Due to the Covid 19 crisis, it is advisable that people check ahead with institutions before visiting by calling or going to their websites as government restrictions may apply or change at any time. Some galleries have limited hours with a limit of how many people may enter at one time. Face masks are mandatory.
Visual Arts
Forty local galleries around the Puget Sound have banded together to create the Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair, a DIY version of the annual major summer art event cancelled this year due to Covid 19. On view online with some in-person visits through August 22, 2020 Some galleries require appointments to visit. For complete details, go to seattledeconstructedartfair.com.
L.A. based Filipino American artist Elyse Pignolet’s new show entitled “Send Her Back” combines offensive text against women by male politicians of our day with ubiquitous, decorative floral watercolors and classic vessels from the ceramic tradition to force an uneasy collision of art and ideas. As the artist notes – “Intentionally, I begin my process with something strongly associated with the feminine…pretty, decorative, domestic, familiar, a vase, a flower arrangement. My hope is to then slightly create a shift: to make the situation a bit uncomfortable, a bit strange. Perhaps offensive or even vile. I’m interested in contrasts.” On view at Koplin del Rio Gallery through September 30, 2020. By appointment only from Wed. – Sat. by emailing [email protected]. The exhibition can also be viewed online. 313 Occidental Ave. S. 206-999-0849.
Humaira Abid, the local Pakistani artist who works with wood to shape thoughtful works that deal with women’s issues has a show of new work entitled “Sacred Games” scheduled for Greg Kucera Gallery from Sept. 3 – 26, 2020. 212 – 3rd Avenue S. 206-624-0770 or try [email protected].
The Schack Art Center in Everett presents “American Graffiti”, a one-of-a-kind comprehensive exposition of the Graffiti art genre with a rare public viewing of 85 spectacular originals from a local collection. Exhibit features commissioned works by artists in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Boston, Phoenix and Seattle. On view through Sept. 5, 2020. 2021 Hoyt Ave. 425-259-5050 or try [email protected] or go to www.schack.org. In conjunction with the above exhibit, JAG Artworks in Everett will host a Local Graffiti Art show which features artists from all over the West coast. Also on view through Sept. 5, 2020. 2940 Colby Ave.
Alaska-based printmaker Fumi Matsumoto has a show of monotype prints depicting animals on teabag papers September 4 – 27 at Roby King Gallery on Bainbridge Island. Also on view is Susan LeVan’s mixed media collages. 176 Winslow Way East. 206-842-2063 or go to www.robykinggallery.com.
“Anatomy of a Collection” is a group show that shows more than 80 works of art from the permanent collection. On view through January 3, 2021. At Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building. 250 Flora St. Bellingham, WA. 360-778-8930 or go to www.whatcommuseum.org.
Local artist Shogo Ota has an art installation entitled “Murmuration” in the new PCC Bellevue store.
The Henry Art Gallery at UW features an online presentation entitled “Eyes On The Collection: The Need To Play” curated by Fiona Dang, Curatorial Department Coordinator. The presentation highlights works from the museum’s collection and explores the many connotations of the term “play”. Go to henryart.org or details.
Artist, graphic designer and costume designer Michelle Kumata’s re-scheduled virtual talk sponsored by Wing Luke Museum takes place on Thursday, August 20 at 6pm PST. She will talk about her trip to Brazil to research and meet with her Japanese Brazilian relatives and how it has influenced her work. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2768428923263222/ for details. The museum has many virtual programs now as well. Trivia night is back on Tuesday, August 25 at 5pm. Register to compete for prizes and test your Asian Pacific American and pop culture knowledge. Online only via computer or smartphone. The “It Happened Here!” Storytelling Series happens every Wed. through September 30, 2020 at noon. Learn about neighborhood history through storytelling and Q & A. Each session will be hosted via facebook. There are virtual tours of the museum on weekday mornings. Pre-booking available for private groups. Contact the museum to sign up. Check out what’s in the giftshop with the Museum’s online marketplace. The monthly storytime programs can be watched at www.digitalwingluke.org/programs.
Seattle writer/curator Mayumi Tsutakawa gives a free virtual talk via zoom for the Whatcom Museum on “Early Washington’s Undiscovered Feminists” touching on the careers of Imogen Cunningham, Ruby Bishop, Priscilla Chong Jue, Anna Louise Strong and Vi Hilbert. On August 19 at 6pm. Register through eventbrite. Go to whatcommuseum.org. Part of the Humanities Washington’s Speakers Bureau Program.
