Inspiration

The Longivity of Love

February 9, 2023InspirationApril Higashi

I marvel at couples who have managed to make long-term relationships work or still seem happy after years of marriage. I have a few solid long-term coupled friends but many of us, including myself, are separated or divorced and happy with that decision too. Much of my work is with couples designing rings or helping select special gifts for a partner. And I’ve noticed that some of these longer term couples sometimes seem exceptionally happy, light, supportive of each other… and still have that spark of love and excitement, almost as if they’ve only just met.

Natalie and Thomas are one of these couples. We met last year after they had been on a search for a jeweler to design and make her their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift. Thomas had traveled to Antwerp and brought her back some black diamonds. I was honored they selected me to work with them on their custom pieces. We started with a cuff and when they came to the studio for Natalie’s sizing, Thomas regaled me with stories that were filled with admiration and love for Natalie. He beamed as he spoke about her, her design work and her talents.

They left a lasting impression on me. I saw that this was a couple who truly supported each other. Thomas had wanted Natalie to have what she loved and trusted her design choices. He never flinched as she selected the perfect white metal for the piece, which also happened to be the most expensive. He saw she was creating her dream piece and supported and encouraged her choices all along during the design process.

I realized from working with them, isn’t this what we all need - love, support and someone who believes in our vision?

So thank you Thomas and Natalie, not only for the wonderful commission, but also for the beautiful reminder of what love can look like. Congratulations on twenty five years! It’s an honor to be part of your celebration.

~ April

Thomas
What is the one thing you still love about Natalie?

There’s more than one thing, but one worth mentioning here is Natalie’s independent and driven nature. Natalie jumps full-on into everything she does and whether it’s her relationships, design work, or community efforts. She doesn’t do anything halfway.

What is your secret to a long-term lasting relationship?

Natalie and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We have lived in multiple states, embraced various careers, and are raising our daughter. There has been a lot of change over the years, and we adapt and take-on challenges as a team.

Natalie
What is the one thing you still love about Thomas?

Thomas was incredibly fun to be around when we met; humorous, spontaneous and ready to enjoy any situation regardless of his stress level. That zeal has not changed and I love that he has this approach to all aspects of life. It’s contagious.

What is your secret to a long-term lasting relationship?

My initial thought was immediately, communication and humor. With marrying so young in life, we recognized early that we would not be the exact same person when we got older. We acknowledged that we needed to attempt to change in parallel or appreciate that the other was changing instead of trying to keep them as they were.

NATALIE ENGELS is an Interior Designer at Gensler and her favorite pieces at Shibumi are featured in this month’s CURATED ☆ PICKS.

MAKE SOMETHING EVERY DAY

March 22, 2020InspirationApril Higashi

During this time….stay inspired, seek beauty, MAKE SOMETHING EVERY DAY!

Let us know what you are making….tag us @shibumigallery on Instagram.

Footnotes from Havana

February 11, 2017InspirationApril HigashiComment

I travel for inspiration, perspective and to find a new understanding that will help make my world bigger. After the devastating US election, a busy holiday season and trying to be a decent parent, I was depleted by the end of December. I have always found a break is the best way to reset my life, discover greater empathy and restore my creativity.

“While a truly great journey will leave you feeling three years younger, and two years wiser, a difficult border crossing will reveal your true character. Difficult travel is a reflection of our true selves, whether you’re curious, in survival mode, a bigot or open minded.”

— Studio D / Field Notes

Havana was a trip which expanded my world to include an understanding of a simple Cuban beauty and remind me of the circumstances we are born into. The pinhole of Cuban culture I witnessed in only a week was a mixture of socialism, history, music, dance, modernist architecture, art, tobacco, island time and of course Cuban flair. While I have traveled internationally a fair amount, it had been awhile since I had actual culture shock upon arrival in a country. Between the internet and international trade, one can often find the comforts of home. This is not the case yet in Cuba. There are no traces of the US post 1959. The old classic cars are the only reminders of the U.S. since Fidel Castro overthrew Batista and set in place the socialist government. Socialism gives people housing, heath care, education and subsidized food, yet many people still live in poverty.

While the government is starting to restore the historical center of the Habana Vieja to attract tourism, walk just a few streets away from the historic squares and you see how run down it is. The Cuban people don't own their buildings, only the apartments within them. Some families choose to paint the outsides but many don’t. That means you may see the bottom half of a building painted and the top crumbling because they are owned by two families. While walking on the Prado, a promenade for pedestrians to stroll, our guide Juan explained that only recently are the people to be able to buy property. Before, they came to the Prado with details of their property and then traded dwellings amongst themselves when they needed to move. He also showed us his food card which the Cubans use to purchase food at special markets and bodegas. Rations are reviewed monthly and they can pick up the basic food needs: 5 eggs, meat, beans, rice, milk, etc. The rationed allotment is free and if you need more you can purchase it at a subsidized price.

