Artist/author honored | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Artist/author honored | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

THE LEFT LANE
Artist/author honored

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Artist, Zen follower and gardening enthusiast Mayumi Oda was born in Japan, has lived in New York and at a Zen retreat in Northern California, and now makes her home in Kealakekua, where she writes, paints, farms and is active in the peace movement. Oda's work weaves together her Buddhist beliefs, her "quest for the goddesses" and her experiences as an expatriate, a mother, an artist and a woman who has married and divorced.

Oda's latest works — including her new book, "I Opened the Gate Laughing" (Chronicle, hardback, $16.95) and a collection of her bright, fanciful East-West watercolor paintings — are being celebrated at an exhibition at the Robyn Buntin Galleries in Honolulu, with an opening reception 5-7 p.m. tomorrow. The exhibit runs through July 27. Information: 545-5572

Slippah fever

Guess what the Mainland is finally getting hip to this summer? Slippers. Or, as they're known in the fashion biz, flip-flops.

With prices as low as 99 cents, pairs are flying out of stores — some with sequins or braided leather and others with buckles or wooden wedge heels. (Not quite ready for plain old rubber "locals," we guess.)

People want something that's easy, offers a lot of variety and is inexpensive, said Meg Rottman, spokeswoman for the World Shoe Association. Even Sarah Jessica Parker — she of the $350 Manolo Blahnik stilettos — has been seen wearing flip-flops on "Sex and the City."

Sex up your TV

Psssst, here's some not-so-secret news: CBS and Victoria's Secret have signed a deal to create a prime time special to air during the November sweeps. The lingerie manufacturer is picking up a hefty portion of the production costs for a show that will feature big-name musical guests and a host.

ABC aired a similar special last November. The show was slammed by critics for being little more than soft porn, and some viewers complained to the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC decided ABC had broken no rules.

Books by the ton

Mark your calendar, get your comfy shoes ready and unearth the book bag or backpack. The 55th annual Friends of the Library Book Sale begins July 6 in the McKinley High School cafeteria and, as usual, the volunteer organization is expecting a line outside, a scramble inside and lots of repeat visitors. The event, the largest of its kind in the United States, last year netted more than $100,000 for equipment, books and programs for state libraries.

Special sales will include: Fiction and Record Day, July 8; Senior Discount Day (age 60 and up), July 9; Members Discount Day, July 10; Library Card Day, July 11; Half-Price Day, July 12; and 50 Cents Day, July 13.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 6-12; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 13.

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