The Art of Daily Practice – Opening Reception

Art For Sale, Art Journal, CLUSTER, collaboration, creativity, Exhibition, Gallery, inspiration, Installation, process

Lynann Politte at Vashon Center for the Arts has been a joy to collaborate with on my solo show ~ The Art of Daily Practice. My work this past year has been fueled by a vision of what an exhibit of my journal pages could look like. And now, seeing how it all came together, I have to say reality far exceeded my dream!

So much creative collaboration goes into putting on a “solo” show. Many thanks to Lucky Rabbet Framing for doing such a mega job floating & framing 28 journal pages. Thanks also to Lynann and her mentor Paul Martinez who had their work cut out for them with this installation. The placement of every piece has been carefully considered…and the resulting exhibit looks spectacular!!

Coming up
Artist Talk: The Art of Daily Practice
Vashon Center for the Arts
Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2pm.

Thank you to all who came to the opening!! It was lovely to meet so many people new to my art, and to hear their reflections and see the work through their eyes. I was delighted to see old friends from all chapters of my adult life. And Vashon is home to members of my creative team from my film, A Lot Like You. I spent a lot of time on this island in the 8 years it took to make the film, and it was lovely to reunite with Eric Frith (editor), Pete Droge (composer), Elaine Summers (music supervisor) and Jeff Hoyt (voice over coach).

And finally, my gratitude to event photographer Wade Yip, as well as June Sekiguchi, Eric Frith and VCA gallery, for sharing their reception photos. Feel free to click on any image below and scroll through. Enjoy!

Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA)
#Hashtag (is hidden in the painting.)
Artist Statement
Install shot
Grid of journal pages
Install shot
w/Lynann Politte, VCA Gallery Manager (June Sekiguchi)
w/CLUSTER members Theresa Neinas & June Sekiguchi. (We’re heading to Stockholm in April for a group show!) Photo courtesy of June Sekiguchi
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
w/Eric Frith, my film editor. Photo courtesy of Eric Frith.
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Talking w/Eric, Jeff & Cindy Hoyt. Jeff was my narration coach for my film. Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Photo courtesy of Wade Yip
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
w/Pete Droge, my film composer. Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Talking art & making plans with Ann Leda Shapiro.Photo courtesy of VCA Gallery
Artist & her Grid. Photo courtesy of Wade Yip

 

The Art of Daily Practice (Solo Show & Artist Talk)

Art For Sale, creativity, Exhibition, Gallery, process

In February, I will be exhibiting my latest work at one of my favorite art venues in the Pacific Northwest ~ Vashon Center for the Arts. Together with the gallery manager, Lynann Politte, we came up with a show idea about the ritual of daily practice.


In 2023, I challenged myself to create one small painting every day. I dusted off my smallest sketchbook and let go of any expectations of perfection. My only goal was to show up & play ~ experimenting with materials, color, form and technique. Pretty soon, my journal paintings broke free from covering the whole page, and these bold, colorful forms started to emerge.

This exhibit will include a sampling of my journal pages and some of the larger pieces they inspired.

In my Artist Talk, I will share new research findings about how engaging regularly in a creative practice, regardless of skill level, transforms our brains and bodies. And I will reflect on the most surprising take-aways from my daily writing and painting practice.

Vashon Center for the Arts
19600 Vashon Hwy SW
Vashon, WA 98070
Opening Reception: Fri Feb 2, 5-8pm.
Artist Talk:  Sat Feb 17, 2pm.
Exhibit dates: Feb 2-25
Gallery Hours: Wed-Sun, 12-5pm

Artist Spotlight

Art For Sale, article, creativity, Exhibition, Gallery, process
What fun to answer questions that aren’t solely focused on my art.
Thank you to Columbia City Gallery!!
(See original post HERE).

🤩 Artist Spotlight: Eliaichi Kimaro has been with Columbia City Gallery for 7yrs. Her newest work can be seen in our “Sanctuary” exhibit thru 1/7.
eliaichi kimaro
. . . . . . . . .
Favorite Seattle neighborhood
• Columbia City, Seward Park ~ happy to love where I live.

Favorite Seattle restaurant & menu item
• El Kiosko’s carnitas burritos, Marination’s spicy pork kimchi fried rice, Chucks Hop Shop’s fries, Hey Day’s pesto bacon toast, King Donuts’ chocolate old fashioned.

Favorite Seattle park
• Seward Park

Favorite style of house
• Craftsman

Favorite movie theater
• I love(d) Seattle’s Landmark theaters ~ esp. Harvard Exit, Egyptian, Seven Gables

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
• Octavia Spencer could pull off my blend of funny + earnest.

What’s your go-to comfort food?
• Bibimbap, waffles.

Where’s the coolest place you traveled?
•  Gombe National Park ~ Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee reserve. Met her son, sat in the house she built with her mom in the 70s and talked with her fellow researcher for several hours. And spent whole days observing and walking amongst chimps in the wild.

