A group exhibition of the Asian American Women Artists Alliance
at A.I.R. Gallery, 511 W 25 Street, NYC, July 20 - August 7, 2004
Remembering Minn Matsuda
By Yan Kong
I met Minn in1998 at AAWAA's first exhibition in New York City. She proclaimed that if there were an artist organization that she wished to join it was AAWAA. She promptly joined our group and became our most senior member. Minn must have been 87 years old in 1998. I was always amazed at Minn's good energy and spirit. One day in 1999, I walked into Big Wong restaurant in Chinatown to grab a bite to eat and there was Minn, sitting alone eating a bowl of noodles. I went over to her and said, "Hello Minn! Don't I know you from somewhere?" She invited me to join her and we spent over an hour talking and eating. That was the beginning of our friendship. In her considerate way Minn was always looking out for us. She connected us with galleries through people that she knew and was the instigator for our show in 2000 at Gallery Studio 88 on the Upper West Side. She showed her support of AAWAA by attending every meeting that we had and was always ready to offer help. When she had her operation in spring of 2002, I visited her at her apartment. Karl, her son, had warned me that I should go there at 2 pm because a care person would be there to open the door. When I arrived at her apartment, I knocked on the door, and it was Minn who let me in. She greeted me with a great big smile and completely surprised me. I expected that she would be lying in bed! She said to me, "I am excited about moving to the Isabella Housing for the elderly. They give you three meals a day and a studio to paint!" I said to her; "You know what? No one cooks three meals a day for me and I don't have a studio to work! Perhaps I will sell my house and join you and get an early start!" It was so like Minn. At every cross road she will make it the best possible choice and enthusiastically embraced her new destiny. I love her like an older sister and a friend.
I visited Minn three times while she was at the Hospices. The first time was on July 16. I had the nurse take a picture of us. Her eyes shone, her spirit was good and she gave me big smiles and we talked about EAT ART. I told her I was glad for her decision and she promised to keep an eye on us wherever she was going. The second time, she was asleep. I sat and waited and watched her. Another visitor came and Minn woke up. She looked at us and said with a huge smile, "My! Have I kept you waiting long?" The last time was the Monday before she passed. I did not see the usual Minn. She could not speak. She looked at me for a moment and then she smiled. My hands looked monstrously large as I held hers. Her grip was strong though. She brushed hair from my face as I cried. I stayed with her a while until a nurse came to wash her. I said good-bye and still remembered the look on her face- a little sad but determined.
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