Art in the Square - MiKiJio

We somehow managed to make it down to Pioneer Square last night for the monthly Art Walk. Free wine and cheese is always an incentive to get out from behind the keyboard, and the glorious return of sunshine helped as well. So we strolled casually in the sun and took in some art.

A new gallery between Washington and Yesler on 1st Avenue is showing the art of Jeera Ratanangkoon. The MiKiJio Gallery, with its exposed brick walls, high ceilings and hardwood floors, houses some great woodblock prints by the artist. Pictured is a piece entitled, "Garlic Resident." Many of Ratanangkoon's pieces feature vegetables, fish bones, and swirly shunshine. A couple pieces are more graphic-y and give the impression of well-designed wallpaper.

The artist does best in his modern interpretation of Japanese ukiyo-e. He evokes the "floating world" deftly with kelp reaching toward the top of the frame, or dewdrops sliding down a blade of grass. Like many ukiyo-e, the perspective gives the feeling that perhaps we are viewing something underwater, but then objects like a monarch butterfly at the bottom of the frame make us re-examine the image. The colors are beautiful and understated. He uses the wood's grain to his benefit in all of the prints and pulls off balancing fragility with strong lines. Ratanangkoon's work is definitely worth a trip to the gallery.

Transplanted from the other coast, Maki Morinoue and husband Geoffrey Grauer's mission is to reinivigorate people's attitude toward art. This showing, along with an upcoming dance performance in July by Esse Aficionado are sure to do just that.

Call 206.624.2588 to schedule an appointment to view the gallery.

MiKiJio Art Gallery
114 1/2 First Avenue S.