Napa Valley Museum in Northern California's famous wine country will host an exhibit of manga and anime-inspired artwork from August 15 through September 14, 2008. Many of the artworks displayed will be by recent winners, entrants and judges of the Nichibei Times annual Manga Art Contest, including 2007's winner, Tony Foti, 2008's winner, Kimberly Igno and syndicated cartoonist Tak Toyoshima, creator of Secret Asian Man. The opening reception on Friday, August 15 will feature a special presentation by Manga: The Complete Guide author Jason Thompson and taiko drumming by Napa Taiko Dojo. The event will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and is free for Napa Valley Museum members, or $3.50 for visitors age 7 to 17 and $5.00 for adults.
The idea for the exhibit came from Napa Valley Museum Executive Director Rick Deragon. "I have been quite aware of manga and anime for some time," he said. "Manga is chock full of desirable elements. It's hip, cool, stylish, common, uncommon, mysterious, fantastic, realistic — provocative in so many ways," Deragon continued. "Manga fulfills people's needs to be entertained in artful ways."
According to Nichibei Times Editor Kenji G. Taguma, the Nichi Bei Times Anime and Manga Special Edition has expanded since its first incarnation in 2006. Nichi Bei Times is Northern California’s oldest Japanese American newspaper, and it features regular anime and manga coverage, a rarity in a daily or weekly newspaper.
The exhibit will continue though September 14, and gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Tuesdays. For more information about visiting the Napa Valley Museum to check out this exhibit, visit the Napa Valley Museum website, or call (707) 944-0500.
Image credits: Courtesy Napa Valley Museum, Nichibei Times
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