On Friday, February 26th, 7:00 PM, the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) in Gardena will host a meet-and-greet with artist Laura Kina. She is a professor of art, media, and design at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois and a professional artist. RSVP is required to attend this event.

Kina will be discussing her latest collection of paintings titled “Uchinanchu.” These mixed-media creations incorporate Okinawan and Hawaiʻian t-shirts donated by OAA members, resulting in quilt-like designs that capture the "champuru" (Okinawan word for "mixed") nature of Okinawan American identity specifically and Asian American identity in general. The joint exhibition, “Transnational Lives in Motion: The Art of Laura Kina and Việt Lê,” will be displayed at Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg University Art Gallery (2/27/16 - 4/23/16).

She will also share photos and stories from a study abroad program that she leads every year. Titled “Okinawa, Japan: Art, Politics, and Economy,” the in-depth tour focuses on traditional and contemporary art while exploring the political and historical struggles that have shaped Okinawa.

Admission is free for current OAA members and $5 for non-members. The OAA is located at 16500 S. Western Ave., Gardena 90247. RSVP is required: oaamensore@gmail.com or 310-532-1929.