Arts Etc. – October 10, 2015

Visual Arts

Highlights

“Thought Patterns” is a group show featuring artists and craftspersons working in diverse media and how they construct their ideas in patterned and repetitive ways. Features the work of Louise Kikuchi, June Sekiguchi and others. Oct. 10 – Feb. 14. A public reception for the artists  on Oct.  10 from 2 – 5pm. Bainbridge Art Museum at  550 Winslow Way E. on Bainbridge Island. (206) 842-4431 or go to www.biartmuseum.org.  Open daily. Free.

The City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture presents “Art Interruptions”, a series of ephemeral moments of surprise and reflection in the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway on view now through Jan. 3, 2016. See the work of seven artists including Naoko Morisawa, Carina del Rosario, Hanako O’Leary, Bayu Angermeyer, Esther Ervin, Alison Foshee and Sonya Stockton. For details or to get a map of locations, call (206) 684-7171.

Book art, the wonderful world of books made by artists doesn’t get the attention it deserves. These one-of-a-kind creations are as wide-ranging and creative as the imagination of the artists that make them. Locally, we have a whole room devoted to them at the new Bainbridge Museum of Art and the treasure that is the book art collection at UW Special Collections at the UW Library. Now we get another chance to enter the magical world of this art in a new group show put together at Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building. “Unhinged: Book Art On The Cutting Edge” showcases over 70 works by 63 artists from the U.S., Australia, Canada and Great Britain. Includes work by Julie Chen and Long Bin-Chen. Curated by Barbara Matilsky. Sept. 27 – Jan. 3, 2016. 250 Flora St. in Bellingham, WA. 250 Flora St. (360) 778-8930 or email [email protected].

“Genius/21 Century/Seattle” is a large-scale celebration of exceptional multidisciplinary and collaborative artistic practice in Seattle in the twenty-first century. Featured are over sixty visual artists, filmmakers, writers, theater artists, composers, musicians, choreographers, dancers, and arts organization.  Artists participating in “Genius” were selected by leading arts writers and the Seattle artistic community to be recipients of “The Stranger Genius Award”. Eyvind Kang, Lead Pencil Studio, Susie J. Lee and D.K. Pan are among the list of distinguished artists included in this exhibition. The exhibition and its more than thirty-five events going on until Jan. 10, 2016. Frye Art Museum. 704 Terry Ave. (206) 622-9250. Admission and parking are always free. Closed Mondays.

The work of Kathy Liao is included in a group show entitled “Observing  Observing – A White Cup” on view until Oct. 31. This show emphasizes the powers of observation over content with the motif of a white cup as a constant. Prographica Gallery at 1419 E. Dennuy Way. (206) 322-3851 or go to prographicadrawings.com.

Oct. 1 -31 brings a 10 year survey exhibition of Seattle artist Eunice Kim who works in the unique printmaking process of collagraphy.  Davidson Galleries. 313 Occidental Ave. S. (206) 624-7684.

Hongzhe Liang and Mathew Bell present “A Translation Service”, a dual show of installation work through  Oct. 17. Cornish instructor/sculptor Robert Rhee who ran an artist Airbnb  earlier has a solo show of his own work made from gourds in cages. The work is stark, spare and ultimately moving if  his earlier work in “Out of Sight” is anything to go by. This solo show is entitled “Winter Wheat” and is on view Nov. 5 – 28. Both shows at Glassbox Gallery at 831 Seattle Blvd. S. Go to glassboxgallery.com for details.

Collector Dr. David Paly has collected Japanese folk textiles for over 30 years. He will talk about “Tsutsugaki Textiles of Japan” on Sun., Nov. 1 at 1pm at Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Alvord Board Room in Volunteer Park. Tickets at the door (cash or check only) or in advance at [email protected]. For information, call (206) 522-5438.

Alano Edzerza from Tahiti showcases his woodcarving, jewelry and prints in “Moving Forward” on view Nov. 5 – 28 at Stonington Gallery in Pioneer Square in Seattle. 125 South Jackson St. (206) 405-4040 or go to www.stoningtongallery.com.

Sculptor June Sekiguchi participates in COCA 24 Hour Art Making Marathon set for Nov. 11 – 12 . From 9am Nov. 11 through the night to 9pm Nov. 12, watch a group of Northwest artists  of various genres create new work on the spot. There will be a silent auctioning off of the work created on Nov. 13 at 5:30pm. All proceeds benefit the non-profit arts organization. The Summit Building at 420 E. Pike. Email [email protected] or call (206) 728-1980.

“Here’s What I Got” is a grab-bag of work by gallery artists including Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. Krab Jab Studio at 5268  Airport Way S. # 150.  Nov. 14 – Dec. 5. For details, go to krabjabstudio.com.

“Rebels Of The Floating World” is the title of a forthcoming show featuring work by two acclaimed contemporary urban artists who explore our complex transitions between tradition and history. New work by Jonathan Wakuda Fischer who has turned the Japanese woodblock tradition on its head and made it contemporary and Louie Gong  who will be showing a new series of paintings combining Native American and Chinese motifs. Remains on view  through Oct. Artxchange Gallery. 512 First Ave. S. (206) 839-0377.

New work by Megan Quan Knight opens Oct. 22 at ArtsWest Gallery. On view  through Nov. 22. 4711 California Ave. S.W. (206) 938-0339 or go to artswest.org.

“Slash And Burn” is a group  show curated by Suze Woolf that looks at artists who either cut or burn material to make their art. The work of Naoko Morisawa and June Sekiguchi is included.  Opening reception is Dec. 11 from 6 – 8:30pm. Kirkland Art Center at 620 Market St. in Kirkland. (425) 822-7161.

Bellevue Arts Museum brings a wonderful show of handcrafted collaboration between husband and wife in “In The Realm of Nature: Bob Stocksdale & Kay Sekimachi. Individually and together, these two artists pushed the use of wood/paper as a material to new creative heights. Stocksdale specialized in the use of woods from around the world in his bowls. Sekimachi’s work inspires as visual poetry applied to material. Not to miss.  Up until Oct. 18, 2015.  510 Bellevue Way NE. (425) 519-0770 or go to www.bellevuearts.org.

Opening Sept. 26th, ceramics by Reid Ozaki  and Matt Allison. (206) 381-3000.  KOBO  at Higo. 604  South Jackson. Email is [email protected] seattle.com.

Japanese ceramic sculptor Kensuke Yamada who exhibits locally at Patricia Rovzar Gallery talks about his work at Pottery Northwest on Oct. 24 at 7pm. Free. 26 First Ave. N. (206) 285-4421.

Photographer Michael Kenna has spent a considerable amount of time in Japan taking images of landscapes and still-lives. There is a pristine, precise delicacy to his work that catches every detail. A new series entitled “Forms of Japan: Photographs” comes to G. Gibson Gallery with an artist and booksigning reception set for Nov. 5th from 6 – 8pm. 300 South Washington in Pioneer Square. Go to www.ggibsongallery.com for details.

Fram Kitagawa is Director of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Trienniale, one of the largest art festivals in the world. He gives a talk entitled “Art in the Age of the Global Environment” on Nov. 12 at Henry Art Gallery. Free.  15th Ave. NE & NE 41st St. (206) 543-2280.

“Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty” is a show that should prove to be a family favorite. On loan from the Japanese American National Museum, the show lands in Seattle at the EMP Museum at Seattle Center on Nov. 14 and remains on view through May 15, 2016. The show looks on the history of the Japanese icon and her influence on popular culture. Includes an extensive product survey, with rare and unique items from the Sanrio archives, alongside a selection of innovative contemporary artworks inspired by Hello Kitty and her world. 325 – 5th Ave. N. (206) 770-2700.

Abmeyer & Wood presents the work of two contemporary sculptors, Erika Sanada and Calvin Ma. Sanada makes strange sculptures of animals and Ma turns robots into wooden action figures. Nov. 30 – Jan. 2. 1210 Second Ave. (206) 628-9501 or go to abmeyerwood.com.

“Mugen/Infinity” is a show of new work by local lighting designer Yuri Kinoshita who creates wonderful illuminated sculptures for rooms both private and public. Oct. 20 – 31 with tea ceremonies set for Oct. 23 & 24. Pottery Northwest at 226 First Ave. N. (206) 285-4421 or go to  potterynorthwest.org/index.htm.

Oct. 18 is Building 30 West Open Studios. Free. 1pm – 5pm.  Seattle artist Suiren  (Renko Dempster) has a studio here. Tour these artists studios in Magnuson Park at 7400 Sandpoint Way NE. (206) 684-4278.

The Bemis Building is a large warehouse of artists studios and every year they have an open house and you can see the work and studios of the artists within. The Fall 2015 Bemis Art Show takes place Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 Free admission.  55 S. Atlantic St. in Sodo. Live music and entertainment. Go to www.bemisarts.com for details.

“Escapism” is the title of a group show at Vermillion. Includes work by Eva Yuewang. 1508 11th Ave. (206) 709-9797 or go to vermillionseattle.com.

On view through Oct. 17 is “Works by Northwest Master Paul Horiuchi (1906-1999)”. Woodside/Braseth Gallery. 1201 Western Ave. (206) 622-7243 or go to woodsidebrasethgallery.com.

The First Friday Lecture for Nov. 6 at Seattle Art Museum downtown is “Intimate Impressionism” by Chiyo Ishikawa, SAM’s Deputy Director for a Art and Curator of European Painting and Sculpture. She talks about items in the current traveling exhibition entitled “Intimate Impressionism from the National Gallery of Art” now on view at SAM. At 11am and free with museum admission.1300 First Ave.  (206) 654-3210 or go to www.seattleartmuseum.org.

The Yakima Valley Museum has the current exhibit, “Land of Joy and Sorrow – Japanese Pioneers of the Yakima Valley” up until 2018. It tells the history of Japanese families who created a community there before the war. Only 10% of families returned to re-settle there after the war. 2105 Teton Dr. (509) 248-0741. In related news, a softball from this collection that saw play at Heart Mountain internment camp and owned by George Hirahara has been given to the Smithsonian and was on display in the incarceration section of the exhibit, “The Price of Freedom – Americans at War”.  (As reported in the North American Post.) In other news, Hirahara’s Oregon photographs of the Japanese American post-WWII experience in the Pacific Northwest are now available online at Densho. To see his documentation of Nikkei Oregon life in “New Partner Collection: Frank C. Hirahara Photographs From The Oregon Nikkei Endowment”, go  to http://www.densho.org/new-partner-collection-frank-c-hirahara-photographs-from-the-oregon-nikkei-endowment/. Also a profile of the Washington State University Hirahara Collection of photos from Heart Mountain is now featured on the Japanese American History Not For Sale Facebook Page by going to https://www.facebook.com/japaneseamericanhistorynotforsale.

Cascadia Art Museum is a new Northwest museum in Edmonds, WA. Their inaugural exhibition is entitled “A Fluid Tradition:  Northwest Watercolor Society…The First 75 Years” on view through Jan. 3, 2016.  It includes the work of George Tsutakawa amongst dozens of others. 190 Sunset Ave.  in Edmonds. Go to cascadiaartmuseum.org for details.

Seattle ceramic artist Akio Takamori  and Lead Pencil Studio (Annie Han & Daniel Milhayo) were both recipients of the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards given by the Portland Art Museum  which will give all winners a group show which has been re-scheduled to run from Feb. 13 – May 8 in 2016. The extension will allow some artists to do brand-new work site-specific to the PAM space.  “Anish Kapoor – Prints from the Collection of Jordan Schnitzer” remains on view until Oct. 25, 2015.  The Portland Art Museum is at 1219 SW Park Ave. Go to www.portlandartmuseum.org for details.

Portland artist Robert Dozono has a show of new work entitled “Garbage Paintings and Other Works” at Blackfish Gallery Nov. 3 – 28, 2015. Opening reception is Nov. 5 from 6 – 9pm. 420 N.S. Ninth Ave. in Portland. (503) 224-2634 or go to www.blackfish.com.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene has the following – Opening Oct. 3 and remaining on view until Jan. 3, 2016 is “Expanding Frontiers – The Wadsworth Collection of Post War Japanese Prints”. Remaining on view until July 24, 2016 is “‘True’ Korean Landscapes & Virtuous Scholars” and “Benevolence  & Loyalty: Filial Piety in Chinese Art” up until July 31, 2016. 1430 Johnson Lane. (541) 346-3027.

