Hiroki Morinoue - Printmaker: The Philosophy of The Past On this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Hiroki Morinoue, an artist who resides and creates on the Big Island in Hawai'i. Together, we delve into his personal journey with mokuhanga, reflecting on his experiences at MI Lab, exploring his unique color palette, and gaining insights into his meticulous process in crafting mokuhanga prints. Additionally, we uncover Hiroki’s life in Hawai'i, his ventures, and his relationships with prominent galleries such as Studio 7 Fine Arts, print studio’s like Shark’s Ink, and the arts center at Anderson Ranch. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Print publishers are given if known. Hiroki Morinoue - Pure Water (2001) 18.5"x38.5" High Tide (2012) 22"x30" Earth Cycle (2007) 37.5"x37" MI Lab - is a mokuhanga artists residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. Keiko Hara - is an artist and Professor of Art Emerita at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. She is a painter, and printmaker in various relief mediums, such as mokuhanga. Verse R - black and white (2017) 13"x11" Jaqueline Gribbin - is a printmaker who focuses on mokuhanga and intaglio printing techniques. She lives and works in Humpty Doo, New Territory, Australia. Kisaragi (2012) 18.9" x 25" pochoir - is a stencilling technique used in printmaking and decorative arts. The term "pochoir" is French for "stencil." In this method, a design is created by cutting or punching holes in a sheet of paper or other material, and then paint or ink is applied through the openings onto a surface below. Pochoir allows for precise and intricate patterns, making it particularly popular in the creation of fine art prints, illustrations, and decorative designs. It has been historically employed in various art movements, including Art Nouveau and Art Deco. More info, here. Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) was a prominent American abstract expressionist painter known for her role in the Color Field painting movement. Her innovative technique involved staining unprimed canvas with thinned oil paint, creating a distinctive luminous effect. "Mountains and Sea" (1952) is a notable example of her influential work. Frankenthaler's contributions have left a lasting impact on postwar American art. Frankenthaler began to make woodcut prints in 1973 and was influenced by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858). More info about her prints can be found at the Frankenthaler Foundation, here. Tale of Genji V (1998) 42"x47" Donkey Mill Art Center - is a community art center located in Holualoa, Hawaii. It serves as a hub for various artistic activities, workshops, and events, fostering creative expression and engagement with the arts. The center often offers classes and programs in a variety of artistic disciplines, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, and more. More info, here. Mauna Kea - is the highest peak in the Hawaiian Islands, located on the Big Island. A dormant volcano, it stands at 13,796 feet (4,205 meters) above sea level. The mountain holds cultural significance for Native Hawaiians and is home to unique ecosystems. Mauna Loa - is an active shield volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, standing at 13,678 feet (4,169 meters) above sea level. It is the Earth's most massive subaerial volcano, known for frequent non-explosive eruptions and its broad, gently sloping shape. The volcano holds scientific and cultural significance and is closely monitored due to its potential impact on nearby communities. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. It was one of the largest environmental disasters in history. The spill resulted from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, releasing millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf. The incident had severe ecological and economic consequences, impacting marine life, coastal ecosystems, and local economies along the Gulf Coast. Thai mulberry paper - also known as "saa paper" or "kozo paper," is a traditional handmade paper originating from Thailand. It is crafted from the bark of the mulberry tree, specifically the Broussonetia papyrifera tree. Shark's Ink - established in 1976 as Shark’s Lithography Ltd, the studio has partnered with over 160 distinguished artists from the United States and Europe. These artists, known for their strong personal visions, engage in ongoing collaborations, often returning for multiple projects. The resulting prints, marked by inventive techniques, encompass a wide range of artistic approaches. The studio employs various processes, including lithography, monotype, metal leaf, chine collé, embossing, collage, and innovative methods for woodblocks and relief prints, including three-dimensional lithographs. More info, here. nori - is a type of paste made from starch. It is used when making mokuhanga. You can make nori from any type of material made from starch. For instance, paste can be made with tapioca, rice, corn, even potato. You can purchase nori pretty much anywhere but making it is more environmentally friendly. Laura Boswell has a great recipe, here. embossing - refers to a technique where the paper is pressed into the carved woodblocks, creating a raised or textured effect on the printed surface. This technique adds a three-dimensional quality to the print by making certain areas of the paper slightly elevated. Gotō Hidehiko (b.1953) - is a mokuhanga printmaker and tool maker based in Japan. He makes and teaches seminars about the construction of the mokuhanga tool, the baren. Window (2011) 15"x12" gomazuri - is a mokuhanga technique where slight pressure is used with pigments too make a “spotty” image, what look like sesame seeds. It can add depth to your prints. Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997) - was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist who worked in the sōsaku hanga style of mokuhanga. HIs fame outside of Japan was fairly comprehensive with his peak fame being in the 1950’s and 1960’s. For a comprehensive book on his life and times, Saitō Kiyoshi: Graphic Awakening published by The John & Mable Ringling Museum is an excellent source. Can be found, here. Lecture by Dr. Paget about Saitō can be found, here. My interview with Professor Paget can be found, here. Winter in Aizu (1969) 18"x23.5" Richard Notkin - is an American ceramic artist known for his pottery and distinctive style that often incorporates political and social commentary. Notkin has gained recognition for his work in the field of ceramics, particularly his teapots. Meltdown of Reason: Helena MT. (1987) stoneware and porcelain. 10.5"x5.5"x4.5" Mayumi Oda - is a Buddhist teacher and artist based in Hawai’i. Her artwork has gained international recognition, having traveled worldwide. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Mayumi is an environmental activist and resides and works at Ginger Hill Farm, an eco-retreat on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Explore more about Mayumi Oda’s work, here. Hands of Compassion (1986) screen print 37"x25" Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) - was a renowned American realist painter, known for his detailed and emotive depictions of the rural American landscape. Born in Pennsylvania, he spent much of his life capturing the subtleties of nature, particularly in the Brandywine Valley and coastal Maine. Christina's World (1948) 32 1/4 x 47 3/4" © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - The September Of My Years (1965) from the album The September Of My Years released on Reprise Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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2/5/2024 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 31 seconds Henry Smith PhD - Physical Chemistry In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with Henry Smith, Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of East Asian Languages & Cultures at Columbia University. Together we delve into the scientific aspects of Meiji woodblock prints, exploring the trajectory of Nishiki-e during the late Edo and Meiji eras. Additionally, we examine the significance of cochineal and naphthol dyes, and scrutinize particle sizes. Henry's scholarly contributions include groundbreaking articles on subjects such as Hokusai and the Blue Revolution, with the introduction of Prussian Blue to the Japanese woodblock aesthetic during the mid to late Edo Period. Join me in discovering how Henry's passion drew him into the enchanting world of Meiji woodblock prints, as we navigate the influence of Western collectors in Meiji Japan, exemplified by figures like English s urgeon William Anderson. Henry helps me in understanding the rich palette and the science behind Meiji prints, shaped by the infusion of imported dyes and pigments. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Publishers are given if known. The funeral procession of Meiji Emperor at Nijubashi designed by Yasuda Hanpo (1889-1947) Columbia Academic Commons Professor Henry Smith's article on the Japanese Student movement, here. Peter Gluck - is an American architect who has won multiple awards and has designed buildings all over the world. He is the principal of GLUCK+, an architecture firm based in New York City. Professor Carol Gluck - is a Special Research Scholar and George Sansom Professor Emerita of History, Department of History at Columbia University. She has written multiple books and articles on Japanese history. Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) - an American-Canadian journalist, activist who had written extensively on the life and death of North American cities such as New York City, and Toronto. Her book The Death And Life Of Great American Cities, is considered a classic in urban planning for the modern city and its subsequent decline. Robert Venturi (1925-2018) - was an American architect and theorist known for his contributions to postmodern architecture. He, along with his partner and wife Denise Scott Brown, played a key role in shaping architectural discourse in the late 20th century. Venturi challenged the modernist principles that dominated architecture at the time, advocating for a more inclusive and eclectic approach. His book, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966) was where he critiqued the rigidity of modernist architecture and championed a more diverse and contextual approach to architecture. Metabolism (Japan) - The Metabolism movement was characterized by a group of young Japanese architects and designers who sought to address the challenges of rapid urbanization and rebuilding after World War II. Key principles and concepts of Metabolism in Japanese architecture are megastructures, prefabrication and modularity, biology and organic growth, and technological innovation. One special notable example of Metabolist architecture was the now demolished Kisho Kurokawa's Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tōkyō. Shinjuku: The Phenomenal City - was the exhibition Henry Smith discussed in this episode. It was exhibited December 16, 1975 to March 7, 1976 at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City. More info, here. a+u magazine - also known as architecture and urbanism magazine, is a Japanese/English architecture magazine first published in 1971. More info, here. Kōji Taki (1928-2011) - was a Japanese author, architectural critic, editor, and key figure in the Metabolist movement. He played a significant role in shaping the discourse of contemporary architecture in Japan and was instrumental in promoting the ideas of the Metabolists. Kappabashi - located in Tōkyō's Asakusa district, is a renowned destination for kitchenware and restaurant supplies. The street is lined with stores offering a diverse range of products, including traditional Japanese knives, sushi-making equipment, and unique culinary gadgets. Kappabashi is especially popular for its sampuru shops, where visitors can buy realistic food replicas commonly displayed outside restaurants. The area features a mix of large retailers and specialty stores, creating a charming atmosphere with its traditional Japanese architecture. It's easily accessible from Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. fūkei hanga - are landscape images. These paintings and prints represent the natural world such as mountains, rivers, waterfalls. You can find these types of prints from the golden age of nishiki-e to shin-hanga, to today. Sunset at Tomonotsu (1940, 9"x14") by Tsuchiya Koitsu (1879-1942) and published by Watanabe. Mitaka - is a city located in the western part of Tōkyō, Japan. A very pretty and quiet part of the city it is famous for the Ghibli Museum, and Inokashira Park. 100 Views of Edo (名所江戸百景) - is a series of nishiki-e prints designed by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858). It was published between 1856 and 1859 and consists of 118 or 119 prints, each depicting various scenes of Edo (Tōkyō). The prints show the beauty, diversity, and everyday life of Edo, capturing different seasons, landscapes, landmarks, and activities. Hiroshige's use of color, composition, and atmospheric effects contributes to the series' enduring popularity. The scenes range from bustling urban areas and landscapes to rural views, often incorporating elements of nature and traditional Japanese culture. Suruga-chō (1885) Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji - one of Hokusai's most iconic series, known for its various depictions of Mount Fuji in different seasons, weather conditions, and different vantage points. The series includes "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." Published between 1830-1832 the series portrays Mount Fuji in different perspectives, everyday life, as well as the special importance of Mount Fuji in Edo culture. The series had a large impact on Western artists and thinkers, including the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. Umezawa Hamlet-fields in Sagami Province (1830-31) Santa Barbara Museum of Art - is an art museum located in Santa Barbara, California, USA. Its collection contains art works from all over the world, focusing on paintings, sculpture, and paper works. More info, here. Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) - was a painter and woodblock print designer famous for his war prints on the First Sino-Japanese War (July 25, 1894- April 17, 1895). Kiyochika captured the transitional period in Japanese history as the country underwent rapid modernization and Westernization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Onoguchi Tokuji Destroying The Gate at Jinzhoucheng (1895 14 3/4" x 28 9/16") published by Daikokuya. Utagawa School - was a school of print designers starting with Utagawa Toyoharu (1735-1814). He employed one point perspective (vanishing point) in his print designs, being influenced by Western perspective. The influence of the Utagawa school goes far in Japanese print history and one of its most successful. This schools print designs of kabuki portraits, beautiful women (bijin-ga), and landscapes are excellent. Some famous names attributed to the Utagawa school are Utamaro (1753-1806), Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865), and Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858). A fine description of this school can be found, here at Artelino. Newly Published Picture of the Battle of Jiuzan-shan in China (9 3/16" x 13 1/8") attributed to Utagawa Toyoharu Okumura Masanobu (1686-1784) - was a Japanese nishiki-e artist and print designer who lived during the Edo period. He is credited with pioneering the use of full-color printing and is considered one of the early masters of the art form. Okumura Masanobu was known for his contributions to bijin-ga and yakusha-e (actor prints). He played a role in the development of nishiki-e as a popular art form. More information can be found at Viewing Japanese Prints, here. Large Perspective Picture of Evening Cool by Ryōgoku Bridge (ca. 1748) hand coloured Sumida River - is a major river that flows through Tōkyō, Japan. It plays a significant role in the history, culture, and landscape of the city. The Sumida River flows for approximately 27 kilometers (about 17 miles) through Tokyo, originating from Kita City and flowing into Tōkyō Bay. It passes through several wards, including Kita, Adachi, Sumida, Taito, Koto, and Chuo. The river has been portrayed in nishiki-e prints for generations, along with its bridges. Kobayashi Kiyochika the Sumida River at Night (9.76"x14" - est. 1881) Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - is considered one of the last “masters” of the ukiyo-e genre of Japanese woodblock printmaking. His designs range from landscapes, samurai and Chinese military heroes, as well as using various formats for his designs such as diptychs and triptychs. Yamayoshi Genba no jō Chikafusa (14 5/16" x 9 15/16" - 1848/49) published by Sumiyoshiya Ike no Taiga (1723-1776) - was a Japanese painter of the mid-Edo period, known for his skill in the Nanga style, which was influenced by Chinese literati painting. He is best remembered for his role in promoting a cross-cultural exchange of ideas between Japan and China in the realm of art and aesthetics during the Edo Period. Landscape with Pavilion (1750) Akita ranga painting - a style of Japanese painting that emerged in the late Edo period, particularly during the 19th century, in the region of Akita in northern Japan. The term "ranga" literally translates to "Dutch painting" and reflects the influence of European painting styles, particularly Dutch and Western techniques, which were introduced to Japan through trade with the Dutch during the Edo Period. More info, here. Satake Shozan (1748-1785) - Pine Tree and Parakeet (68.11" x 22.83") est 1700's, painting. Shinobazu Pond - is a large pond located within Ueno Park in Tōkyō, Japan. Ueno Park is a spacious public park that is home to several museums, a zoo, temples, and beautiful green spaces. Shinobazu Pond is one of the central features of Ueno Park, and it is renowned for its scenic beauty and historical significance. hanmoto system - is the Edo Period (1603-1868) collaboration system of making woodblock prints in Japan. The system was about using, carvers, printers, and craftsmen by various print publishers in order to produce woodblock prints. The system consisted of the following professions; publisher, artist, carver, and printer. William Anderson (1842–1900) was an English surgeon and collector with a significant impact on the appreciation and understanding of Japanese art in the late 19th century. Anderson became a passionate collector of Japanese art, amassing a vast and diverse collection that included nishiki-e, ceramics, textiles, and other traditional artworks. His collection grew to be one of the most significant and comprehensive of its time. His bequest laid the foundation for the development of Japanese art studies in the West, influencing subsequent generations of scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts. ezōshiya - is a type of Japanese bookstore that specializes in selling "ehon" or picture books. Ehon are valued not only for their storytelling but also for the quality of illustrations. These books played a role in promoting visual literacy and appreciation of art in Japan. Nishiki-e had been sold at these book stores during the Edo Period. Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) is widely regarded as one of the most significant woodblock print designers in Japanese history. His diverse portfolio includes prints ranging from landscapes and books to erotica and sumo. Kunisada worked during the vibrant era of nishiki-e alongside notable artists such as Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858), Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), and the aforementioned Kuniyoshi. This period represents a rich and abundant chapter in Japanese woodblock print history. Ichikawa Danjurō VIII as Hanzaemon published by Tamaya Sōsuke (1852) 13 9/16" x 9 3/16" cochineal - known as yōko in Japanese, is a red dye taken from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects. These insects are native to Central and South America, where they feed on the sap of prickly pear cacti. Cochineal has been used for centuries as a natural dye, valued for its vibrant red color. An article about synthetic pigments and cochineal in Japanese woodblock prints and co-written by Henry Smith can be found, here. William Sturgis Bigelow (1850-1926) - was an avid collector of Japanese art. His extensive travels to Japan from 1882 to 1889, coupled with a close friendship with Ernest Fenollosa, enabled him to amass a remarkable collection. Bigelow's acquisitions played a pivotal role in promoting Japanese art in the Western world. World Of The Meiji Print - is a book published by Weatherhill in 1991 and written by Julia Meech-Pekarik. It describes how nishiki-e developed and evolved during the Meiji period. Roger Keyes (1942-2020) - was a distinguished scholar of Japanese woodblock prints. His expertise was showcased in his 1982 dissertation, a comprehensive study of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). Additionally, Keyes authored the book 'Ehon: The Artists and the Book in Japan' in 2006, further solidifying his significant contributions to the understanding of Japanese printmaking. Amy Reigle Newland - is a Japanese print scholar who has written various articles and books upon the subject. One of my favourite books by Newland is her book about Toyohara Kunichika, Time Present and Past: Images of A Forgotten Master (1999). Bruce Coats - is Professor of Art History and the Humanities at Scripps College, Claremont, California. He has contributed to several books on Japanese woodblock prints, one of my favourites is Chikanobu: Modernity and Nostalgia in Japanese Prints (2006). James A Michener (1907-1997) - was a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, scholar, and esteemed academic known for his extensive contributions to various literary genres. Beyond his celebrated literary achievements, Michener also delved into the world of Japanese prints, demonstrating a multifaceted curiosity and intellectual versatility. His exploration of Japanese prints added another layer to his diverse body of work, reflecting a deep appreciation for Japanese art and culture. Honolulu Academy of Arts - founded in 1922 by Anna Rice Cooke, evolved into the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) in 2012. Rice-Cooke's vision for a multicultural art space led to its creation, with an endowment and land donated by the Cooke family. The museum's architectural style blends Hawaiian, Chinese, and Spanish influences. Over the years, HoMA expanded, adding educational wings, a cafe, and more, while its permanent collection grew to over 50,000 pieces. In 2011, The Contemporary Museum merged with HoMA, unifying as the Honolulu Museum of Art. More info, here. shinbun nishiki-e - the Meiji Restoration of 1868 marked a pivotal moment in Japan's history, prompting significant societal upheavals. Tōkyō, formerly Edo, became the new centre of Imperial Japan, and by 1871, the traditional feudal class system had been abolished, accompanied by compulsory education laws. This era of profound change spurred creative responses to economic challenges. Starting in the summer of 1874, innovative individuals introduced shimbun nishikie, vibrant single-sheet woodblock prints that served as colorful souvenirs. These prints, produced until 1876, were not just visually striking but also narratively engaging, recounting news articles in a format ideal for oral storytelling. Renowned artists like Ochiai Yoshiiku and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, both students of the celebrated Utagawa Kuniyoshi, played a key role in illustrating these captivating snapshots of an evolving Japan. An excellent article on shinbun nishiki-e can be found here, from All About Japan. Fighting Off A Wolf by Sadanobu II (1848-1940) from the Nichinichi Shinbun (9 1/2" x 6 3/4") Satsuma Rebellion - occurring in 1877, was a last stand against the modernization policies of the Meiji government by disaffected samurai from the Satsuma domain. Led by Saigō Takamori (1828-1877), a key figure in the Meiji Restoration. The rebellion sought to restore imperial power and resist the centralization efforts of the government. The conflict ended in a decisive government victory at the Battle of Shiroyama, where Saigō met his end, marking one of the final samurai-led uprisings in Japan's history. Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770) -pioneered the art of nishiki-e, becoming the first to craft multi-color woodblock prints. Renowned for his exquisite designs, Harunobu's subjects often revolved around the portrayal of beautiful women, shunga (erotic art), and classical poetry. His innovative techniques and thematic choices significantly influenced the genre during the Edo period in Japan. Lovers Walking In The Snow (1764-1772) (11 1/4"x8 1/8") Emperor Meiji born Mutsuhito (1852 – 1912), was the 122nd Emperor of Japan, reigning from 1867 until his death in 1912. His reign, known as the Meiji Era, marked a transformative period in Japanese history. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 saw the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule, with Emperor Meiji playing a central role in Japan's modernization and westernization efforts. During his era, Japan underwent significant political, social, and economic reforms, propelling the country into the ranks of major world powers. Emperor Meiji's reign is often associated with Japan's rapid modernization and emergence onto the global stage. sōsaku-hanga - also known as creative prints, is a printmaking style primarily, though not exclusively, characterized by prints created by a single artist. Originating in early twentieth-century Japan, alongside the shin-hanga movement, this style emphasizes the artist's direct involvement in the entire printmaking process — from design and carving to printing. While the designs, especially in the early stages, may appear rudimentary, the concept of artists producing their own prints marked a significant departure from the traditional model where a select group of carvers, printers, and publishers collaborated in the creation of woodblock prints. shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking that emerged in the early 20th century, marking the end of the nishiki-e period. Originating around 1915 under the direction of Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962), the art form responded to the foreign demand for "traditional" Japanese imagery. Shin hanga artists focused on motifs like castles, bridges, famous landscapes, and bamboo forests. The style was initiated when Watanabe discovered Austrian artist Fritz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned him to design prints for Watanabe's budding printing house. This collaboration led to the evolution of shin hanga into a distinctive new style of Japanese woodblock printing. The shin hanga movement thrived until its inevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). fan print (uchiwa-e) - are crafted in the form of flat, oval fans using materials such as rice paper or silk. These prints are designed to be functional fans, allowing for practical use while showcasing artistic designs. Amy Poster - is the curator emerita of Asian Art at the Brooklyn Museum. aizuri-e - are woodblock prints made entirely with shades of blue. This style gained popularity during the Edo Period. Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) - was a nishiki-e print designer and author during the Edo Period. His print designs are famous for beautiful women and large head prints (ōkubi-e). surimono (date unknown - Edo Period) Hiraga Gennai (1729-1779/80) - was a versatile Japanese polymath and rōnin during the Edo period. His diverse talents spanned pharmacology, rangaku (Dutch learning), medicine, literature, painting, and invention. Notable creations include the erekiteru (electrostatic generator), kankanpu (asbestos cloth). Gennai authored satirical works such as Fūryū Shidōken den (1763) and Nenashigusa (1763), along with essays like On Farting and A Lousy Journey of Love. He also wrote guidebooks on male prostitutes, including the Kiku no en (1764) and San no asa (1768). Employing various pen names like Kyūkei and Fūrai Sanjin, he is most recognized by the name Hiraga Gennai. Yokohama-e -refers to a genre of Japanese woodblock prints depicting scenes from Yokohama, a pivotal port city during the late Edo and Meiji periods. These prints showcase the influx of international influences, featuring foreign ships, traders, and cultural exchanges. Yokohama-e captures the dynamic transformation of Japan as it opened to the world, portraying a vivid visual narrative of the city's bustling trade and encounters between Japanese and Western cultures. View of Foreigners' Houses on the Beach Street Seen From Yokohama Port (ca. 1873) by Hiroshige III (1842-1894) Sadahide Utagawa (1807-1878/79) - was a designer of nishiki-e during the late Edo and early Meiji Periods. He trained under Utagawa Kunisada and depicted medieval Japanese scenes, collaborating on the 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō, and prints related to Yokohama-e. Battle of Ōei (ca.1848) Sir William Henry Perkin (1838–1907) was a British chemist who is renowned for his accidental discovery of the first synthetic dye, known as mauveine or mauve. This significant breakthrough occurred in 1856 when Perkin was attempting to synthesize quinine, a treatment for malaria, from coal tar derivatives. Instead, he obtained a purple-colored substance while working with aniline, leading to the creation of the vibrant purple dye. napthols - are special dyes used in making colourful fabrics on handlooms. They get their name from a specific part in their makeup called an azo group. These dyes are known for making colors really bright and long-lasting on fabrics. They help create fabrics in lots of different colors, like orange, brown, yellow, scarlet, golden yellow, black, red, violet, and more. orpiment - sekiō in Japanese, is a bright yellow to orange-yellow mineral composed of arsenic trisulfide (As2S3). It has been historically used as a pigment in painting and for other decorative purposes due to its vibrant color. Often found in association with realgar, another arsenic sulfide mineral, orpiment has also been employed in traditional medicine and alchemy. However, its toxic nature limits such applications, and it's crucial to note that handling orpiment, especially in powdered form, poses health risks due to the presence of arsenic. Marco Leona PhD - is the David H. Koch Scientist at Large at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has written several articles on Spectroscopy and art. Estée Lauder (1906-2004) - was a pioneering American businesswoman and the co-founder of the renowned cosmetics company Estée Lauder Companies. Alongside her husband Joseph Lauder, she established the company in 1946, starting with a few skincare products she developed herself. Estée Lauder's hands-on approach to marketing and emphasis on quality turned her brand into a symbol of luxury. Initially selling to friends, she built a global beauty empire with a diverse product line including skincare, makeup, and fragrances. Today, the Estée Lauder Companies remain influential in the beauty industry, with a portfolio of well-known brands. Estée Lauder's legacy is marked by her significant contributions to the cosmetics world and her establishment of an enduring and iconic beauty brand. The Adachi Institute of Woodblock Prints - is a print studio located in Tōkyō. Established in 1994 in order to promote and preserve the colour woodblock print of Japan. More information, in English and in Japanese. The 47 Rōnin of Akō - were a group of samurai who sought revenge for the unjust death of their master, Lord Asano Naganori, in 1701. After Asano was forced to commit seppuku (a form of ritual suicide), his loyal retainers, the 47 Ronin, meticulously planned and executed the revenge, successfully avenging their lord's honor. The story is a celebrated example of bushido (samurai code) and loyalty in Japanese history and folklore. smalt - is a deep blue pigment that has been historically used in art and ceramics. It is composed of finely powdered glass, often colored with cobalt oxide to achieve its distinctive blue hue. Smalt was popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods as a substitute for expensive blue pigments like lapis lazuli. Artists would mix smalt with binders to create blue paint for their artworks. Smalt has some drawbacks, including a tendency to fade over time and a vulnerability to darkening when exposed to certain environmental conditions. Keiji Shinohara - is a Japanese mokuhanga printmaker who apprenticed under Uesugi Keiichiro in Ōsaka. He is the artist-in-residence at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. More info about Keiji can be found here, and here. Yamado-ike from the series Eight Views of Hirakata (2006) 11"x15": gum arabic - is a sap from two types of Acacia tree. In art it is used as a binder for pigments which creates viscosity (depending on how much or little is applied to your pigments) for your watercolours and oils. Rachel Levitas has a fine description on how she uses gum arabic in her work, here. Bakumatsu Period - refers to the final years of the Edo period, specifically from the mid-19th century to the early 1860s. The term "Bakumatsu" can be translated as "end of the shogunate." This era was characterized by significant political, social, and economic changes that eventually led to the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule in the Meiji period. Bunsei Period - was a period in Japanese history which lasted from April 1818 - December 1830 CE © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - The Shadow of Your Smile by Dominic Farinacci, G@ Records (2023) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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1/28/2024 • 2 hours, 17 minutes Tuula Moilanen - Printmaker : Life Is An Experiment When it comes to the idea of longevity, my guest on this episode of The Unfinished Print has just that: the hard work and sacrifice to make a career in making mokuhanga, bringing the art form to people worldwide. Today I speak with mokuhanga printmaker, graphic designer, and writer, Tuula Moilanen. Currently living in Finland, Tuula has made mokuhanga for almost 40 years and has been an essential part of the worldwide mokuhanga community, teaching, instructing and overseeing the art form’s growth. Tuula speaks about her twenty years in Japan, her teachers, and how she views her mokuhanga. We discuss creating work, social media, and the philosophy of art. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Publishers are given if known. Tuula Moilanen - website Tetsuya Noda -is a respected printmaker and artist who works with photography, mokuhanga, and serigraphy (silkscreen). Was head of the printmaking department at the National Fine Arts and Music University in Tōkyō until 2006. More info can be found here. Diary: Nov. 7th ‘68 (#1) 31 15/16" × 31" (1963-1976) Akira Kurosaki 黒崎彰 (1937-2019) - was one of the most influential woodblock print artists of the modern era. His work, while seemingly abstract, moved people with its vibrant colour and powerful composition. He was a teacher and invented the “Disc Baren,” which is a great baren to begin your mokuhanga journey with. At the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan there was a tribute exhibit of his life works. Azusa Gallery has a nice selection of his work, here. Meeting of Comets (1980) 5.7"x 3.9" Kyoto Seika University - is a private university based in Kyōto, Japan. It is a university focused on art and scholarship. More info, here. nagashizuki - is a style of paper making in Japan. This way of making paper creates a strong, translucent paper good for multiple uses. For a more detailed analysis of creating this type of washi check out Awagami's description, here. shodo -is the name attributed to calligraphy in the Japanese style, which involves writing characters using a brush and ink. mokulito - a type of lithography which incorporated woodblock. Artist Danielle Creenaune uses mokulito in her work. She has a fine detailed explanation on its uses, here. shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. Not all shina is made equally, buyer beware. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - is considered one of the last “masters” of the ukiyo-e genre of Japanese woodblock printmaking. His designs range from landscapes, samurai and Chinese military heroes, as well as using various formats for his designs such as diptychs and triptychs. Taira Kiyomori from the series Meiko hyaku yuden 名高百勇傳 published by Izumiya Ichibei Keizo Sato - is a mokuhanga printmaker who owns and operates a shop in Kyoto making reproductions of ukiyo-e prints. He has demonstrated at the International Mokuhanga Conference, in 2011. Has been associated with the Adachi Foundation of Woodblock Print Preservation. takuhon - is a style of printmaking one in which the pigments are rubbed into the washi with a type of pad. Printmaking At Newcastle University on YouTube has a fine video about the process, here. hyōgu - is a traditional Japanese process of mounting calligraphy and paper works such as paintings. intaglio printing - is a printing method, also called etching, using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. The MET has info, here. European woodcuts - woodcuts began in Europe in 1400; the woodcut/woodblock tradition has long been in Western Europe. These prints gained prominence during the late Middle Ages (500-14/1500 AD) and the Renaissance (14th Century - 17th Century AD), spreading visual information from religious iconography to political propaganda. Some famous artists we know today are Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) and Titian (? - 1576). © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Put It Down by Otis McDonald, John Patittuci, and Mike Chiavarro, from their single Put It Down released on TrackTribe (2023) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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12/26/2023 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 4 seconds Hellory - Printmaker: Each Line Will Have Its Own Life It’s been said before, yet I feel it’s worth repeating that when making mokuhanga, you don’t make it alone. So many people influence us that it may be difficult to pinpoint who or what impacts our creative lives the most. In this episode of the Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Hellory. Based in Italy, Hellory makes multi-colour mokuhanga with luxury techniques. She learned these techniques from her mentor, Giovanni Berio Ligustro. We discuss the intertwined artistic lives of Hellory and Ligustro. What learning from a mentor was like, what studying and assisting her teacher did for her work, and Hellory shares with me how she creates her mokuhanga using deluxe techniques such as gold leaf, mica, embossing, glassing and more. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Hellory - website Giovanni Berio Ligustro (1924-2015) - website © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip. Released on their Phantom Power album in 1998 on Universal Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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11/30/2023 • 1 hour, 43 minutes, 46 seconds Darrel C. Karl - Collector : A Responsibility of Stewardship As a collector of mokuhanga, I am constantly exploring the reasons behind my love of collecting mokuhanga and why I make it and educate myself about it; it seems to be layered, even for my modest collection. So it is always fascinating to speak to someone who has been collecting for many years, with a deep understanding of why they collect and how they do. I speak with mokuhanga collector Darrel C. Karl about his collection of prints, paintings and scrolls. It's one to admire. Collecting for years now, Darrel was kind enough to speak to me about his collection, how he began it, his love of preparatory drawings, collecting ukiyo-e, shin hanga, and we discussed in length his blogs, Eastern Impressions and Modern Japanese Theatre Art Prints. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Darrel C. Karl - Eastern Impressions & Modern Japanese Theatre Art Prints. Hashiguchi Goyō (1880-1921) - a woodblock print designer who also worked, albeit shortly, with Watanabe Shōzaburō. In his short life Goyō designed some of the most iconic woodblock prints ever made. “Kamisuki” 1920, and “Woman Applying Powder” 1918. Woman Applying Make-up (Hand Mirror) 1918 Ishikawa Toraji (1875-1964) -trained initially as a painter, having travelled to Europe and The States early in his professional life. Painted primarily landscapes while exhibiting at the fine art exhibitions in Japan Bunten and Teiten. Famous for designing Ten Types of Female Nudes from 1934-35. He finished his career as a painter and educator. Morning from Ten Types of Female Nudes (1934) Charles W. Bartlett (1860-1940) - was a British painter, watercolorist and printmaker. Travelling the world in 1913, Bartlett ended up in Japan two years later. Having entered Japan, Bartlett already had a reputation as an artist. Bartlett's wife, Kate, had struck up a friendship with printmaker and watercolorist Elizabeth Keith. Watanabe Shōzaburō was acutely aware of foreign artists coming to Japan, having worked with Fritz Capelari and Helen Hyde. Watanabe published 38 designs with Charles Bartlett. Bartlett's themes were predominantly of his travels. Udaipur (1916) 8" x 11" Paul Binnie - is a Scottish painter and mokuhanga printmaker based in San Diego, USA. Having lived and worked in Japan in the 1990s, studying with printmaker Seki Kenji whilst there, Paul has successfully continued to make mokuhanga and his paintings to this day. You can find Paul's work at Scholten Gallery in Manhattan, and Saru Gallery in The Netherlands. Butterly Bow (2005) 15" x 11" Yamakawa Shuhō (1898-1944) - was a Nihon-ga painter and printmaker. His prints were published by Watanabe Shōzaburō and he created the Blue Collar Society in 1939 with Itō Shinsui. Made famous for his bijin-ga prints. Dusk (1928) 14.3" x 9.5" Red Collar (1928) Otojirō Kawakami (1864-1911) - was a Japanese actor and comedian. His wife was geisha, and actress Sadayako (Sada Yakko). Impressions - is a biannual magazine published by The Japanese Art Society of America. Andon - is a biannual magazine published by The Society of Japanese Art. Gallaudet University - is a private federally charted university located in Washington D.C., USA for the deaf and hard of hearing. More info can be found here. National Museum of Asian Art - is a museum within the Smithsonian group museums and was the first fine art museum by The Smithsonian in 1923. More info can be found, here. Vincent Hack (1913-2001) - was an American printmaker and Colonel in the United States Army. He produced mokuhanga from ca. 1950-1960. He studied in the Yoshida atelier while living in Tokyo. More information about VIncent Hack can be found in Eastern Impressions, here. Chinese beauty and Dragon (not dated) Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956) - was a Scottish born printmaker, watercolorist, and painter. She travelled extensively before living in Japan from 1915-1924. In 1917 she was introduced to print published Watanabe Shōzaburō and by 1919 after some work with Watanabe's skilled artisans Keith started to see some of her designs printed. Over 100 prints were published of Keith's designs. More information can be found, here. Little Pavillion, Coal Oil, Peking (1935) Lillian May Miller (1895-1943) - was a Japan born American printmaker. Studying under painter Kanō Tomonobu (1853-1912). Miller became carving and printing her own prints by 1925 having studied under Nishimura Kumakichi. Rain Blossoms (1928) 10" x 15" Nöel Nouët (1885-1969) - was a French painter, illustrator and designer who designed prints for Doi Hangaten between 1935 and 1938 when Nouët was teaching in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan. Haruna Lake (1938) Helen Hyde (1868-1919) - was an American etcher, and printmaker who studied in Japan with artists such as Emil Orlik (1870-1932). Hyde was influenced by French Japonisme and lived in Japan from 1903-1913. A Japanese Madonna (1900) 14.5" x 3" Kataoka Gadō V (1910-1993) - was a Kabuki actor who specialized in female roles or onnagata in Japanese. He became Kitaoka Nizaemon XIV posthumously. Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) - was a Nihon-ga painter and woodblock print designer who worked with Watanabe Shōzaburō. Shunsen's prints focused on kabuki actors, mainly ōkubi-e , large head prints. Ichikawa Ennosuke as Kakudayu (1928) 15" x 10" Kabuki-za - is the main theatre in Tōkyō which shows kabuki performances. It was opened in 1889 and has been rebuilt several times in its history. Kabuki Costume - is a book written by Ruth M. Shaver with illustrations by Sōma Akira and Ōta Gakkō (1892-1975). It is an in-depth book about the costuming in kabuki theatre. It was published by Charles E. Tuttle in 1966. Ōta Gakkō was an artist and designer who also designed woodblock prints in the 1950's. Ichikawa Jukai III (1886-1971) as Shirai Gonpachi from Figures of the Modern Stage: no. 3 (1954) Tsuruya Kōkei - is a mokuhanga artist who lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. His prints have focused on kabuki actors; in the 1980s, he was commissioned to produce kabuki portraits by the Kabuki-za theatre in Tokyo. Recently, he has focused on cats and the masters of mokuhanga such as Hokusai (1760-1849). He printed on very thin gampi paper. Five Styles of Banzai-Ukiyoe / Katsushika Hokusai (2017) Yamamura Toyonari (1885-1942) - also known as Kōka, is a painter, and print designer known for his theatrical prints, actor prints, landscapes and beautiful women. He studied under printmaker Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920). Toyonari worked with carvers and printers to create his prints such as those at Watanabe's studio and also printed and carved his own prints. February/Winter Sky (1924) 16.35" x 10.5" Sekino Jun'ichirō (1914-1988) - was a mokuhanga printmaker who helped establish the sōsaku hanga, creative print movement in Japan. His themes were of landscapes, animals and the abstract. Sekino exhibited and became a member with Nihon Hanga Kyōkai and studied with Ōnchi Kōshirō (1891-1955) and Maekawa Senpan (1888-1960). Woman In A Snowy Village (1946) 13" x 10" Bertha Lum (1869-1954) - was born in Iowa. Having begun travelling to Japan in 1903, Bertha Lum noticed the decline of the Japanese woodblock print in Japan in the early 20th Century, deciding to take up the medium. Lum began making woodblock prints after learning in Japan from an unknown teacher during her first trip to Japan. Japan, Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), and China influenced Bertha Lum's prints. Lum's work focused on these themes through an American lens. Winter (1909) 8" x 14" Waseda University - is a private research university located in Tōkyō, Japan. It was established in 1882. Waseda has one of the largest woodblock print databases in the world, and are free to use. More information can be found, here. Scholten Japanese Art - is a mokuhanga-focused art gallery in midtown Manhattan. René Scholten, an avid collector of the Japanese print, founded it. You can find more info here. Katherine Martin is the managing director of Scholten Japanese Art. Katherine has written extensively for the gallery and conducted lectures about Japanese prints. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Utagawa Kunisada III (1848–1920) - was a ukiyo-e print designer from the Utagawa school of mokuhanga. Kunisada III's print designs were designed during the transformation of the Edo Period (1603-1868) into the Meiji Period (1868-1912) of Japanese history, where his prints showed the technological, architectural and historical changes in Japan's history. Kataoka Jūzō I as Hanako from the play Yakko Dōjōji at the Kabuki-za (1906). chūban - 10.4” x 7.5” senjafuda - are the votive slips Claire brings up in her interview. These were hand printed slips pasted by the worshipper onto the Buddhist temple of their choosing. These slips had many different subjects such as ghosts, Buddhist deities, and written characters. Japan Experience has bit of history of senjafuda, here. Shintomi-za -built in 1660 and also known as the Morita-za was a kabuki theatre located in the Kobiki-chō area of Tokyo, today the Ginza District. It was famous for taking risks with its productions. Meiji-za - was a kabuki-specific theatre built in 1873 and underwent several name changes until finally being named the Meiji-za in 1893. The theatre continues to this day. Imperial Theatre - is the first Western theatre to be built in Japan in 1911 and is located in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo. It continues to show Western operas and plays. The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts - was built in 1971, and named after the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The theatre is located in Washington D.C. and hosts many different types of theatre, dance, orchestras and music. More information can be found, here. The Subscription List - also known as Kanjichō is a kabuki play derived from the noh play Ataka. The modern version of this play was first staged in 1840. It is performed as the 18 Famous Plays as performed by the Danjurō family of actors. The Subscription List designed by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - is considered one of the last “masters” of the ukiyo-e genre of Japanese woodblock printmaking. His designs range from landscapes, samurai and Chinese military heroes, as well as using various formats for his designs such as diptychs and triptychs. Waseda University - is a private research university located in Tōkyō, Japan. It was established in 1882. Waseda has one of the largest woodblock print databases in the world, and are free to use. More information can be found, here. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier. This experience made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. Kiso River (1927) Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912) - was a painter and designer of mokuhanga. He was a samurai during the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate rule in Japan. As Chikanobu began to look more to art as a living, he studied under Utagawa Kuniyoshi where he learned Western painting and drawing techniques. He also studied under Utagawa Kunisada and Toyohara Kunichika. His print designs were of many different types of themes but Chikanobu is well known for his war prints (sensō-e), kabuki theatre prints, current events and beautiful women. Enpo- Jidai Kagami (1897) 32 Aspects of Women - is a series of prints designed by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). It was his first series of bijin-ga designs. shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955) - originally designing poetry and books Onchi became on of the most I important sōsaku hanga artists and promotor of the medium. His works are saught after today. More info, here. Composition in Red and Brown (1950) 19" x 15" Saru Gallery - is a mokuhanga gallery, from ukiyo-e to modern prints, and is located in Uden, The Netherlands. Their website can be found, here. ukiyo-e - is a multi colour woodblock print generally associated with the Edo Period (1603-1867) of Japan. What began in the 17th Century as prints of only a few colours, evolved into an elaborate system of production and technique into the Meiji Period (1868-1912). With the advent of photography and other forms of printmaking, ukiyo-e as we know it today, ceased production by the late 19th Century. surimono (摺物)- are privately commissioned woodblock prints, usually containing specialty techniques such as mica, and blind embossing. Below is Heron and Iris, (ca. 1770's) by Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858). This print is from David Bull's reproduction of that work. You can find more info about that project, here. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) - is one of the most famous Japanese artists to have ever lived. Hokusai was an illustrator, painter and woodblock print designer. His work can be found on paper, wood, silk, and screen. His woodblock print design for Under The Wave off Kanagawa (ca. 1830-32) is beyond famous. His work, his manga, his woodblocks, his paintings, influence artists from all over the world. Poem by Sōsei Hōshi, from the series One Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse. Taishō period (1912–26)s reproduction. Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) - was a painter and ukiyo-e designer during the Edo Period of Japan. His portraits of women are his most famous designs. After getting into trouble with the shogunate during the early 19th Century with some offensive images of deceased shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536/37-1598), Utamaro was jailed and passed away shortly after that. The Courtesan Umegawa and Chubei of the Courier Firm Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) - founded during the merger of the Tokyo Fine Arts School and the Tokyo Music School in 1949, TUA offers Masters's and Doctorate degrees in various subjects such as sculpture, craft and design as well as music and film. It has multiple campuses throughout the Kantō region of Japan. More information regarding the school and its programs can be found here. Honolulu Museum of Art - dedicated to art and education focusing on arts from around the world and Hawaiian culture itself. More info, here. Taishō Period (1912-1926) - a short lived period of Japanese modern history but an important one in world history. This is where the militarism of fascist Japan began to take seed, leading to The Pacific War (1931-1945). More info can be found, here. Enami Shirō (1901-2000) - was a printmaker who is associated with ephemeral prints such as greeting cards. Also created his own larger format prints during the burgeoning sōsaku hanga movement of the early to mid Twentieth Century. The Benkei Moat (1931) 12.5" x 9" Kitano Tsunetomi (1880-1947) - was an illustrator, Nihon-ga painter, carver and print designer. Lived and worked in Osaka where he apprenticed carving with Nishida Suketaro. Founded the Taishō Art Society and the Osaka Art Society. Painted and created prints of beautiful women as well as mokuhanga for magazines such as Dai Osaka. The most famous of his prints and paintings is Sagimusume, The Heron Maiden. Umekawa - Complete Works of Chikamatsu (1923) Hamada Josen (1875 - ?) - was a painter and mokuhanga designer and studied with Tomioka Eisen (1864-1905). Designed bijin, shunga, and landscapes after the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923. Designed prints for Collection of New Ukiyo-e Style Beauties (1924). December - Clear Weather After Snow from the series New Ukiyo-e Beauties (1924) 17.50" x 11.12" Uemura Shōen (1875-1949) - was the pseudonym of Uemura Tsune, who was supported by her mother to pursue painting, at a time when female painters were rare. Her work focused on various themes such as nō, the four seasons, and nationalist paintings during World War 2. pair of woodblocks of Uemura Shōen designs Whispering Beauties and Geisha 10 3/4" x 9 1/2" Igawa Sengai (1876-1961) - was a painter, illustrator and print designer. After serving in the Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905), he joined the Miyako Shinbun in Nagoya City. Designing prints in the 1926 he designed prints for Collected Prints of the Taishō Earthquake and in the 1930's he designed propaganda prints for the Japanese war effort. His contribution to the 1924 Collection of New Ukiyo-e Style Beauties (1924). April - Rain of Blossoms (1924) from New Ukiyo-e Beauties. Asian Art Museum San Fransisco - with over 18,000 pieces of art the Asian Art Museum of San Fransisco has one of the largest collections of Asian art in the United States. More information can be found, here. Freer Gallery of Art - is a museum within the Smithsonian group of museums in Washington D.C, with a collection of Chinese paintings, Indian sculpture; Islamic painting and metalware; Japanese lacquer; Korean ceramics. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery - is a museum within the Smithsonian group of museums in Washington D.C. It's collection contains some important Chinese jades and bronzes. Yoshida Hiroshi: The Outskirts of Agra Number 3 from the series India and Southeast Asia (1932) Yoshida Hiroshi: Cave of Komagatake from the series Southern Japan Alps (1928) © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - The Crystal Ship by The Doors from their self-titled album The Doors (1967). Release by Elektra Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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10/31/2023 • 1 hour, 43 minutes, 29 seconds Gaston Petit - Printmaker/Author : The Most Important Thing Is To Do Something A few years ago, I was recommended a book called Evolving Techniques in Japanese Woodblock Prints. Written by Gaston Petit, it was a new book for me. Going through it, I realized how forward-thinking it was; even though it had been published in 1977, its instruction is still relevant today. It was fascinating how it approached woodblock printmaking, taking it into the future. On this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with printmaker and author of Evolving Techniques In Japanese Woodblock Prints, Gaston Petit. We discuss how he got to write the book, interviewing some exceptional printmakers of the time, and Gaston speaks on his mokuhanga, lithography, tools, history, pigments, and teaching. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Gaston Petit - website The Family Portrait (1971) © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Annie Sumi - The City, from her full length record In The Unknown (2017) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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9/30/2023 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 42 seconds John Resig - Digital Humanities When making mokuhanga and producing The Unfinished Print, I have looked towards various online tools for research and inspiration. One of these tools is ukiyo-e.org. A Japanese woodblock print database which collects and archives woodblock print collections from around the world. John Resig is the chief software architect at the Khan Academy who, in 2013, for his love of mokuhanga and the Japanese woodblock print, and through his own collection, developed ukiyo-e.org. Those researching, collecting, and making mokuhanga can explore some of the best Japanese print collections at the click of a button. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with ukiyo-e.org developer John Resig about why he decided to create the website and how his collecting of mokuhanga and making mokuhanga affected that decision. We also discuss the evolution of the humanities in mokuhanga, archiving prints, tradition, and the copywriting of images, as well as John's work with the Japanese Art Society of America. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. John Resig - Ukiyo-e.org, Digital Humanities Research, John's personal mokuhanga collection on Airtable, Sky Above Clouds IV: After Georgia O'Keefe (2019) Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - is considered one of the last “masters” of the ukiyo-e genre of Japanese woodblock printmaking. His designs range from landscapes, samurai and Chinese military heroes, as well as using various formats for his designs such as diptychs and triptychs. Five portraits of the actor Ichikawa Danjuro VIII (1823-1854) in various roles (1849) yakusha-e - (役者絵) is the Japanese term for actor prints in mokuhanga. Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839-1892 (月岡 芳年) was a mokuhanga designer who is famous for his prints depicting violence and gore. His work is powerful, colourful, and one of the last vibrant moments of the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints. More information about Yoshitoshi’s life and his copious amount of work can be found, here. Iga no Tsubone and the Ghost of Fujiwara Nakanari, from the series One Hundred Ghost Stories from China and Japan (1865) Annie Bissett - is an American mokuhanga printmaker and graphic designer based in Rhode Island, USA. Her work touches on politics, and beauty. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Annie's work can be found, here. Irene (2023) Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955) - originally designing poetry and books Onchi became on of the most I important sōsaku hanga artists and promotor of the medium. His works are saught after today. More info, here. Portrait of a Poet: Hagiwara Sakutarō (1886-1942) Meiji Era Prints - The Meiji Era of Japan was between 1868-1912 CE. This was a period of immense modernization and industrialization in Japan, where the Japanese economy was booming. New ideas within mokuhanga was occurring as well. Perspective, colour, through new pigments (gamboge, certain yellows), the advancement of photography, and new topics and themes (war, industry, architecture), the Meiji era print designer and publisher had a lot of choice when producing their prints. Shigeru Kuriyama (1912-2010) - was a sōsaku hanga printmaker who worked with Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1956), and U'nichi Hiratsuka (1895-1997). He founded the print magazine Yukari and Kasuri. His prints were focused on folk arts. Fragrance of Lavender (1996) sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. Your First Print: David Bull - this was the first DVD I ever purchased on how to make mokuhanga. This was in and around 2007. While I look back at that time thinking about why I didn't take it up as seriously as I do now, I sometime wonder, "Where would I be now in my Mokuhanga journey?" I realize that that is a redundant way of thinking. I am where I am now today, and to be happy with just that. You can still find this product on Dave's website. Takuji Hamanaka - printmaker based in Brookly, NY. Uses bokashi, a printmaking technique, predominately in his works. Unique and powerful. website Instagram Collapse (2016) April Vollmer - is an established artist who works predominantly in mokuhanga. Her book Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop is one of the most authoritative books on the subject and has influenced many mokuhanga artists. April's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Wood Like Matsumura - is an online and brick and mortar store, for woodblock printmaking, located in Nerima City, Tōkyō. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier. This experience made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. Kiso River (1927) kabuki - is a traditional form of Japanese theatre which started in Kyoto on the banks of the Kamo River in the 17th Century. Today it is a multi million dollar business and is almost exclusively run, professionally, by The Shochiku Company. Kabuki, the word, is separated into three different sounds; ka - meaning to sing, bu - meaning to dance, and ki- meaning skill. There are various families in kabuki which generate actors, passing down tradition throughout the lineage. For more information please read this fine article from Nippon.com. There are many books written on the subject of kabuki, but in my opinion, to begin, one needs to read Leonard Pronko's work Theatre East & West, Kawatake Toshio's Kabuki, and Earl Ernst's The Kabuki Theatre. Online, please visit Kabuki21.com, who's site is unparalleled. On YouTube there is the new(ish) Kabuki In-Depth which is updated regularly on kabuki information and history, and is very well done. Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 – 1986) was a renowned American artist, known for her pioneering contributions to modern American art, particularly in the realm of abstract and contemporary art. Lake George Reflection (1921) bokashi - is a mokuhanga technique, where the pigment fades from a heavy colour to a softer, broad colour. Made famous by prints designed by Hokusai and Hiroshige, this technique is, for me, the most popular technique utilized by mokuhanga printmakers. There are various types: Ichimoji-bokashi or straight line graduation, used in the above mentioned Hiroshige and Hokusai prints. Ichimoji-mura-bokashi or straight line gradation with uneven edge. Ō-bokashi or wide gradation, Ate-nashi-bokashi or gradation without definition. Futa-iro-bokashi or two tone gradation, and ita-bokashi or softer-edge gradation, where the block is cut in a specific way to achieve this style of gradation. All of these styles of bokashi technique take practice and skill but are very much doable. Bertha Lum (1869-1954) - was born in Iowa. Having begun travelling to Japan in 1903, Bertha Lum noticed the decline of the Japanese woodblock print in Japan in the early 20th Century, deciding to take up the medium. Lum began making woodblock prints after learning in Japan from an unknown teacher during her first trip to Japan. Japan, Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), and China influenced Bertha Lum's prints. Lum's work focused on these themes through an American lens. Winter (1909) Frances Gearhart (1869-1958) - Born in Illinois, Gearhart was a self-taught artist who spent most of her life in California. Originally a watercolorist, Frances Gearhart began experimenting with Japanese woodblock and linoleum in and around 1913. The themes of her work are predominately landscapes of the Pacific Coast and other areas of California. Her work is associated with the Arts and Crafts movement in California. A fine article on Frances Gearhart's life can be found, here. In The Sun (1930) Fujio Yoshida (1887-1997) - the wife of Hiroshi Yoshida and the mother of Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) and Hodaka Yoshida (1926-1995). Fujio was so much more than a mother and wife. She had a long and storied career as a painter and printmaker. Fujio’s work used her travels and personal experiences to make her work. Subjects such as Japan during The Pacific War, abstraction, portraits, landscapes, still life, and nature were some of her themes. Her painting mediums were watercolour and oil. Her print work was designed by her and carved by Fujio. Roses (1925) TinEye - is an image search and recognition company. They use technology which allows the user to search an image creating a reverse image match. More information can be found, here. The Metropolitan Museum of Art - is the largest art museum in North and South America. It began to be assembled by John Jay (1817-1894) in the late 19th century. Incorporated in 1870, the museum has collected many essential pieces, such as the works of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919). For more information about the MET, you can find it here. Waseda University - is a private research university located in Tōkyō, Japan. It was established in 1882. Waseda has one of the largest woodblock print databases in the world, and are free to use. More information can be found, here. Ristumeikan - is a university founded in 1869, and located in Kyoto and Ōsaka. Like Waseda it holds one of the largest collection of Japanese woodblock prints. You can search their database, here. Mike Lyon - is an American artist. His medium has been varied throughout his career such as "square tiles," or "pixels," through to making mokuhanga, monoprinting, and machine-assisted etching, drawing and mezzotint. Mike Lyon also has a large woodblock print collection which he has curated for the public, here. More information about his work can be found, here. Linda In Black (2019) Frick Reference Library - is a reference library in the Frick Museum in New York City. The museum was once the mansion of wealthy American industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). The museum houses some of the finest pieces of sculpture, paintings, and art in the United States. There is also the public Frick Reference Library located on 10E 71st Street in New York City. More information can be found, here. Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence - was an exhibition held from March 26 - July 16, 2023 at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. More information can be found, here. Japanese Art Society of America (JASA) - Starting in 1973 by a small group of collectors of ukiyo-e in New York City, JASA has expanded to cover many Japanese arts. Their magazine Impressions is a biannual magazine that discusses in a scholarly way various Japanese arts. More information can be found, here. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) - born in Edo, Hiroshige is famous for his landscape series of that burgeoning city. The most famous series being, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1859), and the landcape series, Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833-1834). His work highlights bokashi, and bright colours. More info about his work can be found, here. Below is, Coastal Landscape In Moonlight (1857) Kingfisher and Iris Scholten Japanese Art - is a mokuhanga-focused art gallery in midtown Manhattan. René Scholten, an avid collector of the Japanese print, founded it. You can find more info here. Katherine Martin is the managing director of Scholten Japanese Art. Katherine has written extensively for the gallery and conducted lectures about Japanese prints. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Cameron Bailey - is a mokuhanga woodblock printmaker based in Queens, New York. His work is predominantly reduction woodblock. Camerons work has shown around the world. You can listen to one of his earliest interviews on The Unfinished Print, here. His work can be found, here. Reflection (2020) sumo - while sumo wrestling has been known to Western audiences for quite some time, it is only in the past several years that the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) has created content for Western audiences to watch tournaments and engage with wrestlers through videos, such as YouTube. Sumo prints were being produced in the Edo Period (1603-1868), with the Kastukawa school of artists beginning to create prints in the vein of actor prints of the day (yakusha-e). Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) A portrait of Inoyama Moriemon (1846) Acolytes of The Baren - is the Facebook group dedicated to Dave Bull and Mokuhankan. It can be found, here. Emerging Hanga - is a Facebook group dedicated to new mokuhanga, and sharing information. It can be found, here. Brush & Baren - is a Facebook group dedicated to sharing the history of mokuhanga of the late 19th and early 20th Century. It can be found, here. Friends of Baren Forum - is a Facebook group dedicated to those interested in mokuhanga and woodblock printing in general. it can be found, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Flowers & Fire by BLITZ. From the album Second Empire Justice (1983), first released on Future Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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9/11/2023 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 55 seconds Stephen Winiecki - Printmaker : Plan Accordingly Creating mokuhanga can be a long journey. One reaches milestones within their artistic life where decisions are made, and questions asked. Can I do this for years to come? Does it make financial sense to continue working on making prints? Do I want to make this my career? Can mokuhanga sustain me financially, emotionally, and spiritually? On this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Stephen Winiecki, an artist who has explored mokuhanga through his experience in oil painting and linocut. Stephen is asking himself many questions like the ones mentioned above. We discuss Stephen’s choosing to make mokuhanga a large part of his life and the desire to make it his career path. We talk process, his work with mokuhanga print designer and artist Jed Henry, planning a print, and how his passion for rock climbing motivates his work. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Stephen Winiecki - website, Instagram. linocut -A linocut is a relief or block print type, similar to woodblock printing. The artist carves an image into a linoleum block, printing what's left. David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form around the world. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. Dave Bull fox moon video Awagami - is arguably the largest paper making company in Japan at the moment. With a large International name, Awagami sponsors, and promotes its paper all over the world. More information can be found on its website, here. reduction printmaking - is a process in printmaking where the printmaker cuts away on a piece of wood, or linoleum. After every carving, the printmaker makes an impression with pigments, beginning with lighter colours, gradually using darker colours. William H. Mays has a fine description of reduction on his website, here. registration - there are several registration methods in mokuhanga. The traditional method is called the kentō registration, where you carve two notches, straight another an "L." There is also a "floating kentō," which is where the notches are cut in a piece of "L" shaped wood and not on the wood where you are cutting your image, hence "floating." Lastly, there are removable "pins," such as ones made by Ternes Burton. McClains Woodblock Print Supply Co. - based in Portland, Oregon, McClain's is the go-to supplier of woodblock print tools in the United States. Their website can be found here. The Unfinished Print interview with Daniel Jasa of McClain's can be found here. Jed Henry - is an American artist and graphic designer. His work with woodblock prints is as designer. He works with Mokuhankan, as well as various other mokuhanga artists who carve/laser, and print his designs. His work under the Ukiyo-e Heroes banner is very popular. monotype print - is a unique print created from an image painted or drawn on a smooth surface, such as glass or metal, and then transferred to paper. Unlike most printmaking methods, where multiple copies of the same image can be produced, a monotype typically has a single, one-of-a-kind image. It's called a "mono" type because it is not part of an edition like traditional prints (e.g., lithographs, etchings), where you can make multiple copies. Dick Blick Art Supplies - is an art supply store with various brick and mortar stores throughout the United States, as well as online. Founded in 1911 by Dick Blick in Galesburg, Illinois, BLICK, as it’s more commonly known, sells various types of art supplies, much like Jerry’s Artarama. More info, here. Cameron Bailey - is a mokuhanga woodblock printmaker based in Queens, New York. His work is predominantly reduction woodblock. Camerons work has shown around the world. You can listen to one of his earliest interview on The Unfinished Print, here. His work can be found, here. Eruption, After D’Anna (2022) 17x23" Lake George, New York - Is a small town located in the Adirondack mountains in New York State. There are plenty of exciting things to do in an around the town and within the Adirondack mountains. More information can be found here. Echizen - is a region in Fukui Prefecture, Japan associated with Japanese paper making. It has a long history of paper making. There are many paper artisans in the area. One famous person is Iwano Ichibei whom Megan mentions in this episode. He is a Living National Treasure in paper making, and the ninth generation of his family still making paper today. More info can be found here in English, and here in Japanese. Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) - a designer of more than six hundred woodblock prints, Kawase Hasui, is one of the most famous designers of the shin-hanga movement of the early twentieth century. Hasui began his career with the artist and woodblock designer Kaburaki Kiyokata (1878-1971), joining several artistic societies early in his career. It wasn’t until he joined the Watanabe atelier in 1918 that he began to gain recognition. Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) had Hasui design landscapes of the Japanese countryside, small towns, and everyday life. Hasui also worked closely with the carvers and printers of his prints to reach the level Hasui wanted his prints to be. Yumoto Spa, Nikko (1937) 15x10" shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Dahlia (1940) 10.5x15.7" by Kawase Hasui Seki Kenji - is a woodblock printmaker based in Tōkyō. He was head printer, and produced prints, for Doi Hangaten printing house as well as making his own pieces. woodblock.com - is one of the first websites created by David Bull in order to describe the process of Japanese woodblock printmaking in English. It was and is an asset for those of us continuing the art form today. Studio MDHR - is an independent video game developer based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. They created the Cuphead character, which Stephen made a print on. Cuphead Skullman 8x15" Cal Carlisle - an American printmaker based in Cleveland, Ohio, who has sold his original prints and worked for print designer Jed Henry. He was also my first interview on The Unfinished Print, found here. You can find more information about Cal's work, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - No Woman, No Cry by The Fugees from their 1996 album The Score. Released by Columbia Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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7/28/2023 • 1 hour, 18 minutes, 39 seconds Benjamin Selby - Printmaker: It's A Reflection of Self Mokuhanga is a personal journey. The ups and downs of the artist are many; observing the emotions and layers of an artist simply through social media and chat rooms is complicated. Seeing a person's work is a window to who they are or want to be, their fears and desires; all these things make the mokuhanga artist so interesting to me. On this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker and artist Ben Selby. Ben’s work contains subtle emotion, powerful narratives, and unique perspectives. In my mokuhanga conversation with Ben, he speaks about his, at times, very personal experiences, how he grew up and his environment. We discuss Ben’s reflection on the self in his work, his MFA thesis, the power of colour, the idea of tradition in mokuhanga, working with Richard Steiner and Terry McKenna, and alligator gar. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Benjamin Selby - website, Instagram West Texas A&M University - a public university located in Canyon, Texas, established in 1910. Georgia O’Keefe (1887-1986) was head of their art department from 1916-1918. More info can be found here. Richard Steiner - is a mokuhanga printmaker who has been making prints for over fifty years. He has lived and worked in Kyōto, Japan since 1980. He is currently still making work. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Peace, peace (1990) Terry McKenna - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. He studied under Kyōto-based mokuhanga artist Richard Steiner. Terry also runs his mokuhanga school in Karuizawa. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found here. Richard Steiner's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found here. Kyōto International Mokuhanga School - is a mokuhanga school owned and operated by long-term mokuhanga printmaker and artist Richard Steiner. Students will learn mokuhanga from Richard in Kyoto. For more information regarding his school and price, here. Ōsaka Station - is a transfer hub located in the Japanese city of Ōsaka, Japan. It serves over 2 million passengers daily. It contains shopping and restaurants and is a labyrinth unto itself. It opened in 1874. More information can be found here. serigraphy - is another word for the art of silk screen printing. Silk screen printing can be in on various materials, silk, canvas, paper. Arizona State University - a public research university located in Tempe, Arizona, near Phoenix. It was founded as Territorial Normal School in 1885 and has undergone several name changes over the years, coming to its current iteration in 1958. More info can be found here. Kintarō - is a Japanese fairy tale first published in English in 1908 by Y.T. Ozeki in the book Japanese Fairy Tales, published by the A.L. Burt Company. The story is about Kintarō, a brave boy whose exploits as a brave warrior are passed down throughout Japanese history. His image was widespread in ukiyo-e, as well as in sculpture, candy, and the like. He has been in modern video games, manga, and anime. Kintarō Fighting an Eagle - Edo Period (1603-1898) by Kitagawa Tuskimaro (1794-1836). Tsukimaro was a little-known ukiyo-e print artist but was most successful under his teacher Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806). International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Printed books in the Edo Period (1603-1868) - were books published in woodblock on low-quality paper. Yet, these books contained many exciting and beautiful designs and techniques. Jacob Bautista - is an artist and teacher based in Amarillo, Texas, USA. His work is expressed through etching and stone lithography; more information about Jacob and his work is here. Bitten (2018) photoshop Alligator gar - is one of North America's largest freshwater fish and is considered a living fossil in that its origins go back as far as 100 million years ago. These particular gars are primarily found in the Southern United States. Spillway - a structure which controls the amount of water going into a dam or levee. Gyotaku - are Japanese fish prints. These prints are created in various formats, such as inking the fish after its caught using washi and paste(直接法), the indirect method where washi is pasted to the fish, which is then inked on the fish (間接法), and the transfer method, (転写法), where the image is pressed onto washi which is then transferred to wood or another type of surface and pressed onto that. For more information there's a great video here, about gyotaku printmaker Bruce Koike from Oregon, who has been making these prints since the 1980's. shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Sea of Shizuura, Namazu (1938) 15.4"x10.2" Tsuchiya Kōitsu (1870 - 1949) - apprenticed under artist and print designer Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) and worked as a lithographer. Kōitsu then joined the Watanabe atelier in 1935. Kōitsu also collaborated with Doi Sadachi publishers, amongst others. Kintai Bridge, ca 1930's. postcard size print Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) - a designer of more than six hundred woodblock prints, Kawase Hasui, is one of the most famous designers of the shin-hanga movement of the early twentieth century. Hasui began his career with the artist and woodblock designer Kaburaki Kiyokata (1878-1971), joining several artistic societies early in his career. It wasn’t until he joined the Watanabe atelier in 1918 that he began to gain recognition. Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) had Hasui design landscapes of the Japanese countryside, small towns, and everyday life. Hasui also worked closely with the carvers and printers of his prints to reach the level Hasui wanted his prints to be. Takatsudo (1931) All I Knew Growing Up by Benjamin Selby (2022) Ben's lecture at the International Mokuhanga Conference, Photochemical Mokuhanga, can be found here. tamari (溜まり) - is the pooling of ink between the carved lines of your woodblock. Pooling is exposed when testing your carving but can be fixed by recarving the part of the block causing tamari or altering the amount of ink or water used. cyanotype - a type of work that uses iron compounds and creates various blues when exposed to UV light. More info here. Van Dyke Brown - is a photographic printing process named after painter Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641). The method uses various chemicals, then exposes the negative of the photograph as print to ultraviolet light. The final print is a brown colour. Very similar to cyanotype, but the chemicals create a different shade of print. More info can be found on Mark Hillier's blog, and here. sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. Artist's Nude (1984) by Sekino Jun'ichirō (1914-1988) 14.7" x 10.6" Akua - are water-based pigments used in intaglio, mokuhanga, and monotype. Kitaro Japanese Paper Company - founded in 1872, Kitaro focuses on making high quality Japanese washi in Fukui Prefecture. More info, here. Alone by Benjamin Selby (2021) 10.5" x 14.5" murasaki baren - is a mid-range mokuhanga baren. “murasaki” meaning “purple” , come in two types of weight (medium and heavy), and two types of sizes (10cm and 12cm). They are reasonably priced baren. Yuki baren - is a heavy ball bearing baren made in Japan. It is used to print large flat colours. baren suji zuri - is a Mokuhanga technique used with the baren and by the baren to create a circular design and can be layered with various colours. Combing Her Hair (1928) 15-1/4"x 10-1/2" by Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) sizing paper - at times mokuhanga printmakers will size their paper. Size is made from water, animal glue (rabbit, horse), and alum. What the size does is keep the pigments the artist uses from “bleeding” into the outer edges of the paper. There are many recipes of size, here is one that artist Walter J. Phillips used. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Ahmad Jamal - Pavanne (1960) from the album Happy Moods on Verve Records logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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6/26/2023 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 10 seconds Joryū Hanga Kyōkai w/ Jeannie Kenmotsu PhD. : Storytelling Through History During the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic, being at home with my thoughts, I kept busy by researching mokuhanga. And one of my many discoveries was the exhibition at the Portland Art Museum held from September 24, 2020, to June 13, 2021, called Joryū Hanga Kyøkai, 1956-1965: Japan’s Women Printmakers and curated by The Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Curator of Asian Art, Jeannie Kenmotsu. It was an exhibition of mokuhanga, etchings, and lithography of a group of printmakers I didn’t know much about. Individually I may have heard their names but as a group? I needed to learn more. History is an essential part of mokuhanga; to search out those printmakers who have come before us to understand what they did and how they did it. I have learned so much from the past that I can use it in my own work for my present and future. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with Jeannie Kenmotsu, Ph.D., about the Joryu Hanga Kyokai and, the road to this exhibition, the work that went behind it. We explore how the Joryu Hanga Kyokai showed a different face of printmaking in Japan. We discuss Tokyo during the 1950s and 1960s, the mokuhanga and print culture of the time, internationalism, and how this exhibition could catalyze more research on this incredible group. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Joryū Hanga Kyōkai, 1956-1965: Japan’s Women Printmakers - was an exhibition curated by Jeannie Kenmotsu from September 24, 2020 - June 13, 2021, at the Portland Art Museum. It is the first step in understanding and education on the subject of women in Japanese printmaking in modern Japan. Members of the group were Romanesque Architecture - is a style developed in the north of Italy, parts of France, and the Iberian Peninsula in the 10th century. Evolving from thick walls, no sculpture, and ornamental arches into towering round arches, massive stone and brickwork, small windows, thick walls, and an inclination for housing art and sculpture of biblical scenes. For more information abbot Romanesquwe architecture you can find that, here. Portland Art Museum - established in 1892, the PAM has established itself as one of the preeminent art musuems on the West coast of the United States. The musuem has 40,000 pieces of art and art objects. More information about PAM can be found here. The Royal Ontario Museum - also known as The ROM, is an art, world culture, and natural history museum in the city of Toronto, and is one of the oldest museums in the city. More info, here. mokuhanga in the 1950’s and 1960’s - Japanese woodblock printmaking became quite popular after World War II. With Japan growing exponentially post war, through industry and art, the independent philosphy that the West perpetuated began to filter into the Jpaanese art world. Sōsaku hanga became increadingly popular where there is only one carver, printer and draughtsman. These prints touched on various themes, but especially in the abstract. Artists such as Shigeru Hatsuyama (1897-1973), and Kiyoshi Saitō (1907-1997) spring to mind, who created a new kind of mokuhanga by using various techniques, colours, and sizes that were unique and expressive. Oliver Statler’s book, written in 1956, Modern Japanese Prints : An Art Reborn, was published because the art form was growing so quickly. It is a great summary on the sōsaku hanga movement during that time. Edo Period prints - woodblock prints of the Edo Period (1603-1867) were predominantly of kabuki actors (Sharaku), and courtesans (Harunobu) beginning in the middle of the 18th century. The traditional system of production came into play when making ukiyo-e of this period, designer, carver, printer, and publisher. Famous designers of the day were Hiroshige (1797-1858), Hokusai (1760-1849). Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition - was an international fair in 1905 held in Portland, Oregan, USA from June 1 - October 15 and attracted over 1 million visitors. It helped to showcase Portland and its environs, promoting the movement and expansion West by settlers. The Portland Art Museum began shortly after the Exposition as The Portland Art Association needed its own space to showcase art pieces from the Exposition. The Metropolitan Museum of Art - is the largest art museum in North and South America. It began to be assembled by John Jay (1817-1894) in the late 19th century. Incorporated in 1870, the museum has collected many essential pieces, such as the works of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919). For more information about the MET, you can find it here. Adolphe Braun (1812-1877) - was a German-born photographer who helped to establish photography as an art form. His work with the reproduction of art furthered art history throughout the world. Chizuko Yoshida (1924-2017) - was the wife of painter and printmaker Hodaka Yoshida. Beginning as an abstract painter, Chizuko, after a meeting with sōsaku hanga printmaker Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955), Chizuko became interested in printmaking. Chizuko enjoyed the abstraction of art, and this was her central theme of expression. Like all Yoshida artists, travel greatly inspired Chizuko’s work. She incorporated the colours and flavours of the world into her prints. Rain B (1953) 14 3/4 x 9 7/8" Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier. This experience made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. Osaka Castle (1935) Fujio Yoshida (1887-1997) - the wife of Hiroshi Yoshida and the mother of Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) and Hodaka Yoshida. Fujio was so much more than a mother and wife. She had a long and storied career as a painter and printmaker. Fujio’s work used her travels and personal experiences to make her work. Subjects such as Japan during The Pacific War, abstraction, portraits, landscapes, still life, and nature were some of her themes. Her painting mediums were watercolour and oil. Her print work was designed by her and carved by Fujio. Yellow Iris (1953) Hodaka Yoshida (1926-1995) - was the second son of woodblock printmaker and designer Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950). Hodaka Yoshida's work was abstract, beginning with painting and evolving into printmaking. His inspirations varied as his career continued throughout his life, but Hodaka Yoshida's work generally focused on nature, "primitive" art, Buddhism, the elements, and landscapes. Hodaka Yoshida's print work used woodcut, photo etching, collage, and lithography, collaborating with many of these mediums and making original and fantastic works. Outside of prints Hodaka Yoshida also painted and created sculptures. Dawn At Sea (1969) - silkscreen 25 5/8" x 19 3/8" (AP) Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) - was the second child of Hiroshi Yoshida and Fujio Yoshida, although the first to survive childhood. Beginning with oil paintings and then apprenticing under his father with woodblock cutting. By 1940 Tōshi started to make his mokuhanga. After his father's death in 1950, Tōshi began to experiment with abstract works and travel to the United States. Later travels to Africa evolved his prints, inspiring Tōshi with the world he experienced as his work focused on animals and nature. Irises and Ducks - 19 5/8" x 11 3/4" Ayomi Yoshida - is the daughter of Chizuko and Hodaka Yoshida. She is a visual artist who works in mokuhanga, installations and commercial design. Ayomi’s subject matter is colour, lines, water, and shape. Ayomi’s lecture referred to by Jeannie at PAM can be found here. She teaches printmaking and art. You can find more info here. Black Marks (1999) 20 1/2 × 20 1/8 in (AP) Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975 - is a book published by the University of Hawai'i in 1995. It is a reference book describing artists, publishers, and carvers. It contains no images but is a valuable resource for the mokuhanga academic. Uchima Toshiko (1918-2000) - was a Manchurian-born Japanese artist who worked in mokuhanga, liothography, assemblages and collage. She was one of the founders of the Joryū Hanga Kyōkai in 1955/56. She lived most of her life in the United States, specifically New York City. Package From Italy - collage 19.8"x16.8" in Ansei Uchima (1921-2000) - was a mokuhanga printmaker in the sōsaku hanga style of Japanese printmaking. He was the translator for Japanologist Oliver Statler (1915-2002). Way For Hakone (1966) 13 3/4 x 21 in Oliver Statler (1915-2002) - was an American author and scholar and collector of mokuhanga. He had been a soldier in World War 2, having been stationed in Japan. After his time in the war Statler moved back to Japan where he wrote about Japanese prints. His interests were of many facets of Japanese culture such as accommodation, and the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku. Oliver Statler, in my opinion, wrote one of the most important books on the sōsaku-hanga movement, “Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn.” Iwami Reika (1927-2020) - was a Japanese-born artist and one of the founders of the Joryū Hanga Kyōkai. For a short video about Iwami Reika’s work, check out Artelino.com. Round Shadow C (1957) sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. Yoseido Gallery - is a fine print gallery located in the Ginza district of Tōkyō, Japan since 1953. More information can e found, here. Francis Blakemore (1906-1997) - was an American-born artist, writer, philanthropist and curator of modern Japanese mokuhanga. She lived in Japan for over fifty years and helped to support the burgeoning sōsaku hanga print movement of the 1950s. Blakemore worked in mokuhanga (collaborating with Watanabe Shōzaburō) and making self-printed and carved prints. She also worked in oils. Far Eastern Madonna (1939) white line woodblock print Japanese Economy of the 1950’s - from 1945-1991 Japan had its most prosperous period of economic growth. By 1955 the economic began to grow twice as fast as prior to ’55. According to The Berkley Economic Review the advancement of technologies, accumulation of capital, increased quantity and quality of labor, and increased international trade were the main reasons that strenghtend Japan. For more information regarding the begining of this growth you can find the BER article here. intaglio printing - is a printing method, also called etching, using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. The MET has info, here. Minami Keiko (1911-2004) - was a Japanese-born artist and a founder of the Joryū Hanga Kyōkai. Keiko’s work is abstract, whimsical and youthful. She lived mainly in Paris, France, where she studied aquatint etching under Johhny Friedlaender (1912-1992). More information about Minami Keiko’s art and life can be found here. House With Sun and Trees : watercolour and gouache 14 3/4x11 in. Yōzō Hamaguchi (1909-2000) - was a Japanese-born mezzotint printmaker who lived in Paris, France, for most of his life. He was the husband of Minami Keiko. Bottle With Lemons and Red Wall (1989) mezzotint 30 x 24 in. mezzotint - is a style of printmaking which uses a copper plate, “rocked” with a tool called a rocker, and then burnished with various devices. A good video showing the entire process from start to finish of a mezzotint print can be found here by the artist Julie Niskanen Skolozynski. Kobayashi Donge - is an aquatint etching artist who’s subject is generally women and literature. Roses Go Well With Mount Fuji (1993) etching with hand colouring on paper Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) - founded during the merger of the Tokyo Fine Arts School and the Tokyo Music School in 1949, TUA offers Masters's and Doctorate degrees in various subjects such as sculpture, craft and design as well as music and film. It has multiple campuses throughout the Kantō region of Japan. More information regarding the school and its programs can be found here. 