Downtown Yonkers - June 28, 2025
If you've always wanted to experience a piece of Japan, now is your chance and you don't even have to leave the city limits!
The 'Anime: East Meets West Through Arts and Pop Culture' exhibition produced by the Blue Door Art Center opened to visitors this past weekend. The showcase includes a diversity of original works of art inspired by some of the most beloved anime characters, created by artists from across Yonkers, the greater NY region, and as far as the United Kingdom.
11-year-old Dakota Jimenez from Brooklyn, the show's youngest participant, traveled to Yonkers with his family to celebrate his artistic debut. His art piece "Uncomfortable" is inspired by the horror video game Five Nights at Freddy's in which you must survive after five nights at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. The game has become a popular Hollywood franchise.
“I feel really proud that my work ended up being in a gallery. It’s pretty nice,” he said.
Dakota Jimenez had his debut as an artist at the Blue Door Art Center. He's been drawing since he was 6-years-old.
Once reserved for so-called “geeks,” anime has had a major boost in popularity since reaching international audiences beginning in the 1990s. Within the last few years, anime has become even more mainstream with some of the biggest creatives citing it for inspiration. Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion has become a de facto ambassador of the genre and culture, adopting the style in her music videos, attending comic conventions, and now producing an anime cartoon series in partnership with Amazon Prime Video.
The anime theme was inspired by Gallery Director and exhibit curator Michele Amaro’s travels to Japan, where she lived for seven years. She decided to put on a show that could encourage others to explore the art form after witnessing her son also take an interest in amine. Amaro was reminded that an important part of establishing one’s own identity comes from being able to explore different ways of living.
Working alongside Co-Executive Director Luis Perelman, the two curated a show that illustrates different aspects of Japanese culture. The result? An exhibit that features paintings and drawings alongside an array of artifacts to interact with. From wind chimes dancing and singing in the breeze of a nearby fan to a display of “noodle stopper” figurines inspired by anime characters, the exhibition will open up visitor appetites in more ways than one.
For Amaro, it’s all about giving the community avenues of expression and providing professional opportunities to artists, whether up-and-coming or established.
“It gives them encouragement,” Amaro says. “It gives them a sense of pride and self-confidence and that is worth a million bucks!”
The 'Anime: East Meets West Through Arts and Pop Culture' showcase will be on display through July 26, 2025. The Blue Door Art Center is open to the public every Thursday and Friday from 3-6 pm and Saturday from 1 pm-6 pm.