Walking and driving through Habana Vieja you see small snippets of the Cuban life. Their doors are open and their lives often spill out onto the streets. Through my walkabouts, I saw people dancing together or practicing solo in small rooms with techno and traditional Afro-Cuban music blaring - often with the TV still on. In a small living room children played with dolls. A man sat at his entrance, selling four little bags of macaroni pasta and a small pile of eggs. Some people sat quietly on their front step, others were talking with friends or neighbors. Teen girls whispered about boys. I spied a tiny tree with tinsel in a front room and a family enjoying a meal in back. There were entrances and tall staircases with electrical wiring that looked alarmingly unsafe.

There were small logos on doors for new businesses popping up. It wasn’t until the end of Fidel’s rule he allowed entrepreneurial self-employment. There are now small gyms, dancing schools, home art galleries and record stores to name a few.

There is no internet (unless you find a wi-fi spot, which you’ll know instantly by the many young folks milling about with their phones or go to a tourist hotel) so people still interact and socialize.

Iliana our hotel host said it herself, "Cubans are loud people. Even if there are right here,”--- pointing a foot away from her--- "we speak loudly." They talk at great length even over simple things like directions. Drivers do not pull out maps or phones when they need directions; they simply yell over to the next car or pull to the side to ask someone standing on the street. The conversations can go on for quite some time. It reminded me of how isolated and independent we have become with information fingertips. I thought about how much are we missing when we turn to our computers or phones and overlook the people we are right next to.

Something has definitely been lost in our culture.

It was an expansive trip for me. I learned so much about The Cuban Revolution, about Amercia’s embargo on Cuba and the mix of emotions and tension it has created. I saw a country with hope that things are getting better but are still hard when faced with the reality that they can not easily leave.

Being an entrepreneur myself, I couldn’t help but notice how businesses run in Cuba.

There was a dark grey Art Nouveaux building near the Prado that held a perfumery. I had big expectations - the thought of Cuban perfume seemed so exotic. However, upon entering this beautiful building the perfumes were not original scents but many of the bigger European brands seen anywhere else in the world. They were stacked in their boxes and locked up in two cages. Very unapproachable. Two nicely dressed sales people stood at the back behind an empty counter that would have easily been set up for sampling and spontaneous tourist purchases.

I wasn’t sure I was aligned with the aesthetics in Cuba before I left for my trip. However after a week of walking through the city, which I can only describes as a shade brighter than power pink, mint green and sky blue, the pallette made complete sense and seemed perfect and beautiful. Women dressed in bright colors, neon even, skirts that fit so with such body contouring I was impressed that they were so comfortable in their bodies. I saw a lot of men in black and white patterns with brightly colored accents. Red shoes were very popular as were distressed jeans on both sexes. The accessories on one woman were a hot pink belt and matching pumps which made me recoil at first. But when I saw her dancing rumba with her partner at the Casa de la Musica and the way she moved her hips to the beat, I suddenly thought her choice of attire looked lovely and tasteful and I wanted to be her. She later returned to her group of friends with a big ice bucket on the table with a large bottle of rum and poured some in her glass with the Cuban equivalent to coca-cola.

The art of every culture is always a big draw for me. One day I had a big dose of Cuban art. Going from Miramar to Playa, areas with points of interest far apart from one another, you can hire a cab for $25 an hour and they will wait as you enjoy each stop. We were taken to an alley with many murals, El Callejón de Hamel by Cuban muralist Salvador González. Besides his murals there is outsider art including bathtubs as benches to rest on and rough plasma cut metal and found object sculptures. The alley is said to have dancing (Rumba) on Sundays.

El Callejón de Hamel by Cuban muralist Salvador González

I’d wished we’d put in more effort to architectural points of interest. We had hoped to see the architecture of the ISA (the art school). However we could not get in without an appointment. But the brick domes and organic arches looked very interesting as we peered over the fence. Driving on El Malecón we passed Parque José Martí Stadium an abandoned stadium built in the 1940’s. Architecturally interesting with it’s faded colored benches and shell-like arches, I have had dreams about it since I have been back and have looked up further images and information to ponder.

There are two artists in particular I took note of. The first is Kcho, an internationally recognized artist who became well known in his 20’s and has shared his success with the community by opening up his studio and compound to all. His complex is in walking distance of ISA. You are supposed to make an appointment in advance, but we got lucky stopping by and joined another tour already underway. The complex has a gallery where he shows guest artists and a working warehouse/studio for himself, which is the most interesting. He also shares the space with his 18 year old son, who is in the arts. Outside are more works in progress, outdoor sculptures and public artworks. The piece that pretty much describes what some of the more outright Cuban people think of American was a tall tower of luggage with the American flag draped over the top titled "I don’t want anything from you.” There is also a small theater and computer lab. Through a sponsorship with Google it is the one place in Havana with free internet.

The second artist of note is Casa Estudio Jose Fuster (Jamanita). This tile artist has made a museum that is definitely worth seeing. Not only has he created an endless tile mosaic world of sculptures and murals that has totally transformed his own property, he also extends his work into the neighborhood, neighbors’ houses, alley walls, bus stop, and practically any available surface.

