1402 Fifth St., Berkeley, Calif.
Fine art, modern jewelry, and exquisite textiles converge at Shibumi Gallery, a tiny shop in Berkeley’s Gilman District that spotlights local and international artists
In Japanese, the word shibumi translates loosely into “effortless perfection.” That’s what April Higashi aims to accomplish at her jewelry store of the same name. The notion is, in a sense, her inspiration, her North Star. It explains why she strives to mix fine art with modern jewelry and unusual textiles, why she celebrates artists with multiple shows each year, why she has remained in one of Berkeley’s quirkiest neighborhoods for nearly 15 years. “There’s an organic quality about this place that’s still being refined,” she says. “That’s one of the things that makes it special.”
Textiles to Jewelry
Higashi, now 51, always has been a creator. The half-Japanese