Artist Hiroshi Sato has a show entitled “Flattening and Form” which includes realist painting and utilizes geometric design principles of the old masters. August 6 – 29, 2020. Harris Harvey Gallery at 1915 First Ave. in Seattle. 206-443-3315 or try harrisharveygallery.com.
Deborah Kapoor has a show of new work entitled “Due Belle Voci” which includes sculpture made of encaustic and mixed media. It is an intimate portrait of a family seen through the artist’s role as daughter, mother and caretaker. On view July 23 – August 22, 2020. Lauren Iida’s “32 Aspects of Daily Life” also remains on view through August 22, 2020. “Quieter Days” is the title of a show of new work slowly done at a now departed Ballard studio by Alan Lau (full disclosure – that’s me) on view from September 3 – Oct. 24, 2020. Artxchange Gallery is at 512 1st Ave. South. 206-839-0377 or email [email protected].
“Seclusion” is the 28th annual exhibition of Z.Z. Wei, an artist known for his evocative paintings of Northwest landscapes. September 7 – 30, 2020 at Patricia Rovzar Gallery in downtown Seattle. 1111 First Ave. 206-223-0273 or go to www.rovzargallery.com.
On view September 19 – October 31, 2020 is the large scale mixed-media work by Lakshmi Muirhead in a show entitled “There is Always a Before” at J. Rinehart Gallery. 319 – 3rd Ave. South. 206-467-4508 or try www.jrinehartgallery.com.
“Fresh Air” is the title of a group show of gallery artists which includes the work of Jiro Yonezawa. August 6 – 29, 2020. At Traver Gallery in downtown Seattle. 110 Union St. #200. 206-587-6501 or try travergallery.com.
The Columbia City Gallery has the following – In the Community Gallery is “The Resting Place”, a show that examines the intersection of grief, migration and cultural identity among Filipino Americans curated by Derek Dizon. This project was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. In the Members Gallery is a group show that includes the work by Kamla Kakaria. September 23 – November 8, 2020. 4864 Rainier Avenue South in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood. 206-760-9843. Hours are Wed. – Sundays from 11am – 7pm. 206-760-9843 or go to www.columbiacitygallery.com.
Studio E Gallery in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood features work by Ko Kirk Yamahira and Emily Counts. Both artists are tactile and material focused. Open on Saturdays from 1 – 4pm or by appointment. 5 people are allowed into the gallery at any given time and facemasks are required to enter. Sept. 5 – Oct. 17, 2020.206-762-3322 or try www.studioegallery.net.
The Seattle Art Museum has cancelled a previously planned major traveling exhibition for this summer entitled “The Allure of Matter: Material Art From China.” Instead the current shows on John Akomfrah and Georgia O’Keeffe will be extended through Sept. 7, 2020 when the museum re-opens.
Davidson Galleries features work from a group show, the “Contemporary Northwest Print Invitational 2020”. It includes the work of Jueun Shin, Yerin Yang and many others. August 6 – September 26, 2020. View online at davidsongalleries.com or in the gallery by appointment. 313 Occidental Ave. S. in Seattle. 206-624-7684 or go to www.davidsongalleries.com.
Kobo Seattle features a new virtual art space showcasing a show of calligraphy by Tommer Peterson through August. A recent acquisition are monthly shipments of handmade Japanese face masks in various colors and beautiful designs. Join in on the fun and submit your favorite “mask” haiku to [email protected] by August 30, 2020. Winners get a special gift and their haiku will be posted on the blog. KOBO at Higo is now open on Saturdays from 11am – 5pm. Masks are required and you must use the provided hand sanitizer upon entering. 30 minute shopping sessions by appointment only at the KOBO on Capitol Hill will soon be made available through an online booking system. Time slots will be limited to keep everyone safe, plus more protective protocols in place to meet safety guidelines. More information to come. Shipping and curbside pickup is still available by scheduling a Pickup Time at Checkout. They have a new instagram shopping account @koboseattleshop or try their website at koboseattle.com. The capitol Hill store is at 814 E. Roy St.This year, the HAI! Japantown starts on August 21, 2020. Events will be mostly virtual, although participating businesses will be open to greet you. Check #japantownseattle for details. KOBO at Higo is at 604 South Jackson St. in the CID.
