by Jill Shiraki | Feb 27, 2023 | Classes & Events
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday, Noon – 5:00pm
Gallery Location: Kala Gallery, 2990 San Pablo, Berkeley, CA 94702
Kala Gallery is excited to present a retrospective exhibition Fossil of Language, featuring works by Yuzo Nakano, Artistic Director Emeritus and Co-founder of Kala Art Institute. The exhibition showcases Nakano’s work from the 1970s to the present, and celebrates his vision and contributions to Kala’s creative community and to the Bay Area art scene.
Nakano’s work traverses diverse media, including painting, printmaking, mixed media, music composition, multimedia performance, and digital media.
J-Sei Group Tour – Thurs, March 16, 1 pm

We are planning a docent-lead group tour and visit to Kala Art Institute on either a Thursday or Friday in early March. RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Kala” in the memo if you are interested. More information to come.
by Jill Shiraki | Feb 26, 2023 | Other News
Sentimental Journey: A Nisei Life in Song
Saturday, March 18, 2023, 12:30 pm
Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley
Join J-Sei for this special show in tribute to our Nisei generation as the Grateful Crane Ensemble from Los Angeles takes you on a sentimental journey through the Nisei’s life in America before, during and after WWII. Featuring over 20 of the Nisei’s favorite Japanese and American songs, the show promises to bring back fond memories of their lives well-lived as we say “Thank you” to them for paving the way for the younger generations to follow.
Written by Soji Kashiwagi
Featuring Jason Fong, Haruye Ioka, Keiko Kawashima, and Merv Maruyama
Musicians: Lisa Joe, Musical Director, Piano; Danny Yamamoto, Drums
GROUP TICKET Sales with J-Sei are now closed. Tickets are still available for purchase at Freight & Salvage . We hope to see you there!
by Jill Shiraki | Feb 25, 2023 | Classes & Events
GENERATIONS/
The roots of making in the Asawa-Lanier family
J-Sei Group Visit
Fri, March 31st, 11:30 am
Ruth’s Table
3160 21st Street, San Francisco
RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with memo “Ruths Table”. The group will enjoy a gallery visit and hands-on activity and lunch outdoors on the patio.
“Learn something. Apply it. Pass it on so it is not forgotten.” – Ruth Asawa
Generation: The Roots of Making in the Asawa-Lanier Family, brings together four generations from a San Francisco family of makers. Inspired by world-renowned artist Ruth Asawa, the exhibition serves as an opportunity to honor Asawa’s life-long commitment to community-based art education and activism in the arts.
Generation is a tribute and a testament that Asawa’s values live on through generations – in the Asawa-Lanier family, in communities and organizations, like Ruth’s Table – that share her unwavering belief that creative engagement is essential and can impact the lives of people of all ages.
The exhibition brings together works in wire and lithography by Ruth Asawa; paintings, drawings, and birthday envelopes by Albert Lanier; paintings and a clay platter by Paul Lanier; textile, collage, and painting by Aiko Lanier Cuneo; origami portraits, paintings, and paper construction by Lilli Lanier; and paintings by Lucia Ruth Soriano. All of these artists have worked with one another on public commissions, as teaching artists in schools, and collaborated on pieces in this show.
The work exhibited in Generation spans 57 years from 1965 to 2022. Motifs rooted in interwoven patterns of line, repetition, and dynamic interactions between geometric shapes, color, and forms, appear in all artists’ works creating inherent conversation and visual connections carried through varying media. Together, they form a story of four generations of a family that is joined not only in relationship, but by the curiosity and love of materials, color, and pattern.
by Jill Shiraki | Feb 17, 2023 | COVID-19, News
J-Sei COVID-19 Policy
updated on February 13, 2023
For all J-Sei participants, visitors and volunteers:
-
- We no longer require proof of vaccination and booster.
- We support being cautious and strongly recommend that you wear a mask.
- Free N95 masks are available onsite.
- We remind you to sanitize your hands when you enter the building and wash your hands often.
- Please continue to social distance when possible.
Upon entering J-Sei Emeryville, we ask that you:
(1) Complete and sign J-Sei’s Waiver Form (one-time only) and sign in daily. For those returning visitors, a J-card can be issued to you for automated check in at the kiosk.
(2) Stay at home and refrain from coming to J-Sei if:
. You are not feeling well or have symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses.
. You have tested positive in the past 10 days.
. You may have been in contact with someone who has symptoms or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days.
(3) Inform J-Sei immediately if you test positive within the next three days following your visit to J-Sei.
by Jill Shiraki | Dec 27, 2022 | News
Join us for our
32nd Annual J-Sei Crab Feed
Sunday, February 26, 2023
El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moesser Lane, El Cerrito
Early Seating 4-5:30 pm; Late Seating 5:30-7 pm
with live entertainment throughout.
To-Go Pick-Up from 4-6 pm
Fresh Dungeness Crab
Asian Salad, Garlic Noodles, Bread and Dessert
Dinner Tickets: $55/person, $20 for children 12 & under
Menu subject to change depending on availability of crab.
RESERVATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
For more info, call (510) 654-4000 or email suzanne@j-sei.org
COVID Safety Precautions
The seatings will be limited to 110 people per seating to allow for social-distancing between tables. Please take a COVID-19 Antigen Test on the day of the event and stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms or not feeling well.
Pay online using Donor Box below.