By David Yamaguchi,
THIS SUMMER, I was pleased to meet two interesting artists. One was a well-dressed, elderly lady who was quietly sitting by herself at a wedding I had the pleasure of attending.
When I introduced myself, she said,
‘I know your parents. My name is Amy Nikaitani.’
![Amy-Nikatani | Seattle’s Japanese Community News – North American Post](https://i0.wp.com/napost.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Amy-Nikatani.jpg?resize=209%2C440&ssl=1)
At once, I recognized her name as that of the local Nisei artist whose pen and ink sketches I have admired for years. For example, I knew that gifts featuring her work are for sale in the gift shop of the Wing Luke Museum.
“Are you still making art?,” I asked. Mrs. Nikaitani replied that these days she is doing nudes. Twice a month she attends a downtown studio to draw models there.
![NIKAITANI-wing-luke-shoulder-bag- | Seattle’s Japanese Community News – North American Post](https://i0.wp.com/napost.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NIKAITANI-wing-luke-shoulder-bag-.jpg?resize=249%2C440&ssl=1)
A second, up-and-coming artist is Stacia Burrington, who was holding down a booth at the Redmond Arts Festival. Her cute neko [cat] pictures are also on sale at Wing Luke.
![Stacia-Burrington-Artist | Seattle’s Japanese Community News – North American Post](https://i0.wp.com/napost.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Stacia-Burrington-Artist.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
Stacia, who grew up viewing anime, focused on wabisabi— the Japanese concept of imperfect, ephemeral beauty—in art school. It is interesting how ‘Japanese’ Stacia’s art is, for a young person who has yet to travel to Japan.