Born in Tokyo, Japan, I graduated from an American High School and came to Atlanta in 1972. I received a BFA in Ceramics from Georgia State University in Atlanta and later studied oil painting, fiber art and silk dye painting and currently teach silk dye painting in the Metro Atlanta area along with handbuilding clay.
Having lived in Japan for 21 years and having a Japanese mother, my work is highly influenced by Japanese culture and esthetics. What I most want to depict is the sense of calm and serenity found in Japanese temples and traditions, such as, the tea ceremony but the energy and openness of the American culture moves in making a statement with color and movement.
I like depicting movement, usually spiral in design, that constant change we experience daily making each of us aware that nothing is stagnant or still.
I love using the wabi-sabi colors I was surrounded with in Japan. However, my "American influences" bring out bright colors and playfulness in my work. At times I'm contemplative, and at times playful. Hopefully I bring out the best of the two cultures.