strong emotions but actively resists easy explanation. Now on view until Feb. 22nd at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco at 200 Larkin St. downtown. (415) 581-3500 or go to.
In “@Large: Ai Weiwei On Alcatraz”, this contemporary Chinese artist explores human rights and freedom of expression in a series of new, site-specific installations inspired by the landscape of Alcatraz Island. On view through April 26th, 2015. Tickets on sale now. For someone who has been under house arrest for years and unable to leave the country, this artist has been amazingly busy producing work through the tools of the internet. This latest installation has seven pieces in four locations, offering a new cultural lens through which to experience the notorious military and federal penitentiary turned national park. Presented by the FOR-SITE Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the exhibition explores urgent questions about human rights and freedom of expression and responds to the potent and layered history of Alcatraz as a place of detainment and protest. To order advance tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/large-. For more information about the project, visit http://www.for-site.org/.
The work of Z. Z. Wei and Kensuke Yamada is included in Patricia Rovzar Gallery’s “Celebrate Art – 22nd Annual Group Exhibition” from Dec. 4th – 31st. 1225 Second Ave. (206) 223-0273 or go to www.rovzargallery.com.
“MOE, Elements of the Floating World”, a show by Japanese artist Yumiko Glover (now based in Hawai’i) looks at the complex patriarchy-based structure and gender division in Japanese society through a series of satiric, cleverly nuanced paintings. Bryan Ohno Gallery at 521 Main St. (206) 459-6857. Through December.
New and recent shows due to open at the Wing include the following – “Do You Know Bruce?” is a major new show on the personal, intimate story of martial arts artist and film star Bruce Lee and the significance of Seattle in his life. Opens Oct. 4th with the full support of the Lee Family. The Wing is the only museum in the world, outside of Hong Kong, to present an exhibition about Bruce Lee’s life. The Lee family has plans to eventually open a permanent museum on Bruce Lee’s life and legacy in the Chinatown-ID neighborhood. This show will make for a good initial introduction. “RESIST – Asian American Acts of Struggle” remains on view through Jan. 18th, 2015. Wing Luke also co-sponsors a new exhibition “Voices of Nisei Veterans” at the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC) Hall. Oral history testimonies and rare collections tell the story of Japanese American veterans before, during and after World War II. “BOJAGI: Unwrapping Korean American Identities”, a new show on our local Korean American community opened Nov. 13th and remains on view through the spring of 2015. A new exhibit entitled “Puppet Power! Asian Traditions Come to Life” opened on July 19th. See innovative creations from Asian American puppet artists, video performances and hands-on puppet play. Created in partnership with the Northwest Puppet Center and the Valentinetti Puppet Museum. Still on view is “ART IN MOTION: The Evolution of Board Culture” From surf board to skate board, learn how Asian Americans have contributed to this thriving culture. Curated by Gabriel Goldman of Platform Inc. Includes the work of Wally Inouye, Nhon Nguyen, Nin Truong, Junichi Tsuneoka and Mike Yoshida. Free Fa- Still on view is “#iconic: Power and Pop Culture” which explores how Asian American pop icons are made and what it means to look up to – or challenge – these figures. “Hometown Desi: South Asian Culture in the Pacific Northwest” is a semi-permanent display that opened Oct. 3. It will explore the history of South Asians in this area up to the present. 719 South King St. (206) 623-5124 or visit www.wingluke.org. Closed Mondays. Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm. First Thursday of each month is free from 10am – 8pm. Third Saturday of each month is free from 10am – 8pm.
Currently on view at Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park – “Colored Vases” is the first work by Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei acquired by Seattle Art Museum. The artist took ancient earthenware vases and dipped them in buckets of industrial paint allowing them to drip dry. By covering the surfaces with a new paint, what is underneath – like history itself – is “no longer visible, but is still there.” The irony is that they play on the question on and question authenticity issues that the artist likes to raise in today’s market for Chinese Art. For complete information on all events, go to seattleartmuseum.org.
“Nature and Pattern in Japanese Design” is a related exhibition to “Deco Japan” in two parts that will be shown at Seattle Art Museum downtown. Part 2 begins August 16th, 2014 and continues till April 19th, 2015. Coming August 30th is “City Dwellers: Contemporary Art from India” which looks at the shift towards urban centers and the culture and arts of the city. Organized by SAM from the collection of Sanjay Parthasarathy and Malini Balakrishnan. Bangalore-based artist Pushpamala N. discusses her work featured in this exhibition on Jan. 29th in Plestcheeff Auditorium at 7pm. Her series “Native Women of South India Manners and Customs” is a collaborative photo-performance with artist Clare Arni that raises questions about femal representation, ethnography, colonialism and Indian modernity. Get tickets for this event at http://tickets.seattleartmuseum.org/public. Visit sam.org or call (206) 654-3100.
“BAM Biennial 2014: Knock On Wood”, a group show of artists working with wood on view through March 29th, 2015. Includes work by Humaira Abid and June Sekiguchi. Bellevue Arts Museum. 510 Bellevue Way NE. Go to www.bellevuearts.org.
