Healing, in Living Color

Miki Yokoyama’s latest work is a tribute to community recovery and collaboration.

By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU STAFF WRITER

As the 70 feet of plastic tarpaulin was pulled from her latest work of art, Miki Yokoyama held her praying hands to her mouth, almost as if she was still unsure of how it would be received.

The cheers an applause of the 100 or so visitors and supporters surely put those fears to rest.

“I have been emotionally very weak since the disaster,” said Yokoyama, whose family lost their Altadena home – as well as her art studio – to last year’s devastating Eaton Fire.

In December, Yokoyama was contacted by Kyoko Gibbs, whose husband, Rev. Gregory Gibbs, has been the resident minister at the Pasadena Buddhist Temple since 2014.

“We talked about the deep sadness left by the disaster and the struggles that followed,” Yokoyama told those who gathered for the March 22 unveiling of her “Healing and Hope” mural, of a colorful landscape of local environments and landmarks that she painted on an expanse of retaining wall adjacent to the temple.

“We shared the idea of creating this mural with the hope that we could come together, support one another and work collectively toward recovery and rebuilding,” she said. “Being able to create it together with people connected to the temple and those affected by the disaster has been, for me, a process of healing.”

Working from her original sketches, Yokoyama used an overhead projector at night to beam her design onto the wall that stands just over four feet high, tracing the outline over the surface she had previously covered with white primer.

In the weeks that followed, the 46-year-old artist worked diligently with countless volunteers from the local community and beyond, who gave innumerable hours to adding color to the piece, often working on their hands and knees, even during the recent unseasonable heat wave.

“Through working on this mural project, creating with everyone every day, and having conversations with so many people, I received emotional energy and support each day.”

Among those on hand for the unveiling was Yokoyama’s family, who have been living in Alhambra while they navigate the process of rebuilding their home.

“I encourage her and remind her of the importance of her work,” said Yokoyama’s daughter, Rei. “This represents how a community can come together and it has been a great source of healing.”

Native flowers and local churches and houses are depicted in the work, including a last-minute addition: the large bear that had been living under one Altadena home for months until being ousted in January.

Yokoyama grew emotional in expressing gratitude for those who supported the project, including the Little Tokyo Service Center and Keiro Senior Health Care. She admitted her only regret is that she will miss the daily gathering with volunteers, the conversations and lunches they shared.

“I’m happy the mural has been completed, but more than that, I honestly feel a strong sadness that those experiences are coming to an end,” she said.