“Wave Form” is 30” x 30”, made with found papers, Japanese washi papers, acrylic paint and matte medium on canvas. © Annette Makino 2025
Whew! And wahoo! Like many of you, I’m still absorbing the impact of this historic blue wave, and feeling some combination of elation, exhaustion and relief. It will take some time to clean up the mess this regime has made, and to build a more fair and functional system that works for all of us. Still, we are definitely on the right track now!
Through these difficult years, the day’s headlines have seemed to run on an infinite doom loop.
tipping Monday
out of the pill box
deep November
And while this historically cruel, corrupt and incompetent administration slides towards authoritarianism, making art sometimes feels pointless. But the saying, “Joy is an act of resistance” has guided me. And creating bright, beautiful art has been one way to light a spark in the darkness.
Since Tuesday night, I keep finding myself unconsciously letting out a long, deep breath. There is work ahead, but we can finally exhale. Congratulations to everyone who helped generate this blue tsunami, and thanks to all who were drops in the wave!
deep breathing
the shift from estar
to ser
Another bright spark in this time has been the publication of my children’s historical book, Yung Stands Strong: A Story of Expulsion and Resilience. During the 1885 expulsion of the Chinese community from Eureka, nine-year-old Yung faced injustice and repression, but she rose to the occasion with strength and bravery she didn’t know she had. I hope readers young and old take heart from her story.
The larger book team and I did three fun and well-attended book events last month before I headed north for the wonderful Seabeck Haiku Getaway. Still ahead this year: a book signing this Saturday and a reading and panel with the book team in December (see below for details). The bulk of the books will finally come off the press next week and you can preorder online now. I hope you enjoy it!
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Makino Studios News
This is the first page of the story from Yung Stands Strong, with illustrations by Yukari Mishima.
Book signing at Eureka Books this Saturday: I’ll be signing copies of Yung Stands Strong at Eureka Books, 426 Second Street in Eureka, CA, during Arts Alive this coming Saturday, November 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. They also carry my cards and calendars.
Book reading and panel discussion at the Ink People: The larger book writing team will join me for this free event at the Ink People Center for the Arts in their new building at 535 Fifth Street in Eureka. The date is Saturday, December 5; the time is still pending but will be in the afternoon.
Made in Humboldt Fair at Pierson’s: This holiday offering at Pierson Garden Shop in Eureka, CA runs November 11 through December 24 and includes wares from more than 250 vendors. I have calendars, books, prints, and notecard sets there.
Arcata Holiday Craft Market: Featuring food, music, and local vendors, this fair takes place the weekend of December 12-13 at the Arcata Community Center in Arcata, CA. Look for my Makino Studios booth on the lefthand side of the main room.
2027 calendars: These small calendars of art and haiku make great holiday gifts. They feature 12 colorful Asian-inspired collages with my original haiku. Still only $12 each.
These PEACE cards are one of four holiday designs available as notecard sets.
Holiday and everyday cards: Holiday, birthday, sympathy or everyday—right now there are more than 75 Makino Studios card designs to choose from. I also offer boxed notecard sets, including several holiday designs.
Yung Stands Strong book: You can preorder these online, to be shipped once I receive them next week. They will also make their way into local stores. Cost is $20.
Japanese haiku award: With more than 26,000 entries in English, it’s an honor to have the following haiku win a merit award in Japan’s ITO EN haiku contest. Extra fun: winning poems are printed on the labels of their bottled green tea, which I have chosen many times from Japanese vending machines!
watch repair
the clockmaker’s
erratic hours
Recent press: Yung Stands Strong has gotten lots of positive media coverage in print and on the radio. A sampling is available here.
Free shipping: For orders of $35 or more, use code FREESHIP35 for free shipping in the US.
Holiday shipping: The US Postal Service advises that to ensure that packages arrive by December 25, they should be shipped by December 17.
HAIKU CREDITS: “tipping Monday” and “deep breathing” were first published in Frogpond.