Tacoma Art Museum has opened a new wing to accommodate the gift of a new collection. “ART OF THE AMERICAN WEST: The Haub Family Collection at Tacoma Art Museum just opened. Included in the present show is work by contemporary Chinese American artist Mian Situ. He creates epic paintings in the European tradition but inserts Chinese American immigrants as protagonists in scenes in which they’ve previously been missing. “Photographic Presence and Contemporary Indians: Matika Wilbur’s Project 562” is the first installment of Matika Wilbur’s ambitious project to capture contemporary Native American life by documenting people from all 562 federally recognized tribes in the US. The photography of Seattle photographer Chao-Chen Yang is included in a group show entitled “Northwest in the West: Exploring Our Roots”. This show explores the distinct identity of Northwest art and how it has adopted, adapted and reacted against its western roots. A theme particularly apt and timely since the museum is building a new wing to house their new collection of Western art. Both shows through the fall of 2015. Tacoma Art Museum is at 1701 Pacific Ave. (253) 272-4258 or go to TacomaArtMuseum.org.
Seattle artist Diem Chau has her work reproduced in a new book entitled “Big Art/Small Art” (Thames & Hudson) by Tristan Manco.
Juliet Shen will be in a group show entitled “Duwamish Artist Residency” set for March 5th – 26th, 2015 at Gallery4Culture. The show sheds light on the activities of twelve studio artists who gather every summer to work together for a week at various spots along the river. For details on their work, go to duwamishresidency2012.wordpress.com. Please note that as of 2015, Gallery4Culture will no longer have shows during the months of December and August. Shows continue during the other ten months.
The Whatcom Museum in Bellingham has an interesting show entitled “Reaching Beyond: New Designer Craftsmen at 60” juried by Ben Mitchell. On view until Jan. 4th, 2015. 121 Prospect St. (360) 676-6981 or go to whatcommuseum.org.
Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center in Portland has “Oregon Nikkei: Reflections of an American Community” a show that celebrates the lives and contributions of Oregon’s Nikkei community, and evokes memories of shared experiences – from early settlement through the trials and tribulations of WWII and into the 21st century. Upcoming exhibit is “Before Memories Fade: Uncovering the Story of the Kida Family of White Salmon” tentatively scheduled to Open Nov. 8 and remain on view through Feb. 22, 2015. Open Tu. – Sat. 11am – 3pm and Sundays, noon – 3pm. 121 NW 2nd Ave. (503) 224-1458 or email [email protected].
The Museum of Contemporary Craft. Upcoming April 17th – August 16th in 2015 is “The New Frontier: Young Designer-Makers in the Pacific NW”. 724 NW Davis St. in Portland. (503) 223-2654 or go to mocc.pnca.edu.
The Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver BC, Canada has a show entitled “The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors” which captures the atmosphere and aesthetics of the Ming and Qing Dynasties with paintings, ceremonial clothing and more. Includes nearly 200 treasured objects from the collections of Beijing’s Palace Museum. Worth the trip up north. Opens Oct. 18th and on view until Jan. 11th. Opening Nov. 15th and on view until April 6th is “Unscrolled: Reframing Tradition in Chinese Contemporary Art” which looks at how Chinese artists today view their tradition. Re-working traditional aesthetics in conceptual ways, artists use new forms and media – such as digital animations and site-specific installations-to provide a myriad of means to understand and examine traditions influence on visual culture in present-day China. Work by Ai Weiwei, Xu Bing, Yunfei Ji, Sun Xun, Chen Shaoxiong, Zhang Enli, Madein Company, Liu Jianhua, Qiu Shihua and Jennifer Wen Ma. In related news, VAC will launch a new Institute of Asian Art expanding its exhibitions, collections, programs and create a new endowed Senior Curator of Asian Art. Future exhibitions planned include a project with Tsang Kinwah, a major exhibition of contemporary art from India and the continued growth of the museum’s permanent collection of contemporary Asian Art. 750 Hornby St. (604) 662-4719 or go to vanartgallery.bc.ca
“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. At Kobo at Higo, 604 South Jackson. E-mail [email protected] or call (206) 381-3000.
The surreal work of multi-media New York-based artist Ryo Toyonaga is given his first major museum retrospective drawing on 20 years of ceramic and mixed sculpture, drawing and painting in “Awakening”. The images come forth from a well-spring of recurrent dreams. On view rom Oct. 11 to – Jan. 4, 2015. On view till Dec. 28th is “Ten Symbols of Longevity and Late Joseon Korean Culture”. “Japanese Impressions from the Vault: The Rare, the Beautiful, and the Bizarre” is on view until Feb. 8th, 2015. On view till June 7, 2015 is “Elegance & Nobility: Modern & Contemporary Korean Literati Taste”. And finally “Vistas of a World Beyond: Traditional Gardens in Chinese Material Culture” is on view until July 5, 2015.University of Oregon Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. 1430 Johnson Lane in Eugene. (541) 346-3027 or visit jsma.uoregon.edu.
