Christine Nakazawa, with Marty Barth, was my favorite arts vendor at Northern California arts events. I loved the cute, colorful kitties and birds and flowers that Christine would paint on vases and dishes that Marty made. Over the years, I have collected quite a few of their work, and they have brightened up my living room quite a bit.
After I got to know the two of them well, Christine would make custom ceramic pieces for me, e.g. a nice little vase (and put her rendering of my Manx on the vase!) I know that Christine liked collecting rocks, so whenever I went on an overseas trip I would remember to gather a few pebbles from various parts of the world and give them to Christine when I returned.
It was with great shock and sadness, therefore, that I heard from Marty that Christine had passed away in Sept 2007 after a bout with cancer. (I had gotten concerned when I didn't see them in any arts shows at all in 2007. At that time I thought they were just adjusting their sales area, but when I still didn't see them in 2008 I started getting worried.)
Marty is in the process of preserving all of Christine's work as well as trying to find homes for most of Christine's cats (his new place can't accommodate them all). He's also planning to set up a separate email account so that the fans of Christine's work can contact him for further information. In the meantime, you can always post your comments here or email me at this blog and I'll forward your message to Marty.
Christine, thanks for all the colorful art you gave us over the years. They remind us of your cheerful personality and always optimistic outlook. I'm sure that right now you're being guarded in Heaven by those same colorful kitty-angels that you drew so vividly for us :-)
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19 comments:
Thank you for creating a beautiful blog tribute to Christine. Christine was my dear, dear friend and I still miss her so. I can't believe it will almost be a year. She touched so many lives with her warmth and through her beautiful work she created with Marty. Her designs were infused with that part of her personality that found happiness in bringing joy to others. Most of them were modeled her beloved cats she and Marty had and the numerous neighborhood strays they fed. Her picture hangs in my art studio. She was so supportive to me through the years and especially with my own artwork. She encouraged me to go on to graduate school. And she was one of the first people I told when I did get in. She still is and always will be my art muse.
I discovered your blog via Barbara Horiuchi and Christine's brother, Glenn. Thank you for doing this in Christine's memory.
I met Christine when she was in high school. Glenn was and still is my best childhood friend, and I recall spending time in their home on Balfour with their mom Yoni doing art. My older brother Dan and Christine were great friends. When Dan was killed in an auto accident, she and I held onto each other and never let go until a year ago.
I was honored to join Marty and Glenn and the Nakazawa family for her memorial service and the celebration of her remarkable life. I live in Dallas, but I took time that weekend to sit on the beach at Crescent Bay where we all used to play when we were kids. The warm sand reminded me of Christine experimenting with mixing beach sand (Huntington No. 6 as I recall) with the clay to give her pots just the right texture. And the surfers that day had me thinking of Dan and his bitchin' skim board.
Christine met my two kids and me for dinner at The Crab Cooker in Newport Beach one night in 1996 during a California vacation. Caroline was 14 and Christopher was 9, and they listened intently to Christine's stories about her life as a potter and artist. Then Christine asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. Caroline - a teacher...Chris - a car designer.
A few years later when Caroline was college-bound, she recalled meeting Christine and said that our dinner that night made an impact on her decision to teach art. Chris just loved the crab. But today Caroline is an art teacher in Devens, Mass and Chris is studying landscape architecture at LSU...both are talented artists.
Christine's art lives on in my kids just like her mom Yoni's art lives on in me. I'm a better person for knowing them both.
Jon Beasley
Dallas, Texas
I was strolling down memory lane today and Christine popped into my mind. I was so shocked and saddened to find out of her passing. Christine was my neighbor on Orange Ave. in Costa Mesa for a wondeful year. I remeber assembling clocks and staying up late into the night with her and Marty before they were due to take off for a show. She inspired me to go back to school and she was like second mother to me when I was so far from home. In the short amount of time I knew her she touched my life in so many ways. My thoughts and prayers are with Marty and Christine's brother and family. I loved her dearly and will miss her tremendously!
brhoriuchi, Jon, Kim and Chris,
Thanks so much for leaving your comments! It's so nice to hear from others in the world who were friends and neighbors with Christine at various times-- in fact, I'm sure you knew her better than I did! No matter what, her laughter and her artwork will always remain with us.
Ben Chui
It's that time of year and I still think of Christine, especially more so when August comes into September. I will pull out my kitty mug she made and have some genmaicha tea and think of her. She still touches lives to this day whenever someone uses one of her beautiful wares. I miss you Christine.
thank you
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I bet there are many people who Christine touched. My heart fills up with joy every time I use the mugs that she painted. My friend and I had been wondering where Christine and Marty were when we couldn't find them at the various arts and craft fairs. I still have their business card on my refrigerator and thought to "google" her name...and that is when I came across your tribute to Chrsitine and her work. Even though it has been three years since her passing, I would greatly appreciate it if you could pass my deepest sympathy to Marty and to let him know that Christine's work and soul bring me joy every day.
Hello. thanks for setting up the tribute. I learned about it through Barb and Jon, both artists and both very close friends of Christine and our family.
