Seattle-based Japanese artist Mari Ichimasu's signature series, Fur Coats and Backpacks; The Travel Cats will be exhibited in the lush green season of the garden. The exhibition will feature original watercolor paintings, as well as sketches and drafts related to these works. Visitors can participate in a commemorative original stamp rally and are encouraged to bring their notebooks or sketchbooks. Come meet the backpacking cats residing in the garden! 

About Mari:

Mari Ichimasu is an artist from Japan, based in Seattle. She has been creating comics and characters since her early teenage years, finding joy and healing in visualizing and bringing her imagination to life. In her 20s, her father took her to Oze National Park, where she discovered her love of nature and experienced the deep cleansing power of the virgin beech forest. She named her art studio Little Oze after this special place. During college, she discovered stop-motion animation and soon created a story for a short film called SANPOMICHI. She continues to work on this project today. Her signature project, Fur Coats and Backpacks; a series of traveling cat portraits and their poems was published by Seattle independent publisher Chin Music Press, and her furry vagabond friends have been traveling around the world ever since. 

The cat’s name is Chowder.

The Cat’s name is Maki.

The Cat’s name is Keisha.

The Travel Cats will be on display through June 30, 2024. Come meet Mari during the opening reception on Thursday, May 2 at 5pm. Admission to the garden is free after Noon on 5/2 for Free First Thursday.