PIKAPIKA

Artist Statement: My first experiences in the Nihonmachi section of the Chinatown-ID are courtesy of my paternal grandparents, who raised four children in a modest house on King and 16th Streets, fortunately able to return there after their WWII incarceration. As a child, my grandmother and I ran errands to Higo Variety Store, ate meals and shopped for groceries in the neighborhood. The collection of memories I hold of this place is vivid and endless. Importantly, it has always made me feel safe and connected. As an adult, I have designed exhibits, shown artwork, and served on Community Advisory Committees (CACs) for community-driven content development at the Wing Luke Museum. That model has guided me to create thoughtful art and designs that include the voices of many. I have gone on to work on community-based teams for other place-keeping projects in the C-ID such as the Jackson Building Storefront, wall murals in Nihonmachi Alley, Chiyo's Garden, and the outside of the Jackson Building, and Uncle Bob’s Place. Nihonmachi Alley and the other alleyways in the C-ID are successfully being transformed into safe gathering places and passages by virtue of community advocacy, care and planning. I bring my experiences and passion for the well-being and continued growth of the neighborhood to PIKAPIKA, the Nihonmachi Alley ground plane mural.
Location: Nihonmachi Alley, near 610 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104