“Claiming Space: Voices of Urban Aboriginal Youth” is a group show that shows “contemporary, conceptual and Native art” that features 25 young artists across Canada, the US, Norway and New Zealand, “to define what it really means to be an urban Aboriginal artist today.” On view Through Jan. 4th, 2015 at Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, BC. On the UBC campus. 6393 NW Marine Dr. (604) 822-5087 or go to moa.ubc.ca.
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has a number of Asian art shows on display now. On view until Jan. 11th is “Hiraki Sawa: Under the Box, Beyond the Bounds”, the first comprehensive exhibition of Sawa’s work in Canada, featuring intimately scaled and monumental video works from the artists’s career. Through Jan. 4th, “Visualizing a Culture for Strangers: Chinese Export Paintings of the Nineteenth Century” is on view. Oct. 31st – Jan. 25th is a group show entitled “Shin Hanga: The New Print Movement of Early 20th Century Japan” which look sat the new print movement that replaced ukiyo-e prints in popularity in the 20th century. 1040 Moss St. (250) 384-4171 or go to aggv.ca.
“Sacred Trees of India: Photographs by Deidi von Schaewen collects large-scale images taken by the artist over years travelling through India. Through Dec. 3rd. Evergreen Gallery at Evergreen State College at 2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW in Olympia. Go to evergreen.edulgallery for details.
Every fall, the Brower Center in the Bay Area presents the Art/Act Award & Exhibition, created to honor established artists who have dedicated a significant part of their careers to using art’s unique transformative power in the service of activism. In 2014, the Center recognizes internationally acclaimed sculptor, architectural designer, and environmentalist Maya Lin, known most widely for her Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but whose most recent work has focused on threated ecosystems. ART/ACT: Maya Lin is on view till Feb. 4th, 2015. The show will highlight the fragility of bodies of water around the world such as the San Francisco Bay and Tuolumne River. For details, try http://www.browercenter.org/exhibitions/maya-lin. In further news, it was announced that Maya Lin has won the $300,000 Gish Prize. This prize was established by Lillian Gish’s will to be given annually to “a man or woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world and to mankind’s enjoyment and understanding of life.” Lin will collect the award at a prevent event at the Museum of Modern Art on Nov. 12th. Lin was chosen from among 100 nominees in all fields of the arts. The playwright David Henry Hwang was the chairman of the selection committee and stated that “With her design for the Vietnam memorial, Maya Lin created arguably the most important piece of public art of our time. Since then, she has continued to achieve greatness, through a singular vision which has come to embrace her passionate concern for the environment – in America, China and throughout the planet.” Lin is currently engaged with an ongoing multisite work, “What Is Missing?,” which combines art and science to increase awareness about the loss and biodiversity and natural habitats.
“Kimono: A Modern History” is a new show in The Arts of Japan Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on view through Jan. 19th, 2015. Some twenty-five kimono robes on loan from private, public and museum collections are now on view. 1000 Fifth Ave. in New York. Go to www.metmuseum.org for details.
Wang Qingsong’s “ADinfinitum, a series of colossal photo-murals is on view at the Frost Art Museum as part of Art Basel in Miami in Nov. Known for walking the streets of China with a camera and setting up massive crowd scenes for his photo murals. Go to [email protected] for details.
Thai contemporary artist Jakkai Siributr is known for his sociopolitical installations with layered surfaces that are stitched, embroidered and filled with sequins. His work is profiled in an article entitled “The Fabric of Memory” by Gregory Galligan in the Nov. 2014 issue of Art in America.
“In The Land Of The Dead, Stepping On The Tail Of A Rainbow” is the title of a show of new work by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami now on view through Jan. 17, 2016 at the Gagosian Gallery in New York. Go to www.gagosian.com for details.
Jeong Jo-mun was born in 1918 in Korea, a Japanese colony at the time. He moved to Kyoto, Japan with his parents when he was 6. He worked as a businessman in Japan until the end of World War II, always struck by the beauty of Korean white porcelain he found at antique shops. After more than thirty years collecting ceramics and crafts from Korea, he opened the Koryo Museum in his own home so that young Korean residents in Japan could view works from their home country. A year after the museum opened in 1988, Jeong died at the age of 70 but his legacy lives on. For years interest and attendance for this lone museum on Korean arts and crafts in Japan was sparse. But now with renewed interest from Korean nationals such as Choi Sun-il, a South Korean researcher at the Northeast Asia Buddhist Research Institute in Seoul and Whang Cheol-mean, a film professor at Sejong University in Seoul, attendance and interest has perked up. Whang did a documentary film about the museum with donations from supporters in South Korea and Japan and that film will hit theatres in Korea in January. The South Korean government has also offered financial assistance through their Cultural Heritage Administration to make signage in Korean and English as well as improvements for the website. This information taken from a story by Akira Nakano in the Asahi Shimbun.
Aishonanzuka Hong Kong presents the first solo exhibition by Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki now on view through Jan. 18th, 2015. Prints from the “Theater of Love” and “Sentimental Journey” series are on view. The photographer’s wife served as the model in the “Theater of Love” series. For details, email [email protected].