Favorite karaoke song
• Faithfully, Killing Me Softly, The Jeffersons theme song

What’s your best Halloween costume?
• Morpheus (The Matrix)

Continue reading →

Origin Story – The Offering

Art For Sale, creativity, Exhibition, Gallery, Narrative, Origin story, process, Story, Works In Progress


The Offering (48″x48″): I love pieces that develop in their own time. As these paintings grow with me over months, my challenges, wishes, joys and sorrows get embedded in the layers. The painting becomes a time capsule that captures who I am and how I’m feeling as the piece evolves.

I love some of the color and energy in the earlier versions, but these passages, while pretty, were meaningless. I relish paintings where the struggle leads me to unknown places and pushes me beyond my capabilities. At their best, my paintings feel like an archeological discovery, as if I’m unearthing something that’s always been there. The finished piece is something I never could (or would) set out to paint. So these origin stories remind me of how a painting came to be…

 


June 15, 2023: I am both here and not here…a meditation on impermanence that is resonating with me today. And so I embedded it in the first layer of this 48″x48″ piece.

 


June 18: Starting to build up surface history that I can later work back into. Happy to be working large once again…

 


June 22: Working on large pieces in a small studio makes it hard to stand back and view the painting from a distance. So posting progress pics on Instagram scales down the image, allowing me to troubleshoot compositional problems and figure out where the piece wants to go next…🤓

 


June 25: Very early stages yet, but after a brief TimeOut, we’re starting to listen to each other…

Continue reading →

Upcoming Feature Show

Art For Sale, Exhibition, Gallery

SANCTUARY

Columbia City Gallery
Exhibit runs Nov 15 – Jan 7

Featured Artists: Tina Albro, Patrick Connelly, Carol Berger Hershman,
Eliaichi Kimaro, Leslie Nan Moon,  Rupa Palasmudram

Opening Reception
Sat., November 18
5 – 7pm
Columbia City Gallery
4864 Rainier Ave S., Seattle 98118
Light refreshments will be served.

 

Artist Statement
Since the pandemic, I’ve come to a deeper understanding and appreciation about the role of art in my life. Making art is no longer an ‘if I have time’ matter. It has become as integral to my well-being as my daily writing practice. Art helps me repair and restore the parts of my soul that are beyond the reach of words.

This collection of new works includes examples of loosening up, digging deep, trying new things, and letting go ~ all creative risks I’ve taken this past year in the comfort and safety of my studio.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

Transforming Trauma Into Art

Activism, creativity, family, Film, inspiration, Narrative, Origin story, podcast, press, process, Speaking, Story

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

I was recently a guest on the Future Tripping Podcast, a project of the Trauma Stewardship Institute. The host, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, is an author/activist, an internationally recognized leader in the field of trauma exposure ~ and one of my dearest friends for the past 30+ years! As such, she holds all the pieces of my personal, family, work and creative life. At its core, our conversation reveals the depth and breadth of “making art to better understand my cultural inheritance and legacy,” and shows why art – the creation and maintenance of it – can be an essential act of liberation.💗

Artwork Archive Spotlight Interview

article, creativity, inspiration, Narrative, press, process
What an honor to be selected as Artwork Archive‘s Featured Artist of the week!!
Artwork Archive has streamlined all my business needs ~ tracking inventory and sales, invoicing, managing my art portfolio and client list, etc. Less time doing admin work means more time creating in the studio.
.
In this conversation with Paige Simianer, I had the opportunity to reflect on exploring identity and legacy through my art practice…⭐️

Art Magazine Article

Activism, article, creativity, Exhibition, inspiration, Narrative, Origin story, press, Print, process, Story

I am delighted to be featured in the Summer issue of PublicDisplay.ART ~ Seattle’s only community-supported, arts-focused publication. What an honor to be in the company of so many artists I admire. And it’s the first time my art & story has been featured in print media!

If you’re in Seattle, you can find the magazine at 600+ local retailers, restaurants, cafes, galleries, bars and libraries around town. Or if you prefer, you can view the issue online here (I’m on pg 26-27).

PublicDisplay.ART is published by OneReel, the same organization that produces NW Folklife and Bumbershoot (among many other cultural events/projects year round).

 

 

Scanning the Room

Activism, Art For Sale, collaboration, creativity, Exhibition, Gallery
I’m honored to be a participating artist in “Scanning the Room” at Vashon Center for the Arts (May 5-28). This invitational exhibit, co-curated by June Sekiguchi and Lynann Politte, presents works from 20 Asian American Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander (AANHPI) artists that speak to identity, politics, or experience of how AANHPI artists view their place in predominantly white spaces.
.
.
You can take a 3D tour of the exhibit HERE.
.
And here’s a short reel of our opening night. Thanks to all who came out!! It feels wonderful to be back in spaces where we can gather, discuss, and celebrate the arts!
.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by eliaichi kimaro (@elikimaro)