November 11, 2004

‘Breath Strokes’ bring art to life

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Verdant rolling hills and the patio garden of the Cinnabar Hills Golf Club provided a picture-perfect backdrop for “Mrs. Fujii’s First-Year Anniversary Art Exhibit” on Sunday.

Anna Roth (red dress) and Julia Samuel display their work. Photo by Lorraine Gabbert

Excited students, age 5 through adult, came together in a sunlit atrium to show off the vivid colors and breath strokes of their work to their families. The beauty and brightness of their creations, which ranged from self-portrait pencil drawings to vibrant pastel sunflowers, was matched only by the glow of the smiling faces of the artists.

Surrounded by her assistants and students, Mimi Fujii awarded certificates to those who displayed the courage to ‘break through the wall,’ with their artistic expressions.

“It is through their courage and willingness to truly see art through their own heart that they are able to connect their heart and hand as one breath,” related Fujii. “Art through the breath of life is not only measurable through what can be seen, but also by what is within the heart of the artist. This is the magic that gives life to one’s art.”

Fujii, who teaches “Art through the Breath of Life,” believes that technique alone can not create living art. “Through breath strokes, the beauty of expression brings art to life,” she explains. For years, she struggled over which aspect to emphasize—technique or expression. “I thought I could only choose one, like I had to choose one husband over a couple of boyfriends,” she laughs. “If I chose technique, I’d loose expression, and suffer as an artist, but if I only chose expression, I’d be throwing away the technique I’d learned. Magic happened when I committed in my heart to expression; the technique I’d learned over 40 years came back to me, and they became one.”

Fujii has always had a passion for art. “Ever since I was small, I loved art so much,” she says. At Columbia College, she studied art, and soon founded her own graphic design studio, working for 14 years with large American and Japanese firms. However, it wasn’t until she had the chance to teach art to children at Graystone Elementary School that she rediscovered her joy of painting and found the freedom of expression for which she’d been searching.

“After that, I couldn’t go back to work being a graphic designer, but instead took one step forward to teach art,” she declares. Following her term at Graystone, Fujii opened her own art studio, which grew in one year from 12 students to over 100. “Because of you I am here,” she exclaimed to her gathered students. “And I want to thank each one of you for sharing with me, and showing me what’s really important as an artist.” Fujii further expressed her appreciation by singing a heartfelt Japanese song to the accompaniment of syncopated Persian drums played by her husband, Michael Fujii, and Cameron Modirian. “This song is a personal present for each of my students,” she said. “And I hope my breath will reach them.”

Mrs. Fujii

Drum students Ryan Chen, Jeffrey Chiu, Vincent Chiu, David Fujii, Faraz Modirian, and Lee Hsieh also performed their complicated synchronized drumming to the delight of the crowd. “You’ll see the same kind of breath stroke you see in your art class, but we call it ‘breath hit,’” said Michael Fujii. “There’s one beat, one heart, and one breath of life.”

Esperanza Hernandez, whose son and daughter are students of Mrs. Fujii, drank in the music. “I was closing my eyes to feel the music in my heart, as well as her words,” expressed Hernandez. “It gave me chills. It was wonderful and so lovely.” Hernandez appreciates what Fujii has given her family. “We just love her. She’s a wonderful teacher in so many ways,” she said. “She’s opened my son’s eyes. He’s very critical of himself, but Fujii made him realize that even though things are not perfect, they are beautiful the way they are. He had a breakthrough.”

Another student whose work showed incredible growth is Joseph Ge. “When he came the first day of class, he made one circle for the head, two dots for the eyes and one line for the nose and one for the lips,” said Fuji. “I could see the beauty in his expressing himself in such a simple way. After that he learned techniques and also made something beautiful [and far more advanced], showing that expression can be done with technique if it’s done with your heart.”

“I truly believe in teaching living art,” stated Fujii. “When I do the breath stroke, I feel the circle of life, and the beauty of life, through art. I really believe that this gives us peace.” After the tragedy of 9/11, she decided to make ceramic angels as a prayer for peace in the world. For her husband Michael, playing drums is his way of doing the same.

Fujii’s curriculum, which begins with the self-portrait, continues to Georgia O’Keefe’s Flower and Fruit Drawings, followed by abstract painting, and perspective drawing. Although her class focuses on fine art techniques, including theme, media, color, and theory, she also teaches art history, and aims to provide her students with a visual connection from which they can draw. “By experiencing living art, they can develop their own artistic expression and potential, not only in art, but in life,” she says. “In using the breath stroke, you let go of your feelings and freely express yourself.”

Susan Dalton was impressed with how much progress her daughter made in Fujii’s class, as well as the overall collection of the children’s artwork. “She has a knack for teaching the kids because they’re all so good,” comments Dalton. “It’s amazing.”

Michele Smeulders met Fujii at the Almaden Art and Wine Festival while appreciating her students’ work, and is training to become one of her assistants. “In just a few months I’ve already learned so much,” states Smeulders. “Mrs. Fujii has a specific technique, but the technique alone won’t get you to a finished work. Your heart and all the feelings you put into it—and all that you bring to your work—shows. Through her patience and kindness, Mrs. Fujii can bring out the best in her students. She’s determined to get your emotions on paper.”

Assistant Michael Chen attests that while teaching Fujii’s younger students, he has learned much as well. “By helping out with the little kids, I’ve seen how free they are in their drawings,” he comments. “They go for it, and there’s so much more life in their art.”

Besides artwork, there were letters addressed to Fujii, such as one from Paulina who created a pencil drawing self-portrait entitled, ‘Me, when I’m happy.’ “Dear Mrs. Fujii,” stated the note, “Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of art—loving your own art no matter how good or bad people think it is. Now…I love my own art. I think you make a wonderful art teacher.”

Art student Priska Bitterli wrote that seeing how much her children enjoyed art classes with Fujii motivated her to take classes herself. “I always loved art but never had the courage or the time to do it,” admits Bitterli. “It is an exciting journey and I can’t wait for the next art lesson.”

Fujii said that she was very happy with the show. Last summer, when she only had 12 students, she hadn’t imagined teaching art as her career. Today she teaches over 100 students that what lies behind their art helps them grow as people, as well as artists.

“Because I teach from the basics, even the youngest children are able to draw freely,” says Fujii. “Through this art class, they learn how to focus, and also improve their writing in school. They are learning so much through art and I think it comes from the breath stroke. When I rediscovered my first love of art, I felt I had lost something that was very important. From there, my life changed. I am sharing this living art with all of my students. It’s wonderful.”

Mrs. Fujii’s Art School is located at 20365 Almaden Road. (408) 997-3112.