The work of noted Northwest ceramic sculptor Patti Warashina is included in SOFA, the annual  expo show of sculpture, objects, functional art and design in Chicago. Nov. 6th – 8th,   2015. Opening night on Nov. 5th at Navy Pier. Go to sofaexpo.com for details.

New and recent shows /activities at the Wing include the following – Coming Thurs., Nov. 5 from 6 – 8pm is the opening of the show, “Tatau/Tattoo: Embodying Resistance. Explores the practices and cultural significance of tattoos, highlighting the unique perspectives of the South Pacific communities in the Pacific Northwest. Free. Members and special guests are invited to RSVP. Reception open to the public. “Khmer American: Naga Sheds Its Skin” opens on Thurs., Dec. 10 from 6 – 8pm.  War has had a huge impact on Khmer culture and identity. Despite these challenges, the community continues to shape the US and Cambodia. Members and invited guests can RSVP at wingluke.org/calendar. 7pm open to the public. Free. “Tales of Tails: Animals in Children’s Books  is a recent show to open at the museum. “CONSTRUCT/S” is a group show that presents a diverse group of six international, national and local female artists who will transform The Wing’s art gallery into a multi-sensory, interactive exploration of identity, subjectivity, history, culture and gender. It is curated by Dr. Stacey Uradomo-Barre.  It remains on view through April 17th, 2016. Artists include the following – Terry Acebo Davis from California recreates her mother’s bedroom drawing upon the fact that she is suffering from dementia. This room is a place she yearns to return to and the piece deals with a fragmented narrative of memory, loss, identity, and Filipino American culture.  Kaili Chun from Hawai’I has an interactive installation of man-made steel bars that unlock to grapple with issues of subjectivity and community and reflect the continuous socio-political negotiation of Native Hawaiians with the mainstream society. Yong Soon Min from California, after a career exploring Korean American Identity and colonialism now examines her own personal struggle of pain and trauma as she tries to recover from a cerebral hemorrhage that affected her ability to form language and memories.  Min has shown previously in Seattle with temporary art installations. Tamiko Thiel (Germany) & Midori Kono Thiel (Seattle) present a mother-daughter collaboration combining traditional calligraphy with mobile technology. Their augmented reality installation virtually links art and culture with physical landmarks significant to the local Japanese American community. Lynne Yamamoto from Massachusetts went to Evergreen College in Olympia as a student. She has shown here previously with an installation at Suyama Space and a show at Greg Kucera Gallery. Her  new piece here was inspired by the early 20th century tent houses of Japanese immigrant farmers.  This work interweaves family memories and community history, evoking the migratory nature of the Japanese American farming community. She also has a public art commission at the Seattle Public Library planned as well. A catalog for this show is available. The Young Family Collection of Qing Dynasty robes opened Jan. 15th . “Who Gets To Belong?” is an exhibit that looks at the Immigration Act of 1965 that lifted the quotas for Asian Pacific Islander immigration. This exhibit which opened March 5th will look at the cultural and political climate that  pushed for this act. “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. Year 2 of the exhibition opens Oct. 3rd, 2015 and digs deeper into the significance of Bruce Lee and his impact in media during a time of racial stereotypes and barriers. Includes text panels by national blogger Phil Yu (aka Angry Asian Man) plus Green Hornet toys, personal letters, behind-the-scenes photos from the sets of “Way of the Dragon” and “Enter the Dragon”, hand-written film notes, rare photos inside his early Chinatown studio and much much more.  A new set  of Bruce Lee’s Chinatown Tours begin Oct. 6th.  A teacher workshop & curriculum training workshop is provided for the graphic novel “Fighting for America – Nisei Soldiers” on Sat., Oct. 10 from 8:30am – 3:30pm. Author Lawrence Matsuda and artist Matt Sasaki talk about how they created the book and will discuss how to incorporate it into your classroom discussion of the WWII Japanese American incarceration.  Free or $20 with lunch. Contact [email protected] for clock hours. This workshop involves a short walk to the Nisei Veterans Committee Hall. “Immigrant Stories and Experiences Come Alive” is a special donor/member event set for Oct. 13 at 7pm.  Participants will view scene performances from Seattle Repertory Theatre’s “A View from the Bridge” in the historic hotel space. Includes a panel discussion with experts & museum educators with snacks & wine. $15 with limited space. Buy tickets online or contact [email protected].  Artist, activist and nurse Terry Acebo Davis gives an artist talk and shares her experiences on how we care for our fragile elders in conversation with author, Professor Beter Bacho on Sun., Oct. 15 at 1:30pm. Davis’s installation is part of the “CONSTRUCT/S exhibit now on view. Free with museum admission and free for members.  A “Toddler Storytime” is set for Thurs., Nov. 5 from 10am – 12pm. Kids will learn how to make a wish and listen to “Wish: Wishing Traditions Around the World”. A fun art activity follows. Free. On Sat., Nov. 7 from noon – 2pm, Lane Wilcken, author of “Filipino Tattoos: Ancient to Modern” talks about the history and culture of Paciic Islander tattoos. Q&A/book  signing to follow. Presented in conjunction with the “Tatou/Tattoo” exhibit. There is a teacher workshop & curriculum training sesson entitled “Reimagine Belonging: Exploring Historical and Personal Narratives of Migration in the Classroom” set for Sun., Nov. 8 from 9:30am – 4:30pm. In conjunction with the “Belonging” exhibit and presented in partnership with Wings and Roots. $10 or $20 with lunch. Contact [email protected] forFun Day” set for Sat., Nov. 14 from 10am – 5pm gives you free gallery admission all day. Fun animal activities such as face painting, storytelling and an art exploration workshop. Find out how chickens are linked to the Wing. Something  for everyone. Free. Pork Filled Productions present a staged reading of “Tale Of The Shining Yonsei” on Thurs., Dec. 3 from 6 – 8pm. Follow Akira, a 4th generation Japanese American as he looks to Japanese fairy tales for help in how the handle the intricacies of dating and following your heart. Free. To help celebrate Bruce Lee’s 75th Birthday, all Bruce Lee merchandise will be 10% off on the weekend of Nov. 28-29. A free gift with any $20 purchase while supplies last. “Shop-o-Rama” is a special event in the Marketplace with lots of local artist pop-up shops, an Asian American Santa, book promotions and great discount specials every Sat. from Nov. 14 – Dec. 21. Free cookies & cider and free giftwrapping. Members can double their discount and a limited Year of the Sheep glass with gift membership purchase. For details, go to wingluke.org/shop.  The Museum is located at 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.

“Voices of Nisei Veterans – Permanent Exhibition and Collections”  is composed of rare collections preserved by the Nisei Veterans Committee and tells the story of Japanese American veterans before, during and after WW II. Access is by pre-arranged tour only. For reservations or information, email [email protected] or [email protected]. Jointly sponsored by the NVC Memorial Hall and The Wing. 1212 South King St.

“Pacific Voices” is an ongoing exhibit that celebrates the language, teachings, art, and cultural ceremonies of seventeen cultures from the Pacific Rim. Burke Museum at the University of Washington. 17th  Ave. NE & E 45th  Streets. (206) 543-5590 or try Washington.edu/burkemuseum.

Currently on view at Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park –  First Free Saturday family activity takes place  from 11am – 2pm. “Paradox Of Place: Contemporary Korean Art” is a new show set for Oct. 31, 2015 – March 13, 2016 at the Tateuchi Galleries. This is the first major exhibition of Korean contemporary art in over a decade in Seattle. This show was put together in collaboration with Ms. Choi Eunju, former chief curator of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea. Six leading-edge Korean contemporary artists’ representative works will be in this show. Works range from mix-media, installation, video art, to photography, all of which are prominent forms in Korean contemporary art. Co-organized by the Seattle Art Museum and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea with generous support from the Korea Foundation. “Daybreak in Myanmar” is the title of a talk by photographer Geoffrey Hiller as he shares his work from Burma from 1987 to the present on Thurs., Oct. 8 at 7pm.  “Saturday University” is a series of talks on art and ideas at Seattle Asian Art Museum every morning at 9:30am $10 admission. . The series includes the following –  On Oct. 10, Karen Strassler, Associate Professor of Anthropoly at City University of New York talks about “Photography & Making of Indonesia today”. Julia Adeney Thomas, Associate Professor of History at Notre Dame talks about “Humanitarian Photography and Japan’s Atomic Pain: The Ethical Vision of Morizumi Takashi from Iraq to Fukushima” on Oct. 17. Oct. 24 brings Professor Douglas Fix of  History and Humanities from Reed College who tackles the topic of “19th Century Portraits of Taiwanese Aborigines”. Oct. 31 Korean contemporary artist Jung Yeondoo talks about his work in the show “Paradox of Place: Contemporary Korean Art” (a new show opening the same day at SAAM) in a talk entitled “Dreams Come True, Almost”. Christopher Phillips, Curator at ICP, New York talks about “Chinese and Korean video Art” on Nov. 7. Deepali Dewan, Senior Curator of South Asian Arts at Royal Ontario Museum address the topic of “Paint and Photography in India” on Nov. 14. Yasufumi Nakamori, associate Curator of Photography at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will talk about the show he curated for that museum entitled “Experiments in Japanese Art & Photos, 1968-79” on Nov. 21. The Winter Saturday University Series will address topics under the theme of “Sites of Meaning: Cultural Heritage Preservation in Asia.” The opening lecture will be on Sat. Jan. 23rd at 9:30am and Stefan Simon, Director of the Yale University Institute for Cultural Heritage will kick it off. For complete information on all events, go to seattleartmuseum.org.

Seattle Japanese Garden recently celebrated its 55th anniversary. Upcoming events include the following –   A Maple Viewing Festival is set for Oct. 11th. For more details, go to www.seattlejapanesegarden.org.

The 20th Annual Northwest Jewelry & Metals Symposium takes place Oct. 17 at Broadway Performance Hall at 1625 Broadway in Seattle. To register, go to www.SeattleMetalsGuild.org and click the “Programs & Events” link.

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. 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. “Art AIDS America” is a groundbreaking exhibition that underscores the deep and unforgettable presence of HIV in American art from the 1980’s to the present. The late Martin Wong has work in this show. Co-curated by TAM Chief Curator Rock Hushka and Dr. Jonathan Katz who directs the Visual Studies Doctoral Program at the University of Buffalo. Opens Oct. 3rd and remains on view through Jan. 10th, 2016.Tacoma Art Museum is at 1701 Pacific Ave. (253) 272-4258 or go to TacomaArtMuseum.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. On view through Open Tu. – Sat. 11am – 3pm and Sundays, noon – 3pm. 121 NW 2nd Ave. (503) 224-1458 or email [email protected].

“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 Art History Lecture Series with Rebecca Albiani for the upcoming year includes a series of talks on “Netsuke: Miniature Masterpieces of Japanese Sculpture” set for Jan.  14th at 11am and 7pm  and Jan. 15th at 11am. The talk is repeated three times. To register, call (206) 432-8200.

Miyoshi Barosh and Maya Lin have painted glass prints  in the group show “Pilchuck Print Shop”. Keiko Hara has work in the group show “From the Artist’s Eye – Works on Paper”. Both shows  through Sept. 24.  Opening Oct. 10 – Jan. 3, 2016 is “Not Vanishing: Contemporary Expressions in Indigenous Art, 1977-2015”, an important show that examines the evolution of the contemporary Native American arts movement and the works of artists living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and southern British Columbia. Museum of  Northwest Art in La Conner, WA. 121 s. First St. (360) 466-4446 or go to museumofnwart.org.

“Off site” is the title of an installation by Mumbai-based artist Reena Saini Kallat that re-creates immigration routes around the world using electric wire, circuit boards and speakers across a giant map. On view  until Oct. 12th.  Opening Dec. 11 and remaining on view until Jan. 24, 2016 is a survey of the work  of South Korean contemporary artist Kim Beon. His conceptually driven videos, installations and drawings brim over with a warm sense of humor. Vancouver Art Gallery at 750 Hornby St. in Vancouver BC, Canada. (604) 662-4719 or go to vanartgallery.bc.ca.

