Visual Arts
Highlights
Printmaker Romson Bustillo’s “Solo Exhibition” is up from June 28th – Sept. 24th at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. His work is haunted by memories of a childhood in the Philippines and the artist’s travels from S.E. Asia to Spain and Mexico. His layered images capture the texture of folk culture and a very real personal experience. 550 Winslow Way E. Just a ferry ride away from Seattle. (206) 451-4000 or go to biartmuseum.org.
“Seeds of Qualia” is a show of new work by Masami Koda at Traver Gallery. The artist works with glass, wood, copper, bronze and silver. This show features 4 large scale sculptures that explore themes of environment, change and perception. The title of the show refers to a philosophical term used to describe individual instances of subjective, conscious experience. On view through June 29th. New glass sculptures by Hiroshi Yamano on view through Sept. 4th – 27th. Opening reception is Sept. 4th from 5 – 8pm. 110 Union St. in Suite 200 downtown. (206) 587-6501 or go to travergallery.com.
Multi-media local artist Paul Komada has a show up at Prole Drift Gallery until June 28th entitled “Formalist’s Agony”. He will also be working in the gallery’s back room in a transformed high-tech open studio (June 27th from 1 – 2pm and June 28th from 4 – 6pm). He combines knitting and painting and computer technology in his work. 523 S. Main St. Open Fri. – Sun. For details, go to proledrift.com.
“American Knockoff” was one of artist Roger Shimomura’s most sharply satiric shows with an autobiographical ring pitting himself against the world of Asian stereotypes and what it means to live as an Asian American in this “land of the free and home of the brave.” It was last seen in the fall of 2013 at Greg Kucera Gallery. Now an expanded version of this show with a new catalog opens with a reception on Sept. 18th from 6 – 8pm at the Museum of Art at Washington State University Gallery in Pullman. On view through Dec. 13th. Shimomura will talk about the show on Sept. 18th at 7pm. The documentary film, “Witness: The Legacy of Heart Mountain” is screened on Oct. 15th at 7pm in the CUB Auditorium. A performance of “Within the Silence” by Living Voices Theatre takes place on Nov. 13th at 7:30pm in the Jones Theater on campus. (509) 335-1910. This touring exhibit comes to Tacoma Art Museum and Haillie Ford Museum in Salem, Oregon in 2015.
Through June 29th in Flatcolor Gallery’s upstairs space, you’ll find the work of Jean Nagai who looks at “the multi-dimensional identities of the U.S. and the icons and patterns that come from the experience of living here.” 71 South Main St. (206) 390-6537.
“Homebodies: In My Shell” is a show of new work by California artist Calvin Ma. On view through June 29th at Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art at 1210 2nd Ave. (206) 628-9501 or go to info@abmeyerwood.com.
The graphite drawings of Laylah Ali are included in a group show entitled “Up Every Evening” at SEASON located at 1222 NE Ravenna Blvd. Open by appointment only. Through June 29th. (206) 679-0706.
The work of Kathy Liao and Vanessa Tran are included in a “Summer Group Show” July 19th through August 16th at Prographica Gallery at 3419 E. Denny Way. Open Wed. – Sat. (206) 322-3851 or go to prographicadrawingroom.com.
“Journey” is the title of new work by Z. Z. Wei Sept. 4th – 30th. Opening reception is Sept. 4th from 6 – 8pm. Patricia Rovzar Gallery at 1225 Second Ave. downtown. Open daily. (206) 223-0273 or go to rovzargallery.com.
“A Cut Above” is a group show that explores hand-cut work in paper, wood, prints and sculpture. Continuing the focus of Asian-inspired art at The Lakeshore, this show presents unique contemporary works in a variety of mediums and perspectives inspired by traditional art practices. Co-curated by MalPina Chan. Includes the work of Betsy Best Spaden, Mia Yoshihara-Bradshaw, Julia Harrison, Laureen Iida, Naoko Morisawa and June Sekiguchi. On View till Sept. 14, 2014. 11448 Rainier Ave. S. For details, go to eraliving.com.
Carina del Rosario has a show entitled “An Ocean Apart – Photos from Madagascar and the Philippines” at Anderson House through July 1st. 17201 15th NE in Shoreline. Free and open every day. For details, call (206) 445-3659.
“Facets Of Life” is a group show featuring local ethnic artists Humaira Abid, Stewart Wong, Sabah Al-Dhaher, Esther Ervin and Gail Tremblay currently on view till June 29, 2014. Ethnic Heritage Art Gallery on the 6th Floor Plaza of Seattle Municipal Tower located at 700 Fifth Ave. For details, go to www.seattle.gov/EthnicArtGallery.
New and recent shows due to open at the Wing include the following – “RESIST – Asian American Acts of Struggle” remains on view through Jan. 18th, 2015. Wing Luke also co-sponsors a new exhibition “Voices of Nisei Veterans” at the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC) Hall. Oral history testimonies and rare collections tell the story of Japanese American veterans before, during and after World War II. A recent show entitled “transit in half-light: Lead Pencil Studio encounters The Wing’s collection” features the work of the art team of Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo. They offer an installation that integrates artifacts from the museum collection into dream-like landscapes that brings up a dialogue about migration, transit, material extraction, and labor. The artists/architects will give an exclusive tour of the installation on Sat., June 28th at 1:30pm. $10 general admission and $8 for members. On view till July 14th. Family Fun Day activity for Sat., June 21st at 1pm will feature fiber arts artist and community activist Laura Wong-Whitebear who will teach participants how to weave your very own miniature mat. Still on view is “#iconic: Power and Pop Culture” which explores how Asian American pop icons are made and what it means to look up to – or challenge – these figures. “Hometown Desi: South Asian Culture in the Pacific Northwest” is a semi-permanent display that opened Oct. 3. It will explore the history of South Asians in this area up to the present. On display through Oct. 19, 2014 is “Grit: Asian Pacific Pioneers Across the Northwest”. Stories of pioneers and trailblazers who persisted through challenges of natural disasters, racial discrimination and violence to carve out a home in this new territory. “Summer Camp @ The Wing” offers the following activities – August 4th & 5th brings “Puppets: Shadows And Light” where participants explore the art of puppetry through storytelling, performance and hands-on workshops. August 11th – 15th is “Moving Art: The Journey” looks at art that moves with us from skateboards to kites and other things. You must register for summer camp activities by July 20th, 2014. Go to wingluke.org/summer-camp or call (206) 623-5124 x 116.The Wing is 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.
