 BACKGROUND
From early childhood in Japan, I was immersed in the creative field. I grew up with a father who was always at the drawing board designing light fixtures and furniture. When he was young, he wanted to become a fine artist-a painter, but was not allowed to pursue his dream because he was the only son. So he passed his dream to me.
At my elementary school, I met a young, passionate and determined artist/teacher, Toshiyuki Tanaka, who eventually became one of the most prominent contemporary painters in Japan. He taught me fine art both at school and at his studio. I recall my enjoyment just being with him and listening to his dream of becoming a great artist. His passion and determination influenced me more than his techniques of drawing, painting and sculpting.
I belonged to the drama group at NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) working professionally as a child actor from 8 to 15 years old. I was trained not to be afraid to express my emotions in loife and how to concentrate at an instant. This power of concentration has helped tremendously in the process of my creation.
At age 19, I decided to leave my family and become independent and came to the United States to study art. I first studied at Los Angeles City College and was greatly influenced by art instructor Nina George, and by my marriage to writing student, Gina Valdes. I continued studying fine art at the Otis Art Institute where, in 1969, I received an M.F.A. degree.
For several years after graduation, I participated in numerous art experiment, gallery exhibitions, and art happenings. But I slowly moved away from fine art to commercial art—from a Bohemian lifestyle to owning my own business and a more materialistic life.
At the age of 50, I looked deeply into myself and saw the emptiness that stemmed from my disconnection of myself from my talent and vision. I decided to return home, to the house of fine art, to once again experiment, create, draw, paint... to express myself in the way closest to my heart. At this turning point, I saw clearly that to stay with my work, I needed to pay attention to, and focus on, my own creative needs and vision—regardless of outside criteria. I saw that what I needed was to express on canvas who I am and what I care about.
 I tried to recapture and develop my vision and searched for images to express it. I rediscovered my most deeply felt experience... the excitement, power and joy of my daughter's birth. That experience connected me to the palpable and mysterious act of creation and to the spiritual force behind all creation—behind all living things. At the time of her birth, I was completing my M.F.A. thesis and my theme was Birth—The reproduction of living things.
The birth process of my daughter through her mother made me acutely aware of life's paradoxes—among them, joy/pain, strength/fragility and clarity/mystery.
This new awareness of the creative force took me back to my childhood and I recaptured that early wonder I felt when I beheld the many manifestations of nature.
For over four and a half years, since the beginning of 1992, I have been immersed once again in the world of fine art—experimenting, creating and developing. And as I do this, I am also reclaiming my cultural strengths—awe of nature, sensitivity to beauty, awareness of the ying/yang principle of life.
I am allowing these cultural sensitivities to flow from my heart and from my hara, to spill and create new forms on paper and canvas.
From the book “Power of Spirit”, 1996.
EDUCATION
|
1941
1961
1964
1967
1969
1971 |
Born
in Tokyo, Japan
Came
to the United States as a foreign student
AA,
Los Angeles City College
Selected
to Who’s Who among students in American University and
Colleges
MFA,
Otis Art Institute
Became
a U.S. citizen |
SOLO
EXHIBITIONS
|
|
Image
#186
Pen on paper
21" x 24" |
|
2005 |
March:
“Life in Ocean”
825 Art Gallery
Denver, Colorado
|
| 2001 |
“Joy
of Life”
Don O’Melveny Gallery
West Hollywood, California
|
| 2000 |
“Garden
of Spirit”
Don
O’Melveny Gallery
West Hollywood, California
|
| 1998 |
“Power
of Spirit II”
Art Bank Gallery
Los Angeles, California
|
| 1996 |
“Power
of Spirit I”
Doizaki Gallery
Los Angeles, California |
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| 2007 |
International Art Exhibition
Pyong Taek Art Museum
Pyong Taek, Korea
27th International "Peace" Exhibition
Nagasaki Art Museum
Nagasaki, Japan
16th International Art Festival
Modern Art Museum of Armenia
Yeveran, Armenia
|
| 2006 |
15th International Art Festival
Doizaki Gallery, Asto Museum of Art, Modern Art Gallery
Los Angeles, California
27th International "Peace" Exhibition
Nagasaki Art Museum
Nagasaki, Japan
|
| 2005
2004
|
 |
Messenger
of Fate
Mixed Media on Plywood
37" x 49" |
International Art Exhibition
Museum of Art
Bangkok,
Thailand
26th International “Peace” Exhibition
Nagasaki
Art Museum
Nagasaki,
Japan
3rd Annual Art Exhibition
Asto Museum of Art
Los Angeles, Califonia
International Art Exhibition
Museo del Puerto
Ensanada, Mexico
Two
Men Exhibition
825
Art Gallery
Denver,
Colorado
International
Art Festival
Pyong
Tack Art Museum
Pyong
Tack, Korea
25th International “Peace” Exhibition
Nagasaki
Art Museum
Nagasaki,
Japan
2nd
LELA Exhibition
Modern
Art Gallery
Los
Angeles, California
|
| 2003 |
Lantern
of the East Art Exhibition
Pyong
Tack Art Museum
Pyong
Tack, Korea
LELA
Inaugural Exhibition
Modern
Art Museum
Los
Angeles, California
|
| 2002 |
International Art Exhibition
Forest
Lawn Art Museum
Glendale, California
International Art Exhibition
Angel Gate Gallery
Los Angeles, California
10th
International Art Festival
Doizaki Gallery
Los Angeles, California
|
| 2001 |
International “Peace” Exhibition
Nagasaki Art Museum
Nagasaki, Japan
|
| 2000 |
Millennium
Art Exhibition
Modern Art Gallery
Los
Angeles, California
The
8th International Art Festival
Pyong
Tack Museum, Korea
On
and of Paper
Angels
Gate Cultural Center
San
Pedro, California
|
| 1999
1998
|
 |
Agony
and Ecstacy, 2001
Mixed Media on Canvas
48" x 68" |
Modern
Art Gallery
Los
Angeles, California
Invitational
International Art Exhibition
Pyong
Tack Museum
Pyong
Tack, Korea
Gallery
and Studio
San
Pedro, California
Sunyata
Gallery
San
Pedro, California
20th “Peace” Exhibition
Nagasaki
Museum
Nagasaki,
Japan
Inaugural
Exhibition by 4 Artists
Don
O’Melveny Gallery
West Hollywood, California
Three
Man Exhibition
LA
Artcore Brewery Annex
Los
Angeles, California
|
|