“Mingei: Japan’s Enduring Folk Arts” is on view through Oct. 11th at the Nikkei National Museum in Burnaby, BC Canada. Over 100 works gathered from all over Japan attest to the power and joy of Japan’s folk art tradition. 6688  Southoaks Crescent. (604) 777-7000.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has the following shows – “First Look – Collecting Contemporary Art at the Asian” gives the museum a chance to open up their collection of new acquisitions and show new work by the likes of Yako Hodo, Yang Yungliang, Xu Bing and Zeng Chonglin. Up until Oct. 11, 2015. “Woven Luxaries – Indian, Persian and Turkish Velvets from The Indicator Collection” stays on view until Nov. 1, 2015. “Continuity And Pursuit” is a show of paintings by Yoong Bae until Dec. 13, 2015. “Exquisite Nature: 20 Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings (14th – 18th century)” comes down Nov. 1, 2015. “Picturing Sound, Creating Mood” is a series of twelve paintings from the 18th to 19th century that reveal the multisensory world of Indian painting up till Nov. 22, 2015. 200 Larkin St. (415) 581-3500.

“Raycraft is Dead” is the title of a mixed media installation by L.A. based South Korean artist Won Ju Im. In it, she deconstructs the spaces of her own home and invites the viewer to rethink our everyday experiences in our own spaces. Includes sculptures, video projection and collage. On view  until Dec.  6, 2015 at  the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 701 Mission in San Francisco. (415) 978-2700.

“New Stories from the Edge of Asia: Tabaimo” marks the first solo museum exhibition  of this amazing Japanese artist who uses alluring large-scale surreal animations that combine everyday objects and experiences. Opens Feb. 5, 2016 at the San Jose Museum of Art. 110 South Market St. (408) 271-6840. Not to miss!

The Japanese American National Museum has the following current and upcoming exhibitions.  Ongoing is “Common Ground: The Heart of Community” is a historical group show that incorporates hundreds of objects, documents and photographs collected by the Museum on over 130 years of Japanese American history. Opening Oct. 11 and on view until Jan. 24, 2016 is “Giant Robot Biennale 4” an annual show showcasing the diverse creative works brought together between the pages of that popular zine which is a staple of alternative Asian American pop culture. Looking further down the road is an important photography show entitled “Making Waves: Japanese American Photography, 1920 – 1940” tentatively set for Feb. 28 – June 26 of 2016 and curated by Southern California photography historian Dennis Reed who has curated a previous excellent show of the Japanese Camera Club of Los Angeles. 100 North Central Ave. (213) 625-0414.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has the following shows. “Islamic Art Now: Contemporary Art of the Middle East” remains on view until Jan. 3, 2016.  “Ritual Offerings in Tibetan Art” continues until Oct. 25. 2015. “Living for The Moment: Japanese Prints from the Barbara S. Bowman Collection” opens Oct. 4 and remains on view until Jan. 16, 2016. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. (323) 857-6010.

The Skirball Cultural Center in association with the Japanese American National Museum  presents “Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams” from Oct. 8 – Feb. 21, 2016.  In addition to Adam’s work, the exhibition includes other photographs, documents, publications, artifacts, and works of art that detail life and conditions at Manzanar and offer personal narratives of the experience. A range of propaganda posters, films, pamplets, and magazines portray the anger, prejudice, and overt racism fo the times. Additional material comes from Adam’s contemporaries, Dorothea Lange and Toyo Miyatake. But what is the cherry on top of the sundae (at least for me) is the inclusion of “Citizen 13660: The Art of Mine Okubo”. Her work cuts to the quick and gives a very honest and personal portrayal of how life was in the camps as lived by the inmates. Activities related to this show include the following – Classes entitled “In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams” Oct. 17, Nov. 6, Nov. 8, and Nov. 21. The film “Children of the Camps” is screened on Oct. 15 at 8pm. Public tours Tues. – Sun. beginning Oct. 15 at 1pm. A member program is Preview Day for the show on Oct. 7 from noon – 5pm. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles. Free on-site parking. (310) 440-4500.  

In related news, the Mine Okubo Collection at the Riverside City College is believed to be the most extensive repository of Mine Okubo’s papers and art work in a single location. This is a virtual treasure trove for people interested in the work of this important American artist. To see the collection, call the Director of the Center for Social Justice at (951) 222-8846. Additional material on the artist can be found at the Japanese American National Museum, the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and University of California at Riverside.

Oakland Museum of California presents a major exhibition on historic and contemporary pacific cultures and peoples and their interactions with California. “Pacific Worlds”  remains on view through Jan. 3rd, 2016. The show explores the on-going connections and intersecting experiences of Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians, along with Filipinos, Native Californians, and American collectors and colonists.  Opening Dec. 12 and remaining on view until Jan. 3, 2016 is “UNEARTHED: Found & Made”. This show juxtaposes contemporary sculpture by L.A.-based artist Jededian Caesar with traditional Japanese suiseki from Bay Area clubs.1000 Oak St. in Oakland, CA. For details, go to museumca.org or http://www.museumca.org/.

“Ishiuchi Miyako: Post War Shadows” is a retrospective of  his self-taught photographer who emerged out of the shadows of WW II in a mostly male generation of  Japanese photographers.  Her work offered a different perspective on the Japan she knew, the hometown port city of Yokosuka. Later work would fuse both the personal and political as she did work on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Frida Kahlo’s clothing and the map of the skin found on different torsos. On view until Feb. 21, 2016. “The Younger Generation: Contemporary Japanese Photography” is a complimentary group show of  young women photographers that have surfaced in the 1990’s influenced by Ishiuchi’s work. They include Kawauchi Rinko, Onodera Yuki, Otsuka Chino, Sawada Tomoko and Shiga Lieko. This show has identical exhibition dates as Ishiuchi’s show. J. Paul Getty Museum. 1200 Getty Center Dr. (310) 440-7330.

The Fullerton Museum presents a show entitled “Forgotten Faces” which focuses on the “comfort women” of World War II, those Asian women forced into becoming prostitutes for the Imperial Japanese Army during the 1930’s & 40’s. The work from three distinct genres reflects the struggles of women from Indonesia, China, Korea and the Philippines. The first part of the show consists of photographs, maps and text boxes. The second part utilizes art to tell the story. Watercolors by  Steve Cavallo depicts the women.  Cavallo spent time listening to tapes of their stories before actualizing each drawing. A series of portraits of comfort women taken by photographer Jan Banning takes up the next part of the show. Each photo is accompanied by a brief testimonial by each woman. Mixed media art by Chang-Jin Lee combines text from newspaper advertisements used to recruit comfort women. Cal State Fullerton History Professor Kristine Dennehy was brought in to educate docents about the comfort women issue. The exhibit  address the present problem of human trafficking today. Also information is provided from a variety of organizations that help victims. On view through Nov. 1, 2015. The Fullerton Museum Center is at 301 Pomona Ave. in Fullerton, Calif. (714)  783-6545.

New work by Seattle artist Diem Chau is on exhibit through Oct. 31st, 2015 at the Philadelphia Zoo as part of “Second Nature”, an array of artist installations that ell the stories of endangered species through the use of recycled, reduced, reused, repurposed and renewed materials. Her series of carved crayons “Precious Few” take the forms of 48 animals on the endangered species list. The zoo is at 3400 W. Girard Ave. in Philadelphia. Their phone # is (215) 243-1100. Diem Chau is represented locally by G. Gibson Gallery (ggibsongallery.com) and she is open to commissions.

“Asian Art at 100: A History in Photographs” is a survey of the Met’s Asian galleries photographed from 1907 – 19 45. Through May 22, 2016. “Celebrating The Arts of Japan: The Mary Griggs Burke Collection”. Over 300 items from what many consider the best Japanese art collection outside of Japan are on view from Oct. 20 through July 31, 2016. 1000 – 5th Ave. (212) 535-7710 or go to www.metmuseum.org.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston organized the traveling show entitled “For A New World To Come: Experiments In Japanese Art And Photographs, 1968-1979”. Vietnam War protests and opposition to a treaty extending American military occupation rocked Japan and fueled the Japanese arts movement at this time. For the first time, many artists and movements heretofore unknown to the West are exposed. This stimulating exhibition comes to New York split into two different venues. The first segment shows at New York University’s Grey Art Gallery through Dec. 5, 2015.  Go to nyu.edu/greyart for details. The other portion of the show hits Japan Society Gallery from Oct. 9, 2015 through Jan. 3, 2016. Go to japansociety.org for more information.

“Japanese  Kogei/ Future Forward”. Twelve different artists show different changing approaches to Japanese “handcrafts” – especially in the area of ceramics. Oct. 20 – Feb. 7, 2016. Museum of Arts and Design in New York.  2 Columbus Circle. (212) 299-7777  or [email protected].

Seattle artist Etsuko Ichikawa is in a group show entitled “HAIKU – Poetry in Art” at the Michael Warren Gallery through Nov. 19, 2015. At Republic Plaza at 370 – 17th St. in Denver, CO.

Some upcoming shows at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston include the following –  “Crafted Objects in Flux” is a group show that look at artists who “simultaneously blur and expand craft’s landscape.” Seattle artist Etsuko Ichikawa is included in this show and she has plans to do a live performance sometime during the run of the show. On view through January 10th, 2016. In related news, the museum has hastily pulled an event labeled “Kimono Wednesdays” scheduled to run throughout July from a show they organized entitled “Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh, And Other Western Artists”.  Visitors were invited to don museum-provided kimonos while posing for photos in front of Monet’s “La Japonaise”, a painting of the artist’s wife wearing a kimono. Protestors charged the museum with perpetuating racist stereotypes by presenting Asian culture as exotic.  The museum apologized. A counter-protest by Japanese women in kimonos materialized and the new museum director has promised a community forum on the issue.465 Huntington Ave. in Boston. (617) 267-9300. An update on  this.  Keiko a writer from Boston who has been covering this issue on her blog has emailed me to correct some of the above information. She says the event was not cancelled but modified and that no formal apology has been given. For her perspective on this on-going controversy, go to http://japaneseamericaninboston.blogspot.com/2015107/monets-la-japonaise-kimono-wednesdays.html.  This show will travel on to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco where it opens Oct. 30 and remains on view until Feb. 7, 2016 (asianart.org for details.) “Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia” is a new exhibition that proves that the Asian influence on the West is not a recent phenomenon.  It examines these influences across continents as early as the late 16th/ early 17th century. On view  through Feb. 15,  2016.

“Reopening Of The Renwick Gallery”. The first building in the nation designed specifically as an art museum officially reopens after a two  year renovation with “Wonder” in which nine contemporary artists were invited to create room-size installations inspired by the building itself. Maya Lin is one of them. Opens Nov. 13 and remains on view until July 10, 2016. The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery are along the museum mall in Washington, D.C.

On view through Jan. 3, 2016 is “Philippine Gold:  Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms”. It showcases recently excavated objects that highlight the prosperity and achievements of the little-known Philippine Kingdoms that flourished long before the Spanish discovered the region and colonized it. They affirm the unprecedented creativity, prosperity, and sophisticated metalworking tradition of the pre-colonial period. They also attest to flourishing cultural connections and maritime trade in Southeast Asia during what was an early Asian economic boom.  Also showing at the same time is “Video Spotlight: Philippines”, an exhibition of contemporary video art by Poklong Anading, Martha Atienza, and Mark Salvatus.  Coming in 2016 is “Kamakura: Realism And Spirituality In The Sculpture Of Japan” More than 40 sculptures which show the relationship between realism and sacred use of the objects. The Kamakura era is often regarded as a period similar to the Renaissance in Europe. Feb. 9 through May 8, 2016. Asia Society Museum at 725 Park Ave. in New York City. Go to AsiaSociety.org/museum for details.

“Pinaree Sanpitak – Ma-Lai’ is the title of a show dedicated to the work of one Thailand’s most respected contemporary artists. Her primary inspiration has been the female body. On view through Oct. 24 at Tyler Rollins Fine  Art at 529 West 20th St. in New York. Go to www.trfineart.com for details.

In March of 2016, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will take over the building designed by Marcel Breuer that was once the Whitney Museum. A retrospective of the Indian modernist painter Nasreen Mohamedi (1937-1990) will be one of three opening exhibits in this building. The Met’s current artist-in-residence, jazz composter/pianist Vjay Iyer will do a number of appearances as well. The building will now be known as the Met Breuer. Madison Ave. and 75th St. in New York or go to  metmuseum.org for details.

The first U.S. survey of the work of Chinese contemporary artist Zhang Hongtu comes to the Queens Museum of art. The artist left China in 1982 and settled in Queens. Oct. 18 – Feb. 28, 2016. Email [email protected] for details.