The Korea Furniture Museum is a private museum outside of Seoul. It was started by Director Chyum Mi-sook who has present the last 20 years collecting over 2,500 pieces of traditional Korean furniture and other household items. The museum opened in 2008. Chyung said it was up to her generation, “those of us who lived through the lost 100 years, (a reference to the war years and Japanese occupation)” to bring back the lost bits of Korean life. “I think my talents lie in serving as the glass through which people can reawaken to the refined beauty of Korean life.” Taken from a story in the Korea Times. Guided tours in English as available by reservation only. +82 -02-745-0101 or email [email protected].
Performing Arts
Highlights
Chris Minh Doky’s Nomads featuring Dave Weckl play Jazz Alley on Jan. 13 – 14. 2033 – 6th Ave. (206) 441-9729 or go to jazzalley.com. Minh Doky was born in Denmark to a Vietnamese father and Danish mother. At the age of 17 he moved to New York where he has been based since. He is regarded as one of the masters of the upright bass and has played in Michael Brecker’s band for years.
On the occasion of the exhibition “Pan Gongkai: Withered Lotus Cast in Iron” now on view at the Frye Art Museum, the museum commissioned a new work by Seattle composer/performance artist Byron Au Yong entitled Mo Sheng: Ink Sound. Andrew Joslyn and the Passenger String Quartet will perform in the gallery and wring out the nuances of ink and brush. Sunday, Jan. 18th at 2pm. Free but you must make a reservation. Call (206) 622-9250. The museum is located at 704 Terry in Seattle.
“Upbeat on Jackson” features a concert by M9 and jazz pianist Sumi Tonooka on Sat., Dec. 22nd at Ernestine Anderson Place located at 2010 S. Jackson St. at 7:30pm. Go to upbeatonjackson.org for details.
Seattle singer/songwriter Tomo Nakayama expands upon his solo career by unveiling new songs from his latest recording as he shares the stage with Eric Johnson of the fruit bats at the Triple Door on Jan. 18th in downtown Seattle. 216 Union St. (206)838-4333 or go to thetripledoor.net.
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in Tacoma presents the Peking Acrobats to the Pantages Theatre on Sat., Jan. 17th at 7:30pm. Also booked is a production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado” set for Feb. 6 at 7:30pm and Feb. 8th at 2pm at the Rialto Theatre. On May 16th, Northwest Sinfonietta presents “The Taiwanese Connection”, a classical concert highlighting Taiwanese contemporary composer Gordon Chin’s premiere of his composition dedicated to Taiwan. Also Taiwanese violinist Mae Lin plays Mendelssohn’s Violin concerto.7:30pm at the Rialto. 901 Broadway in Tacoma. (2530 591-5840.
Seattle Symphony plays host to a full season of events. Here are some highlights. “Celebrate Asia!” is the annual East meets West signature Seattle Symphony event set for March 1st.. Carolyn Kuan conducts the orchestra in a program of music by A. R. Rahman, Yugo Kanno in a Seattle Symphony Commission U.S. Premiere and music by Tan Dun. Musical guests include Chiaki Endo on koto, Dozan Fujiwara on shakuhachi and Meeka Quan DiLorenzo on cello. Yuja Wang returns as piano soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas in a program of Britten, Gershwin and Shostakovich on April 1st. April 21st brings the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra to town under the baton of Myung-Whun Chung with Sunwook Kim on piano. Yo Yo Ma, cello virtuoso plays one afternoon only with the Symphony on May 3rd at 2pm. On May 26th, violinist Pinchas Zukerman performs with pianist Angela Cheng. Visit Seattlesymphony.org or call (206)215-4747.
Book-It Repertory’s adaptation of David Guterson’s “Snow Falling on Cedars” plays the Bainbridge Performing Arts Center March 13th – 28th, 2015. (206) 842-8569.
The Ahn Trio, a family of classical siblings perform at the Edmonds Center for Performing Arts on Jan. 9th, 2015. 410 Fourth Ave. n. in Edmonds. (425) 275-9595.
Local jazz musician Bob Antolin keeps busy playing with numerous groups around the city. On Dec. 19th you can find him at “Anubis Nights @ Harissa” with George Sadak & Friends playing music for belly dancing. 2255 NE 65th. On Sat., Dec. 20th at 9pm, catch him at the Rumba Notes Lounge at 5041 Rainier Ave. S. with the group Comfort Food whose blend of music ranges from electric Miles to Fela Kuti. (206) 676- 3652. On Sun., Dec. 21st, catch him at Maxim’s with Soul Food in a mix of blues, jazz, soul, funk, reggae and ballads. 5608 Rainer Ave. S. (206) 722-5181.
Soprano Haeran Hong sings in the Seattle Opera production of Richard Strauss’ “Aradauf Naxos” set for May 2 – 6th, 2015. Go to http://seattleopera.org for details.
The Undergraduate Theatre Society at UW will present a new production of David Henry Hwang’s play, “Yellow Face” as directed by Eliza Wu from Jan. 22nd – Feb. 1st, 2015. When Tony-Award winning playwright Hwang protests the casting of a white actor as the lead Asian Character in the musical “Miss Saigon”, he becomes the poster boy for Asian American rights in the 1990s. But in a comical twist of fate, he mistakenly casts a white actor in the lead Asian role of his own play. As he attempts to pass the character off as a Siberian Jew, the playwright himself is forced to question the constitutions of race, identity and nationality in this satiric send-up documentary of Hwang’s life in the theatre. Presented by the Undergraduate Theater Society in association with the School of Drama at Cabaret Theater in Hutchinson Hall. Go to http://artsuw.org/event/yellow-face for details.
