Pericich, Eve

Yukata Festival, 2021
Rice paper, printed paper, Japanese fabric, twigs, ink and pencil
24 × 36 x  1.5 inches
About the Art:
"Yukata Festival" is my interpretation of the importance of the traditional Japanese loose cotton summer robe and the festivals it has inspired.

Boro Girl, 2021
Old faded Japanese fabric, denim, embroidery thread, plastic, ink
20 × 20 x  3/4 inches
About the Art:
"My first attempt at Japanese boro mending and simple sashiko stitching features a modern girl who has embraced an old technique as a new fashion."

Kadriye, 2015
Acrylic collage with photo images, lace, braid trim, jewelry
24 × 36 x  3/4 inches
About the Art:
"Kadriye is a portrait of a singer in Zhena Folk Chorus in San Pedro. She is Albanian from Kosovo dressed in traditional Bulgarian costume."

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Sasaki, Lillian

I, Lillian Kato Sasaki, live in Costa Mesa, California. I’ve taken classes since 2016. My first love is watercolor painting, then mixed media and collage. I have focused on landscape and still life, but have used my Japanese heritage in my work. Cultural heritage lies in the importance of remembering our Issei and Nisei legacy. We owe a debt of gratitude towards our ancestors and all the sacrifices they made for us. Beautiful is made with watercolor, India ink, and collage. It’s inspired by my mother Sakaye Suzie Kato who epitomized our Japanese heritage. The title refers to both her appearance and character and is symbolized by the large Japanese kanji. Faded Glory is also created with watercolor, India ink, and collage. Paying homage to my grandparents Taikichi and Ume Kato, the title refers to the flag’s appearance and for the distressing chapter of internment in American history. The chain of images ends with the article about the tragic accidental death of my grandfather in camp; the kanji, or Japanese characters, symbolize “peace” and “beauty”, included to imply irony.

Faded Glory, 2019
Watercolor, India Ink, Collage
13 × 18.5 inches
About the Art:
"This work pays homage to my grandparents, Taikichi and Umekato, imprisoned at Poston Concentration Camp."

Beautiful, 2020
Watercolor, India Ink, Collage
13 × 18.5 inches
About the Art:
"Inspiration for this work is my brother, Sakaye Suzie Kato."

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Takamori, Alvin

About the Artist:
Alvin Takamori was born in Los Angeles in 1961 and grew up in Gardena, California. After studying industrial design at CSU Long Beach, he worked at Stacy Dukes Design where he built and installed custom signage and displays. In the mid 90’s, as computer graphics developed, he began a career as a graphic designer.

In 2014, at the suggestion of Mary Hatsuko Higuchi and Donald Hata, he attended the Henry Fukuhara Painting Workshop in the Eastern Sierras and rediscovered his love of painting. It was the first time he had painted creatively in about 27 years. Since then, he has continued painting with watercolors and acrylics. He joined the South Bay Watercolor Society (SBWS), the National Watercolor Society (NWS), and the Torrance Artists Guild (TAG). In 2018, one of his paintings won, “Best of Show” at the SBWS Annual Show.

Currently, Alvin serves as Recording Secretary for the SBWS, and newsletter editor for the TAG. He was also inspired to help organize the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute Art Show, where he serves as a Board member.

Sobo on Her 100th Birthday, 2019
Watercolor
10.5 × 13.5 inches

Hideyuki Takamori, 1982
Charcoal
16 × 22 inches

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Ushiro, Edwin

My Name is Edwin Ushiro. I am born and raised on the island of Maui and now reside in Gardena, California. My artwork uses a combination of traditional and digital techniques labored onto reclaimed Plexiglas or Lucite. The artwork I produce tend to focus on my childhood summers that would never end and the obake (or ghost) stories shared during the evening at family gatherings in Hawaii. By using techniques that bind tradition and modern day technology , my work strives to reconnect the living to the past. Through these obake stories, I hope viewers will use it as a gateway to learn more about our historical past. As a Japanese American from Hawaii who now resides in Gardena, I am looking to connect with other Hawaii locals that planted their roots in the mainland. The flowers in this painting are what we consider tropical flowers but are actually not native to the islands. They are the result of the many cultures that came to Hawaii in search fo a better future. It also highlights the negotiations that took place in order to survive harmoniously in a remote location. this painting is included with other paintings I did for the “POW! WOW!

​The First Decade: From Hawaiʻi to the World “ exhibition currently on view at the Bishop Museum on Oahu. The exhibition continues until September 19, 2021. So I would like to encourage anyone that is able to attend the show to check it out before it closes. ​

The Lokelani, 2021
​Mixed media on vinyl mounted onto a cradled wooden panel
24 x 24 inches
About the Art:
Currently on view at Bishop Museum