“Sotatsu – Making Waves” is a major show of that  Edo-period, 17th century Japanese  screen painter taking place at the Smithsonian’s Sackler Gallery this fall from Oct. 24th – Jan. 31st, 2016. Over 70 pieces of work from American, European and Japanese collections including work by later artists influenced by Sotatsu. 1050 Independence Ave. SW in  Washington DC. (202) 633-1000.

“Designing Traditions Biennial IV – Explorations in the Asian Textile Collection” is an exhibition that shows how traditional Asian craftsmanship inspires contemporary creativity. Through Jan. 3. 2016 at the  Rhode Island School of Design Museum. 20 N. Main St. in Providence, R.I. Go to www.risdmuseum.org for details.

“Japanese Tattoo: Perseverance, Art and Tradition” is a groundbreaking photographic exhibition that explores the master craftsmanship of traditional Japanese tattoos and their enduring influence on modern tattoo practices. On view until Nov. 29, 2015  at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  A traveling exhibition on loan from Japanese American National Museum  in Los Angeles. 200 N. Boulevard  in Richmond, VA. (804) 340-1400.

“Martin Wong: Human Instamatic” covers the full trajectory of this Chinese American painter from his Bay Area roots to his pivotal role in documenting the multicultural environs of the Lower East Side of New York. Opens Oct. 9 and remains on view through Feb. 12, 2016.  “Transitions: New Photography From Bangladesh” is on view Oct. 15 – Feb.. 14, 2016. Bronx Museum of the Arts in Bronx, New York.  1040   Grand Concourse. (718) 681-6000. The West Coast site for the traveling exhibition  of Martin Wong will be Sept. – Dec. 2017 at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in their new location on Center St.

Although the late Japanese artist Onichi Koshiro never traveled West, his work bore innovations from European modernism that surface in his mastery of the traditional Japanese art tradition. The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo gives him the first retrospective of his work in twenty years and includes oil paintings, photographs, drawings, printmaking and book design. Jan. 13 – Feb. 28, 2016.

Korean modern sculptor/installation artist  Do Ho Suh (his work is in Seattle Art Museum’s permanent collection) has a show of his translucent “fabric buildings” at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Feb. 12 – Sept. 11, 2016.

Painter Barbara Takenaga is known for her labor-intensive, energetic abstractions composed of matrix-like, swirling patterns of dots but nothing tops the unprecedented scale of a 100’ wall mural she has done for “Nebraska”, a large scale commission from her series “Nebraska Paintings”. The piece captures the open spaces and big sky of her native state. The artist says the moody palette conveys “the ‘violet hour” of  in-between time, when the land and sky start to blur.” Korean artist Ran Hwang uses thousands and thousands of buttons and pins to install “Untethered”, a 140 foot-long sculpture of 14 birds, including six phoenixes. The artist says “I choose buttons because, like human beings, they are at once common and ordinary yet as unique as the rarest jewels. Each button can move freely between the head of the pin and the wall, suggesting the human desire to be free from any restriction.” Both shows are currently on view at MASS Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, Massachusetts. Go to www.massmoca.org for details.

The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College is a regional museum in a small college town that always manages to have fascinating shows no doubt to the sage skills of their curatorial staff. On view now through November is “Liu Bolin – Hiding in Plain Sight” . This contemporary Chinese artist is know for painting his body to camouflage into backgrounds whether they be graffiti-heavy walls of New York or China’s Yellow River.  This former sculptor from Beijing was a child of the Cultural Revolution and began his disappearing act around 10 years ago as a silent protest against the government’s crack down on growing social issues and their need to suppress criticism of its actions. Since then the artist has taken on world issues such as pollution and deforestation. He is quoted in a CNN interview that “I always use my works to question and rethink the inequality and imbalance caused by the process of human development.” 1701 East Front St.  in Traverse City, Michigan. Go to dennosmuseum.org for details.

Wendy Maruyama’s “wildlife Project” is now on view through Jan. 3, 2016 at the Houston Center For Contemporary Craft.  The show illustrates the plight of the elephant and the illegal ivory trade. The artist has traveled to Africa and studied the problem, meeting with officials. Her new constructions come from her thoughts on this issue of world crisis. She gives a talk at the museum on Nov. 21 at 2pm. 4848 Main St. (713) 529-4848 or go to www.crafthouston.org. Expect to see this show hit the West Coast in 2017 from Feb. – May at the San Francisco Museum of Craft And Design.

“Harajuku – Tokyo Street Fashion” looks at Harajuku’s current trends and wide influence around the world. Opens Nov. 19 and remains on view through April 3, 2016. Honolulu Museum of Art at 900 Beretania St. Go to www.honolulumuseum.org for details.

“East Asia Feminism: FANTASIA” is a look at the current state and implications of East Asian women’s art from a feminist perspective. The diverse works of 14 artists from Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and India are represented. On view through Nov. 8, 2015. Seoul Museum  of Art. 61, Deoksugung-gil, Jungu, Seoul, South Korea. Call +82-2-1330 (in Korean, English, Chinese & Japanese).

New York’s Guggenheim Museum has indicated that their interest is their growing contemporary Chinese art program is serious by hiring Jou Hanru and Xiaoyu Weng as new Curators of Contemporary Chinese Art.

Singaporean curator and arts administrator Tan Boon Hui was appointed director of New York’s Asia Society Museum and vice president of the institution’s global arts and cultural programs.

British sculptor Anish Kapoor designed a public art piece in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles entitled “Dirty Corner” which is comprised of a huge steel funnel. It and the rocks around it were sprayed in white paint with anti-Semitic slogans. The steel and rock sculpture faces the royal chateau and is 200 feet long and 33 feet high. This is the second time it has been damaged. Shortly after installation, it was splattered with yellow paint and then cleaned up. But this time around, Kapoor says he will not clean up the damage and the words of graffiti should stay. He told Le Figaro the following – “I had already questioned the wisdom of cleaning it after the first vandalism. This time, I am convinced that nothing should be removed from these slurs, from these words  which belong to Anti-Semitism that we’d rather forget. From now on, in the name of our universal principles, these abominable words will become part of my work, they will overlay it and stigmatize it.”

Writer/critic/editor/photographer Takuma Nakahara, a pioneer of modern Japanese photography died in early September in Yokohama, Japan. He helped cofound the seminal Japanese photography magazine “Provoke” in the 1960’s  which had enormous influence on artists in the field. Working at a new-left magazine, he met colleague and photographer Shomei Tomatsu who encouraged him to take up the camera himself. From the mid-6o’s he worked to find his own voice in photography and grappled with issues of what the medium could do while at the same time, working out his ideas in essays that discussed revolutionary ideas about the form. A large-scale retrospective of his work was held at the Yokohama Museum of Art in 2003.

Although artist Etsuko Ichikawa is Seattle-based, she remains a member of NOddiN, a Japanese collective of filmmakers, copywriters, artists, and designers who consider the current and future of Japan and express their concerns through their creative work. The theme of their annual exhibit held this year Oct. 2 – 4 at CLASKA in Tokyo is ‘to doubt’. Ichikawa made a set of hand-sewed boy’s & girl’s baby clothing made of camouflage fabric with matched shoes with an accompanying greeting card that reads “Welcome to this world! For your bright future fighting for your country, I send you these camouflage baby clothing. Much Love.” The piece is a criticism of Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s newly passed security laws that now allow for  Japanese  military action in support of collective defense abroad, a violation of Japan’s constitution, including Article 9 known as the Peace Constitution.

Korean artists in their 80’s who were once part of a South Korean abstract movement known as Tansaekhwa are gaining notice finally in the art world. Christie’s has given the group a swanky exhibition in both New York and Hong Kong with a well illustrated catalog. Attention given coincides with a new global focus even in the art market. Galleries in New York and Europe are falling over themselves to give members of this group shows. Two major shows at galleries in Seoul and Los Angeles in 2014 helped jump-start interest and credit is given to art historian Joan Kee whose book “Contemporary Korean Art: Tansaekhwa and the Urgency of Method” stirred up a buzz. Lee Ufan, a Korean artist living in Japan and credited with being the theorist behind the Japanese postwar movement Mono-Ha was a member of Tansaekhwa in the early going. The work had some affinity to work by Cy Twombly, Agnes Martin, Robert Ryman and other artists coming out of postwar abstraction and was done during a period of political trauma and economic uncertainty. Consequently, most of the work was stark and minimal. Culled from an article in the Sept. 30, 2015 New Yorker.

Sanjit Sethi has been appointed the inaugural director of George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the arts and Design in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. will honor architect/artist Maya Lin for her achievements in the arts at the inaugural American Portrait Gala in November.

Students at the College of Art in New Delhi have staged a protest on campus, criticizing the lack of basic materials, equipment, student body representation and the lack of an aid committee to address those grievances. Discontent for almost a year came to a head when college authorities failed to address charges of sexual harassment made by a student against a faculty member. Students have received support from the local artist community but no direct response has been forthcoming from the administration. The mainstream media has not covered the event. A core  of student protestors remain outside the college in a peaceful sit-in. Culled from ArtAsia Pacific Magazine’s blog.

Performing Arts

Northwest Folklife and Seattle Center present Seattle Children’s Festival set for Oct. 11 from 10am – 5pm at Seattle Center. This is a free multi-cultural festival “Celebrating Our Big Neighborhood.” Go to www.NWFolklife.org/SCFestival for details.

Black/Filipino performing artist Ela Barton  is part of a talented group of spoken word artists performing in “How To Love This Queer Body Of Color” set for Oct. 22 – 25 and Oct. 29-Nov. l . Gay City Health Project at 517 E. Pike. (206) 860-6969.

Nonsequitur’s Fall Concerts at the Chapel present a wide-ranging series of experimental music and sound art as part of the Wayward Music Series at the Chapel Performance Space in the historic Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. Some highlights include the following –Scrape is a collective string orchestra founded by Jim Knapp and Eyvind Kang. They will perform compositions by Wayne Horvitz, Sumi Tonooka, Jarrad Powell and Knapp himself on Oct. 8 at 8pm. Oct. 29 brings Tatsuya Nakantani’s Gong Orchestra.Two Americans and Two Japanese collaborate in the give-and-take world of electroacoustic improvised music. With Tetuzi Akiyama on guitar, Bryan Eubanks on saxophone, Jason Kahn on percussion and Toshimaru Nakamura on electronics. Set for Friday, Oct. 30 at 8pm. Judy Dunaway is considered the “mother of balloon music” and she comes to Seattle on Sat. Nov. 14 at 8pm to improvise with local instrument builder and sound-finder Susie Kozawa and friends.  4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.  at the Chapel Performance Space on the 4th floor of the Good Shepard Center. For details on the whole series, go to websites for Nonsequitar or Wayward Music Series.

The Steve Griggs Ensemble plays “Music Made from Japanese American Memories of WW II” at the Panama Hotel Tea Room at 2pm every Saturday in 2015. Free. 605  South Main St. Sponsored  by 4Culture, National Park Serice, and Earshot Jazz. For details, go

Jazz Alley, one of Seattle’s finest jazz clubs features the following. L.A. based jazz fusion/new age pianist Keiko Matsui performs Nov. 12 – 15. 2033 – 6th Ave. downtown. (206) 441-9729 or go to [email protected].

Gamelan Pacifica collaborates with local string players in this unusual chamber music concert. Each group performs individually and then pair together to perform new compositions for strings and gamelan. Cornish College’s Kerry Poncho Hall on Nov. 1 at 7pm.

Oct. 9 – Nov. 18 are the dates for Earshot Jazz Festival 2015 bringing exciting local, national and international musicians to various Seattle stages.  Performing as part of this series is local percussionist/composer Paul Kikuchi and his “Songs of Nihonmachi”, an evocative collage of turn-of-the century Japanese popular songs re-interpreted in modern arrangements. Kikuchi’s great grandfather who settled in eastern Washington had a record collection of such tunes. Recently Kikuchi was able to go to Japan on a Japan/U.S. Exchange Artist Fellowship and research more of this early music of the era. Tues., Nov. 5 at the Panama Hotel at 6pm. To get the full schedule of the Earshot Jazz Festival 2015, go to www.earshot.org. The Panama Hotel is at 605 S. Main St. in the Nihonmachi section of Chinatown/ID.

Shunpike’s “Paint The Town Red” is that organization’s annual fundraiser. The audience is invited to attend in any shade of red. Featured performances by Pork Filled Players, The School of TAIKO and many others. Sponsored by City Arts. Oct. 9, 2015 at Town Hall Seattle. Go to golden.shunpike.org for tickets.

