Golden Repair

hand painting and photography digitally produced on steel, 116 feet long x 6 feet high, 2024

This mural's framework, by Shigaki and Mari Shibuya is kintsugi, the art of mending broken pottery with golden lacquer, which treats breakage as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. The metaphor speaks to the traumas that all BIPOC communities have faced, and our resilience and ability to heal and contribute to the flourishing of this country.

I create artwork that is community-inspired and focused on social justice–often grounded in the World War II mass incarceration of 125,000+ members of my community. I am passionate about highlighting similarities between that history and injustices communities of color continue to face, and believe that art offers a way into these difficult conversations. In my artwork, I utilize photography, ceramics, textiles, painting, printmaking and sculpture. I write interpretation to provide education where it has been erased or omitted by design.

Shigaki is a 4th generation Japanese American artist. Her work is often grounded in the WWII incarceration of her people, and she is passionate about pursuing the power of solidarity. Erin’s activism includes work on the Minidoka Pilgrimage to the American prison camp where her family was incarcerated and with Tsuru for Solidarity, a nonviolent, abolitionist project of social justice advocates. She is the recipient of grants and commissions from ArtsWA, 4Culture, Seattle OAC, Wing Luke Museum, and others. She holds a BA from Yale.