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TweetIn honor of Keiro no Hi, we hosted a Fine Arts Showcase! We invited everyone in our Japanese American and Japanese community, age 60 and above, to create and express their talent through art. Submitted artwork was displayed during the festival virtually. The theme for the 2020 Arts Showcase was “Quality of Life” and what that means to you.
Thank you to everyone who has submitted their artwork.
May 11, 2020 Update: After careful consideration, Keiro has decided to transition all of our scheduled in-person events, including Keiro no Hi, to alternative formats for the remainder of the year as a result of COVID-19. Click here for more information.
Meet the Artists
Quality of Life Arts Gallery 2020
Lotus Sign Invisible Tea House 2020 - Alan Nakagawa (56)
A permanent sign that illustrates the history of the Japanese Tea House once installed in the Pasadena Buddhist Temple Garden but is now resides at the Huntington Library and Gardens.
George - Alice Hirota(78)
A 9" x 12" pencil drawing on sketch paper of husband George for his 90th birthday celebration.
Asian Outlook - Bonnie Nii (87)
Enjoyed making quilts with Japanese fabrics.
Hydrangea flower - Chizuko Fujikawa(75)
Since I was in junior high school, I loved drawing flowers. This watercolor painting is a hydrangea flower in the garden of my house.
Dazzling of Color 1990 - Dr. Robert Yonemoto (99)
It's a decorative object, and I enjoyed making it.
Bluebird - Hiromi Nishimura (104)
I like drawing birds. I learned watercolor painting since I came to Nikkei Senior Gardens.
Knitting Plush Bear - Katsuko Tanaka (91)
Other than making scarfs and blankets, I challenged to make something different this time. The knitting plush bear can move their hands and feet, and hope my grandchildren would like them.
Rabbit - Kay Tashima(98)
I drew "rabbit" during a watercolor painting class at Nikkei Senior Gardens. I like to paint animals.
Sunflower - Kiyoko Hayes (94)
This sunflower watercolor painting is one of my favorites because I like to draw vivid-colored flowers.
Bird - Lois Yagi (97)
This work "Bird" was made during a watercolor painting class at Nikkei Senior Gardens and I enjoyed it. I look forward to the Saturday watercolor painting class.
Time to Relax ~ Go Fishing - NJ Nakamura (65)
Five years ago, I discovered the joys of trout fishing! It is such a relaxing time to "get-away" for peace, relaxation and sometimes the adrenaline rush of catching a trout.
Honu (Turtle) Ukulele - Ralph Ichikawa (84)
Carved on the sound board is the Big Island in place of the hole and the rest of the islands as burnt figures with bird of paradise at the bottom. Side and back made of koa wood and the sound board is spruce.
Through the Mist - Rick Osaka (66)
An aspect of quality is the ability to connect with my surroundings no matter how ordinary and try to make it memorable. I reduced this painting to its core elements: black, white and vertical lines.
Locomotive - Sadao Dairiki (95)
Hobby 3D wodden puzzle. Three months of work.
Kutaniyaki pot and Cymbidium - Satoko Yamamura (91)
This is the watercolor painting of a Kutaniyaki pot that I bought during a trip to Kyushu (a famous spot for pottery) and a flower of Cymbidium that bloomed in the garden.
Peace - Setsuko Hayashi (84)
Batik Silk Mandala
Time flies like an arrow - Tamiko Inoue (93)
Japanese Calligraphy is what I love. I've been doing it ever since I was in Japan. Even after I retired, I enjoy doing it during an activity class at Nikkei Senior Gardens.
african violet - Tamiko Takagi (89)
This african violet is familiar flowers and I enjoyed watercolor painting of flowers with various colors.
My two kittens - Tomoko Uehara (82)
The cats are made of cotton and plastic beads are inside. The cusion is using a japanese fabric called chirimen. These kittens help me feel better when i am struggling or sad. 猫はコットンの生地で中はプラスチックのビーヅで、クッションは日本のちりめんです。悲しい時、苦しい時等慰めてくれるキティ達です。
Peonies - Virginia Suzuki (87)
Quilting summons my creative spirit preserving the tradition but trying new approaches. Designing with colors and forms is an articstic expression which is an antidote to being inundated with the current speed of changes and ideas… thus, aside from being a member of a large community of quilters and a member of CENW, all of the above contribute greatly to my quality of life
Winter - Yoshiko Mitsuhashi (94)
I used a lot of imagination to add details. Enjoyed the process of creativity.
