COURTESY PHOTO "Aqua Light" by Maile Yawata is part of "The Chronicles of Tsune," an exhibit that tells the story of Yawata's mother's life. The show runs through June 9 at bibelot gallery.

Inspired by Mom

Maile Yawata's "The Chronicles of Tsune" is a collection of drawings, paintings and prints that depict her mother's life. In her artist's statement, Yawata says she has "tried to represent her life symbolically through these imagined situations."

Yawata's Hawaii-born mother moved alone to Japan at age 8, via a big ship, to live with "a strict aunt." Later, after marriage, childbearing and divorce, she raised her children as a single parent.

Yawata's mother's journey early in life, across the ocean, obviously had tremendous impact on the artist. The show is dominated by images of a young, solitary Tsune surrounded by water: in a boat, swimming or caught in the rain. Tsune at once looks both vulnerable and strong as she navigates her way alone.

Yet for all the expressiveness of the pieces, Yawata says of her mother's life: "I feel I have merely touched on it."

"The Chronicles of Tsune" runs through June 9 at bibelot gallery, located at 1130 Koko Head Avenue, Suite 2.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays. Call 738-0368.

COURTESY PHOTO "Forest From Trees," a mixed media collage.

COURTESY PHOTO "Pali Wind" is a sumie ink woodblock print.

COURTESY PHOTO "Madonna of Cold Cuts" is a reductive woodcut print.

COURTESY PHOTO "Cosmic Dance" is a lithograph with hand coloring.

COURTESY PHOTO "Breathing" is a reductive woodcut print.