担当者 - is a Japanese word which means “person in charge." Nihon Hanga Kyōkai - is the Japanese Printmakers Association. It was created in 1918, focusing on the new sōsaku hanga print movement. It evolved into a modern print organization covering various types of printmaking, such as relief, intaglio, planographic (lithography and offset printmaking), and stencil. You can find more information on their website in Japanese and English here. First Thursday Society (一木会) - was created by printmaker Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955). The group brought artists and collectors to discuss the growing sōsaku hanga (creative print) movement to collaborate, share their work, and it acted as a mentorship program. Un'ichi Hiratsuka (平塚 運一) - (1895-1977) - was one of the important players of the sōsaku hanga movement in mokuhanga. Hiratsuka was a proponent of self carved and self printed mokuhanga, and taught one of the most famous sōsaku hanga printmakers in Shikō Munakata (1903-1975). He founded the Yoyogi Group of artists and also taught mokuhanga at the Tōkyō School of Fine Arts. Hiratsuka moved to Washington D.C in 1962 where he lived for over thirty years. His mokuhanga was multi colour and monochrome touching on various subjects and is highly collected today. Landscape (1934) College Women’s Association of Japan - was started by the alumnae of Mount Holyoke College from Massachusetts. Later expanding to other universities and colleges in the US, the CWAJ established Japanese women to study abroad through travel grants and scholarships, thereby promoting Japanese culture. What began as a fundraising program from 1956 onward, the annual print show has become one of the most essential print shows in the world, showcasing prints of all types. It is the largest juried print show in Japan. More information about the CWAJ and its print show can be found here. Kantō (関東地方) - is a region located on the main island of Honshu, Japan, which encompasses the Prefectures of Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tōkyō, Chiba and Kanagawa. The Kantō Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism oversees these prefectures. More information can be found here. Kansai (関西地方) - is a region located on the main island of Honshu, Japan, which encompasses the Prefectures of Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama, Osaka, Hyōgo, Shiga and Mie. It has the most UNESCO world heritage sites in Japan. For tourist information about Kansai, see here. Jun'ichirō Sekino (1914-1988) - was a Japanese mokuhanga printmaker of the sōsaku hanga creative prints movement. Sekino's works are landscapes and portraits and are black and white and colourful. Sekino studied under Onchi Kōshirō. He was invited to the United States several times as a visiting professor at Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and Penn State University in 1963, where he taught classes on mokuhanga. You can find more information about Sekino and his work and life on his website here. U.S Army Officer (1948) 24"x18.8" in. Munakata Shikō (志功棟方) - (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers; Shikō is renowned for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work. Night Birds (The Fence of...) 7.4"x11.5" in. Aomori (青森県) - is a prefecture in north Japan. Located about an hour and a half from Tōkyō, Aomori is known for its incredible nature, festivals, sports and outdoor activities in all four seasons. More information can be found here. Kobe, Japan - is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan. One of the few ports open to Western trade, Kobe has always had a great vibe. With a lot to visit and see, Kobe has many attractions, such as its harbour, Mount Rokkō, and various museums and mansions on the hill; its proximity to Osaka and Kyoto makes it an ideal place to visit. For more information about Kobe, Japan, see here. Shirokiya - was a department store company which started in Japan with various stores throughout Japan and Hawai’i. It was founded in Tōkyō in 1662 and went out of business in 2020. The store was famously depicted in a Hiroshige print, View of Nihonbashi Tori-itchome 1858. Sarah Lawrence College - is a liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York. Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence has been dedicated to the education process and inclusivity of its student body since its inception. For more information about the school and their work can be found here. Pratt Institute - is a private university located in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1887 and founded by American business magnate Charles Pratt (1830-1891), the Pratt Institute focuses on the liberal arts such as architecture, art and design, shaping leaders of tomorrow. For more information about TPI, you can look here. Elise Grilli (d.1969) - was an art critic and author who wrote for the Japan Times. She lived in Japan throughout the 1940’s into the 1960’s. Her book The Art Of The Japanese Screen is considered a classic. Charles Terry (1926-1982) - was an author and translator of Japanese in Tōkyō for Harry J. Abrams. James A Michener (1907-1997) - a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, scholar and academic who wrote on Japanese prints, amongst many more topics. Shima Tamami (1937-1999) - was a mokuhanga printmaker who joined the JHK when they had already established themselves. Her career was short, moving to the United States in the 1960s. Her mokuhanga depicts Japanese aesthetics and themes producing still lives. Her work was featured in James Michener's book, The Modern Japanese Print: An Appreciation, in 1962. For more information and images of Tamami Shima's work, please check out the Viewing Japanese Prints site here. Bird B (1959) 11.9"x16.3" in. Noriko Kuwahara - is a scholar, curator, and author of Japanese art in Japan. PoNJA-GenKon - is an online listserve group which means Post-1945 (Nineteen Forty Five) Japanese Art Discussion Group Geidai Bijutsu Kondankai. It was established in 2003 to bring together specialists in Japanese art in the English speaking world. For more information about what PoNJA-GenKon does search here. Philadelphia Museum of Art - originating with the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, the PMA has over 200,000 pieces of art and objects and is one of the preeminent museums in the US. More information can be found here. Sakura City Museum of Art - is a fine art museum located in Sakura City, Chiba, Japan. It is dedicated to the arts of those form Sakura City and Bosho. More information in Japanese here. Ao no Fūkei (Landscape in Blue) - is a mokuhanga print created by Chizuko Yoshida in 1972. Futurism - is an art movement which began in Italy. It was established in the early 20th Century by artists Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (1876-1944), Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916), and Carlo Carrà (1881-1966), amongst others. The idea of Futurism was to reject the past and celebrate the speed and power of the present, of industrialization and modernity through art. Futurism influenced other artistic communities around the world. The Endless Manifesto - Started by Tommaso Marinetti’s original manifesto on Futurism called Manifesto of Futurism, the Futurists wrote many manifestos about their ideas on art, history, politics, literature, music, among other topics, until 1914, as well as books, articles in literary journals, magazines and newspapers. The MoMA has written a good article on the Futurists and their manifestos and writings here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Joe Chambers "Ruth" released on Blue Note Records (2023) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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5/31/2023 • 1 hour, 21 minutes, 9 seconds Mary Brodbeck - Printmaker : All In In mokuhanga, nature plays a large part in the process. Using wood, water, natural paper, and even natural pigments can bring you closer to the natural world, closer to the root of all things. From that natural process, many mokuhanga artists will use nature as a subject in their work. By portraying the mountains, forests, rivers and lakes, these subjects manifest the world from a different perspective on paper. On this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with Michigan-based mokuhanga printmaker Mary Brodbeck. Her work delves deeply into the natural world and colours of Michigan. Mary speaks on her mokuhanga process, colours, and technique, learning by watching, her early experiences with Japan, and the nature of the creative process. We also discuss the exhibition In Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cross Currents: East/West, with her teacher Yoshisuke Funasaka. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Mary Brodbeck - website, Instagram, Facebook Becoming Made Documentary - is a documentary produced by Mary Brodbeck. It is a document about mokuhanga, its practitioners, and those associated with the art form. You can find the documentary here. Cross Currents East/West - is an exhibition held in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is an exhibition showcasing the works of Japanese mokuhanga and serigrapher Yoshisuke Funasaka and his student Mary Brodbeck. Both artists are exhibiting various works. The exhibit runs from May 12-July 28th, 2023. You can find more information regarding the exhibition here. Western Michigan University - is a public research university based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. and was established in 1903. You can find more information here. Yoshisuke Funasaka - is an award-winning mokuhanga and serigrapher based in Tōkyō, Japan. You can find a fine biography about Funasaka here at asianartscollectoion.com. Black Night Ginza (1991) 24 4/5" x 17 3/4" Ox-Bow School of Art - was founded in 1910 and is associated with the School of the Art Insitute of Chicago (SAIC). It is a nonprofit artist’s residency located in Saugatuck, Michigan. You can find information here. sumi - is a rich black stick or liquid used by artists, calligraphers, and traditional Japanese horimono tattoo artists. Sumi is made from the soot of burnt lamp oil. Sumi is used predominantly in key blocks in traditional mokuhanga and to mix pigments. Pigment Tōkyō conducts a great interview with their chief of pigments, Kei Iwaizumi, about sumi ink, here. kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first. Daniel Smith Pigments - is a company which makes various types of paints, pigments, and mediums. It was started by Dan Smith in 1976. More info can be found, here. shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Fuji-san From Yamazaka (1931) by Hiroshi Yoshida shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. Not all shina is made equally, buyer beware. vellum - is a plant-based, translucent and opaque paper constructed with cellulose. Used as tracing paper and has multiple uses. You can find more information about vellum and its uses here. April Vollmer - is an established artist who works predominantly in mokuhanga. Her book Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop is one of the most authoritative books on the subject and has influenced many mokuhanga artists. You can find my interview with The Unfinished Print can be found here. Richard Steiner - is a mokuhanga printmaker, author and teacher based in Kyōto, Japan. He is originally from Michigan and moved to Japan over fifty years ago. Richard prints many different subjects and themes. You can find his interview with The Unfinished Print here. floating kentō - is a removable registration system attached to the block when printing. As the kentō isn't affixed to the block, blotting and immaculate borders are positives of this registration method. It is an "L" shape. Mark Nepo - is a poet and philosopher who lives and works in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He has written many books on spirituality and manifesting a wonderful positive life. You can find more information on his website here. Michigan, USA - originally inhabited by various indigenous cultures and tribes such as early Hopewell Culture, Ojibwe, and Iroquois. European settlers settled in the early 17th century. Michigan, located in the Midwestern region of the United States, has a rich and varied history. The French ceded Michigan to the British in 1763 following the French and Indian War, and it became part of the United States after the American Revolution. Michigan became a state in 1837, and its early years were marked by rapid industrialization and growth. The state became a hub for lumber production, mining, and manufacturing, particularly in the automotive industry. In the early 20th century, entrepreneurs such as Henry Ford and Ransom Olds revolutionized the automotive industry, and Detroit became known as the "Motor City." The state also played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, with figures such as Rosa Parks and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. making essential contributions. In recent decades, Michigan has faced economic challenges, particularly in the wake of the automotive industry's decline. However, the state remains a necessary research, manufacturing, and innovation center. It is home to major universities and research institutions such as the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. You can find more information about Michigan at Michigan.org. Lawren Harris (1885-1970) - was a member of the Canadian group of painters, The Group Of Seven. He lived in the United States (New Hampshire and New Mexico), ultimately returning to Canada in 1940. He painted the Canadian landscape predominantly in Ontario in Algonquin Park and Algoma. Greenland Mountains (ca. 1930) oil on canvas 107.4 x 128.4 cm The Group of Seven - was a group of landscape painters from Canada. The artists were Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945), Lawren Harris (1885–1970), A.Y. Jackson 1882–1974), Frank Johnston (1888–1949), Arthur Lismer (1885–1969), J.E.H MacDonald (1873–1932), and Frederick Varley (1881–1969). Later, A.J. Casson (1898–1992) was invited to join in 1926, Edwin Holdgate (1892–1977) became a member in 1930, and LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) joined in 1932. While Tom Thomspon (1877–1917) and Emily Carr (1871–1945) were not "official" members, they are considered to be a part of the group because of their relationships with members. More info can be found here. A fine article on the CBC by Cree writer Matteo Cimellaro discusses The Group of Seven's role in Canadian nationalism and the exclusion of First Nation's voices in their work. You can find this article here. Tom Thomson - Round Lake, Mud Bay (1915) oil on wood 21.5 x 26.8 Algoma - is a geographical district in the Northeastern Canadian province of Ontario. Algoma runs on the Lakes Superior and Huron. It has famously been represented in art by The Group of Seven. You can find more information about Algoma here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Get On The Good Foot - Pt. 1 & 2 by James Brown. From the record Get On The Good Foot (1972) Polydor. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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4/27/2023 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 48 seconds Daryl Howard - Printmaker: I Become What I'm Doing Ambition and confidence are two concepts that make an artist. These ideas can take different forms and trajectories, but artists can accomplish anything with talent and a supportive community. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with one artist who exudes ambition and confidence. Daryl Howard is a mokuhanga printmaker and artist who lives and works in Austin, Texas. What drew me to Daryl's work is her desire to maintain the mokuhanga tradition, putting both body and soul into her mokuhanga. Daryl speaks with me about her evolution as a mokuhanga printmaker, her travels, her community, and her time with Hodaka Yoshida. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Daryl Howard - website, Instagram Time Of Smoke That Thunders (2022) Sam Houston State University - is a public research university located in Huntsville, Texas, USA. Established in 1879 to educate teachers for Texas public schools, SHSU has evolved into a school which offers subjects in criminal justice, Texas studies, and is known for its athletics. intaglio printing - is a printing method, also called etching, using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. The MET has info, here. lithography - is a printing process which requires a stone or aluminum plate, and was invented in the 18th Century. More info, here from the Tate. serigraphy - is another word for the art of silk screen printing. Silk screen printing can be in on various materials, silk, canvas, paper. Stanley Lea (1930-2017) - was a Texas printmaker and teacher of printmaking at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Texas A&M - established in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, Texas A&M is a research University in College Station, Texas which has a variety of subjects and programs, more info here. Yokota Airbase, Tōkyō (横田飛行場,) - established in 1940 as Tama Airbase for the Japanese Air Force, converted in 1945 as an American military base used in the Korean War and the Cold War. Dr. Richard Lane (1926-2002) - was a collector of Japanese prints. He was also an author and dealer in Japanese art. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839-1892 (月岡 芳年) was a mokuhanga designer who is famous for his prints depicting violence and gore. His work is powerful, colourful, and one of the last vibrant moments of the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints. More information about Yoshitoshi’s life and his copious amount of work can be found, here. Yūten Shami - Fudō Myōō threatening the priest Yūten Shami (1867) shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Tachikawa, Tōkyō - 立川市 - is a city located in the metropolis of Tōkyō. It had an American military presence until 1977. For some tourist info, you can find it here. surimono (摺物)- are privately commissioned woodblock prints, usually containing specialty techniques such as mica, and blind embossing. Below is Heron and Iris, (ca. 1770's) by Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858). This print is from David Bull's reproduction of that work. You can find more info about that project, here. Kunitachi - 国立市 - is a city located within the metropolis of Tōkyō. Originally a part of the 44 stations Kōshū Kaidō (甲州街道), a road which connected Edo to Kai Prefecture (Yamanashi). Hodaka Yoshida (1926-1995) - was the second son of woodblock printmaker and designer Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950). Hodaka Yoshida's work was abstract, beginning with painting and evolving into printmaking. His inspirations varied as his career continued throughout his life, but Hodaka Yoshida's work generally focused on nature, "primitive" art, Buddhism, the elements, and landscapes. Hodaka Yoshida's print work used woodcut, photo etching, collage, and lithography, collaborating with many of these mediums and making original and fantastic works. Outside of prints Hodaka Yoshida also painted and created sculptures. White House O.J. From My Collection (1980) lithograph Fujio Yoshida (1887-1997) - the wife of Hiroshi Yoshida and the mother of Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) and Hodaka Yoshida. Fujio was so much more than a mother and wife. She had a long and storied career as a painter and printmaker. Fujio’s work used her travels and personal experiences to make her work. Subjects such as Japan during The Pacific War, abstraction, portraits, landscapes, still life, and nature were some of her themes. Her painting mediums were watercolour and oil. Her print work was designed by her and carved by Fujio. Red Canna (1954) Chizuko Yoshida (1924-2017) - was the wife of painter and printmaker Hodaka Yoshida. Beginning as an abstract painter, Chizuko, after a meeting with sōsaku hanga printmaker Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955), Chizuko became interested in printmaking. Chizuko enjoyed the abstraction of art, and this was her central theme of expression. Like all Yoshida artists, travel greatly inspired Chizuko’s work. She incorporated the colours and flavours of the world into her prints. Butterfly Dance (1985) zinc plate and mokuhanga Ayomi Yoshida - is the daughter of Chizuko and Hodaka Yoshida. She is a visual artist who works in mokuhanga, installations and commercial design. Ayomi’s subject matter is colour, lines, water, and shape. She teaches printmaking and art. You can find more info here. Spring Rain (2018) University of Texas at Austin - is a public research university in Austin, Texas, USA. Founded in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin has undergraduate and graduate programs. You can find more information here. Lee Roy Chesney III (1945-2021) - was a printmaker and professor at the Universitty of Texas at Austin. William Kelly Fearing (1918-2011) - was an award winning painter, printmaker, and artist who was professor Emiritus at the University of Texas at Austin. His work focused on landscapes, religious imagery, and the human figure. Abstract Figure in Oil (1947) oil on canvas Ban Hua: Chinese woodblock prints - There is a lot of information regarding Chinese woodblock printing. The history of Chinese woodblock goes back centuries, longer than the Japanese method. Modern Chinese printmaking began after Mao's Cultural Revolution, strongly connected by the writings and work of philosopher, academic, and artist Lu Xun (1881-1936), who established the Modern Woodcut Movement. First, check out the work of the Muban Educational Trust based in England. More info can be found here and here at Artelino; for Lu Xun's history, you can find more information here. Victoria Falls - is a large waterfall located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in South Africa. It is also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya or "The Smoke That Thunders" in the Bantu language of Sotho. The falls are 1,708 meters and 108 meters high. Wacom -Wacom - is a Japanese company that began in 1983. It produces intuitive touch screen display tablets. It has offices in the US and Europe. Photoshop - is a raster graphics editor created by Adobe. It allows the user to create and edit images for graphic design, typography, and graphic design. Akua - are water-based pigments used in intaglio, mokuhanga, and monotype. Winsor & Newton - is a British artist supply company, started in 1832, which sells artist materials such as pigments, brushes, paper, etc. You can find more info, here. Guerra & Paint Pigment Corp. - is a brick and mortar store located in Brooklyn, New York that sells artists pigments. More info, here. Dallas Museum of Art - is an art museum established in 1903 and contains art collections from all over the world and from many periods of history. Some of the collections on the DMA are African, American, Asian, European, Contemporary, and Pre-Columbian/Pacific Rim. More info can be found here. Impressionism - is an art movement founded by Claude Monet (1840-1926), Edgar Degas (1834-1917) and other artists in France. The movement was from 1874-1886 and focused on suburban leisure outside Paris. The Impressionist movement launched into the public consciousness in 1874 at the Anonymous Society of Sculptors and Painters and Printmakers exhibition. More information about the Impressionist movement can be found here at The Met. Blanton Museum of Art - founded in 1963 at the University of Texas at Austin. It houses collections of European, modern, contemporary, Latin American, and Western American Art. You can find more information here. Albrecht Dührer (1471-1528) was a painter and author famous for making detailed devotional works with woodcuts. You can find out more from The Met here for more information about his life and work. The Great Wave off Kanagawa - is a woodblock print designed by Katsushika Hokusai in 1831. It is very famous. Pop Wave Orange by Daryl Howard (2021) Bridge In The Rain (After Hiroshige) - was a painting painted by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) in the style of woodblock print designer Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858). baren - is a Japanese word used to describe a flat, round-shaped disc, predominantly used in creating Japanese woodblock prints. It is traditionally made of a cord of various types and a bamboo sheath, although the baren has many variations. Sharpening brushes on shark skin are traditionally used on mokuhanga brushes that were “sharpened” or softening the brushes bristles rubbing up and down on the shark skin. But today, you can use very fine sandpaper made of silicon carbide (dragon skin). Mokuhanga printmaker John Amoss has a beautiful write-up about using shark skin and its uses here. Echizen - is a region in Fukui Prefecture, Japan associated with Japanese paper making. It has a long history of paper making. There are many paper artisans in the area. One famous paper maker is Iwano Ichibei. He is a Living National Treasure in paper making, and the ninth generation of his family still making paper today. You can find more information in English, and in Japanese. kizuki kozo - is a handmade Japanese paper with many uses. Of a moderate weight and cooked with caustic soda. It is widely available. Shōzaburō Watanabe (1885-1962) - was one of the most important print publishers in Japan in the early 20th Century. His business acumen and desire to preserve the ukiyo-e tradition were incredibly influential for the artists and collectors in Japan and those around the world. Watanabe influenced other publishers, but his work in the genre is unparalleled. The shin-hanga (new print) movement is Watanabe’s, collecting some of the best printers, carvers and designers to work for him. A great article by The Japan Times in 2022 discusses a touring exhibition of Watanabe’s work called Shin Hanga: New Prints of Japan, which can be found here. Itoya - is a stationary store in the Ginza district of Tōkyō. It has been in business for over 100 years. They have stores in Yokohama, in various malls throughout Japan and at Haneda and Narita airports. More info can be found on their web page (Japanese) and their Instagram. Bunpodo - is a stationery store located in the Jinbōchō district of Tōkyō. It was established in 1887 and is considered the first art store in Japan. More info here. Matcha Japan has a walkthrough of the store here. McClains Woodblock Print Supply Co. - based in Portland, Oregon, McClain's is the go-to supplier of woodblock print tools in the United States. Their website can be found here. The Unfinished Print interview with Daniel Jasa of McClain's can be found here. Wood Like Matsumura - is an online and brick and mortar store, for woodblock printmaking, located in Nerima City, Tōkyō. Cocker-Weber - is a brush manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was established in 1892. You can find more information here. Philadelphia Museum of Art - originating with the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, the PMA has over 200,000 pieces of art and objects and is one of the preeminent museums in the US. James A Michener (1907-1997) - a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, scholar and academic who wrote on Japanese prints, amongst many more topics. Mokuhanga Artists Using Laser - many mokuhnaga printmakers today are exploring using laser engraving for their woodblocks rather than hand cutting. Printmakers who use this method are Cal Carlisle, Endi Poskovich, Shinjji Tsuchimochi, and Benjamin Selby. If you know of others, please let me know! Illustrator - is an Adobe product which creates two-dimensional pieces for artists and illustrators. James A McGrath - is an educator and artist who served as Director of Arts for American Schools in Europe; he taught design, painting and poetry at the Institute of American Indian Arts and was the Arts and Humanities Coordinator for the US Department of Defence School in Southeast Asia. He also worked on the Hopi Indian Reservation and returned to the Institute of American Indian Art as dean of the college and Museum Director. He is now retired. You can find some of his work and writings here at The Smithsonian. Hopi Mesa - is the spiritual and physical home of the Hopi tribe in Arizona. It is a group of villages (pueblos) on three mesas. Mesa are flat-topped ridges surrounded by escarpments. More information can be found on Visit Arizona here. National Endowment For The Arts - was established by the US Congress in 1965 and created to fund arts and education in the United States. You can find more information here. Dawson’s Springs Museum - is an art museum located in an old bank and was established in 1986 in Dawson’s Springs, Kentucky. Karoo Desert - is a semi-desert located in South America and distinguished by the Great Karoo and the Little Karoo. A great article about the Karoo Desert by The Guardian can be found, here Chobe River - also known as the Kwando, is a river which flows from Angola and Namibia. It is known for its wildlife and runs through various National Parks. Kachina - these are the religious beliefs of the Hopi, Zuni, Hopi-Tewa, and Kerasan. It incorporates the supernatural, dancing, and dolls through Ancestor worship. bas relief - is a sculptural technique where figures and designs are carved or moulded onto a flat surface, only slightly raised above the background. Bas relief has been used in art and architecture for thousands of years and is found in various cultures, such as the Egyptians, and Assyrians, during The Rennaisance, until today. Bas relief is used today to decorate buildings, monuments, tombs, and decorative objects such as plaques, medals, and coins. In bas-relief, the figures and designs are typically carved or moulded in shallow relief, with only a few millimetres of depth, creating a subtle, three-dimensional effect that is less dramatic than the more deeply carved high relief. Bas relief can be made from various materials, including stone, wood, metal, and plaster. sepia - is a reddish brown colour. Can be found in various pigments. Duomo di Firenze - is the Florence Cathedral, finished in the 15th Century, using some of the finest architects from Italy. It is associated with the Italian Renaissance. Boston Printmakers - is an organization of international printmakers started in 1947. It holds a Biennial every two years. You can find more information here. The National Gallery of Art - is a free art gallery in Washington D.C. Founded by financier Andrew W. Mellon. The gallery houses more than 150,000 pieces dedicated to education and culture. Construction finished for the West building in 1941. More info can be found here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good by The Oscar Peterson Trio (1963) on Verve Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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4/25/2023 • 1 hour, 34 minutes, 6 seconds Faith Stone - Printmaker : Fresh Directions Mokuhanga is a lot of things. It is a meditative process even at its most chaotic. And a lot like meditation, where you need patience, calm, and to breathe, it is a craft that pushes you to be your best. I speak with mokuhanga printmaker and author Faith Stone on this episode of The Unfinished Print. Faith's current work is to preserve the Buddha woodblock, a once-thriving tradition within mokuhanga, to preserve it for years to come. Faith speaks with me about her introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Thangka painting, the history of these beautiful images, her process, tools and materials. She also discusses experimentation, her teachers within her life, and what inspiration means to her. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Faith Stone - website, Instagram Thangka paintings - known as “sacred paintings,” originated from Tibet. They are commissioned for various reasons, some for meditation, prosperity, merit, etc. Depending on the commission, thangka paintings use multiple pigments and imagery. Peaceful or ferocious deities and mandalas can be pictured. Rudi’s Bakery - established in Boulder, Colorado, in 1976, this once mom-and-pop shop bakery serves organic and gluten-free baked goods around the United States. Celestial Seasonings - is an American tea company based in Boulder, Colorado. It started in 1969. Colorado - established by settlers in 1876 but initially inhabited by many Native American peoples, such as the Cheyenne, Pueblo, Ute, Comanche, and Apache. The state is known for the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Eastern Plains. For more information about Colorado, check out its tourist and visitor info here. Zoo New England - comprises both the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo. Founded in 1912, the FPZ is on 72 acres of land in Franklin Park, Boston. The Stone Zoo is 26 acres near the Spot Pond reservoir and located in Stoneham, Massachusetts, about 12 miles (19km) away from each other. More info found here. Albert Rudolph (Swami Rudrinanda) [1928-1973] - was a spiritual teacher and yogi originallty from New York City. Pointillism - is a technique in painting conceived by Georges Paul Seurat (1859-1891) and Paul Signac (1863-1935), where small compounded dabs of colour create an image. More info from Sotheby's, here. Paul Signac - Portrait Of Félix Fénéon 1890, oil on canvas Shiva - is one of the principal deities of Hinduism, which creates, protects, and transforms the universe. More info can be found here. Ganesh - in Hinduism, Ganesh is one of Shiva’s offspring. Ganesh is a benevolent deity said to remove obstacles in your life, both spiritually and materially. More info can be found, here. Durga - is, in Hinduism, the mother protector of the universe and a warrior goddess. Depicted with eight hands in the form of a mudra, Durga holds eight weapons. More info can be found, here. Waves On The Turquoise Lake - was an art exhibition at The University of Colorado at the Boulder Art Museum in 2006. It exhibited Tibetan artists from Tibet and in exile from around the world. Karma Phuntsok - is a contemporary Tibetan artist who lives and works in Australia. His work is his take on Buddhist art and history. More info can be found on his website, here. Van Buddha - painting El Dorado Canyon State Park - was established in 1978 and is located near Boulder, Colorado. It is 885 acres known for hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Tara - is one of the most powerful deities in the Buddhist pantheon. Some Buddhist traditions see her as a guide, as a bodhisattva, or as a philosophy of living. Find more info, here. Faith Stone - 22" x 28" Mount Wai’ale’ale - is a volcano on the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i. The mountain is 5,148 ft. It is one of the rainiest on the planet, with 460 inches of rain annually. Shakti - has many meanings, such as goddess energy, death and life, and the natural elements of the universe. The Aisa Society has an excellent article for a detailed description of Shakti, here. Rama - is an important deity in Hinduism, and is the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Shoichi Kitamura - is a woodblock carver and printmaker and has been involved in MI Lab through demonstrations. More info can be found, here. Kyoto Senbon Torii (2021) Hiroki Morinoue - is a mokuhanga printmaker and artist living in Holualoa, Big Island, Hawai’i. He is a co-founding member of the Holualoa Foundation For Arts & Culture, the establishment of the Donkey Mill Art Center and Studio 7 Fine Arts. Iceberg Cube (2016) Anderson Ranch Arts Center - located in Snowmass, Colorado- was established in 1966 by Paul Solder, who worked in Japanese ceramics called raku. Today it is an international Arts Center with artist-in-residence programs, visiting artists, a print shop, wood turning, master classes and more. Information can be found here. Information can be found, here. Gotō Hidehiko (b.1953) - is a mokuhanga printmaker and tool maker based in Japan. He makes and teaches seminars about the construction of the mokuhanga tool, the baren. Stone Window -20-3/4" x 17" April Vollmer - is an established artist who works predominantly in mokuhanga. Her book Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop is one of the most authoritative books on the subject and has influenced many mokuhanga artists. Dark Light (2015) 16.5" x 13.5" MI Lab - is a mokuhanga residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design - located in Denver, Colorado and was founded by Philip J. Steele in 1963. It is an art school with many different programs and subjects in the arts. You can find more information here. Mayumi Oda - is a Buddhist teacher and artist who works and lives in Hawai’i. Her work has travelled the world. Mayumi is also an environmental activist and continues to live and work at Ginger Hill Farm, an eco-retreat on the Big Island of Hawai’i. More information about Mayumi Oda’s work can be found here. Storyville II - silkscreen, 24.6" x 33.9" Jing Jing Tsong - is an American illustrator of books. She is also a printmaker in lithography and monoprints. You can find her work on her website, here. Munakata Shikō (志功棟方) - (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers; Shikō is renowned for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work. Hanami no Saku (Tanizaki Utauta Nangasaku - 1956) Bodhisattva - a person who has achieved enlightenment through spiritual practice, whether meditation or through good deeds. The word "bodhisattva" can are found in Indian Buddhism and its associated traditions, as representing the Buddha and his transformations. In the Mahanaya tradition of Buddhism, a bodhisattva desires enlightenment as a buddha. kozo paper - is paper made from mulberry bark and is commonly used in woodblock printmaking. Manjushuri - is the bodhisattva of wisom and is associated with the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism. Faith Stone - 22" x 28" Vajrakilaya - is a wrathful deity in Tibetan Buddhism who embodies the enlightenment of all Buddhas. Commonly described as a deity with three faces, all with a crown of skulls, with six arms carrying various ritual implements in Tibetan Buddhism. Cow Rinpoche - is a painting by Karma Phutsok. This particular series of paintings shows animals in exhalted positions on a lotus. They are depicted like a traditional thangka painting. Dakini As Art - is an online art gallery which sells and distributes Buddhist art throughout the world. More info can be found on their website, here. Lakshmi - is a goddess in the Hindu pantheon of deities and is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, sitting on the lotus throne. Kehinde Wiley - is a portrait artist based in New York City. His work focuses on fusing the past and the present while creating a dialgoue about power, gender, race and reimagining the past. More information can be found on his website here. Portrait Of A Young Gentleman (2021) oil on linen and canvas LaToya Hobbs - is a painter and printmaker based in Baltimore, Maryland. She explores relief printmaking and painting together in her works. Her topics deal with the Black female body and stereotypes. More information can be found on LaToya’s website here. Nina's Gaze - relief, ink and acrylic on wood (2019) 20" x 16" hangintō sizes - the hangitō is a stylized Japanese mokuhanga tool. It is the primary tool in mokuhanga and is used in cutting lines and for colour blocks. It comes in various sizes depending on your ability and the technique. The lower number on the handle signifies the blade's thinness, therefore, the experience of the carver. kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first. McClains Woodblock Print Supply Co. - based in Portland, Oregon, McClain's is the go-to supplier of woodblock print tools in the United States. Their website can be found here. The Unfinished Print interview with Daniel Jasa of McClain’s can be found here. floating kentō - is a removable registration system attached to the block when printing. As the kentō isn't affixed to the block, blotting and immaculate borders are positives of this registration method. It is an "L" shape. baren - is a Japanese word to describe a flat, round-shaped disc, predominantly used in creating Japanese woodblock prints. It is traditionally made of a cord of various types and a bamboo sheath, although baren have many variations. urauchi - is a way of backing Japanese washi paper to the back of works on paper. This process is used in bookbinding, scrolls and can be used in mokuhanga. Ozu Washi - is a paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. website, Instagram alum -is a binder used in paper mounting, fabric dyeing, household items such as fire extinguishers, and baking powder. It is also used in size for washi to hold pigments better in your works. Tetsuo Sayama - was an instructor at MI Lab until his passing in 2019. He worked closely with students, was a scholar of Japanese printmaking history, and left an impression on many who got to know him. Washi Arts is an online brick-and-mortar paper store in Blaine, Washington, USA. They sell Japanese papers for crafts, bookbinding, mokuhanga, and other artistic media. More info can be found on their website here. Shin-Torinoko paper - is a mass produced, machine made Japanese paper that is relatively inexpensive. It comes in various weights and colours. More info can be found, here. kitakata - is a specific type of washi made of Philippine gampi, and sulphite pulp. For bookbinding, and mokuhanga and other types of printmaking. More info, here. Saraswati - is the Hindu goddess of knowldedge and dispells ignorance. monoprint - is a type of relief print which uses metal or glass, even wood. The final outcome is one good print. Grumbacher - is an art supply company started by Max Grumbacher in 1905 in New York City. It is now owned and operated by Chartpak Inc. More info, here. Winsor & Newton - is a British artist supply company, started in 1832, which sells artist materials such as pigments, brushes, paper, etc. More info can be found, here. M. Graham & Co. - is a company founded in the late 1990’s which provides many different types of pigments for all kinds of artists. More info can be found, here. Da Vinci Paint Co. - was founded in 1975 in Orange County, California. They make an assortment of watercolours, oils, heavy-body and fluid acryl, and gouache. More info here. Tōsai Pigment Paste - is a brand of pigments manufactured by Holbein, Japan. They were conceived by mokuhanga printmaker Richard Steiner. Tōsai is the name given to Richard by his teacher. Richard's invteriew with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Roslyn Kean - is an Australian printmaker who makes her ball bearing baren called the Kean Ball Bearing Baren. The KBB baren comes in two sizes and are lighter than the yuki baren or other ball-bearing barens. Roslyn's baren are made of high-grade plastic. For more information about Roslyn, her work, and baren can be found, here. Defining The Edge 1 - 70 x 50 cm sumi - is a rich black stick or liquid used by artists, calligraphers, and traditional Japanese horimono tattoo artists. Sumi is made from the soot of burnt lamp oil. Sumi is used predominantly in key blocks in traditional mokuhanga and to mix pigments. Pigment Tōkyō conducts a great interview with their chief of pigments, Kei Iwaizumi, about sumi ink, here. tapa cloth - is a designed barkcloth found throughout the islands of the South Pacific, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and Hawai’i, where it is called kapa. Kapa is made slightly differently than tapa; different shapes are used for a more robust design. Japanese book-binding - in Japan, the binding of books began with scroll books based on the Chinese method. Other binding methods evolved, such as flutter books (sempūyō) and butterfly books (detchōsō). By the Edo Period (1603-1868) and with the relative peace of the period, washi paper was produced steadily, creating a demand for books. Tale of Genji and Tales of Ise were published in this form for the first time. * shallow carving - is a way to add dimension and texture to a woodblock. Various sizes of u gouges work well. It can make beautiful shades of colour within your work. Maile Andrade - is a mixed media artist who has focused on the Hawai’ian kapa process of weaving mentioned above. Kapa, made with mulberry bark, was used for clothing and blankets in Hawai’i. Maile uses kapa in various ways in her 2019 exhibit at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, here Moana (Ocean) - 30.4 x 30.4 cm mokuhanga brushes - come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Smaller brushes (surikomebake) have long handles and are numbered regarding bristle size, and are used for various sizes of colour blocks. Flat back brushes (marubake), are like a shoe brush and are for wider areas for printing. They also come in various numbered sizes. Brushes are traditionally made of horsehair from the horse's tail, although the smaller surikomebake are made of deer hair. You can find mokuhanga brushes most anywhere today such as McClains, Terry McKenna, Michihamono, Jackson’s Art Supplies, and many other places. sharpening stones - these stones come in a variety of grits, colours, and sizes. Some stones are natural or composite. They vary in price from the ridiculously expensive to the more affordable. Generally, for your mokuhanga you will need a 1000-grit stone to start, and in time you can explore various other methods of sharpening your tools. An excellent video to begin with is Terry McKenna’s video on sharpening here. Karma & Faith: The Artwork of Karma Phuntok and Faith Stone - is the self published book made for their Denver exhibition in 2019. Tassajara Zen Center - is a Buddhist monastary and zen center located in San Fransisco. They have published cookbooks since the 1970’s. Tibet House - is a not-for-profit cultural preservation society to preserve Tibetan culture worldwide. There are many Tibet House offices and buildings around the globe. More information can be found at Tibet House US here. John Lewis - played a large part in many important events in the civil rights movements of the 1960s in the United States. Was one of the founding members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960-1971. More information about John Lewis and his essential work can be found here at Stanford University: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. Kannon - is the deity of compassion in Buddhism. Kannon Reigen Ki - Ima Kumano Temple from the series The Miracles of Kannon by Utagawa Hiroshige II (1829-1869) 9.6" x 14" Shoshoni Yoga Retreat - is a yoga retreat in Rollinsville, Colorado. The retreats are much like an ashram experience, with meditation, yoga, meals and selfless service. Find more info here. * Ikegami, Kojiro, and Barbara B. Stephan. Japanese Book Binding: Instructions from a Master Craftsman. New York etc.: Weatherhill, 1990. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Dropkick Murphy's, Where Trouble Is At. From the album, This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2021) on Dummy Luck Music. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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3/31/2023 • 1 hour, 34 minutes, 33 seconds Norman Vorano PhD - Inuit Printmaking and Mokuhanga : The Value of Old Traditions The history of mokuhanga in Canada is small, yet strong. There are Canadian mokuhanga printmakers who have helped grow the art form in Canada and throughout the world, such as Walter J. Phillips (1884-1963), David Bull, Elizabeth Forrest, Barbara Wybou, to name but a few. But what if there was a tradition of printmaking you could never think have a connection with Japanese mokuhanga, thriving and growing in the Canadian Arctic? Norman Vorano is the Associate Professor of Art History and Head of the Department of Art History and Conservation at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. In 2011 Norman published a book, with essays by Asato Ikeda, and Ming Tiampo, Inuit Prints: Japanese Inspiration. This book opened me to the world of how various print traditions, so far away from each other, could influence one another. In this case, the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic in what is now known as Kinngait, have built one of the most thriving and economically sustainable print traditions in the world. But what I didn't know is that mokuhanga and the Japanese print tradition had a huge part to play in their early success. I speak with Professor Norman Vorano about Inuit history and culture, how the Inuit print tradition began, how an artist from Toronto made his way to the Arctic, then to Japan, then back to the arctic, changing everything. Norman also speaks on how the work of sōsaku hanga printmaker U'nichi Hiratsuka influenced the early Inuit printmakers, and we discuss tools, pigments, and the globalization of art. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Norman Vorano PhD - is Associate Professor of Art History and Head of the Department of Art History and Conservation at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. For more information about Inuit printmaking and their association with mokuhanga you can get Norman's book, Inuit Prints: Japanese Inspiration (2011). For additonal information about Inuit printmaking and mokuhanga, Norman lectured on the subject for The Japan Foundation Toronto in 2022. The online lecture can be found, here. A few topics that Norman and I really didn't have a chance to explore, but alluded too, was process. As wood is scarce in the Arctic, stone carving (soapstone), and linocuts are and were used. Also there is a chain within Inuit printmaking much like the hanmoto system of mokuhanga in Japan, where the Print Studio chooses images drawn by others in the community and those images are carved and printed by carvers and printers associated with the Print Studio in the Kenojuak Cultural Center in Kinngait, and then sold to the public. Queens University at Kingston - is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. What began as a school for the Church of Scotland in 1841 has developed into a multi faculty university. More info can be found on their website, here. Canadian Museum of History - one of Canada’s oldest museums the CMH focuses on Canadian and world history, ethnology, and archeology. The museum is located in Gatineau, Québec, Canada. More info can be found on their website, here. The Eastern Arctic of Canada - is a portion of the Arctic archipelago, a chain of islands (2,400 km or 1,500 mi) and parts of Québec and Labrador, located throughout the northern portion of the country of Canada. The Eastern portion discsussed in the episode is comprised of Baffin Island (Qikiqtaaluk - ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ), and Kinngait (Cape Dorset). Kinngait (ᑭᙵᐃᑦ) - is located on Dorset Island at the southern part of Baffin Island in the territory of Nunavut, Canada. It was called Cape Dorset until 2020, when it was renamed “high mountain” in the Inuktitut language. Distant Early Warning Line (DEW)- was a radar system located in the Arctic regions in Canada, the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland. Its purpose was to help detect any aggression, militarily, from the then Soviet Union. This system was overseen by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force. It ceased activity in 1993. The Canadian Guild of Crafts - also known as La Guilde, was established in 1906 in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. It has focused its work on preserving First Nations crafts and arts. It began working with James Houston (1921-2005) in 1948, having the first Inuit exhibition in 1949 showcasing Inuit carving and other crafts. It exists and works today. More information can be found, here. James Archibald Houston - was a Canadian artist who worked and lived in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) until 1962. He worked with La Guilde and the Hudson’s Bay Company, bringing Inuit arts and crafts to an international community starting in 1948 through to the Cape Dorset co-operative of the 1950’s. His work in helping to make Inuit art more commerical for the Inuit people has been documented in Norman Vorano’s book, Inuit Prints: Japanese Inspiration (2011), as well as several articles from La Guilde, which can be found, here. Drum Dancer (1955) - chalk on paper West Baffin Eskimo Co-Operative - is the co-operative on Kinngait (Cape Dorset) established in 1959 and created by the Department of Natural Resources and Northern Development represented by Don Snowden and Alexander Sprudz, with James Houston. It focuses on drawings, prints, and carvings. More info can be found on their website, here. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development - in 2019 it was replaced by the Department of Indigenous Services Canada. The ISC is a government department whose responsibility is to colaborate and have an open dialogue with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada. Terry Ryan (1933-2017) - was an artist and the arts director of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-Op in 1960 and General Manager in 1962. His work with the Cape Dorset Print Studio, bringing artists from all over Canada, helped to push the studio’s work throughout the world. There is a fine Globe and Mail article about Terry Ryan's life and accomplishments, which can be found here. Kenojuak Cultural Center - is located in Kinngait, and was opened in 2018 with a space of 10,440 sq ft. The KCC is a community center and space for sharing. It has a large printmaking studio, meeting spaces and exhibition spaces for work as well as a permanent gallery. It is associated with the West Baffin Eskimo Co-Operative. Early Inuit Art - for more information regarding early Inuit art on record, from first European contact, La Guilde discusse this very topic in their article Going North: A Beautiful Endeavor, here. Grand-Mère, Québec - is a city in the province of Québec in Canada. Located in the region of Maricie, with a population of around 14,000. It was founded in 1898 and is made famous for the rock formation which shares its name. Grand Mère means ‘grandmother.’ It is known for hunting and fishing tourism. The Group of Seven - were a group of landscape painters from Canada. The artists were, Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945), Lawren Harris (1885–1970), A.Y. Jackson 1882–1974), Frank Johnston (1888–1949), Arthur Lismer (1885–1969), J.E.H MacDonald (1873–1932), and Frederick Varley (1881–1969). Later, A.J. Casson (1898–1992) was invited to join in 1926, Edwin Holdgate (1892–1977) became a member in 1930, and LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) joined in 1932. While Tom Thomspon (1877–1917), and Emily Carr (1871–1945) were not "official" members it is generally accepted that they were a part of the group because of their individual relationships with the other member of the group. More info can be found, here. A fine article on the CBC by Cree writer Matteo Cimellaro, discusses the role The Group of Seven played in Canadian nationalism and the exclusion of First Nation's voices in their work. This can be found, here. Tom Thompson - The Jack Pine (1916-1917) Moosonee, Ontario - is a town located in Northern Ontario, Canada. It was first settled in 1903, and is located on the Moose River. It’s history was of trapping, and is a gateway to the Arctic. English and Cree is spoken. Moose Factory, Ontario - is a town first settled in 1673, and was the first English speaking town in Ontario. Much like Moosonee, Moose Factory has a history of fur trading, in this case by the Hudsons Bay Company. Like Moosonee there is a tourist industry based on hunting and fishing. The population is predominantly Cree. Cree (ᓀᐦᐃᓇᐤ) - are a Canadian First Nation's people who have lived on the land for centuries. Their people are divided into eight groups through region and dialect of language: Attikamekw James Bay Cree Moose Cree Swampy Cree Woods Cree Plains Cree Naskapi and Montagnais (Innu) For more information regarding history, tradition of the Cree people of today, Heritage Centre: Cree Nations, and the Cree Nation Government website can get you started. John Buchan (Lord Tweedsmuire, 1875-1940) - was the 15th Governor General of Canada serving from 1935-1940 (his death). He was born in Scotland, but committed himself to Canada when taking to his position as Governor General. He was also a writer of almost 30 novels. sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. Un'ichi Hiratsuka (平塚 運一) - (1895-1977) - was one of the important players of the sōsaku hanga movement in mokuhanga. Hiratsuka was a proponent of self carved and self printed mokuhanga, and taught one of the most famous sōsaku hanga printmakers in Shikō Munakata (1903-1975). He founded the Yoyogi Group of artists and also taught mokuhanga at the Tōkyō School of Fine Arts. Hiratsuka moved to Washington D.C in 1962 where he lived for over thirty years. His mokuhanga was multi colour and monochrome touching on various subjects and is highly collected today. Mara Cape, Izu (1929) Munakata Shikō (志功棟方) - (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers, Shikō is famous for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work. Castle ca 1960's Venice Bienale - is a contemporary art exhibition that takes place in Venice, Italy and which explores various genres of art, architecture, dance, cinema and theatre. It began in 1895. More info, here. Sao Paolo Biennal - is held in Sao Paolo, Brazil and is the second oldest art bienale in the world. The Sao Paulo Biennal began in 1951. It’s focus is on international artists and Brazilian artists. More info can be found, here. German Expressionism - was produced from the early twentieth century to the 1930's and focused on emotional expression rather than realistic expression. German Expressionists explored their works with colour and shape searching for a “primitive aesthetic” through experimentation. More info can be found, here, on Artsy.net Vasily Kandinsky (1866-1944) : Poster for the First Exhibition of The Phalanx, lithograph 1901. Yanagi Sōetsu (1889-1961) - was an art critic, and art philosopher in Japan, who began writing and lecturing in the 1920’s. In 1925 he coined the term mingei (rural crafts), which he believed represented the “functional beauty” and traditional soul of Japan. While on paper an anti-fascist, Yanagi’s early views on the relationship of art and people, focusing on the group and not the individual, going back to a Japanese aesthetic; veering away from Western modernity, was used by Japanese fascists leading up to and during the Pacific War (1941-1945). For more information about Yanagi and the mingei movement in Japan during war time check out The Culture of Japanese Fascism, Alan Tasman ed. (2009) mingei movement - began with the work of Yanagi Sōetsu in the 1920’s. The movement wanted to return to a Japanese aesthetic which honoured the past and preserved the idea of the “everyday craftsman,” someone who went away from industrialization and modernity, and fine art by professional artists. It was heavily influenced by the European Arts and Crafts Movement (1880-1920) as conceived by Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), John Ruskin (1819-1900), and William Morris (1834-1896). Oliver Statler (1915-2002) - was an American author and scholar and collector of mokuhanga. He had been a soldier in World War 2, having been stationed in Japan. After his time in the war Statler moved back to Japan where he wrote about Japanese prints. His interests were of many facets of Japanese culture such as accommodation, and the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku. Oliver Statler, in my opinion, wrote one of the most important books on the sōsaku-hanga movement, “Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn.” Stuben Glass Works - is a manufacturer of glass works, founded in 1903 in New York City. It is known for its high quality glass production working with talented glass designers. Ainu - are a First Nations peoples with a history to Japan going back centuries. They traditionally live in the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido as well as the northern prefectures of Honshū. There are approximately 24,000 Ainu in Japan. Made famous for the face, hand and wrist tattooing of Ainu women, as well as animist practices, the Ainu are a distinct culture from the Japanese. There has been some attempts by the Japanese goverment to preserve Ainu heritage and language but the Ainu people are still treated as second class citizens without the same rights and prvileges of most Japanese. More information about the Ainu can be found at the World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous People, here. baren - is a Japanese word to describe the flat, round shaped disc which is predominantly used in the creation of Japanese woodblock prints. It is traditionally made of cord of various types, and a bamboo sheath, although baren come in many variations. Keisuke Serizawa (1895-1984) - was a textile designer who was a Living National Treaure in Japan. He had a part in the mingei movement where he studied Okinawan bingata fabric stencil dying techniques. He also used katazome stencil dying technqiues on paper in the calendars he made, beginning in 1946. Happiness - date unknown: it is an ita-e (板絵) work, meaning a work painted on a piece of wood, canvas, metal etc. National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) - is a research institute and public museum located on the old Expo ’70 grounds in the city of Suita, Osaka Prefecture. It provides a graduate program for national and international students, doctorate courses, as well as various exhibitions. More information can be found on their website, here. Prince Takamado Gallery - is a gallery located in the Canadian Embassy in Tōkyō. It has a revolving exhibition schedule. It is named after Prince Takamado (1954-2002), the third son of Prince Mikasa Takahito (1916-2016). More info can be found, here. Carlton University - is a public resesarch university located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1942 in order to provide a serivce for returning World War II veterans. More information about the university can be found, here. Kenojuak Ashavak (1927-2013) - was an Inuit graphic designer and artist born in Ikirisaq, Baffin Island. She moved to Kinngait (Cape Dorset) in 1966. Kanojuak Ashavek has made some of the most iconic imagery of Inuit art in Canadian history. One of her images, The Enchanted Owl was the subject of a TV Ontario short from TVO Today, and can be found here. The famous National Film Board of Canada documentary (1963) about her and her work can be found, here. Luminous Char, stonecut and stencil, 2008. © Dorset Fine Arts Inuit Prints: Japanese Inspiration - was an Inuit print exhibtion at the Prince Takamado Gallery held at the Canadian Embassy in Tōkyō in 2011. It later toured across Canada. Osaki washi - is a paper making family located in Kōchi, Japan. His paper has been provided to Inut printmakers for many years. The print by Kenojuak Ashavak, and printed by Qiatsuq Niviaksi, was the one aluded to in Norman’s interview as hanging on the washi makers wall. Norman discusses, near the end of the interview, about how Inuit leaders were stripped of their power. The Canadian government instituted more policing in post war Canada, especially during the Cold War. The RCMP and other government officials used colonial practices such as policing, culturally and criminally, to impose Canadian practices from the South onto the Inuit. Pitaloosie Saila - Undersea Illusion, lithograph 2012 Lukta Qiatsuk (1928-2004) Owl - Stonecut print on paper, 1959. Canadian Museum of History Collection, © Dorset Fine Arts. Kananginak Pootoogook (1935-2010) Evening Shadow: stone cut and stencil, 2010 © Dorset Fine Arts Eegyvudluk Pootoogook (1931-1999) Eegyvudluk Pootoogook w/ Iyola Kingwatsiaq , 1960, photo by Rosemary Gilliat Eaton, Library and Canadian Archives. Our First Wooden Home: lithograph, 1979. Osuitok Ipeelee (1922-2005) Eskimo Legend: Owl, Fox, and Hare - stencil print, 1959 Canadian Museum of History Collection © Dorset Fine Arts. Iyola Kingwatsiak (1933-2000) Circle of Birds: stencil on paper, 1965 © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - From Professor Henry D. Smith II, lecture entitled, The Death of Ukiyo-e and the Mid-Meiji Birth of International Mokuhanga, as told at the 4th International Mokuhanga Conference in Nara in November, 2021. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.*** All photos of Inuit artists and works of Inuit artists have been either provided by Norman Vorano, or have been sourced from elsewhere. These are used for educational purposes only. Any issues please reach out.