“World War Bonsai: Remembrance & Resilience” is the title of a show curated by Aarin Packard at Pacific Bonsai Museum. This show tells a history rooted in racism told through the living art of bonsai. It presents the powerful and inspiring untold history of bonsai artists working in the WWII-era and how they changed the course of bonsai art history forever. With 32 bonsai, archival documents and photographs. The exhibition traces the cultural practice of bonsai in the U.S. and Japan immediately before, during and after WWII, amid incarceration and at peace. Artists from the Puget Sound, California, Colorado, Hawaii and Japan are featured including Ben Oki, the Domoto family, Kelly Nishitani, Kenny Hikogawa and Joe Asahara, Ted Tsukiyama, Mas Imazumi, Kyuzo Murata and Yuji Yoshimura. The exhibition also includes a site-specific artwork by Seattle artist Erin Shigaki which includes wheat-pasted images of individuals who played a role in the incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans. A free virtual live event “Branch Out” takes place on Wed., August 19 at 6pm. It includes video, narration, commentary on bonsai and the internment experience by architect George Suyama. To register, see the link to “Branch Out” on the homepage pacificbonsaimuseum.org. A post-event recording will be available on Pacific Bonsai Museum’s You Tube channel. On view now through Oct. 10, 2021. 2515 South 336th St. in Federal Way,WA. Admission is by donation. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10am – 4pm. 253-353-7345 or email [email protected].
The annual Seattle Design Festival takes place August 15 – 23 with a variety of online and offline programs including the following: “The Antibody to the Pandemic of Fake News” which is a workshop by Yuansi Li, Catherine Chang and Alex Banh which will delve into media literacy skills. “Thinkercvze”, an online design and play space for all ages and abilities. “Listen Now”, an online audio exhibition of community stories. There will also be socially-distant scavenger hunts, tours, art installations and other physical place-based activities across greater Seattle. Go to https://designinpublic.org/ for details.
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art has work by Northwest sculptor June Sekiguchi entitled “The Pulse of Water” on view through August 17, 2020. Her large scale, immersive installations involve manipulating material that is pattern based, modular and site responsive. 540 Spring St. in Friday Harbor, WA Call 360-370-5050.
The Outdoor Sculpture Collection on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham is open and accessible to everyone. This is an outdoor collection of major sculptures from the late 20th century to the present and includes work by Do Ho Suh, Sarah Sze and Isamu Noguchi among others. Get a map from the information booth and explore the campus collection for yourself. Call 360-650-3900.
Forthcoming at the Northwind Arts Center in Port Townsend, WA. is a photography exhibit entitled “Manzanar: Their Footsteps Remain” by Brian Goodman. This show contains over 40 years of documenting one of the many internment camps where persons of Japanese ancestry were imprisoned during WWII. This exhibit marks the 75 anniversary of the closing of that camp in November of 1945. Nov. 6 – 29, 2020. There will be an art talk online to be announced. The gallery is open Friday – Sunday from noon – 5pm or by appointment. 701 Water St. Go to www.northwindarts.org for details.
The Schneider Museum of Art at the Oregon Center For The Arts at Southern Oregon University presents “Migrating Bodies: For(Saking) Life, Liberty And the Pursuit of Happiness”. The exhibition presents work by five artists or artist collectives that address global migration, the causes and effects. On view August 6 – October 10, 2020. 555 Indiana St. in Ashland, Oregon. 541-552-8484 or go to sma.sou.edu.
The Chinese Canadian Museum of British Columbia opens its first exhibit in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Entitled “A Seat at the Table”, the exhibition explores historical and contemporary experiences of Chinese Canadians, particularly through the lens of food and restaurants. There are stations for writing and recording videos. Co-curator Viviane Gosselin said “the whole idea is to kind of generate a new body of historical knowledge that the Chinese Canadian Museum can use for future research and programming.” A sister exhibition is set to open at the Museum of Vancouver’s main location in the fall. Both exhibitions are expected to travel across B.C. within a year. This exhibition is at 27 East Pender. For details, go to [email protected].
The Chinese Cultural Centre Museum at 555 Columbia St. in Vancouver B.C. has an ongoing exhibit entitled “Generation to Generation – History of Chinese Canadians in British Columbia”. 604-658-8880 or go to cccvan.com.
