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

Dancing Skeletons

Chloe Rose, Artist

Victor Mario Zabella

Kathy Fujii-Oka

Rene and Rio Yanez

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.

Painting my mother's slippers

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.

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

Here is what AAWAA said, “A PLACE OF HER OWN” broke records for artistic achievement, attendance, press, community interaction. Thanks to the passionately driven artists, Jen and Vinay at APICC, Karen Larsen and Ani Klose, the wonderful techs SOMarts, Cris Matos and Matt McKinley and the list goes on, sign our mailing list for more via AAWAA’s website www.aawaa.net

Lenore Chinn, Flo Oy Wong, Vinay Patel, Kathy Fujii-Oka, Pallavi Sharma

Cynthia Tom and Bob Hsiang, Photographer

Nancy Hom and Nichole

Kelsay Meyers - Literary Reading

Panel Discussion with Choppy Oshiro, Vivian Truong, Elizabeth Travelslight, Pallavi Sharma and moderator Kimi Taira

Judy Shintani and Elizabeth Benson in Vivian Truong's bath tub

A conversation with artist, Lucien Kubo - inside, "My Healing Room" Installation

AAWAA Group Photo

Last May, in 2010, I was struck by a truck while crossing the street in Hayes Valley. When the vehicle hit me, it felt as if a part of me died and my spirit exited my body. The pain was intense, the healing was slow and a strong desire to re-evaluate my life was taking shape. I felt a yearning to ground back into my body, meditation was difficult due to lack of focus, but reiki was my best friend. I needed an outlet and I turned to painting and the Japanese healing art of reiki through the chakras to maintain my being. As time passed and my spirit returned, healing and magical things started to take place in my life, giving me the courage and strength to leave an unhealthy marriage and make my permanent move to San Francisco.

I reflect on this experience, my bad accident, as the jumping off point to making huge changes in my life. Through the support of friends and family, and many friends that I made through AAWAA, I began to feel stronger. Just having a friend to talk to, to share with and to hear other women share their stories, I no longer felt alone. I felt the sisterhood. I believe that my accident and all the unnerving distractions that followed were all meant to happen so that I could take action for myself to start fresh. Living here is San Francisco has not been an easy transition, but I am grateful to be here.

This installation that I propose will take me to a place within the confines of my mind from the collision of impact, where in an instant my world stopped and stood still, frozen in time and space. I will recreate my vision in a room where I will attempt to reveal my story in a three dimensional, abstract format, capturing the moment of the blow from the accident.

My choice of materials will be paintings, with sculptures and capillaries made of raffia and textiles. I will focus on the corporal, with abstract paintings hanging on the walls and streams of capillaries running along the walls and through the paintings along with capillary sculptures. I will include Grove St. and my taped off body lying on the ground. On the main/front wall, I will create a huge web, a mass of vessels encapsulating the woman/painting, trapped in time. The webbing will symbolize the sacral and gold chakra.

I have been on a path of investigating and integrating chakra healing in my work and selected three main chakras colors that will be prevalent in my piece. The chakras are energy centers in ones body that run along the spine, there are seven total, but I will address only three, the root, the sacral and the crown chakra. The root chakra is the first chakra, red or blood red and denotes family, survival, and shelter and is located at the root of the spine. The sacral chakra is located in the stomach area, is orange in color and is the second chakra that embodies key issues such as relationships, addictions, violence, emotional needs, and desire. Additionally, it governs creativity, spirituality and joy on a mental level. The gold chakra is the crown chakra and is the 7^th chakra at the top of one’s head that represents inner wisdom and the death of the body. This chakra concept is threaded throughout my installation piece and I intuitively incorporate it into my studies in an effort to integrate holistic health, balance and well being into my daily practice and life.

I envision my community project to be an invitation into my space for women to dialog about issues in their life either one on one or in a group setting to discuss alternative holistic ways to invite healing. I would also like to offer mini reiki sessions for those interested.

Creating this piece amongst my fellow AAWAA artists would be empowering and solidify my womanhood and desire to continue on my path to make meaningful art. I appreciate being offered a platform in which to present my story with new work that confronts and encourages one’s thoughts in a secure and professional setting.

Juggling a lot of new art concepts right now, my main goal is to come up with an installation project integrating found objects and textiles. I do not have anything concrete yet, but will keep you posted.

I have some new paintings in progress having to do with the torso, corporal paintings exemplifying internal disorder and imminent challenges. I call this new series, “Torsoed”, my goal is make to two more paintings (large scale) and then let time lapse in between until the inspiration for the next set develops. I feel that these works will be an ongoing series far into the future.

This is the first of the Torsoed series:
Alteration 2010
64″x50″
Acrylic

I am also pleased to announce that I will be in a group show at UCSF Women’s Health, Center, on Sutter St. in San Francisco, curated by Matt McKinley. I will have some new textile paintings on exhibit and the show will be up for three months with the reception on Wed., Jan. 26th. Please check my News page for details.

Revealed #1

I felt very pleased to be selected to exhibit in USF’s “Yearning to Breath Free” exhibit on Domestic Violence earlier this year, but I was even more surprised that they selected one of my pieces, Revealed #1, to be featured in the USF Lawyer magazine (back cover Gallery section) that is distributed to their alumni audience, students, and colleagues.. It is wonderful that USF’s exhibit supported La Casa de las Madres and I am very happy that I was able to be a part of it.

This article was written by Carolyn, of the law communications office at the USF School of Law.

