5-Mile Artist’s Painting Displayed In Japan Show

A little bit of Five Mile Prairie has found its way to Nakano, Japan.

The small mountain town, just a few miles northeast of Nagano and the Olympic Village, is hosting an international art show.

Work contributed by nearly 2,000 artists from around the world is on display.

Included in the display is a stitched painting by Five Mile Prairie resident Judy Patterson.

“There was quite an effort to involve artists from all over the world,” she said.

Patterson, who has lived on the prairie for 30 years, said inspiration for the art was right outside her window: wild rose bushes in the snow, with one or two brilliant rose hips left on the branches.

The artist uses a unique stitched-painting style. Small swatches of fabric and fiber are stitched to the canvas to create the design.

Patterson’s art was also recently displayed as part of the downtown “Works from the Heart” show.

Patterson has another connection to Nakano: her daughter-in-law, Rie Patterson is from the town. Rie’s father, Chigeki Itchikawa, also an artist, still lives there. He sent Patterson an invitation and entry form for the juried show.

, DataTimes