NW Asian Weekly Article

Celebrating Art, Culture, and Environmental Action: “Upstream Together” Featured in Northwest Asian Weekly

We were thrilled to see Northwest Asian Weekly shine a spotlight on Teruko Nimura and her powerful new installation, Upstream Together, in a recent article by writer Kai Curry. The piece beautifully captures the heart of Teruko’s work and her deep commitment to community, culture, and environmental sustainability.

As the current Artist in Residence for the City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services, Teruko has spent the past year engaging students, residents, and community members in a creative journey that reflects on our shared responsibility to care for the planet. Drawing inspiration from her Japanese heritage, Upstream Together reimagines traditional koinobori—colorful carp streamers flown for Children’s Day—by crafting them from donated reusable shopping bags. Suspended overhead, these streamers will float above viewers at the South Sound Sustainability Expo like a sky of wind and water, inviting reflection and connection.

We especially appreciate how Curry’s article explores the layers of meaning in Teruko’s work—from the environmental themes and cultural symbolism to her collaborative process with youth from Tacoma’s Science and Math Institute (SAMI). The papier mâché dragons created by students during her workshop add yet another dimension, bringing in stories of endangered species, wildlife trafficking, and the future of our shared ecosystems.

As Kai Curry writes, Teruko’s installations serve as both art and message. They are immersive, symbolic, and deeply personal. Her practice is rooted in storytelling—of memory, identity, and intergenerational connection—and the materials she uses (reclaimed, donated, handmade) speak as much as the final form.

We’re grateful to Kai Curry and Northwest Asian Weekly for capturing this moment so thoughtfully. You can read the full article here.