Batik by Jessica Kawasuna Saiki

Batik by Jessica Kawasuna Saiki

As we were just visiting Colorado Springs we never met Ms. Saiki.  I am saddened to hear of her passing.  Her creations have often brightened our days for almost 40 years.

Colorado Spring 70's or 80's from an art museum I believe.  I do know it was not a private gallary.  The lady present when we purchased them was quite eager to tell us about Ms. Saiki and that she was a local artist.

Purchased visiting Colorado Springs in the late 70's or early 80's.  Three woodcuts that have remained as favorites after all these years.  Especially have always loved this one titled "Reflections"

I was moving into my very first apartment in my early 20's.  I may have met Aunt Jessica once but barely remembered her.  I knew she was an artist and I looked around my new place with its bare white walls. I thought, "maybe I can get some artwork from my Aunt".  I wrote to Aunty Jessica, told her I had empty walls, and before I knew it, there were batiks in the mail.  I was very touched that she didn't hesitate to share her work with me and they have been gracing my walls ever since.

We went to San Francisco to have dim sum together.

Jessica's close childhood friend, Dorothy Liu, recommended the Puna Hongwanji Mission to us for our wedding ceremony.

The sun came out for us on this beautiful day.

Jessica wanted Kyle's first name to Kawasuna. 

Having birthday cake together was  the most important part of the birthday celebration.

Neal, Kyle and Jessica all have August birthdays.

Grandma Jessica would praise her for her playing ability.

Jessica liked to wear brightly colored silk scarfs.

Although it was difficult to get everyone to agree on a movie to watch, we would watch movies together on the couch after dinner. 

Together we like to pick out the freshest local dungeness crab for dinner. 

The kids all learned to play Hanafuda with Grandma Jessica.

Jessica is dancing at the Japanese Cultural Festival in Santa Cruz, CA 

Jessica visited us in Scotts Valley during Christmas 2001.

Jessica loved to come and visit during the summer so that she could attend the Japanese Cultural Festival held in Santa Cruz, CA.

Visit to Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, CA to see the wintering monarch butterflies.

We were fortunate to celebrate Peggy's 90th birthday in Poipu, Kauai together.

Katherine "Kate" Saiki looks a lot like her Grandmother. Hopefully, she got more than just her good looks from Grandma.

Jessica was not feeling well enough to travel so we came to see her in Colorado.

The sweet potatoe dish was Jessica's recipe. I still cook it every year the way she taught me. Very important that we always have extra cranberry and sweet pickles for Jessica for the left overs (which we all agree are better than Thanksgiving dinner).

Our favorite place to go have a family dinner together is at Riva's on the Santa Cruz wharf.

Mom came to visit my new World HQ for a electric motorcycle company that I had formed, summer 2007.

Everyone agreed with Jessica that Mango, the puppy, was the most photogenic member in this family picture.

I wish I would have had an opportunity to know the woman who brought us such a wonderful daugther.  I have art around my home from Lorel that had roots in her mother's creatiity and so Jessica Keiko Kawasuna Saiki will live on in our lives when we view the gorgeous art.  Thank you "mom" for bringing Lorel into the world and into our lives; she's a wonderful acorn that fell close to the tree!