The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garen presents “Luminous Garden, the third installment of artist-in-residence Lam Wong. Done in collaboration with Glenn Lewis, it’s an investigation of the concept of the garden as a sanctuary for spiritual growth. 578 Carrall St. in Vancouver B.C. 604-662-3207 or go to vancouverchinesegarden.com.
Ruth Asawa, the pioneer Japanese American artist from the Bay Area is honored by the U.S. Postal Service. On August 13, 2020, they will issue a set of 10 different stamps with photographs of her striking wire sculptures. Marilyn Chase, who recently authored a biography on Asawa (“Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa”) on Chronicle Books talks about the artist in a conversation sponsored by Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. To listen in, go to http://www.blackmountaincollege.org/a-conversation-with-marilyn-chase-on-ruth-asawa-bmc-artist/.
Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, known for styling David Bowie, has died at the age of 76 of leukemia. He was known for his colorful creations and blending traditional Japanese designs into his fashion. He worked with Bowie on both the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane tours.
Google Arts and Culture has partnered with cultural organizations around the world to host virtual tours of museums and world sites.
The Lower Mahattan Cultural Council’s annual festival features art installations by four artists, Asiya Wadud, Jean Shin, Muna Malik and Mona Chalabi in “River to River 2020: Four Voices”. Jean Shin’s pieces entitled “Floating MaiZE and The Last Straw” located in the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place consists of recyclable green plastic soft drink bottles suspended above the grand staircase and macro and micro views of plastic waste, featuring different configurations and perspectives of colorful straws and reflective material. Both works encourage viewers to contemplate their own plastic consumption and question the ecological impact of consumer behavior in contributing to plastic pollution. All installations on view until August 30, 2020. For more details, visit Imcc.net/river-to-river-festival.
Performing Arts
Over the past eight weeks, ARC Dance Company has featured selected dance works on its website and YouTube channel for free weekly streaming broadcasts called ARC at 21 to celebrate the 21 years since it was founded. Pieces in the series included Edwaard Liang’s “Infinitum”, Alex Ketley’s “The End”, Kabby Mitchell’s “Que” and others. Now ARC Director Marie Chong has created something new that leveraged the ‘on location’ and viewpoint angle flexibility that dance and videography bring to the mix. The new work called “Segue” was created on twelve company dancers entirely through video conferencing and the dancers’ respective parts were filmed in locations all over the world. The piece will b presented for free on ARC’s website (arcdance.org) as well as its YouTube channel. To see the trailer, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?=vecsIP9G13YO.
The Whatcom Museum in Bellingham present a panel discussion with local women leaders and influencers in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. “Across Generations – Women in Politics” includes former Bellingham mayor Kelli Linville, Western Washington University political science professor Bidisha Biswas, Squalicum High School student activist Mehar Singh and Bellingham Councilmember Hollie Huthman. The event takes place August 26 at 6pm in a live online event via Zoom (registration required via eventbrite). The event is free. 360-778-8930 or email [email protected].
Pacific Northwest Ballet has announced an all new virtual lineup for its 2020-2921 season. Some highlights include an excerpt of “The Trees The Trees” with choreography by Robyn Mineko Williams set for October 8, 2020 and a world premiere by choreographer Edwaard Liang on June 20, 2021. For complete details, go to PNB.org/DigitalSubscription or call 206-441-2424.
The Meany Center For The Performing Arts has announced fall schedule changes with the season opening postponed to January of 2021. Some fall performances have been canceled or rescheduled for late winter or spring. Virtual programming is being developed with many of the artists as an alternative to live performances. For a complete listing, go to https://meanycenter.org/tickets/season. Current ticket holders to canceled events are encouraged to contact the ArtsUW Ticket Office to request a refund, exchange into a later performance or other alternatives.
Freehold Theatre Lab/Studio now located in the CID continues their classes in various aspects of the theatre both virtual and in-person. This 2020 summer’s classes include “Voice: Clarity & Confidence with Meg McLynn, “New Play Lab: From Page to Performance” with Elizabeth Heffron, “Voice Over 2.0 Kira”, “Solo Performance” with Matt Smith and “The Online Movement Lab” with Mik Kuhlman. Go to freeholdtheatre.org for details.