Golden Dragon Acrobats use acrobatics, costumes, traditional dance and modern and traditional music to entertain the masses. Nov. 7 at Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia. 512 Washington St. SE. (360) 753-8586 or go to washingtoncenter.org.

The Modern Sky Festival (see related article in this issue)originated in Beijing a few years back and has now gone global. This year this festival comes to Seattle at Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater on Oct. 11th from 1pm 10pm. Headliners include noted rock groups from the West and a batch of Chinese rock bands as well. The Gang of Four, The Black Lips, Ariel Pink and Mirel Wagner are names you might know. But what’s impressive about this festival is that you also get a peek at what Chinese rock bands are up to. Bands scheduled to rock the stage include New Pants (“synth-heavy dance punk anthems”), Song Dongye ,  Miserable Faith and Hedgehog (“noise-pop trio from Beijing”). Go to http://www.ticketfly.com/event/899401-modern-sky-music-festival-seattle/ for details.

Nikkei taiko virtuoso Kenny Endo presents a show that features over 40 years of his music in a concert with Kenny Endo Contemporary Ensemble at Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center at 10020 S.E. 256th in Kent. Oct. 16. (253) 856-5051 or go to www.kentarts.com.

Jake Shimabukuro, that one man melodic ukulele army invades Seattle once again to the delight of legions of fans anxious for the soothing lilt of island songs as well as pop and classical tunes remade. Friday, Oct. 23rd at the Paramount. Tickets go on sale August 21 at 10am. Presented by STG. 9th Ave. & Pine St. downtown. (877) 784-4849 or go to stgpresents.org.

“Storywallahs: An Evening of Storytelling” is an event held in partnership with KUOW, Pratidhwani, and Tasveer. Organizers are looking for performers who can tell a five-minute story about living in both South Asia and the U.S. for an audience. Sign up to tell yours or just come and listen to storytellers from the Indian and South Asian communities. Set for Sun., Nov. 22 at 6:30pm. Go to seattleartmuseum.org/gardnercenter for details or call (206) 442-8480.

Singer/songwriter Tomo Nakayama performs at the Triple Door with  fellow local singer/songwriters Betsey Olsen and Emi Meyer. Sun., Nov. 22 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6pm. 216 Union St. (206) 838-4333 or try tickets.thetripledoor.net.  Meyer’s latest release “Monochrome” debuted at #1 in Japan in Sept. It comes out in the spring of 2016 on the Seattle-based jazz label, Origin Records.

ON The Boards has another exciting season of performance art in all genres. Of particular interest is Degenerate Art Ensemble’s (led by Crow Nishimura and Joshua Kohl) “Predator Songstress” which has been created in stages and zeroes in on the theme of totalitarianism, surveillance, and control filtered through a modern day surreal fairy tale dusted with butoh and anime crumbs. With all productions, the ensembles strength is in numbers with a crack team of lighting designers, video artists costume designers and musicians. Dec.  3 – 6, 2015.  Tanya Tagaq is an amazing Inuit throat singer who digs into past, present and future with a flexible, powerful voice that will have you on your feet as she blends native tradition with electronica, industrial and metal influences to tear apart the walls of the silent movie, “Nanook of the North” projected behind her as she sings. One night only on April 6, 2016. 100 Roy St. (206) 217-9888.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the programs Seattle Symphony has to offer under the baton of Music Director Ludovic Morlot later this year going into 2016. Dynamic pianist Lang Lang takes on Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor” along with works by Beethoven, Respighi and Greig’s “Piano Concerto” with the Seattle Symphony on Sunday, October 11th at 2pm. Gershwin’s American masterpiece, “Rhapsody In Blue” is performed Oct. 16th – 18th with Jeff Tyzik conducting, Jon Nakamatsu on piano and Doug LaBrecque on vocals. Meeka Quan Di Lorenzo on cello, and Jessica Choe on piano join other members of the Seattle Symphony as they perform a program of chamberworks by Bernstein, Carter, Prokofiev and Shostakovich on Oct. 27th at 7:30pm in Nordstrom Recital Hall. Want comedy  with your music? The duo of Ingudesman & Joo return to Seattle after their success in 2012 at Benaroya with an all new show that mixes laughs with classical music and popular culture on March 3rd at 7:30pm.If you want a preview of the music the Symphony will be playing on their upcoming tour of Asia, check out the Ravel Piano Concerto as performed with Jean-Yves Thibaudet on piano along with music by Faure and Dvorak on June 5th.

Seattle Opera has announced their 2015/16 season under new General Director Aidan Lang. It marks a return to full-year programming with a total of six operas,, new productions and a world premiere. Many productions will also highlight new Asian and Asian American performers. Jonathan Lemalu, a Samoan from New Zealand makes his Seattle Opera debut singing the role of Nourabad in Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” next.  Set in Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka), the story revolves around two young men who vow to never let a woman come between their friendship  until the inevitable happens.Oct. 17 – 31. Finally, Director Lang returns to stage directing Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”. Chinese-born bass-baritone Shenyang makes his Seattle Opera debut as Figaro. McCaw Hall at Seattle Center at 321 Mercer St. (206) 389-7676 or try 1-800-426-1619 or go to [email protected].

“Extraordinary Ordinary People – American Masters of Traditional Arts” is an exhibition with monthly artist performances & humanities programs on Fridays from 7:30 – 9:30pm on Oct. 9th, Oct. 30th, Nov. 13th and Nov. 20th. Traditional artist demonstrations on  Saturdays from 11am – 4pm on Oct. 3rd, Oct. 31st and Nov. 14th. The exhibit is up through Nov. 30th. Admission, opening on Fri. Sept. 11th at 7pm and demonstrations are free. Suggested  $10  donation for all performances. A cross-cultural mix of music and culture from cancion music from Latin America, Croatian Americans, Finnish music, Hindustani classical music, Cowboy and Native American and Scandinavian music. For the traditional artist demonstrations in the front gallery, catch Yoshiyasu Fujii on Oct. 31 demonstrating Japanese American calligraphy. For the traditional artist performances & humanities programs in the large studio, catch Debi Prasad Chatterjee in a concert of Hindustani classic music on sitar on Oct. 9. Jack Straw Cultural Center at 4261 Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle’s University District. (206) 634-0919 or go to www.jackstraw.org for details.

Tea ceremony demonstrations continue at Seattle Art Museum downtown every Third Thursday at 5:30pm and every Third Sunday at 2:10pm. Free with admission.

Set for 5th Avenue Theatre’s 2015/2016 season is the World Premiere of “Waterfall, The Musical” based on the Thai novel “Behind the Painting” about a forbidden love affair between a young Thai student and the American wife of a Thai diplomat in 1930’s Thailand on the eve of WWII. It marks the U.S. debut of Thai music superstar Bie Sukrit Wisetkaew as the student and is directed by Tak Viravan. With book & lyrics by Richard Malty Jr. and choreography by Dan Knechtges. This is a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse and is billed as “a groundbreaking collaboration between Oscar and Tony-winning American and Asian theatrical artists”. Through October 25th.  Go to www.thavenue.org or call (206) 625-1900.

Sufi singer Has Rajhans & Indian violinist/singer Shenkar bring their 2015 World Tour to the Moore Theatre on Oct. 10th. Go to Stgpresents.org or call (877) 784-4849.

The UW World Series season for 2015/2016 has some extraordinary performances booked from around the world at their UW  Seattle Meany Hall location. In the “World Dance Series” comes the Akram Khan Company is known for fusing the classical Indian form of kathak with contemporary dance. They make their northwest debut with “Kaash” in which the theme of Hindu gods, black holes, Indian time cycles, tablas, creation and destruction all play key roles. Nov. 12 – 14th  at 8pm. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center consisting of CMS Co-Artistic Director and Pianist Wu Han and violinists Sean lee and Benjamin Bellman take solo turns in music by Mozart, Schubert and Mendelssohn. One night only on March 19th, 2016 at  7:30pm. The Daedalus Quartet plays Friday, April 29th, 2016 at 7:30pm with work by Beethoven and the world premiere of a new work by UW Music composer Huck Hodge. In the “Special Events” category, the Peking Acrobats and sitarist   Anoushka Shankar make appearances. Peking Acrobats come to perform their daring balance maneuvers with live musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments on Sat., Jan. 23, 2016 at 3pm and 7:30pm. Anoushka Shankar, the daughter of the late virtuoso sitar master, Ravi Shankar brings her own genre-defying mix to the instrument with Indian music, electronica, jazz, flamenco and Western classical music all playing a part. She performs on Sat., April 9th, 2016 at 8pm. A “Special Engagement” will feature “An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma” on Tues., Dec. 8, 2015 at 7:30pm. This world – renowned cellist has recorded classical music and has never been afraid to collaborate with musicians from various genres from all over the world. This appearance is a rare opportunity to hear him in an intimate space. (206) 543-4880 or go to uwworldseries.org or get tickets in-Person at 1313 NE 4lst St. Ticket

The 2015-16 Saturday Family Concerts at Town Hall Seattle are set. Traditional Japanese arts with Kabuki Academy are set for Nov. 14th. Other acts include Caspar Baby Pants, Pointed Man Band, Swil Kanim Pig Snout!!, Gustafer Yellowgold, Franchesska Berry and Frances England. Town Hall Seattle is at 1119 8th Ave. (206) 625-4255 or go to www.townhallseattle.org.

Pop singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata comes to the Crocodile for a one night only show on Oct. 22nd. Got to www.monqui,com for details.

Comedian/actress Margaret Cho comes to town on her PsyCHO Tour on Oct. 24 at the Moore Theatre. Stgpresents.org or call (877) 784-4849.

The 7th Annual Gregory Awards in which outstanding local theatre gets awards for best theatre performances takes place on Mon., Oct 26. At McCaw Hall in Seattle Center. Sponsored by Theatre Puget Sound. For tickets, go to GREGORYAWARDS.ORG.

AKI CON is the fall  convention event of the season for lovers of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. Set  for Oct. 30 – Nov. 1  at the Doubletree Hotel in Seatac, WA. Go to www.akicon.org for complete details.

Hmong New Year is celebrated at the Armory at Seattle Center with food, games, performances, activities and music. Free. All day  on Nov.  7,  2015.

Whiri Tu Aka performs A cappella music inspired by Maori culture on Nov. 20 at Town Hall Seattle. Go to www.townhall.org for details.

Musicians Eyvind Kang and Jessika Kenney perform “Viscous Circle” on Thurs., Dec. 3 at 8pm. Part of the Frye Art Museum’s “Big Genius Show” which celebrates the talents of Seattle’s arts community. One of many continuing activities that complement the show  which remains on view through Jan. 10. 704 Terry Ave. (206) 622-9250.

Trumpet player/composer and UW Jazz Professor Cuong Vu remains active locally performing in various concerts on the Seattle UW campus. He will be part of the Bill Frisell and Michael Gibbs concert with the UW Symphony and Jazz Studies Faculty on Jan. 14 & 15 at Meany Theater 7:30pm. He also joins UW faculty member Melia Watras in a concert of “Schumann Resonances”  along with Winston Choi on piano, Matthew Kocmieroski on percussion and Michael Jinsoo Lim on violin on Jan. 26 at Meany Theater at 7:30pm. New works by Richard Karpen, Vu and Watras will also receive their world premieres. (206) 543-4880 for tickets.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Concertmaster Michael Jinsoo Lim participates in a UW Faculty Chamber Music Concert on March 6 at 7:30pm at Meany Theater on the Seattle UW campus. (206) 543-4880 for tickets.

As part of Seattle Rep’s 2015/2016 new season, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Ayad Akhtar’s “Disgraced” will be performed Jan. 8th – 31st.  The story is about a Pakistani-born successful New York lawyer whose life is turned upside-down when his Muslim heritage is questioned. 155 Mercer St. (206) 443-2222 for tickets.

“Caught”, a play by Christopher Chen gets a production by Seattle Public Theater as part of their 2015-16 Mainstage Season. It runs May 20th – June 12th, 2016 with a preview on May 19th. The play is a mind-bending satire about truth, art, and deception. When an art gallery hosts a retrospective of the work of a legendary Chinese dissident artist, the artist himself appears and shares with patrons the details of his ordeal that explores truth, art, social justice and cultural appropriation.7312 W. Green Lake Drive N. Go to www.seattlepublictheater.org for details.

