Mendocino Sister City International Art Exchange Exhibit

Nine artists from the Omachi-Miasa area in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, joined by thirteen Mendocino Coast artists, are exhibiting their artwork as part of the biennial Mendocino Sister City International Art Exchange Exhibit, July 1 through September 11, at the Mendocino Art Center. Works include woodworking, functional and sculptural ceramics, textiles, paintings, glass works, photography, jewelry, encaustics, basketry, prints and mixed media works.

Mendocino Art Center founder Bill Zacha and artist Toshi Yoshida formalized the sister city relationship in 1980. In 1993, Miasa and Mendocino started annual youth exchanges that have continued throughout the years. The Art Exchange Exhibit was inaugurated in 2008 at the Mendocino Art Center, showcasing works by Omachi-Miasa artists, followed by showings in even years through 2018. Mendocino Coast artists have exhibited their work in Omachi, Japan, in odd numbered years, 2009 through 2019. Due to the Covid pandemic, art exchange showings were exhibited online in 2020 and 2021.

Second Saturday Gallery Reception:
August 13, 4pm-7pm
Free admission

Mendocino Art Center hosts a free Second Saturday Artists Reception each month. Enjoy snacks and wine, and meet the Mendocino Coast exhibiting artists.
At 5pm, two of the local artists, textile artist Mirka Knaster and photographer L.A. Hyder, will give an Artists Talk.

Knaster will speak about her attraction to and interest in Japanese aesthetics and how that led her to travel in Japan. She will also include her experiences with the exchange artists from Japan.

Hyder will talk about her process for taking pictures that hold the viewer’s attention, about walking city streets or country paths with camera in hand, and about the art of “seeing.”