Gift of Trees Japan-United States Cherry Blossom Centennial

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Centennial Celebration

Misato,Japan-Winona, Minnesota, USA

Sister Cities Anniversary

June 10, 2012

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On Sunday, June 10^th, Winona accepted the gift from Misato, Japan of cherry trees.  The celebration took place along East Lake, East of Hamilton Street in Winona.  This historic event marks the centennial celebration of the 3000 trees given to the United States in 1912 from Japan.  Today, Sakura, cherry trees show an incredible display of beauty each spring. 

  

Dr. Matthew Strecher, translater and Councilman Al Thurley, Master of Ceremonies 

 

Dignitaries from Japan and the USA shared words of friendship and hope for stronger connection with our two nations.  Winona Mayor Jerry Miller spoke of the bond that our counties share; he expressed a hope that as the trees grow in strength may the bond strengthen with our nations.   Mayor Miller paused to allow Dr. Matthew Strecher to translate his words into Japanese.

Mr Yasuhiko Kamada, Director of the Japan Information Center in Chicago spoke of his earliest memories of the Sakura, cherry trees blooming at the beginning of the school year.  Their beauty was a sign of new beginnings and a fresh start on the first day of school. “May the cherry trees be a symbol of a special bond that grows,” he said.  His wishes for blossoms on bright and windy spring days elicited laughter from the crowd about his reference to the extra gusty wind blowing on Sunday.

US Senator Amy Klobuchar talked to the crowd about the Cherry Trees as a generous Symbol of Hope.

 

Ken McCullough, Second Winona Poet Laureate 2009-2012

Mr. McCullough read a Japanese poem in English and Japanese  Every Japanese school aged child is required to memorize Neither Yielding To Rain.

The Sakura blossoms have inspired many songs and artistic works.  Japanese and United States singers.

 

Artist, Ms. Yukie Ota

Mr. Yasuhiko Kamada, Director of Japan Information Center Chicago, US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Winona Mayor Jerry Miller and Misato Mayo Sasaki planting Sakura blossoming cherry trees beside Lake Winona.

 

Winona, Japan, USA, Misato Flags 

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Blossoming Sakura for hope.  Thank you Misato, Japan.  We are blessed by your friendship.

Easel Project is coming to LaCrescent

Experience Art in South East Libraries, EASEL is coming to the La Crescent Public Library – June 7-July 19, 2012.  La Crescent Public Library is located at 321 Main Street La Crescent, MN 55947. Phone: 507.895.4047 That's a hop, skip, and a dance from Winona, Minnesota and LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

What fun to check out the show and to check out another library!  Have fun!!!  To see the action of creating Library Paradise.

Library Paradise

Some new classic quilts  added to the gallery today too.

Wild Prairie Garden

My prairie yard is growing fast with all of the warm weather.  The blue wild indigo, Baptisia australis is in full bloom.

The white wild indigo, Baptisia alba is coming in a close second.  The cream indigos, Baptisia bracteata are finished blooming.  The alien species such as dandelions were very few.  But as usual many Chinese Elm sprouted and I weeded them out.  Many clump forming grasses, non native took a strong hold this year—and I’ve been pulling them all spring.

This white wild indigo is just starting to bloom; most of it is in bud form yet.  It will soon be in its full blooming glory.

This white wild indigo is almost in full bloom.  You can see her sister, the blue wild indigo in the background.  There's a yellow climbing rose behind the blue wild indigo, beside my east porch that has been filled with yellow blossoms.  Now just a few blossoms remain.  My beloved non-natives such as the early tulips, crocuses, and hyacinth are finished blooming for the season.  Most of the lilacs are finished too.  The flowers have such a short life of glory.  It seems one day they are blooming and the next the blooms are finished and they are making seeds.  I don’t think that it is quite that quick; it just seems that way when I’m not paying attention.

What are some of your favorite spring and early summer flowers?  Do you prefer perennial or annual flowers?  Shrubs, vines, or flowers?  Some of all of them?  What in the floral realm soothes your soul?  

Nia Technique with Zoë Katakuzinos

Nia is like Chocolate

Artist Spotlight: Sarah Johnson

Sarah is an artist who enjoys drawing and painting.  She has a fascination with people and with their basic foundation: the skeleton.  She takes old photographs and makes them new.  A photograph or painting that someone may discard; Sarah sees the beauty and possibility in recreating it or repurposing it. She wonders, who were the people in the photograph?  She imagines their lives and "plays" in a respectful way with re-imaging.   In the photograph of the Head Master with the Children, Sarah painted the headmaster’s skeleton, the foundation of all human beings.  She painted wings and horns on the students. 

She just completed an Artist Residency in the Winona Senior High School. She worked with HS students and the repurposing a photograph was upsetting to them.  They objected, saying that it was someone’s art.  It pushed their edges to embrace the idea of taking a photo or framed picture and painting over it to make it something of theirs.  The students were able to get past their discomfort to create some amazing pieces.  Some of these will be exhibitied in the Winona Art Center’s Senior High School Senior Art Show.  Opening reception is May 9th, 4-6pm.

Sarah works on multiple projects going on at the same time.  She works long hours out of town.  Fridays are a dedicated art day.  She does screen printing on t-shirts and ties.  She collects t-shirts and ties from second hand shops or auctions and then she recreates something unique.  All of her t-shirts and ties are one of a kind due to the variety of materials that she accumulates.  She makes jewelry which is totally for fun.  She calls it a color fix.  And it is different than her other art.  She considers herself a drawer and a painter.  

Each year she paints herself a new calendar. 

 "Now's the Time to go Hog Wild For Moderation"

  

Sarah has collections of rocks, sea glass, shells, feathers, nests.  Watching things change in their natural form is fascinating to Sarah.  One week, she and her father, in separate locations found a tea cup handle.

 A favorite shell with just a little shimmer

This gentleman looks so much happier with a few butterflies near him.  During Sarah's growing up years, her family lived next to a cemetery.  Life and death walk hand in hand.  When she was very young, her brother of 6 years died.  She was only 4 years old.  She's had to look at death.  She's more convinced than ever that "I'm a life liver."

If you would like to see more of Sarah's art work, you'll find her at Handmade Neighborhood.  Watch for signs for their autumn show.  She has work locally at the Bluff Country Co-op and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Are there other artists that you'd be curious to know more about?  What questions would you ask an artist, if you had the opportunity?   

 Are you an artist that would like to be featured on Breeze on My Skin?    

Leave a comment below with a way for me to be in touch, such as your e-mail or phone number.  I'll be in touch soon.