Even though the Wayward Music Series at Chapel Performance Space is currently closed, go to nonsequiter’s website to listen to free links by local musicians performing original music at wayward music.org or try gscchapel.com.. Also listed are live streaming of local concerts by contemporary musicians that you can rent. Local sound artist Susie Kozawa will have a piece she did invoking the space at the Chapel in a forthcoming edition.
Ed Yim, the former New York Philharmonic VP and current President of the American Composers Orchestra has just accepted a job to head New York Public Radio’s classical music station on WQXR.
Film & Media
“A Thousand Cuts”, the documentary film by Ramona S. Diaz on a defiant Filipino journalist challenging President Rodrigo Duarte screens August 7 – September 4, 2020. Hillary Bachelder’s “Represent” follows three women from all different parties who all share the singular goal of improving their communities through public service. Julie Cho is one of these women. As a woman of color, a conservative and an immigrant, she faces an uphill battle as the Republican against a popular Democratic candidate in a campaign for state representative in a liberal Chicago suburb. Screens now through September 11, 2020. Filmmakers Tina Takemoto, Yujin Woo and others are part of a Zoom Q and A with co-curators Jaime Baron, Lauren Berliner and Greg Cohen who have put together a “Festival of (In) Appropriation #9”. This recycled cinema collages and compiles found footage and turns it into something new through novel juxtapositions. The discussion takes place August 22 at 6pm PDT. The festival screens all day on August 21, 22, and 23rd. Sherry Hormann’s “A Regular Woman” is part of the New Pop Up Film Series “German Cinema Now!” and is based on the true story of a German woman of Turkish-Kurdish descent shot to death in Berlin by her brother. Fleeing a violent marriage, she goes against her family’s tradition even though it puts her in danger. Screens August 26, 2020 from 5 – 11pm, PDT. “Our Time Machine” by S. Leo Chiang and Yang Sun (China & U.S.) tells the story of the painful decline of Make, former artistic director of Shanghai Chinese Opera Theatre forbidden by the Cultural Revolution from working. But eventually he finds himself returning to theatre which inspires his young son Maleonn. When his father is diagnosed with Alzheimers the son races to complete a time travel adventure with human size puppets that will involve his father. Screens September 11 – 17, 2020. Northwest Film Forum. Go to nwfilmforum.org or call 206-329-2629.
“A Thousand Cuts” is a documentary film by Ramona S. Diaz that presents a portrait of Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, co-founder of popular online news outlet Rappler and a journalistic thorn in President Rodrigo Duarte’s side. Opens for a virtual screening on August 7, 2020 presented by SIFF. Presented by “Frontline”. This film was named the best international feature and won the top prize at New Zealand’s Doc Edge Festival. Koji Fukuda’s “A Girl Missing” is a taut Japanese thriller starring Mariko Tsutsui also now playing. “Made in Bangladesh” opens August 28th. A young woman in a clothing factory is faced with difficult work conditions and decides to start a union with her co-workers. Go to siff.net for details.
Kelly Reichard’s latest film “First Cow” is now available for streaming on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and You Tube. The story involves two men in mid-19th century Oregon territory who set up a business selling fried dough using stolen milk from a cow. Orion Lee plays a Chinese man on the run and John Magaro, a cook and forager. Their tender partnership in this shifting frontier is the core of this film.
Foundry Communications has a new film entitled “A Girl Missing” by Koji Fukuda. His previous effort “Harmonium” nabbed a jury prize at Cannes. This latest film has “Harmonium” actress Mariko Tsutsui in a slow-burn crime thriller about the secrets shared between a home-care nurse and the member of a family. A virtual screening begins on July 31, 2020.
Chinese film director Jia Zhang Ke takes on a new genre in his new film “Swimming Out Till The Sea Turns Blue”, a documentary film about literature and life in the Chinese province where he grew up. It has its premiere at the 58th New York Film Festival. Another highlight is Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” with Frances McDormand as a widow in search of seasonal labor based on the book by Jessica Bruder.
Film Movement has announced a new digitally restored version of Zhang Yimou’s classic “Shanghai Triad” starring Gong-Li will be on sale August 4, 2020 on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital.The film looks at the Chinese criminal underworld of the 1930’s. It was an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee and winner of the “Best Foreign Film” from the National Board of Review. Go to www.filmmovement.com for details.
