A love story: I am a Japanese-American assistant professor in French history who paints and draws in her spare time. I started my affair with colors, shapes and images at the age of two, when my mother introduced me to cray-pas and newsprint paper. Mother is gone, but the love affair continues on: three decades, three continents, and countless adventures. Thank you, okasan!!
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STUDIOKASAN ART BENEFIT FOR JAPAN WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!!
After three benefits in Syracuse, NY and Charlotte, NC my dad Ken Takeda visited Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki Japan, to hand off the proceeds from all three shows!! These funds will be used for basic school supplies, rebuilding Okawa’s cafeteria, and funding their school programs and activities.
The Old Okawa School was completely destroyed by the tsunami, so the survivors are temporarily renting out some space in a different facility to conduct class. My dad visited the headmaster and assistant headmaster at the new location (photo one) and then they visited the old school, where there is now a shrine and memorial constructed in honor of the victims (photo 2).
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UPCOMING EVENT! SAVE THE DATE!
What: Holiday Pop-Up Shop and Art Benefit!
When: Saturday December 10th, 2011, 10am-1pm, 5pm-9pm
Where: Liza’s Studio, 6503 Sharon Hills Road, Charlotte, NC
Join me and Liza Cox for another Benefit for Japan! Buy art, for yourself, or for a holiday gift, and help the children of Ishinomaki, Japan! Oil paintings, acrylics, prints, origami, kirigami, embroidery, jewelry, cards, and much much more!! Featuring Liza Cox’s photography, Junko Takeda’s art, and Emily Bender’s prints!
Proceeds from this art collection sale are going to Okawa Elementary School in Sendai City, Ishinomaki County, Japan. The school by the sea was decimated by the earthquake-tsunami of March 2011. Of its 108 enrolled students, 74 were killed, along with 11 teachers. Many of the 34 surviving students are injured, orphaned or homeless.
My father Kenichi Takeda and his friend, the editor-in-chief of the Kobe Shinbun (newspaper), Mr. Kajiyama, are trying to raising awareness and collecting support for this school. A school headmaster and teacher himself, my father is working together with his own students and alumni to do the little we can to help Okawa’s staff, teachers and children rebuild their lives. In December 2011, dad will travel to Sendai, Japan. He will present the Okawa headmaster the proceeds from this art show.
If you are interested in the art collection and would like to reserve/hold a piece, please email me at jtakeda@syr.edu or takedajt@aol.com I ship across the United States!
Thank you so much for being a part of this effort!!
Junko
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Related links:
Short video of Okawa Survivors
A Scottish school-teacher in Japan gives an eye-witness account of school devastation
In the aftermath of the earthquake/tsunami
New school year begins in Sendai, despite destruction
My father, Kenichi Takeda, is director and teacher at Sharon Montessori Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina (www.sharonmontessori.org). His elementary school children and families surprised him one Saturday morning with flowers, banner, and lots of love upon hearing of his impending trip to Japan, and of news of his friends’ disappearance.
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2010 Season
Some of my abstract pieces are on display at Craft Chemistry Shop and Gallery, 745 North Salina Street Syracuse, NY 13208. It’s a great, fun, and funky consignment based shop that sells local art and crafts in the heart of Little Italy in Syracuse!! Go check it out, or contact owner, Briana Fischer Kohlbrenner at bre@thisbluehippo.com (http://www.craftchemistry.com)
I am also preparing my second art show in Syracuse, to be held on Saturday May 22, 2010. This will be a very special day that will commemorate my mother, and her dedication to art and her family.
In the meantime, I am posting photos of the paintings for the May show collection as I complete them. They are organized into pages (see columns to the side for all of my current and previous work).
This season’s collection (when completed) will include:
Paris, je t’aime (inspired from my most recent stay in Paris)
Nymphaea (a series of water lilies)
Fado Saudade (inspired from my travels in Portugal)
Appassionata (my abstractions)
Something Borrowed Something Blue (continuation of a series from last year)
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2009 SEASON
I had six series of paintings showcased in 2009:
Before the Change (BC)
Ikebana
Pain and Pleasure
Something Borrowed Something Blue
Southern Magnolia
Water Water Everywhere
… and Red, an encore set.
I hope you enjoy!