For me, travel is not about seeing things that align perfectly with who I believe I am. I think I travel because it shows me where I am limited. I have to say the pollution from leaded gas was hard to breath in and the food was a little underwhelming. But even with this I had some notable adventures.

Imagine the thought of planning a peaceful trip to the countryside of Viñales to escape the pollution and crowds only to find your driver waiting for you with a Lada - a Russian car from the days when Russians support was integral to Cuba (1959-1991). Ladas have notoriously poor exhaust systems (which fill the backseats with fumes), no seat belts and our driver had to pull over several times for roadside repairs and adjustments.

Lunches sometimes felt a bit like torture as we had to wait up to 2 1/2 hours for the food to arrive. What do you talk about with no iPhone to distract you? How do you keep up conversation? You don’t. You let the pauses and many moments of stillness be there. You wait patiently and enjoy the moist air awhile you relax. And when your food finally arrives and it expectations let you down, you eat every bit and appreciate the way you feel nourished and have regained some energy for the next adventure.

I’m happy to share my favorite finds or an itinerary that I think would be helpful for anyone thinking of visiting Cuba. But I suggest instead to simply be present and watch. Cuba is a beautiful culture so different that ours. Once I slowed down and realized I was not looking for big a-ha moments, I began to appreciate it much more. I feel lucky to have visited. A Socialist government I had never experienced. If I were to go back I would go with a better camera, take a dance class, do a little more research on the architecture and food, and hopefully know some Spanish.

I don’t know how quickly travel in Cuba will change but, email me if you would like my highlights of my week in Havana. I have a detailed list. As a woman I should say I did not travel alone and was with a man, but found the people either friendly or indifferent and I felt safe in all areas we ventured.

I am never sure how I will process these images and cultures into my work but I know for one thing it changes me and refreshes my world.

June by April

August 2, 2015InspirationApril HigashiComment

I was 30 when I met June Schwarcz at her 80th retrospective at the American Craft Museum. When I approached her to ask to work as her assistant, we complimented each other on our skirts, both Commes des Garçons, and were soon so lost in conversation that I forgot to mention I'd love to work for her. The line behind me getting long, I gave her my card and told her I admired her work and that I also worked in enamel. June had the same idea I did, and a month later invited me to join her in the studio. Mondays were filled with three hours of work and four hours of lunch, sharing stories about art, the people who made and sold it and ordinary things like family and relationships.

Working for June, I learned how she saw and created in three dimensions. One of the first task she gave me was to lay out a flat pattern and cut it out of thin copper, like cutting fabric for clothing. June's process was much like sewing. Inspiration came from anything she felt was beautiful: when her grandson Adam went through a phase of wearing oversized, droopy pants, she did a series of vessels about his pants. She often said she didn’t like conceptual art because if it wasn’t beautiful, she couldn’t relate to it.

Though she was 50 years older, she always wanted to pull her own weight. I had to trick her into letting me help her with things. When leaving her studio together, June carrying her heavy basket of supplies up the stairs, I'd offer, "June, let me get that." She'd refuse and ask me to get the lights. I knew in the future not to ask before grabbing the basket.

Over the last seventeen years, I visited her regularly, we went to art shows and dinners. I dressed for June, because we were both interested in fashion and we had similar taste. She always wore something interesting unless she was in the studio. I like a gal who has a sense of style but also gets down to business. For an opening at Susan Cummins Gallery, she arrived in black Issey Miyake, and someone had handed her a bright pink peony. I complimented her shoes, so cool and perfect with the outfit! I asked her where she got them. "Oh honey, it's the best little shoe store called Gimme Shoes, I've got to take you there!" I loved that she thought I wouldn't know about it--the hippest shoe store in San Francisco--and I imagined her there picking out her shoes.

I was lucky enough to trade work with her. One piece of mine she wanted was an all-red enameled Panel Bracelet that was in a show at the Richmond Art Center. June called me and said, "I know the show is not coming down for a week but I am going to New York and I have the perfect outfit to wear that with. Would you ask them if you could get it early?" I got her the bracelet for her trip.

There was so much more to June than fashion. She was young at heart and I never felt our age difference until I started to see her hand shaking as she picked up her tea. She was the most inspiring and curious woman I've ever met. She had great taste and gave her opinions freely. Beauty, honesty and curiosity were were our connection. If you were fortunate enough to have met her even once, your perspective on life as a woman artist was changed forever.

June 10, 1918– August 2, 2015

Wear It Everyday!

April 20, 2009InspirationApril HigashiComment

Sometimes my clients inspire me...

Here is the Fredrica Bracelet. 18k Yellow Gold with three Raw Diamonds.

This bracelet is great to wear on its own or stack it with a nice thick cuff or other thin bracelets. I made this for my client, she inspired me with her style. Once I made it and put it on, I had to make one for myself. I wear it everyday....yes, everyday, so easy to wear and elegant on the eye.

I also make them in a white gold or silver, which has a cool look. These days I'm a yellow gold girl. But I don't hesitate to wear mixed metals. It is about wearing an aesthetic, not a single metal color.