Participating Artists & Press Release

Toshi Asai
Etsuko Ichikawa
Elizabeth Jameson
Yumiko Kayukawa
Rumi Koshino
Natsue Makino
Yuki Nakamura
Maki Tamura
Junichi Tsuneoka
Junko Yamamoto

PRESS RELEASE

May 12 - June 6, 2011 6-9 pm

Joe Bar Café 810 E. Roy St. Seattle, WA 98102

When we first heard the news of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11^th Toshi and I were glued to the news. Toshi immediately went into action and helped galvanize the incredibly passionate and large group of Japanese artists in and around Seattle. Having a solo show coming up at the Joe Bar, where we both curate, she decided instead to get a quality group of artists together to show their work and donate 100% of the money towards Peacewinds.

Peacewinds is a local and Japanese non-profit that focuses on disaster preparedness, response and recovery solutions. Their latest response has been to focus on the ground needs specific to the communities affected, including supplying blankets, sanitary and cooking supplies and building a bath house. We are very excited to be partnered with them. We have also created a limited edition T-shirt for the Joe Bar where 100% of the proceeds will go toward the recovery effort. Often during natural disasters the focus and fundraising effort is concentrated on the first few weeks after the event. Support tends to fall off after a period of about a month. We are hoping to help continue the fund raising effort as well as spotlight many of the fantastic artists from Japan who live and work in our area. There is a wide variety of work created, from exquisite ceramics to drawings made with molten glass. We are so proud to have a fantastic group of Japanese artists showing on the walls of Joe Bar. We hope you can join us Thursday May 12 for a night of celebration of these artists, their country and help with the continued fund-raising efforts.

Thank you, Ben Beres and Toshi Asai

3月11日に発生した東日本大震災により、亡くなられた方々のご冥福をお祈り申し上げますとともに、被災された皆様、そのご家族の方々に対しまして心からお見舞いを申しあげます。被災地の一日も早い復旧・復興を心よりお祈り申し上げます。