“evening rays” is one of thirty mixed media collages on view at the Arcata Library as part of Annette Makino’s show, “Paper Alchemy.” © Annette Makino 2025
Humboldt scenes and haiku for National Poetry Month
ARCATA, CA (April 15, 2026) - Annette Makino is the featured artist for April and May at Arcata Library. Since April is National Haiku Poetry Month, 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 joyful, colorful pieces include many Humboldt County landscapes such as forests, oceans, rivers, and dunes. Animals including whales, otters, frogs, cats and dogs also feature 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.
Viewers may recognize some of the pieces in the show from Makino’s line of greeting cards and calendars, sold online and in local stores. See makinostudios.com for a gallery of her art and more information about her work.
“Paper Alchemy” will run through the end of May. The Arcata branch of Humboldt County Library is open Tuesday through Saturday. Hours can be found online at https://humboldtgov.org/2544/Library or by calling 707-822-5954.