Local artist blends mixed-media collages and haiku

“evening rays” by Annette Makino is featured in the Arcata Library exhibit. © Annette Makino 2025

TIMES-STANDARD, EUREKA, CA, MAY 22, 2026) - Annette Makino is the featured artist in May at the Arcata Library, 500 Seventh St. Her haiku accompany the 30 mixed media collages in the show.

“Some years back, I learned about the Japanese tradition of haiga, in which ink paintings are combined with haiku,” Makino said. “I was inspired to write my own haiku and combine them with my art in a way that deepens the meaning of both the image and the words.”

In the show, each of Makino’s artworks has a label with an accompanying haiku. For instance, a collage of a heron along a riverbank goes with this haiku: evening rays/the driftwood stick/spreads its wings.

“I’m calling this show ‘Paper Alchemy’ because there is something magical about transforming old letters, book pages and other papers into beautiful and meaningful artwork,” Makino said. “And in an age when AI-generated art is everywhere, there is something extra special about pieces that are made completely by hand, with paper, paint and glue, in a way that no computer could replicate.”

Makino’s bright and joyful pieces include many Humboldt County landscapes such as forests, oceans, rivers, and dunes. Animals including whales, otters, frogs, cats and dogs are also featured in her art.

Makino is the recipient of a Victor Thomas Jacoby award for her artistic vision and creativity. Her haiku regularly appear in poetry journals and anthologies and have won honors in the Touchstone Awards, the Henderson Haiku Contest, the Brady Senryu Contest, the Porad Haiku Award, and the Jane Reichhold International Prize.

Go to makinostudios.com for more information about her work.

Right now, the Arcata Library is also featuring colorful springtime art by students from Arcata Elementary School.

Honoring Asian American artists: Morris Graves Museum of Art exhibit features local artists

Ten Thousand Gates: A Celebration of Humboldt Asian American Artists features the work of twelve local artists of Asian descent: Karla Kaizoji Austin, Cate Be, Jeremy Hara, Ted Hsu, the late Suk Choo Kim, Ali Lee, Thao Le Khac, Amy Leon, Annette Makino, Yoshiko Skelton, Amy Uyeki and Libby Yee.

TIMES-STANDARD, EUREKA, CA, APRIL 25, 2025 — “Ten Thousand Gates, a Celebration of Humboldt Asian American Artists” will be on display starting Saturday through June 8 at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, 636 F St., Eureka.

In 1994, Karla Kaizoji Austin and Amy Uyeki assembled the first show of Asian artists in Humboldt County titled “Made in America” at the old Ink People gallery. Fast forward 31 years and this is one of the follow-up shows to the original.

Over the years, times have changed and artists and media have changed. However, the creativity, artistry and intent remain. The selected artists all present a strong sense of creativity, originality and their work reflects their cultural roots. The work ranges from traditional style landscape/portraits to contemporary street art. Included are painters, ceramicists, mixed media artists, digital artists, photographers and videographers. They work in various media, including Chinese Brush painting, ceramics, photography, spray paint, mixed media sources from nature, airbrush and digital media.

There are a wide variety of backgrounds, ranging from a self-taught Sennsei Japanese artist to national and international artists. This show aims to showcase a sampling of the work of these artists. Artists include Karla Kaizoji Austin, Cate Be, Jeremy Hara, Ted Hsu, the late Suk Choo Kim, Ali Lee, Thao Le Khac, Amy Leon, Annette Makino, Yoshiko Skelton, Amy Uyeki and Libby Yee.

The Morris Graves Museum of Art is open to the public noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Suggested admission is $5 for adults; $2 for seniors (age 65 and over), military veterans and students with ID; and free for children 17 and under free, families with an EBT card and valid ID and Humboldt Arts Council members. Admission is free for everyone on the first  Saturday of every month, including First Saturday Night Arts Alive! from 6 to 9 p.m.