“The Way of the Brush” is the first of a year- long celebration and focus on Asian influences in the arts. Brush paintings and work influenced by that tradition are the focus of work by Karen Dedrickson, Louise Kikuchi, Fumiko Kimura, Alan Lau, Patsy Surh O’Connell and Akio Takamori. Guest-curated by MalPena Chan with help from June Sekiguchi. This show is now on view at UW Harborview Hospital in the basement cafeteria of the main building until June 29th. Questions? Ask Peggy Weiss who coordinates the art at UW Harborview at pweiss@uw.edu.
Currently on view at Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park – On view through June 29, 2014 is “INKED – Wan Qingli”. This artist trained during the Cultural Revolution, uses a sharp wit and brush to match to address contemporary social ills with playful brush strokes full of humor and universal themes. On view till June 28, 2014 is “Hometown Boy: Liu Xiaodong”. Now heralded as one of China’s renowned contemporary artists, Lui grew up in a small industrial town before moving to Beijing. As a mature artist he returns to his hometown to find childhood friends still struggling, undeveloped rice paddies and his parents’ house still the same. Now an outsider, he captures the nuances of small town life in a typical Chinese town. “Colored Vases” is the first work by Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei acquired by Seattle Art Museum. The artist took ancient earthenware vases and dipped them in buckets of industrial paint allowing them to drip dry. By covering the surfaces with a new paint, what is underneath – like history itself – is “no longer visible, but is still there.” The irony is that they play on the question on and question authenticity issues that the artist likes to raise in today’s market for Chinese Art. Opening July 19th is “Mughal Painting: Power and Piety”. Seattle Asian Art Museum Foster Galleries in Volunteer Park. 1400 E. Prospect. (206) 654-3100.
“Who You Were, Who You Are, Where Are You Now?” is a group show of portrait-making curated by City of Seattle’s Portable Works Collection curator Deborah Paine from their vast reserves. On view through July 1st. Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery at 700 Fifth Ave. on the Third Floor. Open Mon. – Fri. (206) 684-7132 or go to seattle.gov/arts/publicart/municipal_tower.asp.
The first exhibition held outside Japan dedicated to Japanese Art Deco entitled “Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture, 1920 – 1945” comes to Seattle Asian Art Museum May 10th – Oct. 19th. 1400 E. Prospect St. in Volunteer Park. The “Asian Arts in Action” program continues on Sat., June 28th with a Micro Tie-Dye Bandhini Workshop led by textile artist A. Jabbar Khatri from Gujarat, India. 11am – 4pm. Participants will tie and dye a silk scarf. Limited to 12 and supplies are included in the tickets. Purchase tickets online. Japanese Kimono Workshop with artist, curator and scholar Yoshiko Wada takes place 10am – 4pm on July 19th as part of the “SAM Creates” series. Purchase tickets online for this. “Deco Night” takes place at the Asian Art Museum & Volunteer Park Amphitheater with a full evening celebration of the “Deco Japan” show on Friday, July 25th from 6:30pm – 10:30pm.. There will be short tours of the exhibition with light refreshments from 6:30 – 8:30pm. At 7pm, Textile artist Yoshiko Wada speaks about Japanese Deco textiles and fashion in partnership with the Volunteer Park Trust with tickets at $10 and $5 for SAM members. From 8:30 – 10:30pm, there will be a short selection of Deco era music from Japan and the U.S. followed by a screening of the 1931 silent film “The Lady and the Beard” by Yasujiro Ozu with an original score performed live by the Aono Jikken Ensemble with live benshi narration. Free admission for this outdoor program. “Asia Arts in Action” program activity for Wed., July 30th at 7pm is a Korean Hanji Paper Fashion Show. Designer Jeon Yang-Bae creates contemporary fashion using traditional handmade papers of Korean hanji. Models working with a crew from Bunsan, Korea show over 60 pieces of clothing. Reception included. In partnership with Asia Pacific Cultural Center. Tickets are $49 and $44 for SAM members. First Free Saturday in August features a “Sumi Landscapes” workshop on August 2nd from 11am – 2pm. As part of a “Deco Era Japanese Film series”, Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Osaka Elegy” is screened on Fri., August 1st at 8:30pm. August 8th brings Yasujiro Ozu’s “Floating Weeds”. Free admission to these films. On Thu., August 21st, enjoy a free performance by the Japanese contemporary group Imeruat at 7pm. The group is composed of contemporary composer Masashi Hamauzu and vocalist Mina who incorporates elements of her Ainu ancestry (indigenous people of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan Reserve your free tickets online. The “Asia Talks” series continues with a program entitled “Kantha: Embroidered Textiles of Bangladesh” on Thurs. , Sept. 18th at 7pm. Niaz Zaman will introduce the katha textile form, design motifs, traditional meanings, and adaptation from domestic use to the global market. Reserve your free tickets online. On Sat., Sept. 27th , a new University Fall Series begins entitled “New Worlds of Science: The Heritage of East Asia”. Tickets go on sale in August for a series of 10 talks on Saturday mornings co-organized by Prof. Christopher Cullen, Needham Research Institute who will give the first two lectures. Topics range from ancient astronomy and cosmology to Chinese medicine and the modernization of Korea and Japan. Opening July 19th and remaining on view until December 7th is “Ink. History. Media” by Chen Shaoxiong. The artist examines the history of protest as a universal political expression. He downloaded images of protest form around the world and did ink drawings from these images, turning them into a video installation. Another video installation consists of ink drawings of historic photos of major events in Chinese history during the 20th century. The artist was a founding member of “Big Tail Elephant Group”, a collective of Guangzhou-based conceptual artists in the 1990’s. Today he works independently and also collaborates as a member of an Asian artist collective known as “Xijing Men” and another Chinese collective known as “Project Without Space.” He is a multi-media artist using painting, photography, collage and conceptual art to realize his ideas. For complete information on all events, go to seattleartmuseum.org.
“Nature and Pattern in Japanese Design” is a related exhibition to “Deco Japan” in two parts that will be shown at Seattle Art Museum downtown. Part 1 is now on view till August 3rd , 2014. Part 2 begins August 16th, 2014 and continues till April 19th, 2015. “Modernism in the Pacific Northwest: The Mythic and the Mystical” looks at Northwest painters from the 30’s and 40’s whose work was influenced by an Asian aesthetic. Includes work by Paul Horiuchi and George Tsutakawa. Coming August 30th is “City Dwellers: Contemporary Art from India” which looks at the shift towards urban centers and the culture and arts of the city. Organized by SAM from the collection of Sanjay Parthasarathy and Malini Balakrishnan. Visit sam.org or call (206) 654-3100.
