Fumiko Winder featured at Espresso Americana

A Maryville artist, Fumiko Winder is showing a collection of her work, including acrylic and watercolor paintings, sumi-e paintings and floral bunkas, at the Espresso Americano cafe at the Everett Public Library through April 15.

A Maryville artist, Fumiko Winder is showing a collection of her work, including acrylic and watercolor paintings, sumi-e paintings and floral bunkas, at the Espresso Americano cafe at the Everett Public Library through April 15.

Born in Japan, Winder paints many landscapes of the Pacific Northwest to go along with sumi-e paintings and Japanese embroidery paintings. She explores European, or Western style painting while practicing her own traditions of Japanese crafts, of which her floral bunkas are an example.

Bunka shishu is a traditional Japanese technique that, in English, is often shortened to bunka, according to Winder. Bunka artists use a specialized embroidery needle and rayon threads to create very detailed pictures that some liken to oil paintings. Typical subjects include people, living things and traditional Japanese scenes.

Unlike some other forms of embroidery, bunka is fragile and is usually presented as art rather than as clothing adornment. While it is commonly known as a form of Japanese embroidery, it has its origins in Russian embroidery. Bunka uses unraveled rayon yarn and is worked on the top side of the design. Bunka landscapes traditionally feature very subtle shading making them appear like a fine painting.

Winder’s works adorn the walls of the Espresso Americano coffee shop located inside the Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave., in Everett. The art exhibit is coordinated by Lyussy Hyder, of the Solovei Art Gallery. For information see the Web site at www.soloveiartgallery.com.