I am surprised and pleased to learn that people are still visiting and posting 3 years after Christine passed away. I was always meaning to post something. well, better late than never.
I think the most important things I could say about Christine are what I said about her during her memorial. so forgive me for being repetitive, but I am going to copy the speech I gave.
Christine was my older sister. I was the youngest of our family. so as long as I can remember, she was always there for me.
growing up, I was never lonely. I always had a playmate by my side. my parents used to tell me that Christine was the ideal older sister. If any of you have seen any of the Nakazawa boys when we were little kids........we could be pretty wild. but Christine never lost her patience. when she was little and wanted to draw herself a picture, or build herself something, she had to make something for me first-- then give it to me so I could start destroying it. once I was busy and distracted, then she would allow herself to start playing. that was so typical of Christine....thinking of others before thinking about herself.
I will miss her.
though she is gone, I will always love and admire her. Christine had a special spirit. she chose a path on the road less traveled. she was an artist, a creator. she made her living by doing the things she loved.
for that I admire her.
Christine was generous. I sometimes jokingly referred to her as my "starving artist" sister. but she would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. she never met a stray cat she could turn away. and unknown to me, she made arrangements with the organization One Legacy to donate her eyes for transplantation. she found out the cornea could be given even if the donor had cancer. this gesture was another example of how she wanted to give to others.
for that I admire her.
she was outgoing and friendly. she could talk to complete strangers about anything. often, with time, those strangers would become her friends. when I would call her medical team to get updates about her condition, I would introduce myself as Christine's brother. usually there would be a pause, then the receptionist or nurse would say
"oh yeah. I know Christine."
it was as if I could see them smiling over the phone.
for that I admire her.
and she was courageous. she faced her cancer head on. she learned as much as she could about it. she believed the more knowledge she had, the harder she could fight back.
she never complained. when I asked her how she was doing, she would put up a brave front and say
"I'm OK."
or
"I'm still alive!!"
she didn't want me to worry too much. she tried her best to stay positive. she acted like I was the one who needed my spirits lifted.
for that I admire her.
and as she slowly grew weaker and weaker, I think we could both sense her end was near. but she would never let on, as if to talk about it would be admitting surrender and defeat.
she had to lower her goals, but she still set goals.
little things.
like growing back her hair.
or regaining enough strength to go for a walk outside in the sun.
or feeling strong enough to sit up and draw.
she never lost her ability to appreciate the little things she still had.
she never gave up.
for that I admire her.
Near the end, I asked her, as my older sister, if she had any advice for her younger brother. she couldn't think of anything at that moment. maybe I had taken her by surprise. after a short pause, she said
"no, not really."
then she asked me if I had anything to say to her and I said
"no, not really.
only that I love you.
my wife and family and kids love you.
and we are proud of what you have done with your life."
she told me: "that's all I need to hear"
a few days later, Christine was gone.
and even though at that moment, she could not put her advice into words, I think she was able to show it to me:
life is short.
don't be afraid to face it head on..
reach out.
make some friends along the way.
spend it doing things you love.
with people you love.
remember to tell them that you love them.
Finally, Marty's mother "Peg" shared with me that she used to exchange poetry and haiku with Christine. this is my haiku in honor of my sister. christine passed away on the last day of summer, but it was raining in southern california:
Chris whispered goodbye
as summer faded to fall
the sky was crying
it's been over 3 years, but we're still with you Christine!
glenn
My heart is breaking. Today I was thinking of my dear friend Christine LaBean, who I lost touch with a few years back. I decided to do a google search to see if I could find her, to reconnect. I came across this blog. Needless to say, I felt like I had swallowed a ton of bricks. I met Christine when she & Marty were living on Orange Ave. We were neighbors. Immediately they became much more than that to me. I fell in love with them both- who wouldn't? I've thought of Christine & Marty often throughout the years & have missed them. Whenever a stray animal comes across my path, I welcome it & think of Christine LaBean. Whenever I see a pretty little poppy, I smile & think of Christine LaBean. Today I pulled out a framed drawing I keep in my desk of two little girls. One has long curly dark hair and the other, short brown hair. They are holding hands in a garden & smiling. Christine doodled it for me years back, put it in a frame & left it on my doorstep with a little note. It was us, as the little girls we always became whenever we were with each other. My heart is breaking today. Goodbye my friend. I love you. Tracie
So sad to hear. She was one of my favorite artists too. I use her kitty tea bag holder (all I could afford at the time) every day. I just came across their business card and did the google thing. Please pass my condolences to Marty.
I was using Christine's sunflower mug yesterday drinking my coffee...it always make me cheery and makes me remember her infectious laugh. She was such a wonderful soul. I still miss her something awful....and I always will.
Thank you, everyone, for continuing to remember Christine all these years! My wife and I still enjoy seeing her playful kitties dance across our plates and soap dispensers and vases every day.... Every summer when I go to the Arts Fairs I feel like there's a stall missing that should be there.... Rest in Peace, Christine! We love you! Ben
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