Town Hall Seattle has digital programming of upcoming events on their live stream page. They also have a media library of hundreds of video and audio free to enjoy. Go to townhallseattle.org for details.
Most local theaters are doing virtual screening via the internet where you can rent new films and see them at home. Go to the websites for Northwest Film Forum, Grand Illusion Cinema, Siff Uptown, AMC theatre chains and others.
HBO Asia presents “Invisible Stories”, a new six-episode anthology of dramas that explore the triumph and tragedy of migrant workers living in Sungai Merah, one of Singapore’s public housing communities. All six episodes will be available on Monday, August 3, 2020 in the U.S. and will be available to stream on HBO and HBO Max. The series features a cast from Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
Director Wong Kar-Wai will take on his first dramatic TV series in an adaptation of Jin Yucheng’s award-winning novel “Blossoms” which looks at the lives of people in Shanghai in the 90’s during a time of great economic growth. The screenplay is written by award-winning Shanghai native, Qin Wen and Academy Award winner Peter Pau will do the cinematography. Shooting began in July.
The world of Stan Sakai’s popular comic book series “Usagi Yojimbo” will be made into a CGI animated series entitled “Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles”. Mumbai-based 88 Pictures will be the CGI animation studio for the series. The series will take place in the future and follows the teenage rabbit descendant of the great rabbit warrior as he leads a rag-tag group of followers into adventure after adventure.
Filmmaker Ann Hui will receive a lifetime achievement award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It will be held September 2 – 12, 2020. In contention for this year’s top prize, the Golden Lion is Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” starring Frances McDormand as a woman living as a nomad after the recent recession.
Sandra Oh is in consideration for this year’s Emmy Awards under the category of “Best Actress, Drama”.
Grant Imahara, an electrical engineer who was a host on the pop science show “MythBusters” on the Discovery Channel and operated robots in the “Star Wars” prequels and other Hollywood films has died of a brain aneurysm. He was 49.
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has put out a “self-care package” of poems, short films and other media and they will be adding to it periodically. Go to https://smithsonianpa.org/care/.
PBS has many digital-only shorts produced for its website Art 21 including work by Ai Weiwei. Go to art21.org for details.
The Written & Spoken Arts
Third Place Books present the following virtual readings they sponsor or co-sponsor. Kiku Hughes, a Seattle cartoonist and illustrator will discuss “Displacement” (First Second), her first graphic novel about a teenager pulled back in time to witness her grandmother’s experiences in a WWII-era Japanese internment camp. She will talk about it with Nina N. Wallace from DENSHO. This livestream virtual event takes place on August 19, 2020 at 5pm. Pramila Jayapal, community activist and U.S. Representative will discuss her memoir “Use The Power You Have – A Brown Woman’s Guide to Politics and Political Change” in a couple events. On Tuesday, August 25 at 6pm she will talk with travel activist Rick Steves. For Third Place Books events, go to thirdplacebooks.com and click on the “Events” page or call 206-366-3333.She appears again as part of the King County Library System:Author Voices series in conversation with former Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata. Tuesday, September 8 at 7pm. Registration is required for this event, go to kcls.bibliocommons.com. For more information, try [email protected]. In the same series, Nguyen Phan Que Mai, author of the novel “The Mountains Sing”, a multi-generational tale of a Vietnamese family’s experiences before and after the Vietnamese war will be in conversation with Thanh Tan on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 7:30pm. Visit httpas://www.crowdcast.io/e/mountains-sing to register to watch this event. Townhall Seattle Live Stream: Understanding Bird Behavoir” by Wenfei Tong happens virtually on Saturday, September 12 at 7:30pm. Another event in that series is “Conditional Citizens” by Laila Lalami in which she will discuss her latest book on the global immigrant crisis as it pertains to the U.S. with noted Vietnamese American author/editor Thanh Nguyen on Friday, September 25 at 7:30pm. Go to townhall.org and click on to “calendar” for details.
