wind blowing upriver
one of the ripples
becomes an otter
“wind blowing upriver” depicts the Trinity River. It is 11x14, made from Japanese washi papers and book pages. These were painted, torn, and glued on a cradled birch panel, then embellished with charcoal and pencil.
Long, long ago, in February 2020, I flew to Tucson for an inspiring three-day workshop called “Wabi Sabi: The Spirit of Collage,” with artist Donna Watson.
Of course, the world shut down a month later—and as a result, my regular Makino Studios business dropped off significantly. I used the unexpected free time to pivot from the watercolor painting I had been doing for a decade to explore collage-making. (See A silver lining amid the pandemic.)
Fast forward two and a half years, and I am excited to present the first show of my new collage work, opening this Saturday, September 3!
Humboldt friends, I’d love to see you at the opening. It takes place at Just My Type in Old Town Eureka from 6 to 9 p.m. during Arts Alive. For those who can’t come in person, I will post my new work in my Makino Studios online gallery this Saturday for a virtual opening.
Called “Torn Together,” the show will feature thirty Asian-inspired collages, including several brand-new ones made during my two river retreats this summer. Northern California landscapes and animals are a major theme.
The pieces are made from painted and embellished paper that I then tear, glue and mount onto cradled birch panels. The papers, which start out white, include Japanese washi papers, old letters, book pages, and maps. On a nearby placard, an original haiku will accompany each piece.
Just My Type Letterpress Paperie is located at 235 F Street near 3rd Street in Old Town Eureka. Masks are strongly encouraged.
This solo show runs through September. It is made possible in part by a grant from the Ink People’s Funds for Artists’ Resilience.
The haiku “wind blowing upriver” was first published in Kingfisher, Issue 2, December 2020
Process shots: I paint and assemble potential papers, then tear and glue the pieces.
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Makino Studios News
North Country Fair: I am really looking forward to my first big fair since 2019! The North Country Fair takes place on the Arcata Plaza the weekend of Sept. 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Makino Studios booth will once again be located on G Street near Moore’s Sleep World. I’ll have my brand-new 2023 mini-calendars and ten new card designs on hand! This is the only in-person fair I plan to do for the rest of this year.
2023 calendars: For the tenth year in a row, I have created a mini-calendar of art and haiku—and this might be my best yet! Featuring natural scenes and original words, the calendar is currently being printed and should be available on this site and in local stores in mid-September.
New card designs: There are also ten new card designs at the press, expected back in time for the North Country Fair and soon to be listed on the Makino Studios site.
Obon Festival: Humboldt’s first Obon Festival took place on Aug. 14, and it was a dynamic gathering of our community as well as a chance to honor our ancestors. Taiko drummers, bon odori dancing, bento boxes, games for kids and arts and crafts booths like mine—what fun! Many thanks to Humboldt Asian Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) for organizing it.