“Ethnomusicology Visiting Artists Concert: Ade Suparman; Sudanese Music of Indonesia” takes place on June 2, 2016 at 7:30pm at Meany Hall on the Seattle UW campus. Go to www.music.washington.edu or call Arts UW Ticket Office at (206) 543-4880.

“Monstress” is a theatrical adaptation based on a book of short stories by Lysley Tenorio created by Philip Kan Gotanda and Sean San Jose as Directed by Carey Perloff at A.C.T’s Strand Theaer in San Francisco through Nov. 22. 1127 Market St. (415) 749-2228 or [email protected].

“Allegiance” is a new musical inspired by a true story of the Japanese American internment camps during WW II starring Lea Salonga and George Takei. Previews begin Oct. 6. Visit allegiancemusical.com for details. Comments by Director Stafford Arima in Sunday NY Times were telling re: the state of Asian Americans in the acting industry. He said the casting for the show reminded him of how limited the opportunities were. “You would look at the resumes and just see 12 productions of the ‘King And I’ and nine productions of ‘Miss Saigon’.”

After more than a year of contention and controversy between Myung Whun Chung, artistic director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and his administration, Chung announced he will step down next year. The Orchestra had rose to prominence under Chung’s baton resulting in a 10-album DG contract   and international recognition.

The Stage Directors And Choreographer’s Foundation based in New York City awarded Tim Dang, Director of L.A.’s East West Players since 1993, the Zelda Fichandler Award for 2015. The prize is given to recognize directors or choreographers who are “transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theater.” Dang announced he will leave East West players in the June of 2016 to contemplate other career possibilities.

Film & Media

The Social Justice Film Festival & Columbia Legal Services present “Food. Art. Voices – Food Justice in Focus.” Takes place Oct. 16 – 17, 2015. On Fri., Oct. 16, there will be a screening of “Food Chain$”, a documentary film about the human costs of our food supply. Also showing is “Fruits of Justice”, a short film highlighting the grassroots movement in the Skagit Valley to gain fair treatment for farm workers in the field. A panel discussion with “Food Chain$” director Sanjay Rawal and other panelists follows. On Sat., Oct. 17 from 12:30 – 9pm, see a festival of short films.  Three different programs for suggested donation of 5$ each takes place 12:30 – 3-m, 3:30-5:30pm and 6:30-9pm. There will be food for justice exhibits and informational booths as well. For details, email [email protected]. Takes place at University Christian Church at 7731 – 15th Ave. N.E. (206) 522-0169.

Seattle filmmaker Shannon Gee has done an animated version of the first chapter (“Shiro”) of the graphic novel “Fighting For America: Nisei Soldiers”, a graphic novel written by Lawrence Matsuda and illustrated by Matt Sasaki. Go to https://vimeo.com/138931027. To get a copy of the book, it’s on sale at the Wing’s gift shop  or online at the Nisei Veterans Foundation’s link.

“Shanghai” is a new film playing simultaneously at the Varsity  in the University District and SIFF Egyptian on Capitol Hill. It boasts an all-star Asian cast of Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat and Ken Watanabe plus John Cusack who plays the part of a detective new to the city, determined to find out who killed his friend. The film is set in Shanghai on the eve of WWII and directed by Swedish director Mikhael Hafstrom. Reviews of the story and acting have been mixed but praise has been given to the cinematography that catches the nocturnal energy of this international Chinese city.

Opening soon at Seattle Sundance Cinema is one of the favorites of the recent SIFF. “Meet The Patels” is a documentary film done by brother and sister, Ravi and Geeta Patel. It’s a funny yet honest look at the universal search for happiness when it comes to finding a mate. Having just broken up with a girlfriend, Ravi allows his parents to talk him into seeking a wife through traditional Indian matchmaking. The trials and tribulations of this search produce laughs and some soul searching as well. Or as Geeta Patel put it as she stood behind the camera, “So I put the camera on him because I’m a sister. My brother is, like, hilariously suffering right now – let’s film it!”

“Boruto” is a full-length anime feature directed by Hiroyuki Yamashita that tells the story of numerous characters locked in a drama of power and retribution in this world and another galaxy. At the Grand  Illusion Cinema. 1403  N.E. 50th in the University district. (206) 523-3935.

“Me, My Mom & Sharmila” is a gala event with Pakistani actress, filmmaker and standup comic Fawzia Mirza. She will perform her one-woman show and screen two of her short films as well. Her story moves from her childhood as a Pakistani-Muslim in rural Canada to making a living as an actress in Chicago. Thurs., Oct. 22 at 8pm. Co-presented with Tasveer as part of the 10th Seattle South Asian Film Festival. Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park on upper Capitol Hill. (206) 442-8480.

Here are some new films that will be coming to a local Landmark Theatre in Seattle soon. “He Named Me Malala” is a new documentary film on the efforts of Malala Yousafzai and her father to bring education benefits to the young girls of Pakistan. Malala gained world-wide notoriety when she survived assassination attempts by the Taliban to end her efforts at educating more girls in Pakistan. This film will open on Oct. 9th either at the Guild 45th or the Seven Gables Theatre. Emmy award-winning Director Cary Fukunaga (Director & Executive Producer of HBO’s “True Detective”) brings a new movie based in Africa about boy-soldiers based on the book by Nigerian writer Uzodinma Iweala. Entitled “Beasts of No Nation”, it is Netflix’s first original film. The film stars Idris Elba who plays a warlord who takes a young boy-soldier under his wing. Set for October 16th  either at the Guild 45th or Seven Gables Theatre. “Attack on Titan” is part one of a film adaptation of the famous Japanese manga series, a dark fantasy horror fable by Hajime Isayama. It was directed by Shinji Higuchi and stars Haruna Miura,  Kiko Mizuhara and Kawata Hongo. Devotees of the manga have panned the film for the deviations of plot and changes in the storyline the director made compared to the original book but some film critics have praised the film on its own merits. Judge for yourself as it  comes to the Guild 45th in Wallingford later this fall.

The Bend Film Festival in Bend, Oregon is a celebration of independent cinema. Takes place Oct. 8 – 11. Go to [email protected] for details.

The 20th Seattle Lesbian & Gay film Festival returns Oct. 8 – 18 at venues across town. Highlights include these – Barney Chang’s “Baby Steps” looks at a Taiwanese American guy who embarks on a quest to have a baby through a surrogate with his partner, Tate never bargaining for the meddlesome intervention of his overbearing Chinese mother every step of the way. Screens Sat., Oct. 17 at 2:30pm at AMC Pacific Place. Ray Yeung’s “Front Cover” is a Chinese-American stylist working for a popular magazine who gets assigned to design a layout for a Beijing-based actor in New York to broaden his fame and fan base. Having pushed aside his heritage in order to succeed in his career and be openly gay, he is turned off by Ning and his noveau riche entourage only to fall in love. Screens Sat., Oct. 10 at 7:30pm at Northwest Film Forum. Shonali Bose’s “Margarita With A Straw” looks at the life of a spirited teenager who despite having cerebral palsy is sexually and socially adventurous. Her heart broken by unrequited love in Delhi, she jumps at the chance to go to NYU where she falls for an assertive blind woman. A coming-of-age story with a twist. Screens on Fri., Oct. 9 at 7:30pm at Northwest  Film forum. Go to www.threedollarbillcinema.org for complete details.

The 18th Annual Tacoma Film Festival takes place Oct. 8 – 15 presented at the Grand Cinema in Tacoma. It features more than 188 films from across the nation & the world plus Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Cinema”. Go to Tacomafilmfestival.com. Full line-up announced Sept. 17.

Pencil in your calendars for Tasveer’s annual “Seattle South Asian Film Festival” set for Oct. 15th – 25 at various venues in Seattle, Renton, Redmond, Bellevue and Bothell. A very rare opportunity to  sample new films from countries as varied as Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. To catch up on details, go to www.tasveer.org.

“Silver Screen Buddhas” is the title of a contemporary Korean film series introduced by Sharon Suh that portrays elements of Buddhism, gender and Korean society. Ki-duk Kim’s “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring” screens on Sun., Jan. 24 at 3pm. Im Kwon-taek’s “Come, Come Upward” screens on Thurs., Jan. 28 at 7pm. Shown as part of the program activities to complement the exhibit, “Place of Paradox: Contemporary Korean Art” on view through March 13, 2016. Seattle Asian Art Museum on Volunteer Park on upper Capitol Hill. (206) 442-8480.

Just opened in New York and L.A. and coming this fall is Zhang Yimou’s new film entitled “Coming Home” which re-unites him with his former leading lady, actress Gong Li. It has received advance praise for its sensitive portrayal of a couple broken by the Cultural Revolution trying to re-connect many years later. Opens soon  locally at Pacific Place Cinema downtown and Seattle Sundance Cinemas in the University District.

The legendary Japanese novel “The Key” about the twisted sexual relationship between a married couple by Junichiro Tanizaki has been adapted by American director Jefery Levy and stars David Arquette and Bai Ling as the couple. The film premieres at the Hollywood Film Festival on Sept. 24.

Opening in Sept.  are the following films – “Katti Batti”, a romance between a serious young architect and a free spirit directed by Nikhil Advani. “The Office” is a romantic musical comedy from China directed by Johnnie To and starring Chun Yun-fat now at AMC Pacific Place.  Soon-Mi Yoo, a South Korean director living in the U.S. made the documentary film, “Songs From The North” in which she tries to understand North Korea, the place, the people and the propaganda. “Veteran” is a new South Korean film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan about a kind-heated detective who butts heads with the CEO of a giant corporation. Shen Xu directs and stars in the comedy entitled “Lost In Hong Kong”. Ramin Bahrani directs “99 Homes” which stars Andrew Garfield as a single dad evicted from his Florida home forced to make some tough decisions. Also now playing  at AMC Pacific Place is “Saving Mr. Wu” which is based on the true story of  the kidnapping of a movie star by a gang led by a crafty sociopath. Stars Andy Lau, Wu Ruofu (who was the actor in real life who was kidnapped) and Zhang Huo. Directed by Deng Sheng with gritty cinematography shot mostly at night. In Oct. look for the following – “Yakuza Apocalypse” is a wacky action horror comedy thriller by Takashi Miike who just loves mashing up genres (coming to Seattle Sundance Theaters). Taiwanese master filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s new film entitled “The Assassin” is set in ninth-century imperial China where a little girl is kidnapped and trained to be a professional killer. What does she do when her target turns out to be her childhood  fiancé.  Hou won the best direction prize at Cannes this year for this film. “A Fool” by Chen Jianbin looks at what happens when a Chinese shepherd makes the mistake of trying to bribe an official to get his son out of prison. “Tokyo Tribe” is a new action thriller by Sion Sono in which a future Japan is run by gangs and the battle for Tokyo looms ahead. Finally in Nov. comes Tham Nguyen Thi’s documentary about a former female monk who must escort a group of traveling Vietnamese transgender performers.

Other new films with dates not yet set for release but probably due by 2016 are the following – Jia Zhangke of all of China’s directors seems to have his pulse on a China evolving so quickly that its own people can barely keep up. “Mountains May Depart” is a dark portrait of a capitalist-era family through the decades as they struggle to survive in China and abroad. Gus Van Sant’s “The Sea of Trees” opened at Cannes and was picked up by Roadside/Lionsgate for distribution. The film stars Matthew McConaughey  and Ken Watanabe who meet on Mr. Fuji bent on suicide. Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s newest entitled “Journey to the Shore” has a piano teacher going on a second honeymoon with her missing husband who returns as a ghost. Adapted from the novel by Kazumi Yumoto Stars Eri Fukatsu and Tadanobu Asano. Due out next year is the long-awaited  new project by Martin Scorsese in which he adapts  Shusaku Endo’s historical novel on Christians in Japan in a period when Christianity was not allowed. A priest played by Andrew Garfield travels to Japan to confront rumors that his mentor has abandoned the church. Shot on location in Taiwan. The director remarked that “The subject matter presented by Endo was in my life since I was very, very young.” Kazuhiro Soda’s 21/2 hour documentary entitled “Oyster Factory” was a Locarno Film Festival Official Selection and takes a close look as globalization comes to a small Japanese village whose sole industry is the harvesting of oysters.

Ronnie del Carmen, the Filipino American Co-Director of popular animated feature –length film “Inside Out”, who joined Pixar studios in 2000 recently brought the film to the Philippines for moviegoers there.

