FLAG
I became a citizen in 1985 and have never regretted my decision. This country has granted me the freedom to become the many-faceted person that I am. My flags are made of materials from my birth country and adopted country. They combine to create a symbol of a country that I love.
green card
"Green Card," 2026, 14.5 x 17." Fiber art: Liberty fabric, image transfer, embroidery. The underlying piecework is that of an American flag.
"Green Card" is a recreation of my green card, surrendered in 1985, when I became a US citizen. Unlike today's "Permanent Resident," a green card holder was identified as a "Resident Alien." This term was hilarious and precarious at the same time. Hilarious because green was often identified as a characteristic of a space alien in science fiction, and precarious because it highlighted the "otherness" of one's status in the United States. I've also incorporated several misunderstandings and hidden meanings in this work. The pieced substrate is an American flag. I used Liberty of London cotton lawn fabric, to represent both the liberty I was seeking and the few drops of British blood I carry in my veins. The green color represents the misnomer of "green card," as the green card of my time, was more of a peach color with not a trace of green. I distorted my name on the green card. My Japanese name, "Hanako," is written as "Hanake." This misspelling was made by the Social Security Administration when they issued my first social security card. In Japanese, it translates into "nose hair." "Flowerchild" is the literal translation of "Hanako," an apt name for someone of the hippie generation. "Inato" is "Otani" spelled backwards. It's not a real Japanese word. The green card was for me, forks in the road. Due to family pressures, I had to make a decision as to whether I would return to Japan and remake myself as a Japanese woman, remain in the US as a resident alien and take advantage of its privileges without participating in civil society, or give up my Japanese heritage for a life as a full-blown American. These were difficult choices, but I believe I made the right one.
"Green Card" will be shown in the Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St, Chicago, IL from May 18 - Jun 30
STRAIT OF HORMUZ
"Strait of Hormuz," 2026, 13x25." Mixed media: fan, watercolors, US flag ribbon, sequins
This fragile, tattered and mended piece is emblematic of the US-Iran conflict that is unfolding before us today.
ALIEN AMERICAN: ASIAN AMERICAN 2026
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"Alien American: Asian American 2026," Diptych each 18x24x 05." Mixed Media: Japanese copybook pages, streamers, origami, sashiko on momigami, passports. This work is an update to the original "Alien American: Asian American," created in 2008.
"Alien American: Asian American 2026" will be shown in the "Legacy" exhibition at Kitsune Studio from May 3 - Jun 7, 2026.
MAIL-IN BALLOT
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"Mail-In Ballot," 2026 (front and back), 21x14.5". Collage: USPS envelope, flag stamps, safety envelopes, rubber stamping.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
"Independence Day," 2026. 20.75x16.75x1.5", Collage: blueprints, miniature fabric flag, map, watercolors, vintage photo, rubber stamping.
"Independence Day" brings together symbols of America that are distressing, idealized, and hopeful: celebrants dressed in colonial clothing, a smouldering map of California, an oversized Stars & Stripes, a blueprint of an ideal home, and fireworks with words of protest that bring communities together.
"Independence Day" brings together symbols of America that are distressing, idealized, and hopeful: celebrants dressed in colonial clothing, a smouldering map of California, an oversized Stars & Stripes, a blueprint of an ideal home, and fireworks with words of protest that bring communities together.
"Independence Day" will be shown in the Detour exhibition at Arc Gallery from April 11 - May 9, 2026.
BLUE ICE
"Blue Ice," 2026. Diptych: "Blue" 8.5x6x0.25." "Ice" 8.75x5.75x0.25." Handmade books. "Blue Ice" is a pair of pamphlet-stitched books made with indigo-dyed paper, vintage blueprints, and rubber-stamped words of resistance against ICE raids, as quoted by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
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A MEMORIAL TO THE POST
"Freedom of the Press," 2026, 16 x12", Assemblage: stenciled letters, feathers, tintype, handmade paper
The Washington Post adopted this slogan in 2017 and it encouraged me during the first Trump Presidency. Now the slogan is no longer visible and a significant number of the Post's staff has been laid off. I say these words now, so that the freedom of the press will not be erased.
The Washington Post adopted this slogan in 2017 and it encouraged me during the first Trump Presidency. Now the slogan is no longer visible and a significant number of the Post's staff has been laid off. I say these words now, so that the freedom of the press will not be erased.
A SNOWY DAY IN MINNEAPOLIS
"A Snowy Day in Minneapolis," 2026, 14.5x11x2.75", Assemblage: tintype, rubylith, map, rubber stamping, feathers,
flags, blueprint, tissue snowflake, glitter, painted tray.
flags, blueprint, tissue snowflake, glitter, painted tray.
To the people of Minneapolis who are out in the icy streets helping their neighbors. May kindness prevail.
