“Illuminations” at SomArts was a spectacular show! I met and worked alongside many wonderful artists and I have to express that the altars were truly amazing. I cannot describe the experience with words, it’s really something that you have to witness for yourself.

A special “Thank You” to Rene and Rio Yanez, the masterminds behind Dia de los Muertos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reception: October 7th, Fri. from 6pm

I am honored to be a part of Dia de los Muertos this October. A tribute to my mother, Yumiko Fujii and her life, the teachings learned and the love I feel for her. She died young, at the age of forty-eight and this year marks the thirtieth year of her passing. Calling in her spirit, her essence will return in an intimate and temporal setting where memories, love and compassion live. I am delighted to have a chance to create this large-scale contemporary altar for her and to work alongside other artists in a community setting creating our altars together. Watch for my interview with Jean Shiffman in SF Arts Monthly.

Sharing my artist’s statement:

I dedicate my installation to my mother, Yumiko Fujii. She arrived in the US with my father when she was twenty-two and spent the rest of her life as a wife, mother and homemaker. My mother suffered from severe depression towards the end of her life and my family was immobilized in helping her. It saddened me that I did not have the kind of mother-daughter relationship that I longed for because of her illness. After she died, I felt angry towards her for many years, for leaving us, my family. However, in 2006, I began to make art around my mother that helped me to heal from her death, which in turn brought out emotions of understanding and loving kindness. Feeling a longing to reconnect, this altar reinforces her absence and presence in my life and my deep love and compassion that I feel for her.

 

 

Hello everyone, time has been flying by and I wanted to share some Sept. news! I am in a Solo show at 2223 Restaurant on Market St. in the Castro, a dynamic venue with a full bar and restaurant. My reception will be on Wed., Sept. 7^th, from 5:30-7pm. Eleven paintings were selected to be on exhibit, I hope you can see the show! It will be up until October 11^th, so there is still time to see it:

McKinley Art Solutions is proud to present ‘KI’, mixed media paintings by Kathy Fujii-Oka. Kathy’s paintings are a combination of acrylic drizzled and dripped on canvas overlaid with silk, chenille and other fine fabrics in order to balance inner strength through Ki flow (energy released through the hands) and femininity.

“My art is an exploration of spirituality and the corporeal, expressions of abstract narratives exposing self through the senses by way of meditative paintings. Heavily influenced by Jackson Pollock and his unique style of drizzling paint, I employ the drip in my paintings. However, I drizzle and drip with swirls and a strong intention; I use it to instill inspiration and healing by way of meditation and reiki energy. Reiki is a Japanese treatment that channels energy through the hands to reduce stress and instill wellness through spirit. It has become a part of my daily practice and is the driving force behind my work.” ~ Kathy Fujii-Oka

“Monsoon”, 40″x30″, Acrylic/Fabric on canvas