The Busan International Film Festival is one of Asia’s biggest film festivals. It screens  about 300 new films  from over 70 countries through  Oct. 10. Japanese animation company, Studio Ghibli received the 2015 Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award. A new film by a new director, “Zubaan”  of India by Mozez Singh opened the festival.

In other film news – Dustin Nguyen, former child star of “21 Jump Street” has directed a Vietnamese film based on a true story entitled “Jackpot” about an honest lottery ticket seller. Vietnam has selected it as its contender for this year’s foreign language Academy Award. Goggle has partnered with “The Martian” director Ridley Scott, Indian director Anurag Kashyap (“Gangs of Wasseypur”) and Canada-based director Richie Mehta (Siddharth”) on the documentary film, “India in A Day”, the sixth installment of a series that began in 2011. Malaysia has selected the ghost comedy “Men Who Save The World” by Liew Seng Tat as its contender for the foreign language Academy Award for this year’s Oscars. The story is about a group of villagers who attempt to rid a house of a spirit before it’s given away as a wedding present. Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) wants to do an Indian makeover of popular American TV sit-com “Modern Family”. His company has previously done an Indian re-make of Fox’s “24” in which Kapoor played the Jack Bauer role.

Congratulations to Rita Meher, co-founder of Tasveer and Executive Director of the Seattle South Asian Film Festival who was named 2015 Globalist winner for her contributions to culture and community.

Bay Area filmmaker/writer Arthur Dong’s feature on a famed San Francisco Chinatown nightclub has come out with new editions. A new hard cover edition of the book “Forbidden City USA” previously only available in paper has been published with new additions and improved color tones. The documentary film upon which the book was based has been digitized and restored with fun extras such as Noel Toy’s  nude feather dance in a Blu-Ray DVD edition. For details on the book and documentary film, email [email protected].

Although there are a number of Asian American animators working for Pixar studios, “Sanjay’s Superhero”, a new short by Sanjay Patel qualifies as the first film by an Asian American from Pixar. Patel says he grew up hating his parent’s Hindi culture and just wanted to fit in. While his father sat in the living room in meditation to his God, the son sat enthralled by his Gods, the TV cartoon superheroes of his youth. The film is an appreciation of his parent’s culture and his own identity. It will slow alongside the Pixar feature length film “The Good Dinosaur” later this year.

The Written Arts/Talks

Highlights

The Department of American Ethnic Studies at UW, the UW Asian Coalition for Equality,  and OCA of Greater Seattle presents a talk by Stanford University Professor Gordon H. Chang about his new book entitled “Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation With China”. On Thurs., Oct. 22 from 5:30 – 6:30pm. Ethnic Cultural Center at 3940 Brooklyn Ave. NE. Chang is a Professor of American History, Director of the Center for East Asian Studies and Co-Director of the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford. He also co-edited a major book on Asian American art history entitled “Asian American Art: a History, 1850-1970” with Mark Johnson and Paul Karlstrom. Free and refreshments will be served. For details, call (206) 543-5401.

Elliott Bay Book Company has another list of readings set for spring in their store as well as at various venues around the city. All readings at the bookstore unless  other wise noted. Oct. 10 brings Amitiav Ghosh who will read from his highly anticipated new novel that is the final part of the best selling Ibis Trilogy entitled “Flood of Fire” at Town Hall Seattle. Award-winning poet Kimiko Hahn in town for a Hugo House writing workshop makes a rare Seattle appearance on Mon., Oct. 19 at 7pm paired with local poet Betsy Aoki whose “Work Dreams of Coder Girl” won an Honorable Mention for the Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize. Novelist Nina Revoyr reads from “Lost Canyon” (Akashic), a novel of a multi-cultural group of Angelenos on a hike in the Sierras who get more than they bargain for on Fri., Oct. 23 at 7pm. Again at Town Hall will be journalist Deepa Iyer on Dec. 1 who will talk about the new war on South Asians in the US in the wake of 9/11 in “We Too Sing America” (New Press).  Noted journalist Meera Subramanian tackles the complex issue of water and society in India and the activists dedicated to preserving the environment in a her first book entitled “A River Runs Again  – India’s Natural World in Crisis, from the Barren Cliffs of Rajasthan to the Farmlands of Karnataka” (Public Affairs). Her Northwest tour takes her first to Powells in Portland on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3rd to Elliott Bay.  Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk reads from his new novel entitled “Strangeness in my Mind” at Seattle Central Public Library downtown.  Nov. 7th brings novelist Isabel Allende who reads from “The Japanese Lover” at Seattle First Baptist Church. At the dawn of WWII a Polish couple sends their young daughter to the safe care of an aunt and uncle in Los Angeles. In this new environment the young woman slowly is drawn into a relationship with the son of a Japanese gardener. When WWII starts, all Japanese Americans on the West Coast are incarcerated. But through time in different circumstances, the lovers find some way to meet. Elliott Bay Book Company is on Capitol Hill at 1521 – 10th Avenue. (206) 624-6000.

Tulku Lobsang, Tibetan monk and scholar gives a talk on “Learning to Embrace a Fearless Death” on Oct. 14. Yeonmi Park discusses her memoir entitled “In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom” on Oct. 26 at 7:30pm.  $5 admission.  Town Hall  Seattle. 1119 – 8th Ave. (206) 652-4256.

The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair takes place Oct. 10 & 11 at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall at Third & Mercer. If you are looking for a rare out-of-print edition or just love browsing used bookstores, this is the place. $5 admission  for both days. Go to www.seattlebookfair.com for details.

Acclaimed Washington writer Alex Kuo and retired Professor of English at Washington State University has been busy. Recent books include “My Private China” (Blacksmith), a collection of sketches of contemporary China on issues the Chinese find important and “Shanghai, Shanghai, Shanghai” (Red Bat Books), a new novel about a culture writer/closet novelist and his encounters with a myriad of characters that populate Chinese society including a Bogota pickpocket, a defiant Uighur woman with a borrowed baby, a German navel attaché, American evangelicals working the Beijing Olympics, and China’s first female conductor of western classical music. He will be reading from these books during his Northwest tour. Venues/dates are as follows – Nov. 30 at 2:30pm at Anacortes Public Library, Nov. 22 at 3pm at University Book Store in Seattle on the Ave., and Dec. 2 at 7pm at Village Books in Bellingham.

Hugo House, that local treasure of literary arts brimming full with readings and classes presents the following. Award-winning poet Kimiko Hahn makes a rare West Coast appearance at Hugo House. Have you ever been interested in exploring classic Japanese poetic forms and see what it will do to your own poetic voice.  Hahn will be in town to teach an Intensive entitled “Japanese Forms to Tilt the Western Mind” the workshop runs for about a week from Oct. 20 – 24 from 6 – 9pm. Hugo House members pay a discounted price. If you want to become a member, go to http://hugohouse.org/support/become-member/. To register for this class, go to http://hugohouse.org/classes/teachers/#18039.  1634 11th Ave. on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. (206) 322-7030.

The Tacoma Poetry Festival will be a gathering of some of the most renowned poets with roots in the Pacific Northwest. Tacoma Poet-laureate Cathy Nguyen , Northwest  leading poet David Wagoner and many others will participate. Includes readings, workskhops and an Open Mic. Takes place Oct. 16 & 17 at the Tacoma Public Utilities Building Auditorium. 3628 S. 35th St. (253) 502-8600. Sponsored by Puget Sound Poetry Connection. Go to http://thetacomapoetryfestival.com/ for details.

Northwest husband and wife Korean literature translating team, Bruce and Ju Chan Fulton continue their unparalleled work. Their current translation of Korean graphic novelist Yoon Taeho’s  webtoon/netcomic “MOSS”  runs every Mon. and Thurs. in the Huffington Post entertainment section. It can accessed free through next month by going to  http:www.huffingtonpost.com/SPOTTOON/story_b_7838418.html.

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:

“The Hundred Year Flood” (Little A Books) by Matthew Salesses is a  striking debut novel about a lost soul, a Korean adoptee trying to find his place in the world while living abroad in Prague.

“I Am China” (Anchor Books) by Xiaolu Guo tells the story of a Chinese rock musician, his British translator, his poet lover and how he ends up in exile in England seeking political asylum.

“Last Boat To Yokohama – The Legacy of Beate Sirota Gordon” (Three Rooms Press) by Nassrine Azimi & Michel Wasserman tells the amazing tale of a remarkable woman who secretly helped create Japan’s new constitution after WW II, writing an article that mandated equal rights for all women in Japan. This article was the work of a 22-year-old Vienna-born, naturalized American woman of Ukranian-Jewish descent who had grown up in Japan.

“The Investigation”  (Pegasus Books) is a novel by J. M. Lee translated by Chi-Young Kim that tells the story of Japan’s wartime history, inspired by the real-life case of jailed dissident Korean poet Yun Dong-Ju.

“The Incarnations” (Touchstone) is a new novel by Susan Barker that traces the existence of a Beijing cabbie during the summer Olympics who keeps finding letters from a stranger in his cab that takes him on a journey through Chinese history from the Ming dynasty to the Opium War and the Cultural Revolution. Forgotten characters of his country’s history and folklore float before his eyes. Barker had a British father and Chinese Malaysian mother. She lived in Beijing during the country’s preparation for the Olympics.

Adrian Tomine has been telling stories in his comic format since he was a teenager with the ‘zine, “Optic Nerve”. Of late his work has been featured prominently in the New Yorker. His latest book entitled “Killing And Dying” (Drawn & Quarterly) with no great fanfare simply zeroes in on the hole of the American heart and dwells there with incisive, stark portrayals of different Americans just trying to get through their lives day by day. Tender, heartbreaking and real. Catch him live at Portland’s Wordstock Festival on Nov. 6 & 7.

“The Good Immigrants – how the YELLOW PERIL became the MODEL MINORITY” (Princeton) by Madeline Y. Hsu looks at how American political narratives from earliest times to the Cold War changed immigration policy and made Chinese immigrants a ‘model minority’.

Akhil Sharma’s novel  “Family  Life” (Norton) about  an immigrant family torn asunder by duty and  the need for survival made the “10 Best Books” list of 2014 in the New York Times Book Review. Now it has come out in a new paperback edition.

“Keywords For Asian Americans” (NYU) is a collection of essays edited by Cathy J. Schlund-Vials, Linda Trinh Vo, and K. Scott Wong. Looks like a key reference book for Asian American Studies.

“Gasa Gasa Girl Goes To Camp – A Nisei Youth behind a World War II Fence” (Univ. of Utah) by Lily Yuriko Nakai Havey uses a sophisticated collage of artwork, prose and photographs a candid memoir of the camp experience through the eyes of a young girl.

Dao Strom returns with a double format presentation that shows off her writing chops and music in one package. “We Were Meant to be Gentle People” is a poetic memoir that charts a life experienced across oceans and continents in fragments of memory, image and history. The book is combined with a music cd entitled “East/West” with “chapters” in the book corresponding to song titles and lyrics interwoven amid the essays and fragments. The book is available through amazon, Ingram and various independent booksellers. The cd  in  both digital download and CD format via cdbaby.com or daostrom.bandcamp.com and iTunes. You can get the dual format of Cd + book via the author’s own website. Go to paperdollworks.com for details.

“Ocean of Bitter Dreams – The Chinese Migration to America 1850 – 1915” by Robert J. Swendinger has been reprinted on China Books.

“Taken from the Paradise Isle – The Hoshida Family Story” (Colorado) Edited by Heidi Kim with a foreword by Franklin Odo tells the story of artist George Hoshida and his efforts to keep his family intact during desperate times.

Bamboo Ridge Press, the publishing organ of a dedicated group of Island writers in Hawai’i keeps chugging along.  The latest issue of the magazine (#106) is just out ci-edited by Gail Harada and Lisa Linn Kanae. Also due out by December is “Between Sky And Sea”, a new novel by D. Carreira Ching. For details, visit www.bambooridge.com.

“Shanghai Redemption” (Minotaur) is the latest in the Inspector Chen Series by Qiu Xiaolong that looks at a Shanghai detective who has explored China’s recent past and the scars it has left on the present through his work handling politically-related crimes. In this latest installment, our protagonist is promoted to a new position with no power, isolated and to top it off – someone is trying to kill him.

“Waiting for the Man” (ECW) by Arjun Basu tells the tale of a man who is searching for a purpose in his life in this surreal journey that takes him from New York to the West Coast.

“Shelter” (Picador) is a new novel by Jung Yun that looks at a family dealing with the reality of one another and poses that stark question, “what, if anything, do we owe to people who have failed us?”