Town Hall Seattle “Global Rhythms” series has the following. Kekuhi and Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole sweeten the romance on Valentine’s day with a performance of Hawaiian music and dance. Sat., Feb. 14, 2015 at 8pm. The Hamsaz Ensemble play a concert entitled “Iran Through the Centuries” on Thurs., March 26, 2015 at 7pm. Rounding off the “Global Rhythms” Series is Saigon’s Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre featuring Rup Tung Cack on Fri., May 15th at 8pm. This is a 1,000 year-old folk art form. 1119 Eighth Ave. (206) 652-4255 or email [email protected] or go to townhall.org for details.
UW Music Faculty member Melia Watras and violist explores improvised and notated music with an all-star group of local musicians including jazz trumpeter Cuong Vu and Pacific Northwest Ballet concertmaster/ violinist Michael Jinsoo Lim. Sun., Jan. 11th at 7:30pm. $20 tickets with $12 student rate. Meany Theater on the Seattle campus of UW. (206) 543-4880.
The Nile Project was inspired by Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Project. Egyptian musicologist Mina Girgis and Ethiopian American singer Meklit Hadero follow the source of the river and combine the musical riches of musicians from 11 countries lined by the Nile Basin. Expect to hear a concert of music from the polyrhymic styles of Lake Victoria and the Ethiopian highlands onto the shores of Egypt and Sudan. Fri., Jan. 30th at 8pm. Meany Theatre on the Seattle UW campus. Go to uwworldseries.com or call (206) 543-4880.
Yvonne Lam plays violin and viola with Eighth Blackbird, considered one of the best contemporary classical ensembles playing cutting-edge compositions by contemporary composers today. They perform on Sat., Feb. 7th at the Jones Playhouse in Seattle Center at 7:30pm. Part of the UW World Series. For details, call (206) 543-4880 or go to uwworldseries.org.
UW Music collaborates with the student-led Improvised Music Project for a series of concerts for IMPFEST VII with a house band of UW instructors and visiting faculty and jazz studies students. Hard to go wrong with a band consisting of Steve Swallow, Chris Cheek, Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu and Ted Poor. May 1st – 3rd, 2015. All performances at the Ethnic Cultural Center on 3931 Brooklyn Ave. NE in Seattle. $20 general and $12 students. (206) 543-4880.
It’s always refreshing to hear young talent. Trio Andromeda consisting of violinist Allion Salvador, cellist Hye Jung Yang and pianist Li-Cheng Hung won the 2014 UW Strings and Piano Chamber Ensemble Competition. They give two concerts in 2015 on Jan. 31st at 4:30pm and Sat., May 30th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $5. Brechemin Auditorium in the Music Building on the Seattle UW campus. (206) 543-4880.
Srivani Jade, Indian vocalist is the UW Winter Quarter Ethnomusicology Visiting Artist. She gives a recital with her students on “Hindustani Khyal Music from India” on tues. , March 10th at 7:30pm in Brechemin Auditorium in the Music Building on the Seattle UW campus. (206) 543-4880. $5 tickets. (206) 543-4880.
UW School of Music alumna Wendy Yamashita, now a faculty member at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa returns to UW Seattle to give a “Master Class and Recital” on April 28th and 29th, 2015. Expect a program of Mozart and Chopin for the 28th recital at 7:30pm with $15 tickets. The April 29rd Master class is free and starts at 4:30pm. Brechemin Auditorium in the Music Building on the Seattle UW campus. (206) 543-4880.
Advance warning – Noted award-winning jazz pianist Vjay Iyer will be one of the many highlights of the Portland Jazz Festival set for Feb. 18th – March 11th. Tickets available at PDXJazz.com or call (503) 328-5299.
Seattle composer/musician/performance artist Byron Au Yong remains busy as always. He is working on “TRIGGER” with writer Aaron Jafferis prompted by the April 16th tragedy at Virginia Tech, where a Korean American student shot 32 people and then killed himself. He is also working on a performance piece entitled “TURBINE” for over 88 singers and nine dancers set for May at the Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia. Current compositions are for a piano trio entitled “Lost Fireflies” and Mo Sheng: Ink Sound for string quartet.
Bay Area performing arts couple “First Voice” consisting of performance artist/storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki and composer/musician/jazz bassist Mark Izu has a lot of creative irons in the fire. Their new project entitled “SUITE J-TOWN – The Art Of Resilience” has its world premier in the May of 2015 in San Francisco’s Japantown community. It pays tribute to the 100-year history of Japantown through music, dance, visual art, story, sound collage, video and site-specific installations performed in different historic sites. Created by First Voice with the collaboration of the next generation ‘hapa’ artists, “the project will rediscover and strengthen the soul of a community in an effort to continue our presence in today’s rapidly changing San Francisco landscape.” Other projects include a new commission with conductor Kent Nagano, Music Director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal in a work for chamber ensemble, story and dance. The concert will be workshopped in San Francisco in the Spring and premiered in Montreal in August 2015. Locally we can expect to see Brenda and Mark come to Seattle with a production entitled “Uncle Gunjiro’s Girlfriend” August 12th, 2015, a tale from Brenda’s family history. For booking information you can contact calartists.com or the artists direct at www.aokizu.com.
