Laura Kina is a queer, disabled, mixed-race Okinawan American artist and educator whose work focuses on Asian American art and identity. Kina is a Vincent de Paul Professor at the Art School at DePaul University in Chicago and is the coeditor of War Baby / Love Child: Mixed Race Asian American Art and Queering Contemporary Asian American Art and the illustrator of Lee A. Tonouchi's award-winning children's book Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos.

Jave Yoshimoto is a recipient of the 2015 Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant and a recognition award from the Friends of the United Nations in New York and associate professor of art at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he teaches painting compositions and professional practices. He is a visual artist, competitive axe thrower and cat lover. His works represent the visual history of humanitarian struggles.

"Laura Kina and Jave Yoshimoto foreground care, exchange, and the power of collectivity during the perilous time of COVID-19 and heightened anti-Asian violence in this truly beautiful publication. The illustrations in Word of Mouth are as individual and gorgeous as the work of these artists and their poignant messages on racism and the power of family, storytelling, and healing for our time."
--Alexandra Chang, Rutgers University-Newark

"Word of Mouth provides a rich tapestry of Asian American cuisine through the lens of personal stories and culinary traditions. This captivating book delves into the diverse flavors, cultural influences, and experiences that Asian Americans bring to the table."
--Anita Mannur, American University

"Word of Mouth is a colorful feast of images and words--chockful of delicious stories and pictures of Asian American conviviality. More than a cookbook, it is a bountiful meal."
--Martin F. Manalansan IV, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Publisher: University of Arkansas Press

Pub date: 2025-03-31

Length: 136 pages