The University of Washington continues to revamp its Asian American literary classics with new cover art and new introductions by scholars in the field. The latest to get this upgrade is Bienvenido N. Santos’ “Scent of Apples”, a beautifully crafted series of short stories that tell the stories of those early Filipino immigrants who came to this country to build a new life and the hardships they found. With a foreword  by Jessica Hagedorn and a new introduction by Allan Punzalan Isaac.

From “Chutzpah!” hailed as one of China’s most innovative literary magazines comes an anthology entitled “CHUTZPAH! – New Voices From China” (University of Oklahoma Press) edited by Ou Ning and Austin Woerner. Includes sixteen selections that take readers from the suburbs of Nanjing to the mountains of Xinjiang Province, from London’s Chinatown to a universe seemingly springing from a video game.

Rohini Mohan looks at three lives caught up in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s twenty-year civil war as even today ethnic and religious conflicts continue to run rampant in “The Seasons of Trouble – Life Amid the Ruins of Sri Lanka’s Civil War” (Verso). This debut book stems from the author’s extensive, award-winning career as a political journalist covering Sri Lankan politics and the personal lives of its citizens.

“Chord”(Sarabande) is a new book of poems by Pacific Lutheran University Professor Rick Barot that looks at the limits of representational art and language in a carefully crafted series of poems that show the limits of our human condition and the threads that bind us together.

Luo Ying went through the experience of the Cultural Revolution in China and in “Memories of the Cultural Revolution” (University of Oklahoma Press) as translated by Seattle poet/translator Denis Mair, this memoir in verse brings to light with devastating clarity those defining moments of a young life in turmoil.

In “Lost Canyon” (Akashic) one of Los Angeles’s finest writers Nina Revoyr looks at a cross-section of that multi-layered, multi-cultural urban tapestry as a group of people on the emotional edge are thrown together and forced to deal with solutions in a perilous climb both physically and emotionally challenging.

In Eating Korean In America – Gastronomic Ethnography of Authenticity” (University of Hawai’i Press), Sonia Ryang goes to four American cities to try to answer the question

The history of Asian Americans and their emergence in this country is constantly being re-invented and re-evaluated as more research comes to light. “The Making of Asian America – A History” (Simon & Schuster) by Erika Lee is the latest version to hit the stores. She tracks down immigration patterns and origins back to North and South America as well as the East and West Indies.

The Vietnamese immigrant community in Las Vegas is the setting for “dragonfish” (Norton) by Vu Tran in a “nourish” novel that explores the world of the refugee and the secrets of the past and its dead.

Bay Area poet Tony Robles continues the work of his Uncle, Al Robles – the legendary Bay Area Filipino American activist and poet with a new book entitled “Cool Don’t Live Here Anymore: A Letter to San Francisco” which is a rallying cry for that city to serve its people.  Robles has authored two children’s books but this is his first book of poetry.

L.A. Poet Amy Uyematsu was the co-editor of the widely-used UCLA anthology “Roots: An Asian American Reader” and also wrote the essay, “The Emergence of Yellow Power in America in the 1969 issue of Gidra, an Asian American newspaper. “The Yellow Door” is her fourth book of poetry and this one mirrors the perspective of the baby-boomer Sansei generation who knew their Issei immigrant grandparents, grew up in Little Tokyo and are now old enough to have grandchildren of their own. These poems celebrate her Japanese American roots.

Noted Japanese writer Haruki Murakami has a new book coming out in August on Alfred A. Knopf Books. Entitled “Wind/Pinball”, it contains the author’s first attempts at writing in the form of two short novels. His introduction also discloses the moment he decided to become a novelist at a baseball game in 1978 at a time when he was running his own jazz coffee shop in Tokyo.

“Indonesia Etc. – Exploring The Improbable Nation” (Norton) by Elizabeth Pisani is now out in a paperback edition. Considered one of the Best Books of 2014 by the Wall Street Journal and The Economist, the author  traveled 26,000 miles across this multi-cultural island nation of over 300 ethnic groups and 13,500 islands to get a look.

“In The Country” is a sparkling collection of short stories by Mia Alvar that looks at Filipino characters from different fortunes and classes around the world whether in Manila, Boston or Bahrain and their dreams, motivations and desires. Published by Knopf in June.

“Letters To My Grandchildren” by David Suzuki on Greystone Books. This internationally renowned geneticist, environmentalist, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation has hosted the award-winning CBS program, “The Nature of Things” for over thirty years. This book is Suzuki at his most personal as he passes on what he can to future generations.

Hayden Herrera, famed biographer of Frida Kahlo  takes on another mysterious artistic icon in her new book, “Listening To Stone – The Art And Life Of Isamu Noguchi” just out on Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

In the science fiction category, more titles are published. Wesley Chu, author of the award-winning “The Lives of Tao” has a new time travel work entitled “Time Salvager” (Tor). Seattle writer Ramez Naam has the third book in his Nexus Trilogy entitled “Apex” (Angry Robot) just released.

South Asian authors show no signs of slowing down. Canadian author Auswa Zehanat Khan makes a sparkling debut with a thriller ripped from yesterday’s news headlines in “The Unquiet Dead”. Indian author Aatish Taseer’s tome of a novel brims with philosophical insights amongst the characters in “The Way Things Were.” Salman Rushdie is back with a new novel entitled “Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eighth Nights” (Random House). He is scheduled to read on Mon., Sept. 14th at 7:30pm at Town Hall Seattle co-sponsored by Elliott Bay Book Company. Tickets are $35 and includes admission and  one copy of the book. $40 admits two people to the event and includes one copy of the book. Town Hall is at 1119 8th Ave. (at Seneca) and doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets go on sale July 31st from Elliott Bay Book Company in person by by calling (206) 624-6600 or online from www.BoldTypeTickets.com.

“The Lams Of Ludlow Street” (Kehrer) is a new book by photographer Thomas Holton that is an in-depth look at a family living in New York’s Chinatown. Born to a Chinese mother and American father, Holton had close relatives in Chinatown but always felt disconnected. What started out as a documentary project on the streets and daily rituals of that community developed into a much more intimate exploration of a single family’s life spanning a decade.

Ugly Duckling Presse has published the first book of one of Tatsumi Hijikata’s notebook notations in either English or Japanese.  Hijikata (1928-1986) was the founding father of the radical dance from called Butoh. Though influenced by Western artists and writers, he was dedicated to the particular expression of the marginalized and sought to capture the condition of the Japanese psyche/body after World War II. Tatsumi Hijikata’s “Costume en Face: A Primer of Darkness for Young Boys and Girls” is a notebook written down by Moe Yamamoto and translated from the Japanese by Sawako Nakayasu. It gives readers a chance to see for the first time the profound interconnectedness of language and body in the choreographer’s process of composition. Go to www.uglyducklingpresse.org for details on this and other titles they publish.

“A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award Longlist for fiction. She will be in Seattle on Nov. 20 in conversation with Dave Wheeler. 4326 University Way N.E. (206) 634-3400 or go to [email protected].

“The Best American Poetry” is a yearly anthology of work juried from  hundreds of poems published in literary magazines by a different judge every year. The 2015 edition was curated by popular Northwest Native American writer/poet Sherman Alexie. Assumptions are it’s going to be a strong collection and what could go wrong. Well, it turns out Alexie didn’t see the curve ball coming his way. After he had made his selection, he would later find that one poem he chose by a poet with a Chinese name was submitted after all by a Caucasian male who surmised he had a better chance being chosen using a ethnic name (turns out it was the name of a girl he went to high school with). Alexie felt duped and wondered what to do. In the end he left the poem in but it opens up a lot of different issues re: ethnic appropriation. To read Alexie’s lengthy response and reasoning on why he did what he did, goggle “Sherman Alexie Speaks Out On The Best American Poetry”.

The Asian American Writers Workshop has a response with an anthology of Asian  American writers entitled “After Yi-Fen Chou” in which which writers write in response to the “Best American Poetry 2015” controversy. Go to aaww.org.

Seattle artist Etsuko Ichikawa is featured in the exhibit catalogue entitled “Crafted: Objects In Flux”, an exhibition currently on view at Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the catalogue is available for purchase through the museum gift shop. A lengthy interview with the artist by Marika Yoshikawa has appeared in the first volume of “Collect & Connect” published by Arts & Books in Tokyo. The interview covers how Ichikawa transplanted from Tokyo to Seattle, how she started working with the medium of glass and her opinions of the art scene in Seattle and Tokyo. Available only in Japanese.

Every writer needs to flex his or her muscles with writing exercise or a refresher course to get the word block loosened. Consider Hugo House’s creative writing classes. A Fall 2015 catalog is available now. Some possibilities from a myriad of choices – “Nonfiction – Why Should I read You? With EJ Koh Nov. 7 – Dec. 19 helps you generate new work and revisit previous work. Poet Jane Wong helps you tackle “The Poetry of Memoir” Nov. 14 & Nov. 15. How can you utilize poetic techniques to create tension and emotion when telling your narratives? This workshop may offer some answers. Poet Michelle Penaloza offers “Poetry Calisthenics” Oct. 28 – Dec. 9. Each week focuses on a different element of the poetic craft. 1634 11th Ave. on Capitol Hill off Broadway. Go to hugohouse.org or call (206) 322-7030 for details.

Art News/Opportunities

Tickets are now on sale for the 8th Annual Diwali Ball set for Sat., Oct. 24, 2015 at 7:30pm at the Seattle Art Museum.  Includes Bollywood Grooves by DJ Aanshul, an Indian dinner by Saffron Grill, dance performances by Rhythms of India, Pratidhwani & Bollyworks, Dohl drummers, henna and fortune tellers. This fundraising event will benefit SAM’s artistic and community engagement programs. Tickets are limited and the event is 21 and over only. For more information, call (206) 654-3217.

Double Good Artist is a rock/art performance group who will visit the Pacific Northwest Oct. 16 – 31, 2015 to celebrate the publication of a book of surrealist poetry entitled “Lizard Telepathy, Fox Telepathy” (Chin Music Press). The group consists of improvisational art by artist Yoshihito Mizuuchi, spoken-word poetry by Yoshinori Henguchi and the hard rock drumming of Shinji Wada. The band is looking for assistance with lodging, automobile transportation, band equipment and a rice cooker. Based out of Seattle druing their stay, they hope to travel to shows in Portland, Bellingham and San Francisco. For details, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWDnU17MWgY or call Michael Ramirez at (206)619-4385 or email [email protected].

Applications for 2016 Jack Straw Artist Residencies are available now for their “Writers Program”, “Artist Support Program” and New Media Gallery Program”. Deadline is Oct. 20, 2015. Applications  and information at www.jackstraw.org/programs/asp/2016/2016_apps.shtml.

Friends of Asian Art Association is an all-volunteer organization that connects its members and the community to educations, cultural and social events tied to Asia and its diverse art forms and culture. Enjoy year-round activities and meet new friends who share similar interests by becoming a member. All are welcome to the activities but members get special discounts and perks. Go to [email protected] or call (206) 522-5438. Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Alvord Board Room. (206) 522-5438 or email Friends [email protected] to make reservations and buy tickets.

Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based, multi-disciplinary arts center located in Chinatown North, Philadelphia. They are now looking for guest curators to coordinate some of their exhibitions. Please go to www.asianartsinitiative.org for details.

Congratulations to Seattle poet/educator Emily Lawsin who received a 2015 Edge Professional Development Award in the “Literary” category.

Classical pianist Mitsuko Uchida is considered one of the world’s best interpreters of Mozart and Beethoven on the planet. Painter Tadanori Yokoo cast a giant shadow with his artwork from the 70’s inspired and buoyed by the popular culture of the day. Both of them part of a select group who received the Praemium Imperiale, Japan’s highest cultural honor which carries a prize of $124,000. Established in 1989, the prize recognizes outstanding achievement in the cultural categories of architecture, painting, sculpture, music and theater/film. The awards ceremony takes place in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2015. British artist Anish Kapoor is a past winner.

The 2016 Annual Washington State Juried Art Competition is open to all Washington State artists. Deadline is Nov. 16, 2015 with over $10,000 in prizes. To enter  go to CallForEntry.org. For more information, go to CVGShow.com or call (360) 551-7526.

Vashon Allied Arts Gallery invites proposals from Northwest artists for art work for 2016 VAA Gallery monthly exhibitions in all media. For a prospectus, email [email protected].  Deadline is Oct. 15, 2015.

For more arts, click here