Artworks sometimes manage to find right homes. The sculpture "I Care" certainly did. A couple, bird watchers whose house is located in a bird sanctuary, came to the last American Craft Council show with the intention to find a piece to put in a decorative bird cage (photo). With the lid open, the whole thing signifies more meaning now. "Martha and Co," the wife calls it, is releasing the birds into freedom. I was delighted that a couple, who knew about Martha the last passenger pigeon, acquired this piece. I feel like a mother, whose grown child has just left the nest. Despite my initial  worry, I feel reassured that the child will do well in the new home.

Sorry for the dark image, but my booth was well lit. My first American Craft Council Show was utterly exhausting. By the time the show was over, I was speaking in Japanese to an American. My brain seemed to have stopped functioning after being exposed to too many stimuli. It has been a week since the show, and I reflected on the experience. What was the most rewarding to me was the fact that my works managed to provoke profound emotions in people of all ages. For example, when a woman saw SOAR (on the front right of the photo), tears welled up in her eyes. She had never seen a thalidomide survivor portrayed with confidence and hope. An artist, who had liked my works and had asked me intriguing questions, returned to my booth two days later with his wife and a daughter.

I want to reach people's heart with my art. That is my ultimate goal. Business part of the show should not be in the way of my creativity. Deep-breathe, close my eyes, and open the eyes of my heart. People will notice art that has come from the heart. With this lesson in my mind, I will compose new works.

​Thank you all for your support.