Tributaries: Reflections of Aiko Suzuki
June 30-August 28
Opening reception June 29, 7-9pm
Gallery conversation at 7:30pm

Japanese Canadian National Museum presents Tributaries: Reflections of Aiko Suzuki , opening June 30, 2010 at the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre, located at 6688 Southoaks Crescent in Burnaby, BC, and continuing until August 28.  An opening reception will be held Tuesday, June 29, 7-9pm.

Aiko Suzuki was a remarkable visual artist of national significance who was known as a feminist, leader and educator in the arts until her death in 2005. This exhibit will pay tribute to Suzuki's life and work through a display of some of her original work and three multimedia installations by noted writer Joy Kogawa, new music composer Ann Southam, and visual artist Grace Channer, who were each inspired by Suzuki and worked in collaboration with Toronto filmmaker Midi Onodera. Suzuki's personal dynamism was both stunning and inspiring. This is your chance to experience the energy and spirit of this prolific and fascinating artist.  

Aiko Suzuki (October 22, 1937-December 31, 2005) was originally born in Vancouver, and later was interned with her family in the Slocan region and then moved to Ontario. Aiko was a prolific artist who worked in a wide variety of media, ranging from textiles, to spray paint, to acrylic and oils, and monoprints. Her work extended beyond the canvas to include monumental sculptural fibre works, dance sets and smaller multimedia works. In 1994, Aiko founded the Gendai Gallery at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto- a not-for-profit public art gallery dedicated to the promotion of excellence in contemporary art and design. For 25 years, she was a mentor to many artists, and was involved in arts education with countless students throughout Toronto. She received numerous awards for her contributions, and in 2005, she was elected to membership in the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

Midi Onodera is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker who has been directing, producing and writing films for over twenty years. She has over twenty-five independent short films to her credit as well as a theatrical feature film and several video shorts.  Midi’s films have been critically recognized and included in numerous exhibitions and screenings internationally, such as the International Festival of Documentary and Short Films, Bilbao, Spain, the Berlin International Film Festival; and Toronto International Film Festival.

www.jcnm.ca