The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival’s Haiku Invitational attracts writers from all over the world to submit poems from which winners are selected in six categories. The winning haiku are then given to emerging and established artists from cultural partners of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and Japanese-Canadian artists to produce exciting new visual works to celebrate the 2024 winning haiku and the transcendent fleeting beauty of the flowering cherry tree.
her sense of direction
much better today
sakura blossoms
Rachel Enomoto
Burnaby, British Columbia
before and after
cherry blossoms
the soft forgetting
Karin Hedetniemi
Victoria, British Columbia
April breeze
the hopscotch squares
fill with blossoms
Joanne Morcom
Calgary, Alberta
parting with a pinky promise cherry blossom
Sarah E. Metzler
Marion Center, Pennsylvania
heart to heart
with a stranger
cherry blossom
Madhuri Pillai
Melbourne, Australia
on the river
cherry blossoms float
my worries away
Raphe Dacre, Age 12
Christchurch, New Zealand
Artist Bios
Dahlila Charlie
Coast Salish design. Her art reflects this, and though she loves to draw upon the traditional formline already present in her region, she’s also pushing to create something new and modern. Seeing the amazing colour and energy of the coast, she strives to bring that same vibrancy to her work, in a variety of mediums. For Dahlila, coast Salish art is about bringing stories to life through colour, line-work and creative expression. As an artist, she cherishes each opportunity to explore and express her culture in unique, captivating ways.
Eliot Oscar White-Hill
Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun (he/they) is an artist and storyteller from the Snuneymuxw First Nation. His family has roots in the Coast Salish world in Penelakut and in the Nuu Chah Nulth world in Hupacasath. His interdisciplinary art practice is rooted in honouring and celebrating the stories and teachings passed down by his family, community, and culture. He works across a range of mediums, including digital art, painting, sculpture, installation, creative writing, and curation. He currently resides on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
Jackie Morisette
Jackie Morisette is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist from Saskatchewan, Canada, who works primarily with acrylics. Inspired by her mother’s impressionistic style, Morisette focuses on capturing simple moments of everyday life. Known for her landscapes, she aims to bring joy and beauty to others. Influenced by artists like Monet and Renoir, her work explores light and beauty, evolving into contemporary themes and mediums. Currently, she is exploring watercolors, murals, and digital art, with a focus on public art and community engagement.
Kaori Kasai
Hello! I’m Sleepless Kao, an illustrator and children’s book author who creates dreamy, nostalgic worlds in the quiet of the night. For the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, I illustrated artwork for the Haiku Exhibition—be sure to check it out! I’m also hosting a workshop booth at the festival’s Big Picnic, so come by and join the fun!
Nicole Larsen
I’m Nicole, a Vancouver-based muralist, artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. Over the last decade I’ve cultivated a deep passion for art and creative expression, and am inspired by the moments, emotions and shared humanity that connects us all. Rooted in my Japanese Canadian heritage and my connection to nature, my work is characterized by bold, vibrant colours and joyful and uplifting imagery. I’m dedicated to fostering community through creativity, and using my art to spread joy and bring people together!
Sandra Sugimoto
Sandra Sugimoto was born and raised on the Pacific Coast, on the unceded and traditional lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Her mixed media work often incorporates text, handmade papers, layered, textured surfaces, and materials found in nature. Currently, she is writing and illustrating a graphic memoir, generously supported by grants from the Canada Council and the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS). This work explores themes of family, memory, identity, social justice, resilience, and healing while weaving together perspectives and stories across four generations.