Classical violinist Kyung Wha Chung has not performed in the West since 20015 due to a severe finger injury. She defined the classical music scene of the 1970’s/80’s and served as a role model for many Asian women interested in entering the classical field. During her absence she continued teaching and worked on personal charities. She re-enters the performing circuit a new person. Now recuperating, she told the New York Times “losing my career opened new doors. I got off the train that traps you in the music world with too much pressure.” Now she paces herself and performs when she wants to.
Film & Media
Highlights
The Seattle Asian American Film Festival returns with a new offering of the best in contemporary Asian American film from Feb. 12 – 15th at Ark Lodge Cinema located at 4816 Rainier Ave. S. (206) 721-3156 or go to arklodgecinemas.com.
Film scholar Ajay Gehlawat leads a discussion and screening of the Bollywood film “Band Baaja Baaraat (Wedding Planners, 2010) directed by Maneesh Sharma and set in India’s capital of New Delhi. Jan. 9th at 7pm at Seattle Art Museum. For tickets, try http://tickets.seattleartmuseum.org/public.
The 9th Annual Seattle South Asian Film Festival recently concluded one of its’ most successful events in its’ history. Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage received the Tasveer Emerald Award. Vivek Kajaria, producer of the film, “FANDRY” received a special award for “Outstanding Film in a Social Category”. Indian director Kanu Behl’s “TITLI” received the SSAFF Jury Award. SSAFF 2014 Audience Awards were given out in three different categories. The Bengali mystery-drama “Teenkahon” by Bauddhayan Mukherji received an award for “Best Narrative”. Puja Maewal’s “JAYS” received an award for “Best Short Film”. Finally for “Best Documentary”, Kamar Ahmad Simon’s “Are You Listening!” got the nod in that category. The 10th Annual Seattle South Asian Film Festival is lated next for the fall of 2015. Go to http://said.tasveer.org/ for details.
Sony Pictures has cancelled the planned U.S. release of the movie, “The Interview” after many movie chains decided not to screen it. The film is a story of a fictional plot to kill North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un. Numerous cyber attacks on Sony by hackers and threats to people who come to the theatres to view the film has caused a sense of anxiety and fear. Excerpts from a BBC story.
Wanda Group is China’s largest commercial property developer and owner of the AMC theater chain in the US. Now they have upped the stakes and announced it will buy the former Robinsons-May department store in Beverly Hills to build a mixed-use development on the site. The company said that this development would serve as “its first important step into Hollywood aid in China’s entry into Hollywood’s film industry and generally promote Chinese culture abroad” according to the New York Times. The new Los Angeles office would handle entertainment-sector investments – including those dealing with local film production companies and global theatrical releases. In addition, the company has broken ground on a new studio construction in Qingdao. There will be over 20 studios, an underwater stage, a film museum and an amusement park. Plans are in place with foreign film and TV producers to shoot about 30 foreign co-productions and domestic productions at this facility. Wanda is the biggest owner of shopping centers, luxury hotels, department stores and cinemas in China.
The Written Arts
Highlights
University of Oregon Professor of Creative Writing and poet Garrett Kaoru Hongo participates in an event entitled “A Celebration of Poet Carolyn Kizer” set for Sun., Jan. 18th at 4pm. Poets from across the country come together for a memorial celebration of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former Seattleite Carolyn Kizer. Other poets expected to attend include Willis Barnstone, Tess Gallagher and Carol Muske-Dukes. Free. At Hugo House. Also just out is Hugo House’s schedule of “Creative Writing Classes – January – April, Winter 2015. This Seattle institution is a haven for writers seeking to hone their craft through workshops, classes and readings by local and nationally known writers. Some highlights include the following –Poet, translator and author EJ Koh teaches a class entitled “The Novel You Want To Write VS. The Novel You Need To Write” Feb. 25th to April lst. Seattle author Bharti Kirchner teaches a class entitled “The Everyday Personal Essay” on Jan. 24th. Seattle poet and recent Jack Straw Writing Fellow Michelle Penaloza teaches a class entitled “Let’s Get Poetical: Poetry Calisthenics” Jan. 13th – Feb. 17th. Western University Professor and Award-winning poet Oliver De La Paz teaches “Your Poetic Obsessions” on Feb. 28th. UW graduate student and published poet Jane Wong teaches a class entitled “Short But Not Sweet: Writing Short Poems” on Feb. 28th and March 7th. Schedules are available around town or go to hugohouse.org for details. Hugo House is located at 1634 – 11th Ave. on Capitol Hill. (206) 322-7030 or go to hugohouse.org.