Elliott Bay Book Company has a full slate of events in their virtual reading series. Here are a few – The Publication Day Program speaker for this virtual event is noted novelist/activist/essayist Arundhati Roy who is out with a timely new book of essays entitled “Azadi: Freedom, Facism, Fiction” (Haymarket), She will be joined in conversation with Native American author/professor/activist Nick Estes, author of “Our History is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistence”. Co-presented by Tasveer (www.tasveer.org) as part of TSAL: Tasveer South Asian Litfest. On Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 9am. In another event, join Alice Wong, editor of “Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century” (Vintage) which features a wide range of voices writing about their experiences living in disability. Wong will appear in this virtual event in conversation with Hugood Aurora-winning editor Elsa Sjunneson on September 9, 2020 at 7:30pm. Further down the road, prize-winning poet Kazim Ali appears in a conversation with Tacoma poet Rick Barot moderated by former Utah Poet-laureate Paisley Rekdal. All three are out with new volumes of poetry. Don’t miss this convergence of excellent poets all in one room set for October 14, 2020 at 6pm. For making reservations to the virtual events, go to elliottbaybook.com and click on the “events” page or call 206-624-6600 or toll-free at 1-800-962-5311. Although all events are virtual for the time being, the book store is open.
Fall class registration at Hugo House is now open. All classes and events will take place virtually for the remainder of 2020. Early bird pricing with a discount applies the more sessions you take if you pay from August 17 – 31, 2020. Samples of classes available include some of the following – “The Political Essay” by Sonora Jha, “The Personal and the Political” with Rick Barot, “The Longest Poem: Writing with the Mahabharata with Shakur Narayan, “Writing the Family Saga” with Jaimie Z. Li, “Exploring Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” with Anne Liu Kellor and “Poetry in & of Crisis” by Chen Chen You can register online but if you have questions, send an email with your name and # to [email protected]. For more information try [email protected].
A new addition to the Town Hall media library is the recently concluded discussion by Town Hall correspondent and poet Shin Yu Pai with fellow Seattle poet Koon Woon. Woon explores the topic of displacement and the role that poetry can have in creating a sense of belonging and home.
Sumita Chakraborty’s debut poetry collection entitled “Arrow” comes out in September 2020 on Alice James Books. It’s a Ms. Magazine and Rumpus most anticipated book of 2020. The poems focus on gender, race-based violence, environmental destruction and grief.
“Flying Paintings: The Zhou Brothers, A Story of Revolution and Art” by Amy Alznauer is out in September 2020 on Candlewick Press. This children’s book tells the story of the unique collaborative work process of these two talented Chinese artist brothers and their efforts to build art centers in Chicago, Kansas City and Beijing.
Sapardi Djoko Damono was one of the most revered figures in the history of Indonesian literature. He died in July, 2020 at the age of 80. Separdi, who served as dean of University of Indonesia’s School of Literature, rose to prominence for his books of poetry such as “Perahu Kertas”, “Hujan Bulan Juni” and “Arloji”. He was also considered a highly influential scholar who contributed to a thriving artistic Indonesian ecosystem.
Joshua L. Freeman, a translator of Uighur literature has an article in the latest issue of New York Review of Books on “Uighur Poets on Repression and Exile” highlighting the Chinese government’s reign of repression in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. A systematic program of mass internment has seen the disappearance without trial of thousands of Uighurs, Kazakhs amd Muslim citizens in internment camps and prisons. Many cultural figures have been targeted and Uighur poets and artists in exile are speaking out. The article has translations of Uighur poets and a link to a short film done by an exiled filmmaker.
Art News/Opportunities
The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions announces the launch of a free Cultural Documentation Field School. This series of online workshops which will meet twice a month from September 12 to December 5, 2020 will help students learn skills such as interviewing, audio and video production, photography, and exhibit and event creation. Each session will be led by experts in the field and presented with supplemental reading. Anyone interested in preserving cultural heritage of their communities can attend. The first series is limited to 15 participants so early registration is encouraged. Try [email protected] or go to humanities.org for more information.
The Seattle Art Museum administers the Annual Betty Bowen Award to honor a Northwest artist for their original, exceptional and compelling work with a cash prize and a show at Seattle Art Museum. For details, go to http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/about-sam/art-submissions#bet. If you have questions, try [email protected].
Artist Trust has announced the winners of the 2020 Arts Innovator Award. They go to Haruko Crow Nishimura and Joshua Kohl of the Degenerate Art Ensemble and artist Etsuko Inchikawa. Panelists on the selection committee included Anida Yoeu Ali, Shin Yu Pai, John Feodorov and Chieko Phillips. The Arts Innovator Award is funded by The Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation. Read the full announcement at artisttrust.org.