Bellevue Arts Museum presents the traveling exhibit “Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami” from May 16th – September 21st. Though this art form originated in Japan, this exhibit reveals how that form has evolved through the participation of modern artists from around the world. Over 140 works from international artists takes this traditional art form and pushes it into the future. A series of related events throughout the run of the exhibition are planned. Festival Folding with PAPER takes place on Saturdays from 1 – 3pm on June 7th, July 12th, August 2nd and September 13th. On Sat., June 14th from 11am – 3pm, enjoy tea & sweets with the East-West Chanoyu Center. Following the origami show is “The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942 – 1946”, A Smithsonian traveling exhibit curated by Delphine Hirasuna. Most of the work is by untrained artists stuck behind a barbed wire fence fending off boredom by putting creative hands and minds to use. But work by a few professional artists such as Ruth Asawa, Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani, Chiura Obata and Henry Sugimoto is included as well. The show runs from July 3rd to Oct. 12th with many events planned. So far, Curator Delphine Hirasuna talks on Thurs., July 3rd at 7pm. California-based installation artist and sculptor Wendy Maruyama gives a talk about Executive Order 9066 and her work on the subject on September 5th at 7pm. 510 Bellevue Way NE. Go to www.bellevuearts.org.
“Photographic Presence and Contemporary Indians: Matika Wilbur’s Project 562” is the first installment of Matika Wilbur’s ambitious project to capture contemporary Native American life by documenting people from all 562 federally recognized tribes in the US. The photography of Seattle photographer Chao-Chen Yang is included in a group show entitled “Northwest in the West: Exploring Our Roots”. This show explores the distinct identity of Northwest art and how it has adopted, adapted and reacted against its western roots. A theme particularly apt and timely since the museum is building a new wing to house their new collection of Western art. Both shows through the fall of 2015. Tacoma Art Museum is at 1701 Pacific Ave. (253) 272-4258 or go to TacomaArtMuseum.org.
The Washington State Historical Society History Museum presents “In The Spirit – Contemporary Native Arts Exhibit” from June 19th through August 10th, 2014. In addition a “Contemporary Native Arts Market & Festival” will be held on August 9th from 10am – 6pm with free museum admission all day. 1911 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma. 1-888-Be-There or go to www.InTheSpirit.org.
On view through June 28th are two Japanese print-related shows at Davidson Galleries. “Selected Etchings: 1960s-2010s” by world-renowned print artist Ryohei Tanaka showcases both his black and white and color work. This artist is known for his use of texture in traditional Japanese motifs and landscapes. A group show of “Women and Children in Japanese Color Woodblocks (ca. 1885-1915) show the influence of the West both in clothing and the use of illusionistic pictorial space in once was a traditional Japanese media. 313 Occidental Ave. S. (206) 624-6700.
Seattle artist Saya Moriyasu keeps busy with the following activities. She has work in a group show about Soap Lake at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center through June 13th. Go to https://tinyuri.com/qbxeln3 for details. In Portland she has work in the PDX Contemporary window with Tony Sonnenberg. Presented by Pulliam Fine Arts. Upcoming you can see her work in SAM Party in the Park and in the fall with Maki Tamura at MadArt Uw. Some of her functional work can be found at Sugar Pill behind Blick at 900 E. Broadway on Capitol Hill. She also has a new email at ArtSaayaa@gmail.com.
Seattle painter Kathy Liao keeps busy with the following activities. She is part of a group show entitled “Sight Specific: A Selection of American Perceptual Paintings” as curated by George Nick at Concord Art Association in Concord, MA at 37 Lexington Road. Opening reception is June 14th at 7pm. June 14th – August 13th. Closer to home, she has work in a group “Summer Show” at Prographica Gallery July 19th – August 16th with opening reception on July 19th from 2 – 4pm. 3419 East Denny Way. Go to www.prographicadrawings.com. She also has work in a group show entitled “Any Day: Artists on Death” at the Steele Gallery at Gage Academy of Art August 14th – Sept. 19th with an opening reception on August 14th from 6 – 9pm. 1501 – 10th Ave. E. Go to www.gageacademy.org. In addition, Liao teaches a few figure drawings at Gage Academy in July. To sign up, go to www.gageacademy.org. She has an artists’s residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Sheridan, WY. From June 15th – July 15th in 2015.
“Tender Buttons: The Art of Laura Castellanos” is on view through June 28th. “Mandala” is a group show of world artists who work in diverse media exploring the ancient motif that appears throughout the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. July 3 opening from 5 – 8pm. On view until July 31st. “Mythscapes” includes the work of indigenous artists from Australia including work by Sarrita King. Opening reception is Sept. 5th from 5 – 8pm. On view from August 20 through Nov. 22nd. ArtXchange Gallery at 512 First Ave. S. Open Tues. – Sat. (206) 839-0377 or go to www.artxchange.org.
The work of graduate students Hesheng Chen, Haeree Park and Xinchen Xie are included in the University of Washington 2014 MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition at Henry Gallery’s North Galleries through June 22nd . 15th Ave. NE + NE 41st St on the Seattle campus of the University of Washington. (206) 543-2280 or go to henryart.org.
Co-curators Ken Matsudaira and Melanie King are working on a show of Japanese art to coincide with the anniversary of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings during WW II. On view August 6th – Sept. 21st. Opening reception is Aug. 9th from 5 – 8pm. Regular hours are Wed. – Sunday. Columbia City Gallery at 4864 Rainier Ave. S. (206) 760-9834 or go to columbiacitygallery.com.
The Portland Japanese Garden has announced their exhibitions set for 2014. “Rediscovering Lacquer: 11 Artists Reinvent a Timeless Tradition” on view June 14th – July 6th and “Urushi: Materpieces of Lacquer Ware by Kazumi Murose, Living National Treasure of Japan”, on view Oct. 25th – Nov. 16th. For details, go to http://japanesegarden.com/pressroom/50th-anniversary-press-kit/.
“9214” by artist Takahiro Suzuki is a video piece that tries to recapture the grandeur of the freight train by looking at it from various angles. Once a romantic icon of the West, it is now looked upon with boredom and impatience at railroad crossings. On view until June 29th at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland. 122 NW 8th Ave. (503) 225-0210 or go to blueskygallery.org.
