Commentary submitted by the Lynda Pitz and the committee for the Carmel International Arts Festival

The 18th Annual Carmel International Arts Festival is very proud to have three Japanese artists bringing their art to Carmel this year. Keiko Shirasawa, Yumiko Ishida and Yuri Nakayama will be helping in the theme of “Educating Our Community in the Arts.”

Each artist has a message for Carmel festival-goers. Keiko Shirasawa stated: “I feel very honored to have been given an opportunity to take part in the International Arts Festival in Carmel … the sister city of where I live. I have been doing calligraphy as a hobby for a long time.”

Yumiko Ishida also commented on her life through art.

“I was born in 1945, the year the World War II was ended. My childhood was in poor environment in both material and economic terms,” she said. “But I think while I was growing in Japanese climate and changing of seasons, flowers, plants, sounds of winds and light enriched my heart and mind. The basis of my creative work is deeply connected to the natural beauty of changing seasons and traditional Japanese events.”

Yuri Nakayama is the youngest of our traveling artists at 22 years old. She is so excited to be coming and showing her art to Americans.

“I have been doing calligraphy for 15 years and I love it,” she said. “It would be a great opportunity if I could present my work and get acquainted with other people. It will be only for a short period of time, I look forward to it.”

The Carmel International Arts Festival welcomes all of you – we can’t wait to meet you and see your beautiful and fine art!