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36 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 21, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com First of three works on display Continued from page 31 carving a plank of wood, cleaning it, and then using ink and a paper rub to create an impression. "I kept calling (Ruitenbeeck) and saying, I'm struggling," she said. "Finally, I said, I think I can show you. He was pleased." In about two months, Emerald Summer will be replaced by either Setting Sail or Gateway to the East, all of which were completed in 2006. Gateway to the East features yellows, pinks, reds, oranges and more, while Setting Sail is dominated by purples, greens and blues. The works not on display are currently in the Prince Takamado Gallery of Japan. Each will be featured separately in the Bloor Street window until May, 2008. "Each one is so entirely different," said Matsubara. "That's how it came out. I didn't want to do a series, that would be boring." The process of getting each colour right took the most time. "I would be working and that shade of blue bothers me, so I use a slightly different "I would be working and that shade of blue bothers me, so I use a slightly different blue. That's beside the yellow and now the yellow bothers me. You make lots of mistakes. You really have to think as a whole." Artist Naoko Matsubara blue. That's beside the yellow and now the yellow bothers me. You make lots of mistakes," she said. "You really have to think as a whole." And while there were many trials, once each work was ready, Matsubara knew. "It's a gut feeling. Your gut tells you this is it. I can't put anything more into it." And she would know ­ Matsubara has been doing this for 50 years. Her work has been on display in solo exhibits all over the world including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna, New York, Kyoto, Tokyo, Boston and Vancouver, and belongs to public and private collections including the University of Toronto, the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art and the White House. Many Oakville residents will be familiar with the giant mural in the Oakville YMCA ­ that's a Matsubara. "That one, too, I worked on for so long," she said. "If the work satisfies me, I show it. If it doesn't satisfy me, I won't show it." The art for Bloor Street, an incredibly high-traffic area, had to be special. "It's a really nice place and a really nice window," said Matsubara. "It is an honour for people to ask me to do the work, to be hanging on Bloor Street." After 15 years as Burlington's favourite destination for designer clothing and accessories, Rita is closing her doors forever. All merchandise is 70% off. ONLY 10 LEFT! DAYS NO REASONABLE OFFER REF USED RITA'S FASHIONS MAPLEVIEW CENTRE ­ UPPER LEVEL 900 MAPLE AVENUE 905-634-1620 (Between East Side Mario's and Sears)