“Cobalt Blues”, a regional and chronological variety of Asian Cobalt-glazed ceramics is on view through Oct. 19th taken from the museum collection and on loan from private collections. Portland Art Museum. 1219 SW Park Ave. (503) 226-2811 or go to portlandartmuseum.org
The Museum of Contemporary Craft has a pair of interesting shows. The work of ceramic artist Poh Chap Yeap is included in the group show “Portland Collects: British Ceramics”. The work is drawn from local collections and the museum’s permanent collection. Through August 23rd. The work of “artist-in-residence” Stephanie Syjuco is included in the group show, “Fashion Cascadia – The Social Life of the Garment”. This show looks at how the fashion industry shapes the regional identity of the Pacific Northwest. Through Oct. 11th. 724 NW Davis St. in Portland. (503) 223-2654 or go to mocc.pnca.edu.
KOBO Gallery at Higo in Japantown/International District has the following – A show featuring the work of two ceramic artists from New Mexico – Betsy Williams and Birdie Boone opens on June 21st and remains on view till July 13th.Go to koboseattle.com for updates. 604 S. Jackson St. 704 Terry Ave. (206) 622-9250.
“Capturing a Generation through the Eye of a Lens: The Photographs of Frank C. Hirahara, 1948 – 1954” is a collection of never-before-seen photos taken of Portland’s Nisei generation. It captures the social events and life in Portland’s Japantown of a now fast disappearing generation. On view through June 15th. Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center in Portland. 121 NW Second Ave. (503) 224-1458 or visit www.oregonnikkei.org. (541) 346-3027 or go to jsma.uoregon.edu.
“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 info@koboseattle.com or call (206) 381-3000.
The work of Alice Chew, David Ko, James Kurihara, Naoka Morisawa, Mia Yoshihara-Bradshaw, June Sekiguchi and others is included in the group show, “Funny Bone – Humor in Art” at University House at 4400 Stone Way N. in Seattle. Opening reception is June 19th from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Artist talks take place July 13th at 7:30pm. For details, email june@junesekiguchi.com.
The “Art of Traditional Japanese Theater” is a curricular rotation emphasizing “Noh” and its comic counterpart, “Kyogen”. The display features prints, paintings, printed books, a noh costume and carved wooden masks. On view till July 6th at the University of Oregon Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. 1430 Johnson Lane in Eugene. (541) 346-3027 or visit jsma.uoregon.edu.
It’s worth an occasional trip across the border to catch the artistic riches of our neighbors to the north. Here’s a sampling of recent shows in the Vancouver BC area. In 1914 the Komagata Maru, a ship carrying 376 British Indian passengers, was denied entry into Canada. This history is explored in “Unmoored: Vancouver’s voyage of the Komagata Maru”. Stories, arare artifiacts, images and documents provide new insights into how national policies and racial bias shaped the lives of the passengers and South Asian immigrants. On view at Museum of Vancouver at 1100 Chestnut St. in Vanier Park. Open Tues. – Sun from 10am – 5pm. (604) 736-4431 or go to museumofvancouver.ca. Roy Kiyooka was one of Canada’s most respected contemporary poet and artist. His career is celebrated in “Roy Kiyooka – A Commemorative Exhibit” which includes original print chapbooks and archival material showcasing Kiyooka’s enduring influence on the artistic scene in Vancouver and beyond in the fields of visual art, collage, prose and poetry. On view through June 26th at Nikkei National Museum at 6688 Southoaks Cres in Burnaby. (604) 777-7000 oor go to nikkeiplace.org. “Gu Xiong: A Journey Exposed” looks at the recent work of “Transcultural” artist Gu Xiong who was born in China but has lived in the Vancouver area since 1990. Recently, he has been examining the impact of globalization and mass food production on the environment and human health. The show features his paintings, drawings and photographs, as well as an installation of 10,000 ceramic pigs – a work that references an incident in which thousands of dead pigs were found floating in the Huangpu River, the source of Shanghai’s water supply. On view through August 23rd at Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art in North Vancouver. 2121 Lonsdale Ave. (604) 998-8562 or go to gordonsmithgallery.ca. “Claiming Space: Voices of Urban Aboriginal Youth” is a group show that shows “contemporary, conceptual and Native art” that features 25 young artists across Canada, the US, Norway and New Zealand, “to define what it really means to be an urban Aboriginal artist today.” On view Through Jan. 4th, 2015 at Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, BC. On the UBC campus. 6393 NW Marine Dr. (604) 822-5087 or go to moa.ubc.ca.
Seattle-raised artist Roger Shimomura has a show of new work entitled “Great American Muse” through June 28th at the Flomenhaft Gallery in Chelsea area of New York City.
If viewing the work of Chinese brush painter Qi Baishi at the Frye has got you interested in his work, there is another show in the Bay Area that may interest you as well. “The Carved Brush – Calligraphy, Painting and Seal Carving by Qi Baishi” now on view through July 13th, 2014. At the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco at 200 Larkin St. (415) 581-3500.
The Late Walasse Ting (1929-2010) was a beloved artist/poet who grew up in Shanghai. When he was 20 years old, he left China and lived in Paris for a few years and became acquainted with European artists associated with the avant-garde art group called COBRA. He moved again to New York in 1958 at the height of the Abstract Expressionist period. His dripping monochromatic abstractions in the manner of Paris-based Chinese painter, Zao Wouki soon changed in America. His calligraphic strokes were used to make figurative outlines infused with juicy colors and flamboyant rhythms. He worked in theatre, taught and lectured on art. He also authored a number of books of poetry. “A book like hundred flower garden”: Walasse Ting’s 1 Cent Life” was a book of poems he made illustrated with lithographs by second-generation Abstract Expressionist artists such as Sam Francis (also the book’s editor), Joan Mitchell, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and COBRA artists such as Karl Appel and Asger Jorn. A exhibit based on the book is now on view at San Francisco’s De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park through Sept. 7th, 2014. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive in the park. For details, call (415) 750-3600 or email contact@famsf.org.
The Oakland Museum in the Bay Area has new shows in April worth noting. “SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot” shows the work of 15 artists associated with the groundbreaking magazine Giant Robot. Ahead of its time, this publication led the crest of the wave in interest in anime, manga, Asian American pop and alternative culture. “Vinyl: The Sound and Culture of Records”. This show delves into the social and cultural phenomenon of listening to, collecting and sharing records or vinyl. Both shows continue on until July 27th, 2014. 1000 Oak St. For information, call toll free (888) 625-6873.
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a new exhibit entitled “Lost Kingdoms – Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia, 5th to 8th Century”. 1000 Fifth Ave. Go to www.metmuseum.org for more information.
“From Barbed Wire to Battlefields – Japanese-American Experiences in World War II” is a new exhibit at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on loan from the Smithsonian. It remains on view through October of this year. For more, visit www.barbedwiretobattlefields.org/home.
