Artists selected for the 2009 BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass are:

Artist Statement
My muse emerges from the unexpected visual phenomenon that optical glass creates.  In this work, I use reflection as self-reflection of my personal history and narrative.  The ideas from the circumstance of experiencing physical distance between my native country Japan and myself, the experience of mixing and adapting to a different culture in the United States, has produced excitement but profound feelings of dislocation and isolation.

Biography
I am from Japan, and live and work at Richmond, VA.

Resume
Education
2008    Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2005-2007    MA California State University, Fullerton, CA
    California State University, San Bernardino, CA
2003-2005    BA California State University, Fullerton, CA
2001-2003    AA Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA
1999-2001    Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan

Professional Experience
2008- 2009    Teaching Assistant  - Virginia Commonwealth, University
2007-2008    Teaching assistant  - California State University San Bernardino,
    Teaching assistant  - session 5 Katherine Gray Pilchuck 08
2007    Lecture and demonstration- Ohio State University, Ohio  
2005    Teaching assistant  - California State University Fullerton,

Solo Exhibitions
2009    Urban Glass Gallery, Brooklyn, N.Y
2007    Ethereal Memories – Stories from Home, California State University, Fullerton, CA
2006        Bird, 7 musuem gallery, Fullerton, CA

Group Exhibitions and Juried Shows
2009    Booth 1812, Santa Monica, CA
    Grand Central Building Alumni Show, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
2008    Leap FAB Gallery, Richmond, VA
2007        Diplomatic, Seeline Gallery, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA
    Greater LA MFA Show, California State University, Long Beach, CA
    If you live here, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    Local Motion 2007, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA                            
    New Designers in Southern California, Design Within Reach, New Port, CA
    Gathered Gathers Gathering, California State University, San Bernardino, CA      
    Group Show, Co-op gallery, Costa Mesa, California                                               
2006    Ceramics and Glass Invitational, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
2005        Ceramics and Glass Invitational, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
    Electric Fire, California State University, San Bernardino, CA                                   
    Multiple, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    Get It Off Your Chest, Orange County Contemporary Museum of Art, Santa Ana, CA
2004        Get It Off Your Chest, California University, Fullerton, CA
    Waven, Orange County Contemporary Museum of Art, Santa Ana, CA
    Waven, Peace Aries Gallery, Santa Ana, CA
    Undergraduate juried Student Art Exhibition, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    Intersections In History – CSUF Women Artists, Pollock Library Gallery, California State University, Fullerton, CA
2003        Santa Ana College Annual Student Art Show, Santa Ana, CA                                                                          
2002    Santa Ana College Annual Student Art Show, Santa Ana, CA

Awards and Honors
2009         NICHE student Award - Finalist
2007        International Student Exhibition- Honorable mention, Glass Art Society, Pittsburgh, PA
    Spirited Sprite in Glass, California State University, San Bernardino, CA
    Poletunner Scholarship, Nature of things -Taught by Blaise Campbell, Pilchuck Glass School, WA
    International Student Scholarship California State University, Fullerton, CA
2006    International Student Scholarship, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    International Student Scholarship, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    Graduate Tribute Grant, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    Creating and Using Murrine -Taught by Davide Savadolre ,  The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY        
2005    International Student Scholarship, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    The Mary B. Bishop/Francis S. Merritt Scholarship Fund-Taught by Sean Albert, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Haystack, Maine
2004    Figure in Glass - Taught by Hank Adam and Ruth king, Summer Art Program 2004, California State University, Fresno, CA

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