“Author, Poet, and Worker: The World of Carlos Bulosan” is a new exhibit on view from through March 13, 2015 at the Allen Library Basement – Special Collections Lobby and Reference Room. In commemoration of the centennial of poet and author Carlos Bulosan’s birth, the exhibit draws on the papers of Bulosan, the cannery workers union, and various Filipino American labor leaders and community members within the broader context of Seattle’s Filipino American community and the progressive political culture in which he participated.
Copper Canyon Press, a noted Northwest publisher of quality books of poetry has a January 15th deadline for a reading period in order to consider new manuscripts of poetry for publication. For details, email [email protected].
Seattle paper cut artist/activist Lauren Iida and her Antipodes Collective is currently in Cambodia distributing donated books for their children’s library in Prasot village in Cambodia. Donations fund things like pre-class meals for students, library construction and materials. For details on this project, or their first book entitled “In My Village” by Lauren Iida & Carolyn R. Hall, go to www.theantipodescollective.org.
One finds it hard to keep up with the steady stream of new titles coming out even in the limited categories of works by or about Asian Americans and new titles on Asia but here’s a recent sampling:
Wave Books publishes poetry books but also has a pamphlet series. Each pamphlet is usually sent out to subscribers but a few copies of the latest Wave Pamphlet: Nine by local poet/writer Don Mee Choi entitled “Freely Frayed,ᄏ=q, & Race=Nation” is currently available for sale at local all-poetry bookstore, Open Books located in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. Essays consist lectures Choi gave at AWP 2014 and a “Race & Creative Writing Conference 2014” at the University of Montana, Missoula on Korean poet Kim Hyesoon, the Korean language and a talk entitled “Reading Race”. 2414 N. 45th St. (206) 633-0811 or email [email protected].
“China 1945 – Mao’s Revolution and America’s Fateful Choice” (Knopf) by Richard Bernstein looks at the choices America made and how that contributed to the way the China as we know it now was formed in the aftermath of WWII.
“”Meet Me in Venice – A Chinese Immigrant’s Journey from the Far East to the Faraway West” (Roman & Littlefield) is a memoir by Suzanne Ma of immigrants from China who made Europe their new home.
“The Siege- 68 Hours Inside The Taj Hotel” (Penguin) by Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy is a book of investigative reporting that looks at the 2008 invasion of that hotel in Mumbai during 2008.
“Grass Roots – Selected Poems” (Zephyr) is a translation of Taiwanese poet/woodblock print artist Xiang Yang by John Balcom.
New in paperback editions are these important University of Washington Press titles. “Roots & Reflections – South Asians in the Pacific Northwest” by Amy Bhatt and Nalini Iyer is the first book to cover this fast-growing immigrant community. “A Principled Stand – The Story of Hirabayashi V. United States” by Gordon K. Hirabayashi with James A. Hirabayashi and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi gives close scrutiny to this important civil rights case.
“The Walls of Delhi – Three Stories” (Seven Stories) is by master storyteller Uday Prakash as translated by Jason Grunebaum. These stories of contemporary India is an unflinching look at todays Indian society.
“The Exquisite Corpse Of Asian America – Biopoliticsm Ciosociality, and Posthuman Ecologies” (NYU Press) by Rachel C. Lee teases out the preoccupation with human fragments and posthuman ecologies in the context of Asian American cultural production and theory.
“I Did Not Kill My Husband” (Arcade) by Liu Zhenyun is Howard Goldblatt’s latest Chinese literary translation done with Sylvia Li-Chun Lin. This subtle satire is an examination of the intersection of politics and human nature whether in the smallest village of the corridors of power in Beijing.
“The City of Devi” (Norton) is Manil Suri’s (“The Death of Vishnu”) latest novel. It asks the provocative question, “Whom would you seek if the world were to end in four days”?
A perfect book for Christmas is Hayao Miyazaki’s early drawings for the anime film “Princess Mononoke”. “Princess Mononoke- The First Story” (VIZ) gives you an inside glimpse at the master animation artist’s first attempt at drawing up a storyboard for this wonderful story.
“Ancestral Places – Understanding Kanaka Geographies” (Oregon State University Press) by Katrina-Ann R. Kapa’anaokalaokeola Nakoa Oliveira explores the deep connections that ancestral Native Hawaiians enjoyed with their environment.
Xiaolu Guo received the 2013 GRANTA Best Young British Novelist Award. Now she is back with “I AM CHINA” (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday), a new novel set in Post-Tiananamen contemporary China.
“A God In Every Stone” (Atavist) is an ambitious novel by Kamila Shamsie set from 1914 – 1930 that follows the intertwining stories of a young, English female archeologist, her protégé in British India, and a young Pashtun Lance corporal fighting for the British in France during WW I.
“Without You, There Is No Us- My Time with the Son’s of North Korea’s Elite”(Crown) by Suki Kim (author of “The Interpreter”) recounts the time she spent teaching English to sons of North Korea’s ruling class during the last six months of Kim Jong-il’s reign.
“Cities of Others – Reimagining Urban Spaces in Asian American Literature” (UW Press) by Xiaojing Zhou looks at how Asian American writers depict urban settings in their literature.