“Art Deco Hawai’i” is a group show that looks at the Hawaiian take on the international Art Deco style. Opens July 3rd and runs until Jan. 11, 2015. Honolulu Museum of Art at 900 S. Beretania St. (808) 532-8700.
The May/June 2014 of ArtAsiaPacific magazine has a feature on a group of young Taiwanese writers, photographers and filmmakers who produced “Theatre”, the first Chinese-language magazine dedicated to experimental time-based art in the 1960’s. Go to events@aapmag.com for details.
About 150,000 Korean cultural relics are scattered throughout more than 20 countries world-wide. The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation is supporting preservation and research on them as a way of promoting understanding of Korean artifacts. Recent projects have included the Koryo Museum of Art in Kyoto, the Freer Gallery, the Sackler Gallery and Honolulu Museum of Art in the US and Sevres, Cite de la Ceramique in France.
The Norton Simon Museum of Pasadena, California has agreed to return a 10th period statue to Cambodia that may have been looted from a Cambodian temple during war-time in the 1970’s. It is one of three being returned from the US. As part of the agreement, the Cambodian government has agreed to periodically loan other ancient statues to the museum from time to time.
Performing Arts
Highlights
Noted jazz pianist/composer Sumi Tonooka has been quietly living in the Puget Sound area the last few years. She is part of a new composer-led ensemble, the Alchemy Project. The group performs Sunday June 29th at 8pm at the Royal Room. Group members, all estimable composers/musicians in their own right, include Erica Lindsay on tenor sax, Salim Washington on woodwinds, Samantha Boshnack on trumpet, Willem De Koch on trombone, David Arend on bass and Max Wood on drums. This septet debuts 10 new works written especially for this ensemble. Go to theroyalroomseattle.com for details.
Seattle Iranian Festival takes place on Sat., June 28th from noon – 7pm at the Seattle Center House. There will be a wide array of programs displays, food and fun for all ages. Visiting novelist Porochista Khakpour will be reading as well. Free admission. See www.iaca-seattle.org for details. Seattle Center House is at 305 Harrison on Seattle Center Grounds.
It’s summer and the traditional Japanese ceremony of visiting the relatives and loved ones who have passed away is celebrated in festivals of music and dance known as “Bon Odori”. The Puget Sound abounds with these festivals. If you are unfamiliar with the dances and want to participate, many of these events have practice sessions where you can learn the dances beforehand. Call for information. The 2014 Seattle Bon Odori takes place July 19th & 20th with traditional street dances, food, cultural activities and a beer garden. Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Church at 1427 S. Main. 4 – 10pm on Sat. and 3 – 8pm on Sun. (206) 329-0800 for more information. White River Buddhist Church Bon Odori takes place in Auburn on Sat., July 26th from 4pm – 9:30pm. 3625 Aubiurn Way N. (253) 833-1442. Tacoma Buddhist Temple’s Bon Odori takes place on Sat., August 2nd from 5 – 9pm. 1717 S. Fawcett Ave. (253) 627-1417.
In Portland, the Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival) takes place on July 26th. Portland’s Tachibana Dance School are scheduled to perform. In you are interested in performing or volunteering for this great summer event, call (503) 297-9268. A community art show is also planned. If you are an artist who wants to participate, you can email Koji Akamine at christianlegend777@gmail.com.
A group fashion show preceded by a marketplace/sake tasting social hour takes place at Keiro on August 17th. Expect to see work and designs by top Asian/ Asian American fashion designers like Anne Namba, Mieko Mintz for KOBO, Gei Chan, Bo Choi, Sandylew Boutique and others. Event starts with a 3pm wine/sparkling sake tasting and marketplace followed by a 4pm runway fashion show in the garden. Designer Anne Namba will be present.
Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival celebrates the arts and culture of the Philippines. Free. June 7 – 8th at Seattle Center house. Go to http://seattlecenter.com/festal/.
Pride Asia Celebration takes place the weekend of June 21st and 22nd from noon to 6pm. At Hing Hay Park at 423 Maynard S. in Chinatown/ID neighborhood. Need more information? Go to www.prideasiaseattle.com.
Early warning for 2015. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra with Myung-Whun Chung conducting and Sunwook Kim on piano take on Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 and Brahms Symphony No. 4 on April 21st at 7:30pm. Noted American cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs with Seattle Symphony on May 3rd at 2pm. At Benaroya Hall downtown at 3rd & Union. (206) 215-4747 or go to seattlesymphony.org.
The Wing hosts the following performances. As we head into June, we are talking about Summer and that means JAMFEST, the annual series of musical concerts in the buildings and streets of Seattle’s Chinatown/ID neighborhood. On Thurs., June 19th at 5:30pm the Wing hosts a cabaret. After that, hit the streets to sample performances, food, deals and more. $8 General, $6 Students/Seniors and $5 members. Season passes available. Visit wingluke.org/jamfest for details.
“No Longer Invisible: In Their Own Words” conveys the stories and lives of Asian Pacific American groups not often highlighted in UW’s program to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. View the stories online at www.washington.edu/omad/no-longer-invisible/ .
The Blue Scholars are headlining the Inaugural Solstice Concert Series along with the Flavr Blue (with Hollis Wong-Wear) for the Fremont Fair this year on Sat., June 21st starting at 5pm. $20 admission for all ages. For details, go to Fremontfair.com. Geo of the Blue Scholars and Hollis are the cover story (with an in-depth interview) for the June issue of CityArts.
Astridvnje presents “Malam Budaya – A Cultural Night of Indonesian Dance” on Sat., July 26th at 6pm at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. All ages. For tickets, go to SeattleIndonesianDance.com.
The Japanese avant-garde jazz couple of pianist/composer Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura do a June US/Canada tour to promote their new recordings. Fujii’s New York Orchestra has a new recording entitled “Shiki” (Libra Records) which features a longer composition that covers the four seasons and features new member, trombonist Yasuko Kaneko plus the cream of today’s New York jazz musicians. Natsuki Tamura’s new recrding “Du Du” (Libra Records) features Kaneko as well as Fujii on accordion. The group plays the Vancouver Jazz Festival on Monday, June 23rd (http://coastaljazz.ca) but stop by Seattle along the way to play The Royal Room, local musician Wayne Horvitz’s new spot for jazz on Sat., June 21st at 6pm. 5000 Rainier Ave. S. (206) 906-9920 or go to http://theroyalroomseattle.com.
“International Dance Festival” is a ten-day event of dance from around the world, around the country and around the block in indoor and outdoor venues centered along the South Lake Union area. June 13th – 22nd. For details, go to www.seattleidforg.