Therapeutic Art

Kathy Fujii-Oka’s piece “Revealed #1” is part of her mixed media and sculpture “Altar Series” that was featured in the USF School of Law Sixth Annual Creative Justice Art Show in February. This year’s show, “Yearning to Breathe Free,” sought to raise awareness about domestic violence and highlight challenges faced by immigrant victims. Event proceeds were donated to La Casa de las Madres, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children.

Fujii-Oka, a victim of domestic violence, says that her art evolves on a parallel path with the healing and acceptance of the experiences. In her series, she explores the act of submission and the influences of culture and marital relations. Her pieces are infused with Chinese Joss paper, fabrics, and pictures.

Born in Berkeley and raised in the Bay Area, Fujii-Oka began painting at a young age. She graduated cum laude from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in studio practice. Her work focuses on her spiritual and cultural identity as a Japanese American woman and artist.

]]> http://www.kfostudio.com/blog/2010/05/usf-lawyer-magazine-review/feed/ 3 http://www.kfostudio.com/blog/2010/05/honoring-my-father/ http://www.kfostudio.com/blog/2010/05/honoring-my-father/#comments Sun, 23 May 2010 18:29:29 +0000 admin http://www.kfostudio.com/blog/?p=141

Nursery View 1

I am honored to be part of  an an exhibit at SomArts in San Francisco, presented by APICC (the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center). The show runs for one more week and closes on May 29.

Re-Claim presents the work of Mark Baugh-Sasaki, Kathy Fujii-Oka, Su-Chen Hung, Christina Mazza, Judy Shintani and Truong Tran in a critical investigation into the discarded objects of the everyday or what gets left behind and the redemptive process that renders an object “fundamentally new.” How does detritus reveal the imprint of its locality and the residue of human lives? This exhibition locates the self in poetic, imaginary as well as ecological modes and gives voice to moments personal and historical by re-framing the present. In a time of frugality and perceived scarcity- the impetus that nothing shall be discarded also includes stories, history, memory and ultimately, our deep interconnections. All of the artists are creating new pieces for the exhibit.

In my installation, I honor my father and his life; Takuma Fujii, a nurseryman and the founder and owner of Asahi Nursery in Richmond, California. He is eighty-two years old now and retired, but he left behind a legacy that was part of our family for many years. Yet I wanted to tell this story of my dad and his life because of the love and admiration I have for him. Since childhood, I saw my dad and the nursery as one and he and the nursery became the rock of my being, my foundation. It is where I learned lessons of life amidst the beautiful flowers that were born and nurtured there.

Rusted Wheelbarrow

What sparked the idea to create this installation was an event that took place back in February of this year. My father had major surgery and subsequently experienced some complications and my family and I were concerned for his life.I began to make weekly visits to my parent’s home after the surgery in an attempt to help my dad heal by giving him Reiki, which is a Japanese form of transferring healing energy. Their home sits on a property where the nursery once resided and each week I would pass by peering out my window and witness the remains of his business, feeling a touch of sorrow within.

The thought of losing my father combined with the loss of the nursery was a bit much to bear. It wasn’t long after, that I realized I had been guided down this path through spirit to honor my father and all that he stood for. My work is spiritual in nature and I feel that I was called upon at that moment to present this story.

Since this project began, I embarked on a new journey, a soulful expedition in time and family history. My objects record the past, what once was; encrusted surfaces, unearthing fragments of the day to day and collecting and rummaging through the debris. The found artifacts that were recovered suddenly became highly prized and of extreme significance to me. The beautiful flowers replaced by dirt and rubble, they became symbols for my life as they revealed untold stories.

Decaying Wooden Laddar

Once all the artifacts were collected and safely brought home, my husband, Preston and I stored them in our garage. I knew that I wanted to tell my story through these objects, but everything was in large piles and scraps. I needed to create some sense of order out of all of the chaos that was recovered and felt quite overwhelmed by it all. But once I began creating artworks, the ideas began to flow.

I also feel fortunate to have had the support of my dear friend and mentor, Ester Hernandez and my husband, Preston for guidance. From the point of conception, Ester and I discussed this endeavor and she supported and guided me through the process. In addition, my husband, Preston assisted me in gathering and transporting the artifacts, as well as installing them here at the gallery using his creative woodworking skills. I am deeply grateful for all their support.

Burial site with Yumiko's Spirit

This installation is an homage to my father and the memories of his nursery are revisited. I offer this special gift of remembrance through my art while he is still on this earth. At times the process I went through felt enormous, emotional and spiritual, but most importantly, it was exciting and I am so glad I did it.

Re-Claim reception at SomArts, May 6th

I have been working hard at my reiki practice on a daily basis; I just received my second attunement from Reiki Master, Mia Runanin, www.miarunanin.com about a week ago. She has a beautiful office in Marin and also sees clients in SF. Mia and I spent the afternoon wrapped up in the study of reiki, it was a wonderful day! Reiki is spiritual in nature and helps to harmonize the body, mind and spirit by tapping into and channeling the “universal life force energy”. The process is relaxing and healing in nature and helps to balance the chi, which in return keeps my art practice flowing.

My Meditation Garden

Being cooped up in my studio for weeks, I found myself in need of some female bonding. I seeked out my confidants and enjoyed some nights out with my girlfriends, sipping wine, laughing, indulging and dining the night away.  I wish life was always this good! Thank you Ladies, it was fun!

Sending Pink Chi