Grasses - Margaret Yukiko Zumwinkle (90)
We are all a part of the calm and comfortable natural world. Acrylic painting on paper.
Untitled - Helen Fukuhara (72) -Braille Institute
Monoprint from cardstock and ink.
Waiting for Friends - Kathy Good (79) -Braille Institute
This mixed media and acrylic on canvas painting depicts a beautiful beach scene with lawn chairs. It represents what contributes to my quality of life: painting, landscapes, and good friends.
Flower Mandala Mosaic - Debbie Hill (69) -Braille Institute
Despite vision loss Debbie Hill remains passionate about mosaic art; to her, quality of life means creating creative crafts. Debbie designed this beautiful springtime flower pattern in soft, neutral tones.
For the love of spring mosaic - Ina Beach (94) -Braille Institute
Ina Beach is incredibly active in her creative life and through physical fitness; to her, quality of life is keeping the mind and body always sharp! She designed this mosaic trivet using heart-shaped tiles to create a beautiful rose pattern.
Landscape with Brilliant Sunset - Bill Brown (79) -Braille Institute
Bill Brown has a background in architecture, and he defines quality of life in many ways including pursuing his creative interests and the natural beauty of local landscapes. This painting is one of many works by Brown and showcases his affinity for brilliant and bold color.
My garden - Nancy Min (75) - Braille Institute
Nancy Min is completely dedicated to her creative pursuits and growing beautiful flowers, including these orchids, in her garden. This artwork marries both passions; Nancy took photos of her orchids, collaged them onto canvas, and added layers of paint and stenciling to make this mixed media piece.
Quality of Life: Cycle of Life - Stephanie Leathers (63) - Braille Institute
Stephanie Leathers has immersed herself in art since childhood. Her collage artwork focuses on the many different stages in the life cycle, highlighting important moments from childhood through late adulthood. She also designed the collage to be a celebration of Japanese culture.
Haiku - Haruko Tsukayama (77) -Sakura Gardens Haiku Club
I am from Michinoku Fukushima prefecture. I can feel the snow and miss Japan!
Haiku - Fujiko Yoshikawa (87) -Sakura Gardens Haiku Club
Looking back at my life up until now, in a flashback I wash them away with water - War, the atomic bomb, and surviving all that. 今まで生きてきた人生、大水で全部流し、戦争、原爆、を生き延びた私全く走馬灯みたいです。
Haiku - Kuniko Une(91) - Sakura Gardens Haiku Club
Every month we have a seasonal term to use. Nappa was one of the terms and remembered about my mother and her cooking. 毎月兼題として季語が出ます。白菜、ということで母を思い出しました。忘れられない味がよみがえりました。
Haiku - Reiko Sasaki(86) - Sakura Gardens Haiku Club
I sat at a bench near the park and saw the movements of the shadow in front of me. The shadows came from the light between the trees, and was moving in an interesting way. 公園のベンチに座り、目の前の影の動きを見ていた。その影は気の間から漏れてくる光から出動きが面白かった。
Haiku - Tomiyo Hatago (82) -Sakura Gardens Haiku Club
It became spring, and around me is filled with new life sprouting. やっと春になり、あたりは新しい命に満ちている。
Inspiration - Paul Imahara(85) - Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club
Joy of life and doing something fun during the pandemic restriction.
Medley 7, 8, 9 - Violet Kuroki(85) - Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - mine! That’s a black “oke.” Most incredible class!
Cone 5 ceramic pieces - Hitoshi Yamada(86) - Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club
Pots made on the potter’s wheel are bowls used for serving food. All of the hand built flower vases of different shapes can be used from different occasions.
My Little Bowls - May Hamada(92) - Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club
Since there was a ceramics class at Sakura Gardens, I chose it.
Molding the clay, wondering what the finished product would look later.
Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club - Fumiya Matsushima(82)
Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club - Kazumi Uyechi (92)
Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club - Satoko Komaki (91)
Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club - Suzuko Alimento(88)
Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club - Tomito Hatago (82)
Sakura Gardens Ceramics Club - Yoshi Komaki (99)