UW Professor Mark Jenkins play about contemporary Cambodia entitled “Red Earth, Gold Gate” won ACT Theatre’s 2013 New Play Award. The full-length production of this play will premiere as part of ACT’s 2015 season with Victor Pappas directing.
Japanese pianist/composer Hiromi will be performing with her Trio Project June 21st at the Vogue Theatre at 9pm as part of the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival set for June 20th – July 1st at various venues around the Vancouver BC area. For details on the whole schedule of world performers, go to www.coastaljazz.ca or call (855) 551-9747.
Portland Taiko perform at the 4th Annual Sake Fest PDX set for June 26th from 6:30 – 9pm. A ticket gets you tasting samples of many kinds of sake and plum wine, a free tasting glass and snacks. At the Sentinel Hotel in Portland. A portion of the profits will be donated to Japan America Society of Portland. Go to http://sakefestpdx.com for details.
Comedian Russell Peters of “Last Comic Standing” fame who bills himself as “#1 comic in the world” comes to the new Seattle branch of Parlor Live Comedy Club on July 10th – 12th. 1522 Sixth Ave. For details, go to parlorlive.com.
Jazz vocalist Sachal Vasandani will be performing and teaching at Centrum’s Jazz Port Townsend Workshop & Music Festival set for July 20th – 27th. Details at www.centrum.org or (360) 385-3102.
ACT Theatre has announced their 2014 season. Appearing Sept. 5 – 28th is “The Invisible Hand” by Ayad Akhtar. The story revolves around an American financial guru who is captured and held by a militant organization in Pakistan who must raise his won 10 million dollar ransom. To be directed by Allen Nause. For details on this play and the upcoming season, go to acttheatre.org/subscriptions or call (206) 292-7676.
For those of you who missed the performances of Jeanne Sakata’s “Hold These Truths”, her one person play on the night Gordon Hirabayashi was arrested for defying the curfew for Japanese Americans in Seattle at the beginning of WWII have another opportunity. ACT Theatre will produce this play again July 31st – August 3rd of this year with Joel de la Fuente in the lead. They are currently entertaining the idea of adapting “The Tale of Heike” and bringing it to the stage in the fall of 2016. Noted playwright Philip Kan Gotanda may be working on the script with local Seattle writers. 700 Union St. (206) 292-7676 or go to www.acttheatre.org.
BD Wong and Sab Shimono star in a new adaptation of “The Orphan of Zhao” by James Fenton at San Francisco’s A.C.T. Theater. Directed by Carey Perloff with musical score by Seattle composer/performance artist Byron Au Yong. 405 Geary St. For tickets, try tickets@act-sf.org. This is a U.S. and San Francisco premiere. Through June 29th.
Film & Media
Highlights
The Wing and Tasveer partner together to bring you the 2nd South Asian International Documentary (SAID) Film Festival, the only one of its kind in the country. Set for the weekend of June 28th and 29th. For festival information and tickets visit: www.tasveer.org. Films will screen on-site at The Wing and tickets must be purchased. (see review elsewhere in this issue.
The Northwest Film Forum on Capitol Hill has a couple interesting documentary films coming up. “Manakamana” by Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez looks at the occupants of a cable car that transports a group of pilgrims through the mountains of Nepal as they head towards the a famous temple. June 20th – 26th. “Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case” by Andreas Johnsen chronicles the life and artistic struggles of this contemporary Chinese artist whose subversive works have resulted in his being placed under “house arrest” by the Chinese authorities. Undaunted, he continues to find new ways to express himself through the internet. June 27th – July 3rd. 1515 – 12th Ave. (206) 329-2629 or go to nwfilmforum.org.
Richie Mehta’s feature film “Siddharth”, one of the favorites of this year’s SIFF returns to Seattle for an extended run beginning July 25th at the Varsity Theatre in the University District. When a man who does zipper repairs on the street notices his son doesn’t return from work out of town, he becomes worried. While tracking his son’s whereabouts, he discovers clues that his son may have been abducted. Based on a true story. 4329 University Way NE. (206) 632-6412 or go to landmarktheatres.com.
Based on a popular manga, “Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky” is a live action movie directed by Ngai Choi Lam supposedly captures the authentic feel of violent bloodletting found in comics and anime of that genre. Screens July 11th & 12th and 18th & 19th at 9pm. Grand Illusion Cinema at 1403 NE 50th St. in the University District. (206) 523-3935 or go to grandillusioncinema.org.
“Snowpiercer” as directed by Bong Joon-ho brings together an international cast in a futuristic thriller based on a graphic novel. Civilization’s few survivors are trapped together on a high-speed super train where the tense divide between rich and poor come to a climatic boil. Stars Ed Harris, Jamie Bell, Go Ah-sung, Kang-ho Song, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton and others. Opens for a one week run at SIFF Uptown on June 27th. 511 Queen Anne Ave. N. (206) 324-9996 or go to siff.net.
The Japanese Cultural & Community Center presents a Japanese film series entitled “Matinee Eiga” every Sunday at 2pm. $5 for non-members and $3 for JCCCW members. 1414 S. Weller St. (206) 568-7114 or go to www.jcccw.org. Call (425) 369-1012 for details.
Bay Area composer and jazz bassist Mark Izu is featured in three of four documentary films on Japanese American Lives, presented by the Center for Asian American Media on PBS Stations nationwide in May. He composed the music for “Stories from Tohoku” and “Mrs. Judo”. He and fellow jazz musician/composer/arranger Anthony Brown are the subject of the film, “Don’t Lose Your Soul”.
ABC is showing a primetime sitcom entitled “Fresh Off the Boat” based on the memoir by restaurateur and chef Eddie Huang. Stories will be based on the Huang family and how this Taiwanese immigrant family encounters life in America in the 1990’s. The pilot was directed by Seattle movie director Lynn Shelton.
Contemporary Korean film has seen a surge of international interest across the world. There are now annual Korean film festivals held in Sydney, Paris, Florence and London.
The Written Arts
Highlights
The Seattle Chinatown/ID’s foremost historian, civil rights leader and citizen activist Bob Santos is the featured speaker for the monthly “Omoide” program at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington on Friday, June 20th at 12:30pm. 1414 S. Weller St. (206) 568-7114.
Professor Khatharya Um from UC Berkeley is the featured keynote speaker on “The Cambodian Dilemma” on Saturday, June 21st from 8am – 4pm at the Asian Resource Center. Dr. Um has done extensive research on Cambodia, the Khmer diaspora and Southeast Asian Americans. This event is organized by the Khmer Alliance Foundation and the Prayoch Khmer Foundation. 1025 S. King St. For details on this event, Marith Chhang at (360) 636-3989 or Eng Seng Nguon at (206) 501-4103.
