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An Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Woodcuts Arts Atrium Gallery, Union College Schenectady, New York January 10 - February 14, 2005 Curated by Professor Sandy Wimer |
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This exhibition includes works by eight hanga
woodblock artists living in North America: Suezan Aikins, Takuji Hamanaka,
Daniel Heyman, Mike Lyon, Bill Paden, Yasu Shibata, Keiji Shinohara and April
Vollmer. Hanga means printmaking and moku means wood, moku hanga is the
traditional printmaking technique of Japan. This exhibition presents work by
contemporary artists outside Japan, accomplished artists who cut and print their
own blocks to make original prints. The work of these artists demonstrates
the possibilities of hanga woodcut as a medium for contemporary expression.
Several of the artists work with well-known artists as master printers, and
many of them also teach this technique.
Woodblock traveled from China to Japan where it evolved into the sophisticated multi-color technique used to print the classic ukiyo-e prints of 18th century Japan. Ukiyo-e can be translated as "prints of the floating world," images of the transient world of pleasure. They were the central form of expression in Japan as it evolved from an agrarian into a modern society. Ukiyo-e prints were made for an audience of city dwellers by a group that included artist, publisher, carver and printer. Because of this specialization, it is hard to surpass the technical perfection of Ukiyo-e prints. "Moku Hanga at Union" is an exhibition about the revitalization of this traditional Japanese technique by an international group of contemporary artists who use the technique to create original work. This exhibition shows moku hanga to be a flexible, non-toxic printmaking process with a historical and cultural connection to Japan and to an exciting period in world printmaking. (April Vollmer, January, 2005) A gallery talk is scheduled for February 10, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in the Arts Atrium Gallery, Arts Bldg., Union College, Schenectady, New York. April Vollmer is the invited guest for this show and she will speak on the various works exhibited in the gallery. The public is invited to attend. The class materials for The Floating World: Prints and Printmaking, AHA 71/ AVA 71, April Vollmer's visit, and exhibition expenses are funded by the Freeman Foundation and the Visual Art Department. |
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©2003-2005 Union College, 807 Union St., Schenectady NY 12308-3107. All rights reserved. |