"Rainy Day" Acrylic on Canvas, 16" x 20", 2011 From Anekawa’s Splash Series. Mieko Anekawa, a Japanese painter who was featured in the Queens Gazette last year, has been continuing to make her presence known in Long Island City.

Anekawa, who is best regarded for her unique melding of graphic design, fashion and painting, was featured in the Ambient Milieus show at Space Womb, located at 22-48 Jackson Ave., along with numerous other local artists this month. Anekawa was the only one invited to show her work, while the other artists had to apply for their spots. portrait featured a painted woman with hair made of a different material such as bubble wrap, tile, foil and various other materials, found in Astoria and Long Island City.

“I’m trying to go green while incorporating the neighborhood in my work,” Anekawa said.

The foil featured in one of the portraits was taken from Fatty’s Café, where she got her start in the neighborhood. Her piece entitled “Astoria Pool” was donated to Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr.’s office in April.

"Vibrance and Pride" Mixmedia on Paper board, 16" x 20", 2010 Since she was last featured in the Gazette, Anekawa has kept busy, constantly expanding and improving her work both here and back home in Japan. Many of the

The work shown was her new series of female hairstyle portraits composed of acrylic paints and recycled products. Each events she has contributed to were for a number of causes, such as the Japan earthquake relief in April and Project Children Against Danger in November 2010. Her art is also expected to be featured on the cover of the Studio Visit issue of New American Paintings sometime this fall.

"Skyline" Acrylic on Canvas board, 2004 "Doors Floating" Acrylic on Canvas, 8" x 8", 2010 Anekawa was most recently featured at Art ALIVE Astoria hosted by Design for You Events last week. Information about the artist, as well as art for sale and freelance work, can be found on her Web site, www.miekomieko.com.

Recycled Material: Fabric, Contributed by Creator's Co-op Fron Hair Show with Recycled Materials.