PoetsWest is collaborating with the Seattle Chamber Music Society in the first of three programs of poetry and music in the parks. On Monday, July 7th at 7pm in Hing Hay Park at 423 Maynard Ave. S. in Chinatown/ID neighborhood. Poets Bob Flor, Shin Yu Pai and Koon Woon will read and the Seattle Chamber Music Society will perform classical music. Free. (206) 682-1268 or email jge@poetswest.com.
On Tuesday, July 8th at 7:30pm, Published author and Citizen University’s Eric Liu will speak on “The Chinese American Dream”. He will weave together a personal story, 21st century reflection, and the intertwined histories of China and the U.S. $5. Town Hall Seattle at 1119 Eighth Ave. (206) 652-4255 or email info@townhallseattle.org.
Seattle poet/educator Lonny Kaneko is teaching in China this quarter. Kaneko is a published poet and teacher at Highline Community College. To read his blog about his experiences there, go to http:/goldenchild39.blogspot.com/.
“Stories of Arrival: Youth Voices” is a community partnership project between Foster High School, Jack Straw Cultural Center, KBCS 91.3 FM Radio and the Institute for Poetic Medicine. Poet/Project Director Merna Ann Hecht worked with ELL teachers Camil Stradley and Kristin Tregillus and the Jack Straw’s team of artists. They helped Foster High School English Language Learners tell their stories through poetry and these were recorded in the studio at Jack Straw. Now hear the results every weekday evening in April at 6:55pm after Hard Knock Radio on KBCS 91.3 FM Radio. Starts April 1st in celebration of National Poetry Month. Students from Bhutan, Burma, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Somalia, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam all participated. Go to http://kbcs.fm/ for details.
Simran Singh reads from “Your Journey to Enlightenment” at Third Place Books at 7pm. Monday, June 23rd. Free. 6504 20th Ave. NE. (206) 525-2347 or go to thirdplacebooks.com.
Photographer/journalist Peggy Kelsey talks about her book, “Gathering Strength: Conversations with Afghan Woman” which consists of photos and interviews done on two separate trips to that country. Wed., July 9th at the University Book Store at 7pm. Free. On University Ave. in Seattle’s University District. 4326 University Way NE. Go to ubookstore.com for details.
Cartoonist/musician Bryan Lee O’Malley who created the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series will talk about his new graphic novel entitled “Seconds” (Ballantine) on Sat., July 19th at 7:30pm at Town Hall Seattle. He is paired with local band Tacocat. $5. Hosted by The Stranger. 1119 Eighth Ave. (206) 652-4255 or go to townhallseattle.org.
The Elliott Bay Book Company hosts and co-hosts literary events at their bookstore and venues around town. Here is a sampling. All readings at the book store unless otherwise noted. Elliott Bay also co-sponsors the readings with the Gardner Center for Asian Art & Ideas at Seattle Asian Art Museum’s auditorium. Kathryn Ma reads from her latest novel entitled “The Year She Left Us” (Harper Collins) at Elliott Bay on Mon., June 9th at 7pm. The story is about a Chinese American family facing crisis after a disastrous visit to their adopted daughter’s “home” orphanage in China. Lisa See, known for novels such as “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” and her memoir, “On Gold Mountain” returns with her 9th book entitled “China Dolls” (Random House) which is the story of three young Chinese American women at the eve of Pearl Harbor whose friendship is tested after a betrayal. June 14th at 7pm. Purchase of a copy of the book secures a ticket admitting two to the reading. Former Pulitzer-Award winning reporter for the Seattle Times and Seattle Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times Alex Tizon returns to town to read from his highly personal and autobiographical memoir entitled “Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) on Wed., June 18th at 7pm. Tizon now teaches at the University of Oregon. Yukari Iwatani Kane is a tech industry journalist for the Wall street Journal with a new book on Apple entitled “Haunted Empire: Apple After Steve Jobs” (Harper Business) from which she’ll talk about as part of the TOWN HALL CIVICS Series in a reading EB co-sponsors with Town Hall Seattle on Thurs., June 26th at 7:30pm. This reading is at Town Hall Seattle at 1119 Eighth Ave. (at Seneca). $5 tickets for this event available at the door starting at 6:30pm or in advance via www.townhallseattle.org (1-888-377-4510). For information, call (206) 652-4255 or go to www.townhallseattle.org. Iranian novelist Porochista Khakpour (“Sons and Other Flammable Objects”) reads from her newest novel entitled “The Last Illusion” (Bloomsbury) on Fri., June 27th at 7pm at the bookstore. The novel “weaves Iranian myth with American neurosis to create a bittersweet poetry all its own.” Bill Porter (Red Pine) has penned many books on China and translated volumes of Chinese poetry from the Buddhist/Taoist traditions. He reads from his new one entitled “Yellow River Odyssey” (Chin Music Press) on Sat., June 28th at 2pm. It looks at the present and the past as it travels miles up the Yellow River. Hong Kong-born novelist Jean Kwok (“Girl in Translation”) returns with a new novel entitled “Mambo in Chinatown” (Riverside) on Sat., June 28th at 7pm at the bookstore. The story revolves a working class Chinese American girl who bucks tradition and poverty to find love and success. For the fourth consecutive year, the Gardner Center For Asian Art & Ideas joins with the bookstore, Seattle University & Teamwork arts to bring us another South Asian author program. This “Eye On India Festival” has many elements. For starters, two musical performances take place at Seattle University’s Piggott Auditorium. The Saxophone sisters perform on June 17th at 7pm and Sonam Kalra and the Sufi Gospel Project perform June 23rd at 7pm. Seattle University professor Sonora Jha reads from his debut novel “Foreign” (Random House India) on Thurs., June 26th at 7pm in Seattle University’s Student Center 160. At Seattle Asian Art Museum on June 29th at 3pm in Stimson Auditorium, a program entitled “Words On Water: Eye On India” features the following writers. Commonwealth Prize-winning novelist Rana Dasgupta reads from her non-fiction book about a city entitled “Capital: The Eruption of Delhi (Penguin Press). Ravi Venkatesan , former chair of Microsoft India and Cummins India reads from his book entitled “Win in India, Win Everywhere: Conquering the Chaos” (Harvard Business Review Press). Other authors to be announced. Check www.seattleartmuseum.org for details. Tickets for the program at SAAM are $10 and $5 for SAM members available through www.seattleartmuseum.org/gardnercenter. For all information on the “Eye on India” programs, go to eyeonindia.org. Seattle Asian Art Museum is at 1400 East Prospect in Volunteer Park. Sarah Bird reads from “Above The China Sea” (Knopf) on Mon., June 30th at 7pm. This young adult novel looks at the impact of war and its’ legacy on two young girls who connect across generations in Okinawa. July readings at Elliott Bay include up and coming novelist Celeste Ng on July 15th with “Everything I Never Told You” about a Chinese American family in the mid-west and the death of a daughter and Lan Cao reading from “The Lotus and the Storm” (Viking) and how war affects both American and Vietnamese families on August 26th.The bookstore is at 1521 Tenth Avenue in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. (206) 624-6600 or visit www.elliottbaybook.com.
