Made with a vintage Japanese letter and stamps, plus Asian washi papers, acrylic paint, glue, charcoal, and pen and ink on cradled wood panel, the playful cat shown here is part of the upcoming 2027 calendar. It will also be available as a card reading, “hello friend.” And it’s now available as a custom print with no English words, printed to order. © Annette Makino 2027
Well, I’ve finally caught up to my tail long enough to share some exciting news: I’m expecting triplets! Not literally, thank God. At my age, that would be a medical marvel. But I have been working away on three creative projects, and coincidentally, they are all due to come out in early October.
Yung Stands Strong Children’s Book
The biggest project is the children’s book I’ve authored about the expulsion of the Chinese population from Eureka in 1885. More than a year in gestation, Yung Stands Strong: A Story of Expulsion and Resilience is now being printed at Bug Press here in Arcata, CA. I’m excited for the world to meet nine-year old Yung, a real girl who lived in Eureka, and her tuxedo cat Miu Miu, whom I dreamt into being.
This 50-page book is very much a group project, conceived and led by Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) and illustrated by Japanese artist Yukari Mishima. Following the story, there is a fascinating section on the history of Eureka’s Chinatown that was researched and written by HAPI members and local historians.
We are launching the book on Sunday, October 11 at the grand opening of the gorgeous new Eureka Chinatown monument in Old Town Eureka. The monument and book, partly funded by a grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy, aim to spread awareness of this dark chapter in our history so that we can learn from it.
2027 Makino Studios Calendar
My second “baby” is the 2027 Makino Studios calendar of art and haiku. The results of a year of artmaking, the calendar includes landscapes of redwoods, rivers and beaches, and an array of animals including a purple Roosevelt elk. As ever, each mixed media collage includes an original haiku.
As I said in a recent story about my calendar tradition in the Mad River Union, “It’s really meaningful for me to be able to share my art and words with the community and hopefully bring a bit of joy and insight and peace to people through their year.”
Special thanks to the 35 people who helped me decide which 12 designs to include and which to put on the cover. It was a wide-open field, with each of the 15 prospective designs getting at least one vote for the cover and one vote to be cut. In the end, the last image to be cut was decided by just one voter. Quite the cliffhanger! (But unlike the upcoming midterm elections, the stakes were very small.)
Fall Card Collection
The third of my triplets is a new greeting card collection, which went to press yesterday. Though it’s not easy after 15 years of designing cards, I enjoy the challenge of coming up with original words for each image that go beyond a generic “happy birthday” or “deepest sympathies.”
Sometimes I hit it: my top seller remains a 2017 birthday card reading, “in redwood years, you’re still a seedling.” And sometimes I miss: apparently few others appreciate the dark humor of “cheers to another year of staying above ground!”
Anyhow, over a couple weeks of brainstorming and head-scratching, I wrote words for eight of the new collages, plus updated words for an older piece. I’m in suspense to see how these do!
So October will be a big month here in the back woods. With all three projects at the printers now, I can take a deep Lamaze breath and shout, “Start the presses!”
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Makino Studios News
Annette Makino holds a proof copy of Yung Stands Strong: A Story of Expulsion and Resilience, illustrated by Yukari Mishima, with historical background written by Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI).
Art Attitudes radio show: Host Wendy Butler will interview Amy Uyeki, Sue Lee Mossman and myself about the Chinatown monument and book. We’ll be live on Humboldt Hot Air, KHHA 94.7 FM, on Sunday, September 27, 10 to 11 a.m. The show can also be streamed online.
Chinatown monument grand opening and book launch: On Sunday, October 11 from 1 to 4 p.m., come celebrate the grand opening of the Eureka Chinatown Monument, located at First and E Streets in Eureka, CA. The event will include lion dancers, taiko drumming, Asian food trucks, and dance and song performances by Hmong, Lao, and Eureka High School K-Pop groups. Yung Stands Strong will be launched at the grand opening.
Book reading at Los Bagels: Along with members of the HAPI book team, I’ll be reading and discussing Yung Stands Strong at Los Bagels, 403 Second Street in Eureka, CA on Saturday, October 17 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available and a tour of the monument, around the corner from Los Bagels, will follow for those interested. For a free tour of historic Chinatown, meet in front of the Clarke Museum at 2 p.m. that day.
In Bashō’s Footsteps: The annual Seabeck Haiku Getaway takes place in Seabeck, WA October 21-25. On October 23 at 1 p.m., using photos, maps, and haiku, I will give a talk on my self-guided walking tour last year that traced part of the famous route taken by haiku poet Bashō in 1689.
Book signing at Eureka Books: I’ll be signing copies of Yung Stands Strong at Eureka Books, 426 Second Street in Eureka, CA, during Arts Alive on Saturday, November 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. They also carry my cards and calendars.
Peggy Willis Lyles Haiku Award: I’m honored that this very Humboldt poem took first place in The Heron’s Nest’s highly regarded haiku contest this year. My thanks to judge Joyce Clement for her thoughtful commentary, and congratulations to the other winners.
edge of the continent
a flock of godwits
poking holes
Grace Hudson Museum show: A new exhibition at Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah, CA, “Deep Valley: People, Places, Memory,” opened this month to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the City of Ukiah. My collage of an oak tree is included in a section about the ukiaHaiku Festival, where I’ve served as the keynote speaker and had many of my haiku win awards over the years. I’m proud to play this small part in telling the story of my old home town! The show runs through February 7.
Mad River Union story: “Annette Makino’s artful, joyful calendars” is a fun article about my annual calendar in Leo David’s column, “All Things Art,” in the September 3 Mad River Union.