"A Snowy Day in Minneapolis" will be shown in the Roadmap exhibition at Arc Gallery from April 11 - May 9, 2026.
"A Snowy Day in Minneapolis" will be shown in the Roadmap exhibition at Arc Gallery from April 11 - May 9, 2026.
JUST BECAUSE
"Just Because," 2026, 40x16", mixed media: flag fragments, maps, wire rack, stencils, key tags, flour sacks, rub-off letters, oiled paper, Polaroid.
"Just Because" examines the chaos in 2026, backgrounded by the American Flag. The flag belongs to citizens of all walks of life. We see it everywhere, in sports stadiums, classrooms, public institutions, and outside homes on national holidays. Its promise of freedom and opportunity provides hope and inspiration for citizens and aspiring immigrants alike. In "Just Because," the American flag is tattered, but is reconstituted through hand-stitching. Tags of resistance with the words "witness," "record," and "protect" band together in the foreground, reminding us of how citizens have responded to this moment in history.
"Just Because" will be shown in the O Say Can You See exhibition at the Sanchez Art Center from May 29 -June 28, 2026.
"Just Because" will be shown in the O Say Can You See exhibition at the Sanchez Art Center from May 29 -June 28, 2026.
RAGE AGAINST THE PATRIARCHY
"Rage Against the Patriarchy," 2026, 6" diameter, Assemblage: toy, Dresden foil, fabric on board
Women Power and Protest against the Patriarchy embodied by Wonder Woman. I’d like to think that this action toy once belonged to a girl who imagined many stories of heroism, adventure, and limitless possibilities.
SILENT DOG
"Silent Dog," 2025, 6 inch diameter, Assemblage: tin type, fabric on board
"The dog that hasn't barked is Trump." When will all of the Epstein files be released?
"Silent Dog" will be shown in the Studio Gallery's Artist's Choice exhibition from April 2 -20, 2026
"Silent Dog" will be shown in the Studio Gallery's Artist's Choice exhibition from April 2 -20, 2026
CANCELLATION
"Cancellation," 2025, Collage: passport pages sewn onto momigami
Cancellations started me on a path to portray how I feel about giving up one citizenship for another. I took apart my first passport, a Japanese one, and reassembled the pages to form a flag. Because the passport pages are the originals, there is no going back to undo my design. The stripes created from stamped cancellations emphasize there is no going back to my country of origin. I can only move forward as an immigrant in my adopted country.
Cancellations will be shown at the "Independence for Whom?" exhibition at the Workhouse Arts Center, Vulcan Gallery, Workhouse Way Lorton, VA, Jun 5 - Aug 8.
Cancellations will be shown at the "Independence for Whom?" exhibition at the Workhouse Arts Center, Vulcan Gallery, Workhouse Way Lorton, VA, Jun 5 - Aug 8.
OLD gLORY
"Old Glory," 2025, 27x19", Fiber Art: boro fragments, embroidery threads
It was easy to embrace being an American but not today. Now I re-examine symbols of America and try to fashion them into my own reality.
"Old Glory" will be shown at the "Independence for Whom?" exhibition at the Workhouse Arts Center, Vulcan Gallery, Workhouse Way Lorton, VA, Jun 5 - Aug 8.
"Old Glory" will be shown at the "Independence for Whom?" exhibition at the Workhouse Arts Center, Vulcan Gallery, Workhouse Way Lorton, VA, Jun 5 - Aug 8.
uS
"Us," 2025, Fiber Art: boro fragments, embroidery
The flag belongs to us. All of us.
IMAGINE OLD GLORY
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"Imagine Old Glory," 2025, 6.5 x 5 x 0.30 inches, altered board book, collage
What is Patriotism? Yoko & John’s lyrics for "Imagine" envisions a peaceful America that has a place for everyone.
MY RIGHTS
2024, 3 ft diameter, Fiber Art: petticoat, badges, ribbons
"MY RIGHTS" commemorates the struggles and and triumphs that have advanced women's rights in the United States. By documenting them here, I wanted to show that progress is not a straight line, and we must continue to struggle for equal rights. The opening of the petticoat is sewn tightly closed because we must resist going back to the past.
AMERICAN BLUES
2017, 76x 32.5 inches, Paper installation: indigo-dyed hand-made paper, Japanese momi paper, stencils, newspaper, safety pins
An alt flag for dark times held together with safety pins. The pins represent individuals willing to stand in solidarity with vulnerable groups. The word “RESIST” is printed vertically as it would be in the Japanese language.
HARD RAIN
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2016, Mixed Media: LP cover, disc, inside sleeve, paint, lyrics, doll dress, admission tickets
ALIEN AMERICAN: ASIAN AMERICAN
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2008, 18x24x 0.25". Diptych Mixed Media: Japanese copybook pages, streamers, paper cocktail umbrellas, toothpick flags, application for citizenship, passports. This work was destroyed in 2025.