The Wing hosts a reading in their Tateuchi Story Theatre. On Sat., June 21st at 4pm, spoken-word poet and community activist Michelle Myers performs poetry with song from her new poetry book entitled “The She Book.” Proceeds from book sales will be donated to aid anti-trafficking efforts and community building in Nicaragua. For more information, on these and more, go to wingluke.org.
June is the anniversary of the Tiananamen Square massacre and two new books mark that date in infamy. “Tiananamen Exiles” by Rowena Xiaoqing He on Palgrave Macmillan interviews some of the leaders of that movement as they look back to that day. “In The Republic of Amnesia” by Louisa Lim on Oxford University Press looks at how effectively the government has covered up the history of that event to this day.
Tacoma poet Hannah Sanghee Park’s book, “The Same-Different” was selected by Rai Armantrout as the winner of the 2014 Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets and will be published by Louisiana State University Press in 2015. She also won the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship in 2013. Park currently attends the Writing for Screen & Television Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she is currently developing a television pilot and feature-length screenplay.
Former Oregon Poet-Laureate and award-winning poet Lawson Fusao Inada makes his first ever visit to Japan in July of 2014 where he’ll do a reading at Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum.
Bay Area based writer Aimee Phan (“We Should Never Meet”, “The Reeducation of Cherry Truong”) recently penned an essay about the lack of reviews that writers of color in America receive in the mainstream media. The article entitled “Why Mainstream Critics Fail Writers of Color” cites research provided by Roxanne Gay that demonstrated that 90 percent of the books reviewed in the New York Times were by white authors. For more, go to – talkingwriting.com/why-mainstream-critics-fail-writers-color.
Even when writers find themselves stranded on an island, they don’t waste their time. Back in the 70’s when L.A. based writer Frank Chin found himself stranded on Hawai’i with little funds to get him back to the mainland, he worked on a novel entitled “Charlie Chan on Maui”. Unfortunately he ran into a roadblock when the estate representing the Charlie Chan series of detective novels refused to let him use that title. Now that book has been resurrected with the new title of “Confessions Of A Number One Son” and edited by UCSD PhD student Calvin McMillin. It’s scheduled to be published by the University of Hawai’i Press early nest year.
Art News/Opportunities
Congratulations to the following who received “2014 Distinguished Teaching Awards” at the University of Washington. Associate Professor of History Moon-Ho Jung who teaches on the Seattle campus. Associate Professor of Technology Donald Chinn who teaches at UW Tacoma.
Thuy-van Vu, Seattle painter who is represented locally by G. Gibson Gallery is a 2014 Fellow of The New Foundation, Seattle.
“The Art of Asian Cuisine – A Taste of Asia” is a great opportunity for Seattle foodies to enjoy ethnic Asian cuisine in the intimate surroundings of each chef’s home kitchen. Here is the itinerary. Japan is on Monday, June 16th. Pakistan is on Sunday, July 13th. Korea is on Friday, August 29th. India is on Saturday, September 20th. Go to www.facebook.com/FriendsofAsianArtAssociation for details.
Northwest Film Forum has exhibition opportunities for Northwest filmmakers for their two major annual film festivals. “Local Sightings” showcases new work by Northwest-based filmmakers every fall. Deadline for submissions is June 30th, 2014. “Children’s Film Festival Seattle” is the largest film festival on the West Coast devoted to families. The deadline for submissions for this is October 1st, 2014. Details can be found at www.nwfilmforum.org.
Congratulations to the following artists working in craft, literary, media and music who all won 2014 Artist Trust Fellowships. Each was granted $7,500 of unrestricted funds. Roberto Ascalon is a local Filipino American poet, writer, arts educator and spoken-word performance artist. Mari Ichimasu is originally from Japan but has lived in Seattle for years doing creative animation under the artist name of “Little Oze”. Donna Miscolta is a mixed race fiction writer (Filipino/Mexican American) whose publishing debut was the award-winning novel “When the de la Cruz Family Danced”.
As part of Frye Art Museum summer art classes, Yoon-Kang O’Higgins will present an art educator workshop entitled “VTS: Practicum” August 8 – 9th from 10am – 4pm. Develop your Visual Thinking Strategies with this introduction to VTS research and theory. There will be practical work in the galleries and ample discussion and reflection. $200 members/ $245 non-members. To register, go to visualthinkingstrategies.org. Some other classes of interest include “Doll Sculptures” taught by Marita Dingus July 29th – August 1st and “Coiled Basketry: Explorations in Color and Design” taught by Gail Tremblay. For details on all summer classes, go to fryemuseum.org/classes.
The Korean American Historical Society is looking for photographs for exhibits and publication in a book about the local Korean community. Photos are needed by June 30th, 2014. Send photos with your name and contact information to KAHSinfo@KAHS,org or mail them with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Korean American Historical Society c/o Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle,WA 98104. If you have nay questions or need more information, call (206) 778-7446.
A “Relief to Rebuild Auction Fundraiser for Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan” takes place on June 21st at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma at 7pm. $40. 1801 Dock St. (253) 921-5788 or email zencs@comcast.net.
Rick Barot, published poet and PLU Associate Professor of English has been appointed the new director of the school’s Rainer Writing Workshop. This is part of Pacific Lutheran University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program.
June 30th is the deadline for local King County poets to submit poems on the theme of “home” for poetry on buses. Go to poetryonbuses.org for details. In some cases, poems can be submitted in your native language with an English translation. Also poetry workshops will be held across the city to encourage people in ethnic communities to pick up the pen and write a poem. Some of you remember seeing poems on local Metro buses for years until the budget was cut. Now it appears this great literary project has been revived.
The 11th Annual Minidoka Pilgrimage touring a WWII Japanese American internment camp in Idaho takes place June 19th – 22nd. Visit www.minidokapilgrimage.org for det