“The Lives of Others” (Norton) is the latest novel by Neel Mukherjee that looks at the soul of a nation through ties and turmoil that tear asunder a large Indian family at a time of change . Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
“The Wilderness” (Norton) is the latest book of poetry by Sandra Lim that tackles myths of the American landscape, the fatalism of American Puritanism, family history, New England winters and the anxieties of contemporary life.
“All About China – Stories, Songs, Crafts and More for Kids” (Tuttle) is by Allison “Aixin” Branscombe and illustrated by Lin Wang.
“In Real Life”(First Second) is a graphic novel that tackles one of the big political and economic problems of the video game universe: gold farming. By Cory Doctorow & Jen Wang.
“Korean Folk Songs – Stars In The Sky And Dreams In Our Hearts” is a book of folk songs from that country with a sing along audio cd. By Robert Sang-Ung Choi and Samee Back.
“The Secret Sky” (Penguin Young Adult) tells the story of young people in modern Afghanistan by Atia Abawi.
“Japanese Design – Art, Aesthetics & Culture” (Tuttle) is a new book by Patricia J. Graham that lays down the basic foundation for a country’s artistic tradition.
“Chinese Feasts & Festivals – A Cookbook” (Periplus) is a new book on foods found at Chinese festivals by S. C. Moey.
“Evidence” (Prestel) is a new book documenting the work of dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. This is one of the most extensively documented study of his recent art work to date.
Art News/Opportunities
Artist Trust At Large provides information for artists across the state. On Jan. 31st at noon they will be at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma with speakers and artists there to give you the scoop on how Artist Trust can help your career. Also help Artist Trust out by attending or donating art for their 2015 Benefit Art Auction set for March 7, 2015 at Fisher Pavillion Seattle Center. For details, go to artisttrust.org. There is a Jan. 20, 2015 deadline for Washington State artists (emerging fields/cross-disciplinary, performing, traditional/folk and visual arts) to apply for 2015 fellowships. Also writers may wish to apply for the 2015 EDGE Professional Development Program for Literary Artists with a deadline of Jan. 27th. 2015. Go to www.artisttrust.org for details.
Congratulations to all the local artists who nabbed grants from Artist Trust. IE writer Maria Batayola was a participant in the 2014 EDGE Professional Level Program in the literary division. Donna Miscolta and Mari Ichimasu both got 2014 Fellowships. 2014 Grants for Artist Projects went to Humaira Abid (visual), Ha na Lee (media), Siang Hui Tay (music), and Sumi Tonooka (performance).
Recipients of the 2015 City Artist Project include the following – Percussionist/composer Paul Kikuchi to create an online interactive experience of a multi-faceted website with music, photos, writings and historical recordings with a “Meet the Artist” event to discuss the event. Musician/composer William Satake Blauvelt to create new music/sound scores for two Japanese silent film classics, “Jujiro” and “A Story of Floating Weeds”.
The online application for the Gallery4Culture season (beginning Sept. 2015 and running through July 2016) will be available at 4culture.org/apply beginning Nov. 17th. The application deadline is 5pm on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. King County artists working in all visual media, except performance, may apply. Applicants may not be represented by a commercial art gallery at the time of application.
Congratulations to local percussionist/composer Paul Kikuchi and nationally known fiction writer Monique Truong who were among five finalists to receive U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowships for 2015. Each recipient will spend a total of three months doing research in Japan.
An Arts and Social Change Showcase of visual and performing artists will be presented to presenters who book local talent in our region followed by a reception at Bellevue City Hall. Jan. 27th . At Meydenbauer Center at 11100 NE 6th St. For details, go to [email protected]. For more information, try http://www.artsandsocialchange.org/save-the-date/.
“Duwamish Revealed” is a series of outdoor art installations, performances, community activities and other adventures to help develop art as a way to connect people to the Duwamish River. Activities are planned for the spring and summer of 2015. You do not have to be a professional artist to be part of this project. If you have a vision for a project on the river, let us know. Read details of our call for applications at http://www.duwamishrevealed.com/call-to-artists/.
Canadian filmmaker Ann Marie Fleming is working on a new film project, a full-length animated feature starring Sandra Oh and Nancy Kwan. The plot revolves around a young Canadian poet of mixed Asian heritage who when performing at a festival in Iran is confronted by different truths about her father who she always thought abandoned her as a child. An indiegogo campaign is under way to raise funds for this project. For details, go to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/window-horses-an-animated-feature.
The Little Tokyo Historical Society in Los Angeles seeks entries for their 2015 Short Story Contect. LTHS seeks fictional short stories set in the community of Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo for its second annual “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2015. Cash awards of $600 for adutls and $400 for younger adults. Winners get stories published in The Rafuy Shimpo and Discover Nikkei website. For details, go to http://www.littletokyohs.org.
Seattle Transmedia & Independent Film Festival issues a call for submissions. Early submission is now open for entries in all 16 categories, including the relatively conventional (short, feature, documentary, animation), the wonderfully wacky (fan fiction, experimental), and the entirely new (emerging technology, new media, video game). For information or to submit a film, episode, app. or multi-platform interactive narrative to STIFF 2015, visit http://trueindependent.org/stiff/submit/.