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3/14/2023 • 1 hour, 40 minutes, 13 seconds Kate MacDonagh: Printmaker - The Gradations of Colour and Tone Within the framework of mokuhanga, you have the freedom to go anywhere, try anything and explore so many places with your own work. The skies the limit. Whether through colour, shapes, size, or technique, you are able to explore as far as you want. On this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker, teacher and artist Kate MacDonagh. Based in Dublin, Kate's mokuhanga live in the ethereal, through colour and shape, making abstract work which engages and attracts. Kate speaks to me about her artistic background, gallery experience, teaching and the adaptation of mokuhanga. We discuss the mokuhanga aesthetic, bad days and believing in yourself, local shopping for your materials, abstraction and colour, the spiritual realm, and residencies and travel. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Kate MacDonagh - website, Instagram Cadence - diptych Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - is an art museum located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA and was founded in 1870. With over 450,000 works in the museum, the MFA is one of the most distinguished museums in the world. In regards to mokuhanga, the MFA has had a long relationship with the Japanese woodblock print starting from the late 19th century. It was the first museum in the US to develop a Japanese art collection, and with the help of major donations the MFA developed one of the most important Japanese print collections in the world. More information about the museum can be found, here. Information regarding their Japanese collection can be found, here. To browse some of their digitized collection, here. ukiyo-e - is a multi colour woodblock print generally associated with the Edo Period (1603-1867) of Japan. What began in the 17th Century as prints of only a few colours, evolved into an elaborate system of production and technique into the Meiji Period (1868-1912). With the advent of photography and other forms of printmaking, ukiyo-e as we know it today, ceased production by the late 19th Century. The National Print Museum - one of a kind in Ireland, is a print museum located in Dublin. It was founded in 1996 and is a registered charity focusing on education. More info about the museum can be found, here. Debra Bowden - is a mokuhanga printmaker, bookbinder, and artist based in Thomastown (Grennan), Ireland. She conducts mokuhanga workshops in and around Ireland. About all I could find of her is through Facebook, although that hasn't been updated since 2018. Her website doesn't seem to exist any longer. You can find her Facebook page, here. Tangent Script I Nagasawa Art Park (MI Lab) Awaji City - Nagasawa Art Park was an artist-in-residence program located in Awaji City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It was open for 12 years before evolving into MI Lab in 2012. More info, here. Robert Blackburn (1920-2003) - was an African American printmaker based in New York City. His lithogrpahy work represented his life experiences, being influenced by the Harlem Renaissance, and American society at large. His studio and his workshop in Chelsea attracted artists from around the world. More information about Robert Blackburn, his life and work can be found here from the Smithsonian, and here, from The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts where the Robert Blackwell Printmaking Workshop Program continues today. Color Symphony (1960) - lithograph The Kentler International Drawing Space - is an art gallery located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. It has hosted several mokuhanga centred exhibitions. The most recent was Between Worlds as hosted by The Mokuhanga Sisters, from July 17 - July 31, 2022. More info, here. Keiko Kadota (1942-2017) - was the director of Nagasawa Art Park at Awaji City from 1997-2011, and then of MI Lab at Lake Kawaguchi from 2011 until her passing. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. Graphic Studio, Dublin - is a printmakers studio located in Dublin, Ireland. The studio was established in 1960 as a space for printmakers to share ideas and their works. The gallery was established in 1980 as Dublin’s first fine art gallery. It is a space where printmakers are able to work in a subsidized environment with the freedom to create work. Kate has been on the Board of Directors since 2019. More info about the Graphic Studio can be found, here. gomazuri - is a mokuhanga technique where slight pressure is used with pigments too make a “spotty” image, what look like sesame seeds. It can add depth to your prints. sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. kizuki kozo - is a handmade Japanese paper with many uses. Of a moderate weight and cooked with caustic soda. It’s widely available. Ozu Washi - is a paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. website, Instagram Chester Beatty Museum - is a museum and library founded by the American-British philanthropist Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968). He was made an honourary citizen of Ireland in 1957. The museum is located in Dublin Castle. More info can be found, here. Rebecca Salter - is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England. She is also an artist who has written two books about Japanese woodblock printing, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), and Japanese Popular Prints (2006). She worked with the Satō Woodblock Print Workshop, documenting their process. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. 2017-12 (mixed media on paper 20 ½ x 20 ½ ins) [2017] shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. Not all shina is made equally, buyer beware. Lucy May Schofield - is a printmaker, photographer, and scroll maker (kakemono, 掛物) and is based in England. website, Instagram. Lucy's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. The Blue Between Us The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram Yoonmi Nam (b. 1974) - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher, based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Book of Bamboo (2020 - 8 3/5 × 12 1/5 in | 21.8 × 31 cm) Melissa Schulenberg - is a woodblock printmaker and professor of Art and Art History at St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY. Some of her work can be found on her website, here. Stumps (reduction) 23.6 x 16 in Katie Baldwin - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, illustrator, book maker, and artist based in Huntsville, Alabama. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Outside (2012 - woodblock and letterpress) Between Worlds - was a mokuhanga specific show hosted by the Kentler International Drawing Space from July 17 - July 31, 2022. bokashi - is a Japanese term associated with the gradation of water into ink. There are several types of bokashi. For more information regarding these types of bokashi please check out Professor Claire Cuccio's lecture called “A Story in Layers,” for the Library of Congress, and the book Japanese Printmaking by Tōshi Yoshida, and Rei Yuki. Below are the following types of bokashi. This is from the Yoshida book: ichimonji bokashi - straight line gradation ichimonji mura bokashi - straight line gradation with an uneven edg. Ō-bokashi - a gradual shading over a wide area atenashi bokashi - gradation without definition futairo bokashi - two tone gradation Northumberland, Britain - is a county located in the northernmost area of Britain. It shares a border with Scotland. It is known for its nature, industry, castles, and history. More info, here. Centre Culturel Irelandais - is located in Paris, France. It is a cultural center for Irish culture and events in France. There are artist in residence programs, exhibtions, concerts and more. For information regarding the CCI in Paris, here. Georges Seurat (1859-1891) - was one of the pioneers of Neo Impressionism, a term coined by art critic Félix Fénéon (1861-1944). Seurat used Pointillism, where different colours are dabbed on various areas of the canvas and it is through the eyes that colour blends together. Through these new ideas, as well as the concept of Divisionism, the Neo Impressionists created a new way of seeing the canvas. Deeply rooted in the “science” of painting, Seurat attempted successfully to blend the past and his present through painting, during his short life. The Harbour of Honfleur (1886) oil on canvas Musée d'Orsay - located in Paris, France the Musée d’Orsay is an art museum established in 1986. Mostly holding and exhibiting French art from the years 1848-1914, the MO conatins many Impressionist and Post Impressionsit paintings and works. More info can be found, here. Sligo, Ireland - is a town with a population of 19,199, located in County Sligo, in the province of Connacht in Ireland. it is the final resting place of poet YB Yeats (1865-1939) More info can be found, here. nori - is a type of paste made from starch. It is used when making mokuhanga. You can make nori from any type of material made from starch. For instance, paste can be made with tapioca, rice, corn, even potato. You can purchase nori pretty much anywhere but making it is more environmentally friendly. Laura Boswell has a great recipe, here. mokuhanga in the 1950’s and 1960’s - Japanese woodblock printmaking became quite popular after World War II. With Japan growing exponentially post war, through industry and art, the independent philosphy that the West perpetuated began to filter into the Jpaanese art world. Sōsaku hanga became increadingly popular where there is only one carver, printer and draughtsman. These prints touched on various themes, but especially in the abstract. Artists such as Shigeru Hatsuyama (1897-1973), and Kiyoshi Saitō (1907-1997) spring to mind, who created a new kind of mokuhanga by using various techniques, colours, and sizes that were unique and expressive. Oliver Statler’s book, written in 1956, Modern Japanese Prints : An Art Reborn, was published because the art form was growing so quickly. It is a great summary on the sōsaku hanga movement during that time. Nymphs (Birds and Flowers) by Shigeru Hatsuyama House in Aizu (1972) by Kiyoshi Saitō hangitō - a Japanese carving knife which is primarily used for mokuhanga and comes in a variety of blade sizes. McClains has a varied assortment, here. kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first. nikawa - this definition from the Yamatane Museum of Art in Tōkyō is the perfect definition of nikawa, better than I could ever write. I've included it here, verbatim, describing how nikawa is used in nihon-ga painting, A gelatin made by boiling and extracting protein from skins and bones of animals and fish, it has long been used as an adhesive. Since the pigments used in nihonga have no adhesive strength, the use of nikawa is needed to fix them to the surface of the painting. The two types commonly used now are shika nikawa (industrially processed from cow skin, bones, and tendons) and sanzenbon (which is made by hand, of the same materials). gum arabic - is a sap from two types of Acacia tree. In art it is used as a binder for pigments which creates viscosity (depending on how much or little is applied to your pigments) for your watercolours and oils. Rachel Levitas has a fine description on how she uses gum arabic in her work, here. Holbein - is a pigment company with offices located in Japan, The United States, and Canada. They offer high end gouache, watercolour, and pigment pastes. sumi - is a rich black stick, or liquid used by artists, calligraphers, and traditional Japanese horimono tattoo artists. It is made from the soot of burnt lamp oil. Used in key blocks predominantly in traditional mokuhanga, it can also be used to mix pigments. Pigment Tōkyō conducts a great interview with their chief of pigments, Kei Iwaizumi, about sumi ink, here. International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Mariko Jesse - is an illustrator, and mokuhanga printmaker who splits her time in Tōkyō, London, and California. Her work can be found, here. Mariko is also a part of the collective, wood+paper+box, which can be found, here. Two Frogs Six Leaves Patty Hudak - is an American artist who splits her time between Vermont and NYC, who works in installation, and mokuhanga. She has travelled the world, and is a part of three artist collectives. Patty's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Force of Nature 1 print panels - artworks, like woodblock prints, can come in various numbers of panels. Single panel is one print, diptychs are two panels, triptychs are three panels, quadriptych is four panels, pentaptych is five panels. The Art Institute of Chicago - is an art museum located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Founded both as a school and a museum of fine arts in 1879. It is built on the debris from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Its research library was opened in 1901 and the new wing was opened in 2009. More information about the AIC’s history can be found on their website, here. Recollections of Tokyo: 1923-1945 - was a mokuhanga and lithography print show held at The Art Institute of Chicago from July 2 - September 25, 2022. It showed works by U’nichi Hiratsuka (1895-1997), Kawakami Sumio (1895-1972), Oda Kazuma (1882-1956) amongst others. More info can be found, here. Paul Furneaux - is a Scottish born mokuhanga printmaker and teacher who uses the medium of mokuhanga creating pieces of work that are third dimensional, abstract and sculptural. Lewis: Orange Black (2020) 135 x 183 x 5 cm mokuhanga stretched over three aluminium panels coated with resin coating Lascaux UV Spray coating - is a UV protecting archival varnish produced by Lascaux, a manufacturer of artist materials since 1963. This is the product used by mokuhanga artist Paul Furneaux for some of his works. More info about their products can be found on their website, here. Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) - also known as Koizumi Yakumo, was an Irish/Greek/Japanese author, translator, and teacher of Japanese culture and customs to the West. He spent a portion of his life in Japan where he studied and taught. His most famous books are Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan (1894), and Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things (1904). An interesting article in The Paris Review about Lafcadio Hearn can be found, here. Yuki Onna (雪女) - was a short story as written from the Japanese ghost story by Lafcadio Hearn, in Kwaidan, in 1904. According to an article about the story by Yoko Makino in 1991, Hearn contends he heard the tale from a someone in Musashino, a district in what is Tōkyō today. There are many different legends of this story from around Japan. You can read the Hearn story, here. Your First Print: David Bull - this was the first DVD I ever purchased on how to make mokuhanga. This was in and around 2007. While I look back at that time thinking about why I didn't take it up as seriously as I do now, I sometime wonder, "Where would I be now in my Mokuhanga journey?" I realize that that is a redundant way of thinking. I am where I am now today, and to be happy with just that. You can still find this product on Dave's website. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Hater Players, by Black Star from the album Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998). Released on Rawkus Records. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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2/26/2023 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 34 seconds Claire Cuccio PhD: Driven By Personal Relationships When studying mokuhanga, whether you're an academic, a creator, or for general interest, there are some scholars and academics that are mandatory in your studies. Claire Cuccio is that particular scholar. Currently based in Seattle, and working in international education for 20 years, Claire has been a resident in Asia as an Asian print and handcraft culture specialist and cultural heritage educator. While also working for the International Mokuhanga Conference and conducting research on Nepalese woodblock print culture, Claire has been an asset to the mokuhanga community for some time. On this episode I speak with Claire about how she got involved in studying print culture in Japan and Asia. We talk on the sensibility of mokuhanga and how Claire is driven by her personal relationships. We also discuss the economics of mokuhanga history and her work with Nepalese printmaker, Kabi Raj Lama. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Claire Cuccio - her International Mokuhanga Conference lecture from 2022 can be found, here. Claire's work with woodpaperhand can be found here which contains links to many of her projects and lectures. Claire's lecture at the Library of Congress about Japanese Woodblock Printing, here. The New Yorker - is a weekly magazine which began publishing in 1925 in the United States. It is published by Condé Nast. It is a magazine that covers American and world politics, culture, and arts from around the world, and New York City. Washington University in St. Louis - is an acclaimed private research university located in St Louis, Missouri, USA. It has an edownment of 13.3 billion. The school covers many subjects and career paths such as medicine and law. More information can be found on their website, here. Myōjō - (明星) was a monthly literary and arts magazine based in Japan. It began publication in 1900 but ended its run in 1908. It was published by Shinshisha. It was revived twice from 1921-1927, and from 1947-49 by different publishers. The magazine was made famous because of the first sōsaku hanga print ever made by Yamamoto Kanae, “The Fisherman.” Myōjō cover from February, 1901 Harpers - is a monthly magazine in the United States, published by Harper Collins and was founded in 1850. The magazine covers politics, culture, art, history amongst other subjects. More info can be found, here. Yosano Akiko (1878-1942) - was the pen name of Shō Hō, a Japanese poet, pacifict and feminist. Her work was in the tanka format of poetry, which is 5-7-5-7-7. The Masterclass website has an interesting article describing tanka poetry, here. Tekkan Yosano (1873-1935)- was the husband of Yosano Akiko. He too was a poet and activist in early Twentieth Century Japan. As Claire mentions in her interview, Tekkan founded Myōjō in 1900. sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. Fujishima Takeji (1867-1943) - was a Japanese painter. He studied Western painting (yōga) in the Romantic and impressionistic styles, but also painted Japanese themes. He made mokuhanga during the sōsaku hanga period of Japanese printing, carved and printed himself. Dawn Drizzle at Kawaramachi (1934) Ishii Hakutei (1882-1958) - was a Japanese painter who studied Western style painting. He became editor of the first incarnation of Myōjō in 1900, helping to publish Kanae’s “Fisherman” print. Hakutei is famous for his Twelve Views of Tōkyō prints which he printed himself. Twelve Views of Tōkyō: Yanagibashi (1910) Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS) - located on the campus at Doshisha University, the KCJS is a fully immersive langauge school both culturally and linguistically. It has 13 member universities from the United States. More info can be found, here. Henry Smith II - is a professor emeritus at Columbia University. The article he wrote about the hanmoto system and Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) can be found, here. Rebecca Salter - is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England. She is also an artist who has written two books about Japanese woodblock printing, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), and Japanese Popular Prints (2006). She worked with the Satō Woodblock Print Workshop, documenting their process. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. shadow cast one (2015) Satō woodblock workshop - is a traditional Japanese woodblock production house based in Kyōto, Japan. Here is an article from The Journal of Modern Craft with Rebecca Salter regarding this workshop. International Society for Education Through Art (InSEA) - is a non governmental, associated with the United Nations, organization which tries to promote creative education around the world via events. They work with 70 countries from around the world. Find out more about what they do at their website, here. Moya Bligh (1954-2009) - was an Irish mokuhanga printmaker based in Kyoto. She lived in Japan for 30 years, having moved there permanently in the 1980’s. A graduate of Tama Art University, Moya studied with Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019) and regularly conducted mokuhanga workshops in Ireland and Japan. Ms. Bligh's legacy in mokuhanga continues to this day. Beyond Wood 1 (2002) Kyoto Seika University - is a private university based in Kyōto, Japan. It is a university focused on art and scholarship. More info, here. Elizabeth Forrest - is an award-winning Canadian artist and mokuhanga prinmaker. She has been producing mokuhanga since the late 1980’s when she lived and studied in Kyōto. She has studied with the late Akira Kurosaki. More info about Elizabeth’s work can be found, here. Glancing North II (2009) Keiko Kadota (1942-2017) - was the director of Nagasawa Art Park at Awaji City from 1997-2011, and then of MI Lab at Lake Kawaguchi from 2011 until her passing. Uchiwa fans - are a craft style of hand held fan commonly seen in the summer time in Japan. There are several types of uchiwa fans, according to Kogei Japan. First, is Chinese inspired, second, is Southern inspired, and lastly, Korean inspired. Uchiwa fans are shaped like a ping pong paddle. There are various styles of fans in Japan. More info about uchiwa fans and others can be found here at Japanobjects.com. New Year Card - called nengajo (年賀状) in Japanese, these cards have been traditionally passed from person to person since the Heian Period (794-1185). Mokuhanga practitioners make them as well, creating a new one every year focusing on the zodiac sign of the year as a theme. Kyōto Handicraft Center - opened in 1967, it is a center dedicated to the traditional crafts of Japan. Located near the Heian Shrine in central Kyōto they offer work shops, food, a restaurant, and a bookshop for national and international tourists. On their website in English you can order from their online shop, shipping internationally. More info, here. Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum - is mokuhanga museum in Ōsaka that focuses on ukiyo-e era woodblock prints of actors. It is made up of four floors with a rotating exhibition and demonstration space. It’s near the Dōntombori, a canal which runs from the Dōtonbori Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge. It is a tourist hotspot in Ōsaka. More info, in Japanese, here. Terry McKenna - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. He studied under Kyōto-based mokuhanga artist Richard Steiner. Terry also runs his own mokuhanga school in Karuizawa. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Richard Steiner's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Beyond Raging Waves (2017) David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form around the world. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. The Seacoast in Summer (2007-9) Doi Hangaten - is a mokuhanga print publisher located in Tōkyō, Japan. Once a publisher of prints associated with the shin-hanga movement of the ealry twentieth century, the company continues to publish reproductions of famous Japanese prints, in the old ways. Most recently, the Doi family have collaborated with David Bull and Mokuhankan to publish new verions of some of the old blocks from almost 100 years ago. More info about the Doi Hangaten can be found here, here and here. The collaboration videos produced by Mokuhankan regarding the Doi family and the subsequant collaboration can be found, here. Matsushima (1936) Was designed by Tsuchiya Koitsu (1870-1949), and printed by Mokuhankan with Shun Yamamoto, who is himself an accomplished printmaker. The Adachi Institute of Woodblock Prints - is a print studio located in Tōkyō. Established in 1994 in order to promote and preserve the colour woodblock print of Japan. More information, in English and in Japanese. Narita, Chiba, Japan - is a city located roughly 70km from the city of Tōkyō. Known predominantly as the home to Narita International Airport. The city and its environs have a long and rich history unto itself. For tourist information, here. For the history of protest in the area, here. Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an influential artist and filmmaker who ushered in the genre of art, considered as "pop art." Sunset Series (1972) screen-print Kabi Raj Lama - is a Nepalese printmaker based in Kathmandu, Nepal. He has lived and worked in Japan studying mokuhanga, has travelled the world involved in art residences, studying printmaking. Lama works in intaglio, screen-printing, lithography, and mokuhanga. See Claire's above video from the IMC about Kabi Raj Lama's life and history. HIs Instagram can be found, here. Kabiraj 5 (2017) The Kentler International Drawing Space - is an art gallery located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. It has hosted several mokuhanga centred exhibitions. The most recent was Between Worlds as hosted by The Mokuhanga Sisters, from July 17 - July 31, 2022. More info, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. website, Instagram Between Worlds - was a mokuhanga specific show hosted by the Kentler International Drawing Space from July 17 - July 31, 2022. Books Kinokuniya - is a Japanese chain of bookstores located throughout every Prefecture in Japan and around the world. More info, here. Peter Ujlaki - is a gallerist and scholar based in Ashiya, Hyōgō, Japan. His website Osakaprints.com has been an asset when researching and discussing prints from the Kamigata (Kansai) region of Japan. His website buys and sells prints from the above region of Kyoto, Ōsaka, and Kobe. The history of woodblock prints from this region is different than of Tōkyō. You can find Peter’s wesbite, here. senjafuda - are the votive slips Claire brings up in her interview. These were hand printed slips pasted by the worshipper onto the Buddhist temple of their choosing. These slips had many different subjects such as ghosts, Buddhist deities, and written characters. Japan Experience has bit of history of senjafuda, here. The Bai people - are an ethnic group located in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hunan Provinces of China. The Bai people have unique festivals, foods, and architecture. Nishiki-e (錦絵) - is the Japanese phrase for multi-colour woodblock prints, otherwise known as brocade pictures. Sea of Japan - is a body of water which lies beteween Japan, the two Koreas, and Russia. It is predominantly referred to as the Sea of Japan but is also known as the East Sea or Korean East Sea. The dispute of naming rights is on going. International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Tuula Moilanen - is a Finnish mokuhanga printmaker and painter based in Finland. She lived and studied in Kyōto from 1989-2012, where she learned her printmaking at Kyōto Seika University and from printmaker Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019). Her work can be found, here. Return To Home (2014) geidai (芸大) - is the Japanese word for “arts college.” Lauren Pearlman Sugita - is the owner and operator of the Japanese paper educator and supplier, Paper Connection. Based in Rhode Island, USA, Paper Connection has been supplying artists and educators with paper from many countries for over thirty years. More info can be found, here. Echizen - is a region in Fukui Prefecture, Japan associated with Japanese paper making. It has a long history of paper making. There are many paper artisans in the area. One famous paper maker is Iwano Ichibei. He is a Living National Treasure in paper making, and the ninth generation of his family is still making paper today. More info can be found here in English, and here in Japanese. hosho paper - is a handmade and machine made paper from Japan used for printmaking. Some information can be found here. Ibe Kyoko - is a Japanese artist who works with washi, Japanese paper. She produces installations, prints, stage art, and Japanese folding screens (byōbu). You can find more information about her work on her website, here. An interview with the artist can be found here, at the Noyes Museum of Art in Stockton. Recycling Washi Tales - is a performance piece by Kyoko Ibe and playwright Elise Thoron, made about Japanese paper making and with washi. It is four stories, narrated, taking the observer through different parts of Japanese paper history. More info can be found here on PBS. Vietnamese paper (dó) - a great video from Business Insider, here, about the history and modern production of Vietnamese paper in Bac Ninh Province, Vietnam. Vietnamese paper goes as far back as the 13th Century with book making and folk art. Information regarding the Zó Project, a non profit for preserving traditional Vietnamese paper, mentioned in the video can be found, here. BlueCat Paper - is a paper company based in Bangalore, India. They make various handmade paper in India, different shapes and colours. They upcycle their paper, meaning that everything is reused in the making of their paper. More info can be found, here. handmade paper from Laos - South East Asia has had a tradition of papermaking for 700 years. Laotian paper is made of mulberry. More info can be found, here handmade paper from Bhutan - Bhutan has a history of handmade paper using the Daphne plant. Stemming from the eighth century, papermaking in Bhutan is made throughout the country. In 1990 the Bhutanese Travel and Tourist Agency wanted to preserve Bhutanese handmade paper. They sent Norbu Tenzin to learn papermaking in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. More info can be found at thre North Bengal Tourism site, here. Lokta paper - is a Nepalese paper which also uses the bark of the Daphne tree. It is usually sold with various prints and designs. More info can be found at Paper Connection, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Stakes Is High, the instrumental by James Dewitt Yancey [J Dilla] (1974-2006). This beat was used by De La Soul, and released on the record Stakes Is High (1996) released by Tommy Boy Records. RIP David Jude Jolicoeur [Trugoy the Dove] (1968-2023) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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2/16/2023 • 1 hour, 25 minutes, 53 seconds David Stones - Printmaker: Until The Colour Is Right, I Don't Start The spirit of mokuhanga can be found throughout the world. You may find mokuhanga anywhere, in one place, yet pursue it in another. On this episode I speak with long time mokuhanga printmaker David Stones. David has lived and worked in Japan for over forty years, all in the rural area around Okazaki City, in Aichi Prefecture. David has dedicated his life to making mokuhanga in Japan. I speak with David about how he found his way to Japan from England, and how he began working with and studying under famous sōsaku hanga printmaker Tomikichirō Tokuriki (1902-2000) in Kyoto. We discuss what it's like to live and work in a rural part of Japan, how documenting a Japanese historical past affects his work and talk about his relationship with nature. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. David Stones - website, video produced by Satomi Okane, here. Tiles Oshibuchi (date unknown) Trans Siberian Railway - is a rail line that services Russian cities from Moscow to Vladisvostok. It is 9,289 km long. It has been in service since 1904. More information can be found, here. letterpress - is a type of relief printing by using a printing press. It was popular during Industrialization and the modernity of the West. By the mid twentieth century, letterpress began to become more of an art form, with artists using the medium for books, stationary, and greeting cards. Tomikichirō Tokuriki (1902-2000) - was a Kyoto based mokuhanga printmaker and teacher. His work touched on many themes and styles. From “creative prints” or sōsaku hanga in Japanese, and his publisher/printer prints, or shin hanga prints of traditional Japanese landscapes. Hamaotsu (date unknown) Wood Block Print Primer - is a book first published by Hoikusha Publishers in the late 1960’s in soft cover and, strangely, published in 1970 in hardcover by Japan Publications Inc. If anybody has more information on this book, send me an email. deshi (弟子) - is the Japanese word for pupil, or student. Studying in Japan - going to Japan to study your field, your art, or your interests can be a complicated process. You can go and take short term courses and workshops without a special visa in Japan, but if you are looking for a long term option to study, I suggest checking out University websites, artist in residence programs etc in your chosen field as all will have their own application processes. shukubo (宿坊) - is a dormitory, or hostel, in a Buddhist temple in Japan. You can find some of those “temple-stays” in Kyoto, here. Okazaki, Aichi - is a relatively large city of around 300,000 people. It is about 45 minutes outside of Nagoya City. It is known for its seasonal activities, reconstructed castle, Tokugawa history, and food. More info can be found, here Richard Steiner - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Kyoto, Japan. He has been producing mokuhanga for over 50 years. More information about his work can be found on his website, here. And his interview with The Unfinished Print, can be found here. David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form around the world. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. The River In Winter - From "My Solitudes" series (2007-9) oban - is a print size in mokuhanga. The standard size is, generally speaking, 39 x 26.5 cm. The Japanese Gallery in London has a solid list on the variants of mokuhanga print sizing, here. gomazuri - is a mokuhanga technique where slight pressure is used with pigments too make a “spotty” image, what look like sesame seeds. It can add depth to your prints. An excellent description of this technique can be found at David Bull's woodblock.com, which posted Hiroshi Yoshida's entire book 'Encyclopedia of Woodblock Printmaking' (1939), here. Woodblock Diary - is a book self published by David Stones, and can be found on his website. Tōkyō Tower - is a communications tower located in the Minato district of Tōkyō, Japan. It was built in 1958 and, before the construction of Tōkyō Skytree to compete, was one of the few views of Tōkyō open to the public. For many, including me, it is a nostalgic piece of Tōkyō architecture with a lot of affinity. More info can be found, here. Chubu Electric Power Mirai Tower - is a communications tower locasted in the Japanese city of Nagoya. It was constructed in 1954 making it the oldest communications tower in Japan. More info, in Japanese, can be found, here. Taishō Period (1912-1926) - a short lived period of Japanese modern history but an important one in world history. This is where the militarism of fascist Japan began to take seed, leading to The Pacific War (1931-1945). More info can be found, here. Nagoya City and District Courthouse - built in 1922, this courthouse was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1984. More information can be found here at Japan Travel, about the history of the courthouse. Preservation of Historic Sites and Buildings - is a Parliamentary recognition in England which attempts to preserve historical buildings through various charitable organizations. English Heritage, established as a charity in 2015 preserves designated historic buildings and properties in England. And The National Trust, founded in 1895 is an independent charity which does the same as EH. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier. This experience made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. The Cave Temple at Anjata (1931) urushi - is a type of lacquer used in Japanese lacquerware for hundreds of years especially in maki-e lacquer decoration. A very good blog posting by Woodspirit Handcraft has great information about urushi, here. Echizen - is a region in Fukui Prefecture, Japan associated with Japanese paper making. It has a long history of paper making. There are many paper artisans in the area. One famous paper maker is Iwano Ichibei. He is a Living National Treasure in paper making, and the ninth generation of his family still making paper today. More info can be found here in English, and here in Japanese. Satomi Okane - is a filmmaker, director of video production for her production company, Penny Black Productions. She has worked on various videos dealing with the preservation of nature, and culture in Satoyama. Her work can be found at her Torikono Sekai website, here, and her YouTube channel, here. Lynita Shimizu - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Connecticut. She studied under Tomikichirō Tokuriki, and Yoshisuke Funasaka. Her work is colourful and powerful, dealing with nature. More info can be found, here, on her website. Her interview with The Unfinished Print, can be found, here. kura (蔵) - is a Japanese storehouse © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Fugazi - Stacks. From the album, Steady Diet of Nothing. (Discord, 1991) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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1/31/2023 • 59 minutes, 23 seconds Paul Binnie - Printmaker : An Aesthetic World When looking for inspiration, when looking for someone you can look up to in your craft, I look to Paul Binnie. Paul is an artist who has carved a living from their craft, and has been a large part of the greater mokuhanga community. His work has touched on so many themes, concepts and ideas. His mokuhanga takes the past and brings it firmly into the future. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Paul Binnie. Paul speaks about his life and career, how he uses pigments, paper, and wood for his work. We discuss the fantasy and reality of an historical past. We look at shin-hanga, and sōsaku hanga, observing kabuki, as well as taking a look at his other work such as oil painting and his drawings. This interview was recorded during Paul Binnie's solo show at Scholten Japanese Art in June, 2022. There may be some background noise during the interview. I apologize for any inconvenience. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Paul Binnie - while Paul doesn't have a singular website he does have his Instagram. There is the "Binnie Catalogue," which is produced by a third party which digitally collects his work, past and present. This can be found, here. Protest March - from the Flowers of a Hundred Years Series (2016) New Year Card - called nengajo (年賀状) in Japanese, these cards have been traditionally passed from person to person since the Heian Period (794-1185). Mokuhanga practitioners make them as well, creating a new one every year focusing on the zodiac sign of the year as a theme. Scholten Japanese Art - is a mokuhanga focused art gallery located in midtown Manhattan. It was founded by René Scholten, an avid collector of the Japanese print. More info can be found, here. intaglio printing - is a printing method, also called etching, using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. The MET has info, here. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier, that made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. Yoshida Tōshi (1911-1995) - eldest son of Hiroshi Yoshida. Having been affected by polio, and the pressure of continuing his fathers legacy, Tōshi Yoshida made prints and paintings which gradually became expressive, avant garde and abstract. Later in life he focused on birds and mammals. Seki Kenji - is a woodblock printmaker based in Tokyo. He was head printer, and produced prints, for Doi Hangaten as well as making his own pieces. Late Fall (ca 1990's) Western Representational realism - is an attempt to represent the subject in art in the most realistic way possible. Interchangeable with naturalism in European art of the 19th Century. kabuki - is a traditional form of Japanese theatre which started in Kyoto on the banks of the Kamo River in the 17th Century. Today it is a multi million dollar business and is almost exclusively run, professionally, by The Shochiku Company. Kabuki, the word, is separated into three different sounds; ka - meaning to sing, bu - meaning to dance, and ki- meaning skill. There are various families in kabuki which generate actors, passing down tradition throughout the lineage. For more information please read this fine article from Nippon.com. There are many books written on the subject of kabuki, but in my opinion, to begin, one needs to read Leonard Pronko's work Theatre East & West, Kawatake Toshio's Kabuki, and Earl Ernst's The Kabuki Theatre. Online, please visit Kabuki21.com, who's site is unparalleled. On YouTube there is the new(ish) Kabuki In-Depth which is updated regularly on kabuki information and history, and is very well done. Hiroo/Roppongi - is an upscale area of Tōkyō, Japan. It has a thriving international community, museums, galleries and the like. More info can be found, here. Nakamura Utaemon VI (1917-2001) - was a kabuki actor who focused primarliy on female roles, or onnagata. He is considered one of the best actors in this kind of role, and was designated a Living National Treasure in Japan, in 1968. From, A Great Mirror of the Actors of the Heisei Period: Nakamura Utaemon as Agemaki in Sukeroku by Paul Binnie (1997) Agemaki - is a character from the celebrated story Sukeroku, a story about love and revenge. It was first staged in kabuki in 1713. Agemaki is a famous courtesan who is in love with Sukeroku. Edo Wonderland Nikko Mura - is an Edo stylized theme park based on the architecture of Edo Period (1603-1868) Japan, and is located in Tochigi Prefecture. There are other areas in Japan which contain Edo Period architecture and events, such as the Dutch Trading Post located on Dejima Island in Nagasaki. More info regarding Edo Wonderland, here. More info on the Dejima, Dutch Trading Post, here. nō - is a traditional Japanese theatre based on ghost and mythological stories. It, like kabuki, uses dance, music, and drama to tell its story. It is older than kabuki and was patronized by the aristocratic class in Japan. Kabuki was the oppoosite, where the everyperson could enjoy kabuki, the aristrocrats enjoyed nō. Like kabuki, the stage is set in a traditional way, and the roles are played by men. For a more detailed descriptor of nō, you can find it at Japan-Guide.com, here. Takarazuka - is an all female musical theatre troupe, based in Hyōgo Prefecture, and founded in 1914. The revue has become a popular Kansai tourist attraction. For a detailed description of the Takarazuka, their website in English can be found, here. A Crib’s Notes descriptor can be found, here. kappazuri-e - is the method of stencil printing, usually atributed to the sōsaku hanga artists of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Artists such as Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992), used stencil’s to make elaborate prints. It can be quite an interesting and complicated process. More information can be found, here, from Viewing Japanese Prints. Yoshitoshi Mori : Street Vendors (1970) German Expressionism - focused on emotional expression rather than realistic expression. German Expressionists explored their works with colour and shape searching for a “primitive aesthetic” through experimentation. More info can be found, here, on Artsy.net Max Pechstein - Angler am Lebastrom (1936) watercolour on paper Edvard Munch (1863-1944) - was a Norweigan artist, who initially was a painter, but also ventured into printmaking making 850 images. His print medium was etching, lithography, and woodcut. More information can be found here, at Christie’s. The Girls on The Bridge (1918) woodcut printed in blue with lithograph and pale green on wove paper. Ralph Kiggell (1960-2022) - was one of the most important mokuhanga practitioners. Originally from England, Ralph lived and worked in Thailand. Ralph pushed the boundaries of mokuhanga with extremely large pieces, jigsaw carving, and by using fantastic colour. He also worked with the International Mokuhanga Conference to promote mokuhanga around the world. He will be greatly missed. Ralph's work can be found, here. His obituary in The Guardian can be found, here. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Jackfruit (2018) Tama Art University - is an arts university located in various campuses in Tōkyō. It has various departments such as Architecture, Product and Textile Design, and Art Studies. Ban Hua: Chinese woodblock prints - the history of Chinese woodblock goes back centuries, longer than the Japanese method. Modern Chinese printmaking began after Mao’s Cultural Revolution, strongly connected by the writings and work of philosopher, academic, and artist Lu Xun (1881-1936) who established the Modern Woodcut Movement. There is a lot of information regarding Chinese woodblock printing. To begin, check out the Muban Educational Trust based in England and their work. More info can be found, here. And here at artelino, For the history of Lu Xun, this can be found, here. powdered pigments - are an option when producing your mokuhanga. They are pigments which are made of powder, and when mixed with certain binders can be used as gouache, or water colours. nihonga - was a Japanese artistic movement based on going back to a “traditional” form of Japanese aesthetic in painting, away form the new Western influences which were coming into Japan during the later 19th Century. More info can be found, here. Tetsu Katsuda (1896-1980) - Evening (1934) Uemura Shōen (1875-1949) - was the pseudonym of Uemura Tsune, who was supported by her mother to pursue painting, at a time when female painters were rare. Her work focused on various themes such as nō, the four seasons, and nationalist paintings during World War 2. Daughter Miyuki (1914) painting kozo paper - is paper made from mulberry bark and is commonly used in woodblock printmaking. shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. Not all shina is made equally, buyer beware. Wood Like Matsumura - is an online and brick and mortar store, for woodblock printmaking, located in Nerima City, Tōkyō. website. Nihon no Hanga - is a mokuhanga museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It focuses on many types of mokuhanga in history and publishes various catalogues of their exhibitions, which are top notch. More info, here. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art - This museum is dedicated to the arts, Western and “non-Western”from all periods of human history, focusing on education, and conservation. More info, here. Kabuki Earphone Guide - is and was an audio guide in Japanese for Japanese, and English for English speaking tourists coming to watch kabuki. It hired English speaking academics to narrate the action as you watched. In 2015 the English version of the audio guide was replaced with the GMARK or GMARC captioning guide. GMARK stands for Graphic Multilingual Advanced Real-time Captioning system. Kabuki-za - is the main theatre in Tōkyō which shows kabuki performances. It was opened in 1889 and has been rebuilt several times in its history. Okubi-e - are woodblock prints of close-up human heads, which came into prominence in the late 19th Century. For me, the best mokuhanga designer of okubi-e is Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900). His okubi-e of kabuki actors is unparalleled, showing the actors in various positions with intricate backgrounds and poses. Kawarazaki Gonjuro I as Sato Masakiyo (1869) Ichikawa Ennosuke IV as Nikki Danjō (1996) by Paul Binnie Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) - was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter. He began to collect Japanese woodblock prints around the winter of 1886-1887 from the art dealer Siegfried Bing. he used to collect and to sell for a profit, although he didn’t sell very many. This collection would go on to influence much of his work. Rebecca Salter - is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England. She is also an artist who has written two books about Japanese woodblock printing, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), and Japanese Popular Prints (2006). She worked with the Satō Woodblock Print Workshop, documenting their process. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. into the light II (2011) Akira Kurosaki 黒崎彰 (1937-2019) - was one of the most influential woodblock print artists of the modern era. His work, while seemingly abstract, moved people with its vibrant colour and powerful composition. He was a teacher and invented the “Disc Baren,” which is a great baren to begin your mokuhanga journey with. At the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan there was a tribute exhibit of his life works. Azusa Gallery has a nice selection of his work, here. W- 396, Wandering Heart (2017) Wimbledon, England - is a district located in South West London. Considered an affluent neighbourhood, it is the home of the Wimbledon tennis tournament. More info can be found here, at Visit London. Stockwell, London - located in the burough of Lambeth, in London, England. It is a diverse neighbourhood, close to Brixton, with shopping, and restaurants. It’s a great area to stay and enjoy a different side of London. International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Hiroshi Yoshida - Fishes of Honolulu at The Honolulu Aquarium (1925) Summer Canyon - Black's Beach: Sunrise © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Yazoo: Too Pieces. From their 1982 album Upstairs At Eric's logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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1/22/2023 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 47 seconds Katherine Martin of Scholten Japanese Art and Paul Binnie - Printmaker The relationships made in mokuhanga can last a long time. Whether it's a friendship based on collecting, creating, or its long and vibrant history; mokuhanga has the ability to bring people together. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I have the pleasure of speaking to two people who's friendship is based on mutual respect, business, and the love of mokuhanga. Katherine Martin is the managing director of Scholten Japanese Art of New York City. She has overseen the galleries multiple exhibitions, written several catalogues published by Scholten, and is the heart of what goes on at the gallery. Paul Binnie is an acclaimed mokuhanga printmaker, painter and artist. He has collaborated with Katherine at Scholten Japanese art for almost fifteen years. We first discuss Katherine's background, and her work with the gallery. Then, Katherine and Paul talk about the relationship between the gallery and the artist, the legacy of shin-hanga, how prints draw people in, and pricing Paul's work. We also discuss about editioning prints and the issues that may arise, nudity and social media, and we end on Katherine and Paul's unique friendships and how it works. This interview was recorded during Paul Binnie's solo show at Scholten Japanese Art in June, 2022. There may be some background noise during the interview. I apologize for any inconvenience. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Scholten Japanese Art - website Paul Binnie - while Paul doesn't have a singular website he does have his Instagram. There is the "Binnie Catalogue," which is produced by a third party which digitally collects his work, past and present. This can be found, here. Flowers of a Hundred Years: A Thousand Stitch Belt (2014) shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the Ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) - a designer of more than six hundred woodblock prints, Kawase Hasui is one of the most famous designers of the shin-hanga movement of the early twentieth century. Hasui began his career with the artist and woodblock designer Kaburaki Kiyokata (1878-1971), joining several artistic societies along the way early in his career. It wasn’t until he joined the Watanabe atelier in 1918 that he really began to gain recognition. Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) had Hasui design landscapes of the Japanese country-side, small towns, and everyday life. Hasui also worked closely with the carvers and printers of his prints to reach the level Hasui wanted his prints to be. Late Fall by Lake Yamanaka (1947) Tsuchiya Kōitsu (1870 - 1949) - apprenticed under artist and print designer Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915), and worked as a lithographer. Kōitsu then joined the Watanabe atelier in 1935. Kōitsu also collaborated with Doi Sadachi publishers, amongst others. Cormorant Fishing in Nagawa River (1940) Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) - Nihon-ga, and woodblock print artist and designer who worked for print publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962). Shinsui designed some of our most famous shin hanga, or “new” prints of the early 20th century. One of my favorites is “Fragrance of a Bath” 1930. Twelve Images of Modern Beauties: Cotton Kimono (1922) Hiroaki Takahashi Shōtei (1871-1945) - was a Japanese printmaker, illustrator and painter. He is commonly associated with the shin-hanga movement of printmaking in Japan, working with Watanabe Shōzaburō. His work touched on many subjects, such as landscapes, beautiful women and still-life. Evening Sun at Nagareyama (1924-27) Yamamura Koka (1885-1942) - was a Japanese woodblock printer and painter who trained under Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920). He worked with Watanabe and other publishers in his lifetime, and self published. His themes ranged from actor prints, lasdscape, and still-life. Flowers of the Theatrical World: Nakamura Utaemon V as Owasa (1921) Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) - was a Japanese woodblock printer who focused much of his work on kabuki actor prints. He too worked with Watanabe. Bando Mitsugoro VII (1950's) Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier, that made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. Ishiyama Temple (ca. 1946) Sotheby’s - established in 1774 in London, England by bookseller Samuel Baker. It is the oldest auction house in the world, with offices located around the world. More info can be found, here. Watanabe’s foray into exhibting Japanese prints abroad can be read in this fine article by The Asian Art Newspaper, online, here. The article discusses Watanabe’;s relationship with Itō Shinsui. bokashi - is a Japanese term associated with the gradation of water into ink. There are several types of bokashi. For more information regarding these types of bokashi please check out Professor Claire Cuccio's lecture called “A Story in Layers,” for the Library of Congress, and the book Japanese Printmaking by Tōshi Yoshida, and Rei Yuki. Below are the following types of bokashi. This is from the Yoshida book: ichimonji bokashi - straight line gradation ichimonji mura bokashi - straight line gradation with an uneven edg. Ō-bokashi - a gradual shading over a wide area atenashi bokashi - gradation without definition futairo bokashi - two tone gradation bijin-ga - (美人画) is the Japanese term for beautiful women in mokuhanga. The Second Collection of Modern Beauties: Red Blossoms by Itō Shinsui (1933) kabuki - is a traditional form of Japanese theatre which started in Kyoto on the banks of the Kamo River in the 17th Century. Today it is a multi million dollar business and is almost exclusively run, professionally, by The Shochiku Company. Kabuki, the word, is separated into three different sounds; ka - meaning to sing, bu - meaning to dance, and ki - meaning skill. There are various families in kabuki which generate actors, passing down tradition throughout the lineage. For more information please read this fine article from Nippon.com. There are many books written on the subject of kabuki, but in my opinion, too begin, one needs to read Leonard Pronko's work Theatre East & West, Kawatake Toshio's Kabuki, and Earl Ernst's The Kabuki Theatre. Online please visit Kabuki21.com, who's site is unparalleled. On YouTube there is the new(ish) Kabuki In-Depth which is updated regularly on kabuki information and history, and is very well done. giclee - is a type of reporoductive process in printmaking. It means, “to spray,” which is the description of how the ink is laid into the paper. It is by using high quality scanners and printers to produce your print that giclee prints are made. More info can be found, here, at artworkarchive.com. The Sun and Moon of Black's Beach - is a mokuhanga series produced by mokuhanga printmaker Paul Binnie. He is currently, at the time of this writing, working on the 7th and 8th edition of this series. Summer Canyon, Black's Beach: Moon Before Dawn (2022) Black’s Beach - is located in Torrey Pines, near San Diego, California. It is a secluded beach. It is known for it’s allowing of naturist patrons, surfing, and various trails. Asia Week - is an art festival which started in New York City in 2009. It brings together various art galleries to participate. These galleries specifically, and the festival in general through events, attempts to bring people from all over the world in order to promote Asian art to collectors and aficionados. More information about Asia Week New York, can be found, here. A Hundred Shades of Ink of Edo - is a mokuhanga series by Paul Binnie. Each print is of a figure who has an historical tattoo based on a woodblock print by a famous Japanese print designer. For instance, the print below, is of Katsushika Hokusai's (1760-1849) print design from his A Journey to the Waterfalls in all the Provinces series from 1832. As Paul informs in our interview there is a tattooed version and non-tattoo version of these particular prints. Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) - arguably one of the more important woodblock print designers, Kunisada designed many types of prints, from landscape, books, erotica, sumo etc. Kunisada worked during the period of ukiyo-e history with Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858), Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), and the above mentioned Kuniyoshi. Defintely a rich and abundant period in Japanese woodblock print history. Mirrors as Stylish Collage Pictures: Ichikawa Ichizo III as Dekiboshi no Sankichi (1859) Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) - is one of the most famous Japanese artists to have ever lived. Hokusai was an illustrator, painter and woodblock print designer. His work can be found on paper, wood, silk, and screen. His woodblock print design for Under The Wave off Kanagawa (ca. 1830-32) is beyond famous. His work, his manga, his woodblocks, his paintings, influence artists from all over the world. The Hundred Poems [By the Hundred Poets] as Told by the Nurse: Fujiwara no Yoshitaka (1835-36) Saru Gallery - is a mokuhanga gallery, from ukiyo-e to modern prints, and is located in Uden, The Netherlands. Their website can be found, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Hyacinth Blues by The Constantines. From their self titled album The Constantines (Three Gut Records) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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1/1/2023 • 39 minutes, 23 seconds Carol Dorman - Stuart Jackson Gallery and the LIFE Institute The importance of passion cannot be understated. It can be a wonderful and beautiful thing, and if it's made into a positive part of not only one's own life but for others as well; it's a passion worth pursuing. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga collector, scholar and instructor, Carol Dorman. Having seen her work and lectures with the Japan Foundation Toronto, on various topics on ukiyo-e history and culture, I found her knowledge and story to be of great interest. I speak with Carol about her journey from working at the CBC for the national news, to working side by side with Stuart Jackson, a mokuhanga gallery owner here in Toronto. Carol speaks on her love of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese woodblock prints, her collecting, how that world has changed dramatically during her time at The Stuart Jackson Gallery, and we discuss her work at the LIFE Institute of Toronto where she teaches and instructs age 50+ students about ukiyo-e history. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Regina, Saskatchewan - is the capital of the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. Located on the land of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and Métis peoples, it is the 16th most populace city in Canada. The city has many restaurants, museums, and other places of interest. More info can be found at Tourism Regina, here. University of Toronto - considered a public research university, U of T is located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and was founded in 1827. It has educated any number of famous Canadian authors, scientists, politicians, and the like. More info, here. Stuart Jackson Gallery - is a ukiyo-e specific gallery located at 882 Queen Street W. in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It has been doing business in Toronto for almost fifty years. More info, here. The Royal Ontario Museum - also known as The ROM, is an art, world culture, and natural history museum in the city of Toronto, and is one of the oldest museums in the city. More info, here. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - also known as the CBC, is a Canadian Federal Crown corporation and is the oldest broadcasting network in Canada. Founded in 1936, the CBC broadcasts news, original programming, and sports throughout Canada and the world. They broadcast via various digital platforms as well as terrestrial platforms such as television and radio. More info, here. Meiji Period of Japan (1868-1912)- the Meiji Period in Japanese history is synonymous with turmoil and regime change. The Meiji Period is named after Prince Mutsuhito (1852-1912), who became Emperor after his fathers death, Emperor Kōmei (1846-1867). Mutsuhito’s reign came at the end of the Keiō Era, (1865-1868), until his own death in 1912. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) - is considered one of the last “masters” of the ukiyo-e genre of Japanese woodblock printmaking. His designs range from landscapes, samurai and Chinese military heroes, as well as using various formats for his designs such as diptychs and triptychs. Tsuzoku Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuhachi-nin no Hitori (津属水滸伝後けつ百八人にの一人 ca. 1827) Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) - arguably one of the more important woodblock print designers, Kunisada designed many types of prints, from landscape, books, erotica, sumo etc. Kunisada worked during the period of ukiyo-e history with Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858), Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), and the above mentioned Kuniyoshi. Defintely a rich and abundant period in Japanese woodblock print history. Oni Azami Seikichi (鬼あざみ清吉) 1859 Yorkville, Toronto - Yorkville is a neighbourhood located in the heart of Toronto. It has a rich history, politically and culturally. It has become a high end neighbourhood in the city, with many expensive shops, luxury homes and condos. It is famous for once being the hotbed of folk music in the world, outside of New York City, in the 1960’s. Performers such as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan amongst others performed in the various clubs in the neighbourhood. 2008 Financial Crisis - was a world wide financial crisis which started in 2007 and lasted throughout 2008 and onwards. This crisis affected housing, mortgages, the automotive industry, and world economic markets. David Kutcher is the owner and operator of Moonlit Sea Prints, located in Easthampton, Massachusetts. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Fading of Japanese woodblock prints - certain colours, especialy in ukiyo-e period prints (beni), are known to fade over time. Since pigments in mokuhanga are generally water based, they will fade naturally, but more quickly if located near sunlight. There are many reasons why your print will fade, so the website Viewing Japanese Prints has written a fine article regarding those very reasons, amongst other ways you can protect your mokuhanga collection. You can find that article, here. The Kentler International Drawing Space - is an art gallery located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. It has hosted several mokuhanga centred exhibitions. The most recent was Between Worlds as hosted by The Mokuhanga Sisters, from July 17 - July 31, 2022. More info, here. Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY - is a neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York. Once called South Brooklyn and once an industrial area, Red Hook has evolved over time to house many New Yorkers who are looking to be close to Manhattan and still be able to afford a home. There is a great New York Times article, here, which explores the history of this fascinating area. Doi Hangaten - is a mokuhanga print publisher located in Tōkyō, Japan. Once a publisher of prints associated with the shin-hanga movement of the ealry twentieth century, the company continues to publish reproductions of famous Japanese prints, in the old ways. Most recently, the Doi family have collaborated with David Bull and Mokuhankan to publish new verions of some of the old blocks from almost 100 years ago. More info about the Doi Hangaten can be found here, here and here. The collaboration videos produced by Mokuhankan regarding the Doi family and the subsequant collaboration can be found, here. LIFE Institute - is a learning facility for adults age 50+. The LIFE Institute began in 1991, and has a membership of 2500 today. The institute offers high quality education in the Arts, Humanities, Science and Technology, amongst others. Courses are conducted in person or online. More info can be found, here. The National Gallery of Art - is a free art gallery located in Washington D.C. Founded by financier Andrew W. Mellon. The West building was constructed in 1941. The gallery houses more than 150,000 pieces of art and is dedicated to education and culture. More info can be found, here. Itō Jakuchū (1716-1800) - was a Japanese painter who painted in silk. His work can be seen in scrolls (kakemono), sliding doors (fusuma), and folding screens (byōbu). Known for his wild style of painting, Jackuchū’s most popular theme is of birds. There are many books wirtten about Jackuchū and his life and times. More info can be found, here , to get you started. Rooster (18th Century) Nishiki-e (錦絵) - is the Japanese phrase for colour woodblock prints, otherwise known as brocade pictures. Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920) - was a painter, illustrator and mokuhanga designer. Gekkō’s work has a delightful water colour style, where the subjects seem to be floating and light, regardless of whether the subject is a beautiful woman or a ghostly fox. Gekkō's subject matter ranged from landscapes, to mythology. Ogata Gekkō had a full career, from working with many publishers for his print designs to founding various art associations. More information about the life and career of Ogata Gekkō can be found, here, on David Humphries’ fantastic website about the artist. Drawing Water from Yoro Waterfall — 養老孝子瀧を汲の図 (1896) Prussian Blue - is a dark blue pigment, which has been used by painters, and mokuhanga printmakers. The pigment has been used in Europe since the 18th Century, and in Japan since around 1820, having been imported by Europeans into Japan. Evolution of Pigments in Mokuhanga - the evolution of pigments in mokuhanga began with hand painting in the later 17th Century, to the multi coloured prints of ukiyo-e, shin hanga, and sōsaku hanga. More info regarding the pigment evolution can be found, here, at the Library of Congress. The Japan Foundation - is a not for profit organization established in 1972, with many offices located around the world. The Japan Foundation Toronto has been active in the city since 1990. More info, here for the JF worldwide, and here for Toronto. Elizabeth Forrest - is an award-winning Canadian artist and mokuhanga prinmaker. She has been producing mokuhanga since the late 1980’s when she lived and studied in Kyoto. She has studied with the late Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019). More info about Elizabeth’s work can be found, here. And It Began To Rain (2014) Akira Kurosaki 黒崎彰 (1937-2019) - one of the most influential woodblock print artists of the modern era. His work, while seemingly abstract, moved people with its vibrant colour and powerful composition. He was a teacher and invented the “Disc Baren,” which is a great baren to begin your mokuhanga journey with. At the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan there was a tribute exhibit of his life works. Azusa Gallery has a nice selection of his work, here. Taurus (1973) Barbara Wybou - is a Canadian mokuhanga artists who lived, worked, and studied in Japan for twenty years. Her home these days is Toronto where she continues to work on her mokuhanga. Notably she studied with the late Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995). Her work can be found, here. Rats 3 Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) - was a Japanese woodblock designer of the Utagawa School of artists. His work flourished in the Meiji Period (1868-1912) of Japanese history, a period of immense change politically, economically, and industrially. Some of Kunichika’s works can be found, here. Onoe Kikugorō V as The British Spencer (1894) War prints & Japanese Imperialism - as Japan entered the Pacific Theatre of war (1941-1945) with the United States, the fascist military government had complete power in Japan at the time, and used woodblock prints, as well as other mediums such as lithography and photography, to propagandize their war effort. Printmakers such as Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) even got involved in producing prints that helped the war effort. He designed several war prints during this time period. Prints such as The Red Setting Sun, is a prime example of how the times and aesthetic show a relatively innocuous scene of figures (Japanese soldiers) riding on horses with a setting sun back drop. For more detailed information regarding war time prints I suggest, Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan, ed. Philip K. Hu w/ Rhiannon Paget, and The Politics of Painting by Asato Ikeda. My interview with Rhiannon Paget PhD can be found, here. Russo-Japanese War (February 8, 1904 - September 5, 1905) - was a war between two colonial powers, the Imperial Russian and Imperial Japanese military, taking place in China. Information about its background can be found here at history.com, and here. bijin-ga - (美人画) is the Japanese term for beautiful women in mokuhanga. Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) After Washing Her Hair (1936) yakusha-e - (役者絵) is the Japanese term for actor prints in mokuhanga. Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833-1904) Oyama Doll - Ichikawa Udanji (1893) Taishō Period (1912-1926) - a short lived period of Japanese modern history but an important one in world history. This is where the militarism of fascist Japan began to take seed, leading to The Pacific War (1931-1945). More info can be found, here. hanmoto system - is the Edo Period (1603-1868) collaboration system of making woodblock prints in Japan. The system was about using, carvers, printers, and craftsmen by various print publishers in order to produce woodblock prints. The system consisted of the following professions; publisher, artist, carver, and printer. Yamato Take no Mikoto with His Sword Kusanagi - is the print by Ogata Gekkō which Carol mentions as one of her favourite prints. Oliver Statler (1915-2002) - was an American author and scholar and collector of mokuhanga. He had been a soldier in World War 2, having been stationed in Japan. After his time in the war Statler moved back to Japan where he wrote about Japanese prints. His interests were of many facets of Japanese culture such as accommodation and the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku. Oliver Statler, in my opinion, wrote one of the most important books on the sōsaku-hanga movement, “Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn.” John Stevenson - is an American author who has written extenisvely on Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡 芳年) was a mokuhanga designer who is famous for his prints depicting violence and gore. His work is powerful, colourful, and one of the last vibrant moments of the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints. More information about Yoshitoshi’s life and his copious amount of work can be found, here. The Flower of Edo (1858) Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川 國芳) - was a print designer and painter known for his triptychs, yoko-e (horizontal landscape prints), Yokohama-e (prints with Yokohama as its subject), and yakusha-e (actor prints). Considered as one of the last of the "golden age" print designers of the ukiyo-e genre. Ichikawa Kodanji IV as the ghost of Asakura Togo (possibly 1851) Kunisada/Kuniyoshi Exhibit - was an art exhibition held at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston from August 11 - December 10, 2017. There was also an excellent catalogue printed for this show and would add to any woodblock print fan’s library. more info, here. The book I reference about Toyohara Kunichika is "Time Present and Time Past of a Forgotten Master: Toyohara Kunichika 1835-1900" There are various online print collections that the aspiring mokuhanga scholar can seek out to help in their studies. The Library of Congress has their collection online, as does ukiyo-e.org, who have various impressions af their prints throughout their website. Scholten Japanese Art - is a mokuhanga focused art gallery located in midtown Manhattan. It was founded by René Scholten, an avid collector of the Japanese print. More info can be found, here. Acadia Books - is a vintage and unique used bookstore located at Sherbourne and Queent St. East in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In my opinion it is one of the best bookstores I have had the priviledge to visit. More info, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - intro music is Spill Yer Lungs and outro music is Tailor both by Julie Doiron from her album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (2009) on Jagjaguar Records logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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12/24/2022 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 21 seconds Katie Baldwin: Printmaker - It's An Exchange Amongst Friends Many mokuhanga printmakers today touch on different mediums when they create their work. It could be sculpture, bookbinding, or installation. There is no limit as to what can be accomplished with mokuhanga. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga printmaker and artist Katie Baldwin. Based in Alabama where she is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Katie has travelled the world, from Poland to Taiwan. She is involved in several collaborative groups, such as ShiftLab, wood+paper+box, and The Mokuhanga Sisters. Katie speaks on her early days of making mokuhanga, her time at Nagasawa Art Park, the influence of her artist father, studio space and what it does to her work. We also discuss the concept of "craft," and her evolution as an artist. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Katie Baldwin - website, Instagram Progress from the Two Stories Series (2013) - woodblock and letterpress Tornado Shelter (Practice Evacuation) [2021] Neighbourhood 2 from Things Left Behind Series (2010) portion from Multiple Discovery by Shift-Lab (2022) artists book Fire Drill (ca. 2020) Evergreen State College - is a state funded college located in Olympia, Washington, USA. It covers environmental justice, history, amongst other subjects. More info can be found, here. letterpress - is a type of relief printing by using a printing press. It was popular during Industrialization and the modernity of the West. By the mid twentieth century, letterpress began to become more of an art form, with artists using the medium for books, stationary, and greeting cards. woodblock printing in Europe - first starting in and around 1400, woodblock printing in Europe used the medium to represent Chirstian subjects. Albrecht Dührer (1471-1528) made detailed devotional works with woodcuts. Another famous style of woodcutting in Europe was using the chiaroscuro (light and dark) method of drawing within a woodcut as seen in the work of Louis Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). More info can be found, here. The Four Horseman of The Apocalypse (1496-1498) woodcut The Werewolf or the Cannibal (date unknown) woodcut Nagasawa Art Park (MI Lab) Awaji City - Nagasawa Art Park was an artist-in-residence program located in Awaji City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It was open for 12 years before evolving into MI Lab in 2012. More info, here. Awaji Island - is located in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan. It is famous for its Naruto whirlpools, the longest suspension bridge in the world in the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It is also a connection to both Shikoku Island, and the main land of Honshu. More info can be found, here. Vandercook Press - is a proof printing press manufactured by Vandercook & Sons, beginning in 1909. They made different types of presses, such as letterpress and offset. They are now a part of NA Graphics. shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. Not all shina is made equally, buyer beware. intaglio printing - is a printing method, also called etching, using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. The MET has info, here. codex - is a type of book binding in the Western method and is a precursor to the modern book. Wells College - is a private college located in Aurora, New York, USA. The school provides various courses in the social sciences, science, and environmental studies. More info can be found, here. National Taiwan Normal University - was founded in 1922 and serves many different avenues of study. Their Department of Fine Arts, holds a Bienniel Print Exhibit, more info here and here. Taoyan International Print Exhibition 2021 - was a print exhibition showcasing international printmakers in the town of Taoyan, Taiwan. More info, here. aizuri-e - a late Edo Period (1603-1867) type of printmaking where the woodblock print is predominantly in blue, or shades of the color blue. The blue colour was usually a Prussian Blue imported into Japan around 1790. artelino have a great description of Prussian Blue and aizuri-e, here. Fullbright Scholarship - is a scholarship that covers various types of grants. Beginning in 1946, this particular scholarship provides grants and exchanges for many countries and for various students, scholars, and professionals. More info, here. Puli, Nantou, Taiwan (埔里鎮) - is a township located in the Nantou County, a mountainous and landlocked portion of Taiwan. Known for its nature, lakes, and national parks. More info, here. sizing paper - at times mokuhanga printmakers will size their paper. Size is made from water, animal glue (rabbit, horse), and alum. What the size does is keep the pigments the artist uses from “bleeding” into the outer edges of the paper. There are many recipes of size, here is one that artist Walter J. Phillips used. kozo paper - is paper made from mulberry bark and is commonly used in woodblock printmaking, and cloth. Art Taipei - is organized by the Taiwan Art Gallery Association (TAGA) and is an art fair which takes place once a year in October. More info can be found, here. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂) - is a landmark located in Taipei, Taiwan. It is in memoriam to the leader of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), who lived in exile in Taiwan from 1949-1975. sumi - is a rich black stick, or liquid used by artists, calligraphers, and traditional Japanese horimono tattoo artists. It is made from the soot of burnt lamp oil. Used in key blocks predominantly in traditional mokuhanga, it can also be used to mix pigments. Pigment Tōkyō conducts a great interview with their chief of pigments, Kei Iwaizumi, about sumi ink, here. Shift-Lab - is an international artists collective which started in 2013. The collective is made up of Katie Baldwin, Denise Bookwalter, Sarah Bryant, Macy Chadwick, and Tricia Treacy. Their works are a blend of bookmaking, sculpture, mokuhanga, printmaking, and drawing. More info can be found, here. Below is work from Shift-Lab and each individual artist within the collective, other than Katie Baldwin, whose work can be found above. Info regarding the collective can be found, here. Click on the artists name for their respective website's. Tetrahedron (2011) by Denise Bookwalter - digital/dimensional print The pine cone is an object of veneration (2012) by Sarah Bryant - letterpress Observations on Listening (2012) by Macy Chadwick - letterpress, polymer plate SLOT (2018) by Tricia Treacy - one page from the SLOT piece. - risograph, hand binding, foil-stamping CODEX Book Fair and Symposium - is a biennaly held book fair and is hosted by CODEX, a foundation created in 2005 by Peter Rutledge Koch, and Susan Filter. Their aim is to promote the book form as art. The next book fair will take place in 2024. More info can be found, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. website, Instagram wood+paper+box - is a collaborative art group made up of Katie Baldwin, Mariko Jesse, and Yoonmi Nam. It is based on their experiences at Nagasawa Art Park, the precursor of MI Lab. Yoonmi Nam (b. 1974) - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher, based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Cover of Kansas City Collection (2014-2015), catalogue Mariko Jesse - is an illustrator, and mokuhanga printmaker based in Tōkyō, London, and California. Her work can be found, here. Mariko is also a part of the collective, wood+paper+box, which can be found, here. Berry Flower (2020) The Group of Seven - were a group of landscape painters from Canada. The artists were, Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945), Lawren Harris (1885–1970), A.Y. Jackson 1882–1974), Frank Johnston (1888–1949), Arthur Lismer (1885–1969), J.E.H MacDonald (1873–1932), and Frederick Varley (1881–1969). Later, A.J. Casson (1898–1992) was invited to join in 1926, Edwin Holdgate (1892–1977) became a member in 1930, and LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) joined in 1932. While Tom Thomspon (1877–1917), and Emily Carr (1871–1945) were not "official" members it is generally accepted that they were a part of the group without being "officially" a part of the group because of the group relationship with the artists. More info can be found, here. Collaborative Mokuhanga Groups of the past - usually associated with the sōsaku hanga movement of the early 20th century, these collaborative mokuhanga groups shared and disseminated their work amongst themselves, teaching techniques and methods, strengthening the creative print movement in Japan. Some famous print groups were The First Thursday Society as founded by Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955), and the Yoyogi Group founded by Un’ichi Hiratsuka (1895-1997). Printmaking during this time was predominantly male, so we see Japan and that time period through the eyes of men. There were female printmakers, such as Keiko Minami (1911-2007), although she lived abroad and not in Japan. In Japan you had the Joryū Hanga Kyōkai, the first woman’s printmaking society who held their first show in Tōkyō. Artists such as Iwami Reika (1927-2020), and Kobayashi Donge from this group, made mokuhanga prints. Moon and Water (ca. 1972) - by Iwami Reika Eve In A Circus by Kobayashi Donge (date unknown) - etching on paper In Cahoots - is a residency program based in Petaluma, California, USA. It focuses on letterpress, relief printmaking, and artists books. It is run by Mary Chadwick. More info can be found, here. Mise-en-Scène - is an artists project by wood+paper+box, currently in progress. More info, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa (1982) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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11/30/2022 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 33 seconds Karen Pittman - Printmaker : Try To Keep It Balanced When making mokuhanga there are many way to get to the final product. However you get there, you need to enjoy every single moment you have with it. So many twists and turns, indulging your passions with your work, anything can happen. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with printmaker Karen Pittman. With her varied CV, Karen has explored many ways of making, of creating. Her influences come from the traditional, working from the ground up. Karen's mokuhanga exudes that tradition, the patience and serenity of a seasoned mokuhanga artist. I speak with Karen Pittman about how she got involved with mokuhanga, her time at Mokuhankan and David Bull, her blog; Vivid Laboratories, he own work and what she learned from her mother as an artist. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Karen Pittman - blog, Instagram 星空に - By Starlight (2019) Balcones Canyonlands (2020) Annie Bissett - is an American mokuhanga printmaker and graphic designer based in Rhode Island, USA. Her work touches on politics, and beauty. Her interview with The Unfinished Print cane be found, here. Annie's work can be found, here. April Vollmer - is a mokuhanga artist based in New York City. She has been working in the medium for over thirty years. Her book, Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop, is a classic of the genre and a fantastic instructional book on mokuhanga. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Zea Mays Workshop - is a printmaking workshop located in Florence, Massachusetts, USA. They conduct in person and online workshops, as well as tutorials and private lessons for many types of printmaking. More info, here. temari - (手まり) is a Japanese folk art where balls are embroidered with different types of decorations. They are used as toys, gifts, games, or for collection. More info can be found about this delightful craft, here. For Karen Pittman’s temari balls, you can find them here. two point perspective - also known as linear perspective, is a drawing style which creates a 3D perspective on a two dimensional surface. It is one point of the three points of perspective. One point perspective is where the vanishing point is on the horizon line, and three point perspective is where three points are on the horizon line. The above information is found on The Virtual Instructor, by Matt Fussell, where all points are discussed in detail. Naoshima (直島) - is a an island and part of an archipelago of islands located between Shikoku and Honshu islands in Japan. It is known for its comteporary art galleries, fishing, and nature tourism. More info, here. shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Emil Orlick (1870-1932) - 日本の刷り師 (1901) Yoshida Family of Artists - The Yoshida’s are one of the most famous family of artists from Japan. Begun with painter Yoshida Kasaburō (1861-1894), made famous by Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) and his work with woodblock printing. The Yoshida family has helped shape many artists around the world. More info from the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, here. Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) - 白塀 (Shirobei) Studio Ghibli - (株式会社スタジオジブリ) is an animation production house based in Tōkyō, Japan. The studio was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata (1935-2018), and Toshio Suzuki. It has a long line of animated films which have influenced artists, and animators around the world. One such film is Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) an historical fantasy taking place during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573 CE) of Japan. It is a fantasy story based on the relationship between nature, gods, and man. More info can be found here for Ghibli. David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form around the world. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. The Seacoast in Autumn from the My Solitudes Series (2007-2009) Mokuhankan - is a brick and mortar woodblock print shop located in Asakusa, Tōkyō. It is a learning and working space, where it sells the works of artist Jed Henry, master carvers of the past, and various print series. All are printed and carved by Mokuhankan printmakers and carvers. Started by printmaker David Bull as a way to sell his own series and reprints of old carvers of the past, Mokuhankan has grown exponentially over the years and is a must visit when coming to Tōkyō. More info, here. Awagami Mini Print Exhibtion - is a an exhibiton sponsored by the Awagami Factory. Awagami is a company which produces washi in Tokushima, Shikoku, Japan. This exhibtion, focuses on small size prints. More info can be found, here. Cameron Hilker - was an employee at Mokuhankan from 2017-2022. Cameron worked at Mokuhankan as the Businnes Operations and Social Media Marketing Manager. His interview with The Unfinished Print, can be found, here. Asakusa, Tōkyō - is a vibrant and exciting part of the metropolis of Tōkyō. It is rich with history, and rich in the tradition of entertainment, theatre, and religion. Today, Asakusa is known for it’s temple system, with Sensō-ji as its centrepiece. Shopping, within the Nakamise, leading you from Kaminarimon to Sensō-ji, you are surrounded by so many opportunities to spend your money, it’s quite the experience. You can also go to Kappa-bashi, where you can shop for kitchen-ware and random tchochke’s. More information can be found at gotokyo.org. Don Quijote - (株式会社ドン・キホーテ) founded in 1989, Don Quijote is a chain of department stores located throughout Japan, parts of Asia and The United States. As a discount realtor, Don Quijote caters to tourists and locals who want a good price. More info can be found on their website, here. Daiso - (株式会社大創産業) founded in 1977, Daiso is a discount realtor based in Japan but with outlets throughout the world. While known for being “the 100 Yen shop", Daiso sells a variety of items at different price points. More info, here. Fabiola Gil Alares - is a mokuhanga artist and business person who lives and works in Spain. Her book on mokuhanga, Mokuhanga: Manual Ilustrado de Xilografia Japonesa, has become one of the go to books about mokuhanga, in any language. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Her website can be found, here. Adentro Print which Karen helped to print when working at Mokuhankan. Owl In Moonlight (みみずくのうたた寝)printed by Mokuhankan. Based on a print by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) Shin-Torinoko paper - is a mass produced, machine made Japanese paper that is relatively inexpensive. It comes in various weights and colours. More info can be found, here. Kitaro Japanese Paper Company - founded in 1872, Kitaro focuses on making high quality Japanese washi in Fukui Prefecture. More info, here. murasaki baren - is a mid-range mokuhanga baren. “murasaki” meaning “purple” , come in two types of weight (medium and heavy), and two types of sizes (10cm and 12cm). They are reasonably priced baren. McClains Woodblock Print Supply Co. - based in Portland, Oregon, McClains is the go to supplier of woodblock print tools in the United States. Their website can be found, here. The interview with the Unfinished Print with Daniel Jasa of McClain’s can be found, here. mudabori - "waste carving" is a technique in mokuhanga which involves the artist carving away any unwanted wood deemed unecessary for their finished print. These can be guides, as to where the colour blocks will be carved, and then carved away later after it has served its purpose. More info can be found over at Mokuhankan, here. Edo Period (1603-1868 CE) pigments for mokuhanga - during the Edo Period, mixing four or five colours was common as they were mineral and vegetal pigments, which could last a long time. According to Japanese Print-Making by Tōshi Yoshida, the best colours to use for their steadfastness was sumi (black ink), gofun (shell powder), shu (Chinese vermillion), kuchinashi (jasmine/gardenia yellow), ai (indigo), and taisha (red ochre). John Amoss of Tanuki Prints in Georgia, has written and produced a video of some of his work with Mokuhankan, and his experience grinding traditional pigments with their team. You can find that, here. From David Bull’s woodblock.com there is a posting about preparing powdered pigments in the traditional method, here. My interview with John Amoss can be found, here. Morning Tree by John Amoss (2022) Winsor & Newton - is a British artist supply company, started in 1832, which sells artist materials such as pigments, brushes, paper, etc. More info can be found, here. Print Austin - is an annual printmaking expo in Austin, Texas where artists of all different types of printmaking come and show their work. As Karen says in her interview, there are workshops, classes and interactive modules. More info can be found, here. New Leaf Gallery - is a relief print focused gallery located in Wybridge, Vermont, USA. More info can be found, here. Cormark International - is an international supplier of exotic woods, and are based in South Africa. More info, here. Ocooch Hardwoods - is a wood supplier based in Wisconsin. More info can be found, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - One Love (LG Main remix) from From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes (2002) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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11/9/2022 • 48 minutes, 47 seconds Mia O - Printmaker: I Just Want To Make Mia O is one of the most interesting and creative mokuhanga printmakers working in the medium, today. Her work moves outside the traditional formats of mokuhanga, through shape, collage, colour, and even the folds of washi. Join me on this episode of The Unfinished Print where I speak with Mia O about how mokuhanga has been such an important part of her life. We discuss specific pieces of hers and how they were made, her life in Japan and how her environment inspires her. Mia also delves into her collaboration with The Mokuhanga Sisters Collective, and her time at Nagasawa Art Park. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Artists works follow after the note about them. Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Mia O - website, Instagram Brooklyn Museum - is a museum located in New York City in the Borough of Brooklyn. With a history which stretches from 1823, the current museum was founded in 1898. It contains predominantly American works of art. More info, here. intaglio printing - is a printing method, also called etching, using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. The MET has info, here. Keiko Kadota - (d. 2017) was a director of MI Lab and of Nagasawa Art Park, previously. She was a mentor to many mokuhanga practitioners and helped to promote mokuhanga around the world. Nagasawa Art Park (MI Lab) Awaji City - Nagasawa Art Park was an artist-in-residence program located in Awaji City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It was open for 12 years before evolving into MI Lab in 2012. More info, here. Awaji Island - is located in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan. It is famous for its Naruto whirlpools, the longest suspension bridge in the world in the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It is also a connection to both Shikoku Island, and the main land of Honshu. More info can be found, here. CfSHE Gallery - is a gallery located in Chiyoda, Tōkyō. It is associated with MI Lab. More info, here. Their Instagram can be found, here. hanmoto system - is the Edo Period (1603-1868) collaboration system of making woodblock prints in Japan. The system was about using, carvers, printers, and craftsmen, by various print publishers in order to produce woodblock prints. The system consisted of the following professions; publisher, artist, carver, and printer. kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first. shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. Not all shina is made equally, buyer beware. powdered pigments - have been used in mokuhanga since the Edo Period (1602-1868). Mineral pigments can still be used but are generally hurtful and toxic. More information can be found on grinding and the types of powdered pigmetns used today from John Amoss of Tanuki Prints, here. Mino, Gifu, Japan - is a city located in the Japanese Prefecture of Gifu. It is famous for its ceramics and for the washi that Mia speaks about in her interview. Mino, also has a festival which uses their locally produced washi for some portable shrines. More info can be found here, about Mino tourism, and here, for the Mino festival. floating kentō - is a removable registration system attached to the block when printing. As the kentō isn’t affixed to the block; blotting, and very clean borders are one of the positives of using this method of registration. It is an "L" shape. Mia O pieces discussed in her interview - Bamboo Green Landscape (2016) Yellow Ochre Landscape (2016) Orange Landscape (2016) PW Octagon (2017) B+W Holes (2021) The World Beteween The Block and the Paper - was a mokuhanga centered show held at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont from December, 11, 2021 to March, 27, 2022. It was hosted and presented by SVAC and the Mokuhanga Sisters, a mokuhanga collective of mokuhanga artists and teachers from around the world. More info, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram MI Lab - Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory is located in Tōkyō. It is a place set up for learning mokuhanga. The artist-in-residence program, having been held since 2011 on Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji, is an application based program hosting international mokuhanga practitioners who are looking to move their work forward. More information can be found, here. Patty Hudak - is an American artist who splits her time between Vermont and NYC, who works in installation, and mokuhanga. She has travelled the world, and is a part of three artist collectives. Patty's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Patterning Yoonmi Nam (b. 1974) - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher, based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Winter Walk - lithograph and monotype (2016) Kate MacDonagh - is an Irish mokuhanga printmaker based in Dublin, Ireland. Kanreki was an exhibition curated by Kate MacDonagh at The Model, Sligo. Kate's website. Dark Light II (2020) International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Fall Line by Jack Johnson form the album On And On (2003) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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Linda J. Beeman - Printmaker: Sacred Places In this world of mokuhanga, there are artists whose passion and dedication to the art form comes not only from their work, but from how they see the medium itself. Linda J Beeman is a Michigan based mokuhanga printmaker who desires to explore nature, its conservation, its power through colour, its meaning, and aesthetic. Linda's work takes the viewer to an existing place, which when allowed in, soothes and calms, enveloped by the sacred. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Linda J. Beeman about her world, natural and artistic, how she got involved with mokuhanga, how she views her audience, her style. We discuss her time at MI Lab, and her love of artist-in-residence programs in the United States. Linda also speak on her process, her tools, and why mokuhanga is such a big part of her life. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Artists works follow after the note about them. Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Linda J. Beeman - website, Instagram, Facebook. Aurora Borealis (2022) Dundas Valley School of Art - is a multi disciplinary art school located in Dundas, Ontario, Canada, which is a suburb of Hamilton. Founded in 1964 by Marion Farnan and Emily Dutton, the DVSA has evolved into a modern, and chic art space, providing accessible and affordable art education for all. Tuula Moilanen - is a Finnish mokuhanga printmaker and painter based in Finland. She lived and studied in Kyōto from 1989-2012, where she learned her printmaking at Kyōto Seika University and from printmaker Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019). Her work can be found, here. Urban Holiday (2016) David Bull's “Baren Forum” - was an early mokuhanga forum for printmakers which can still be found, here. It’s chock full of information for printmakers of all levels. Mary Brodbeck - is a mokuhanga printmaker, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has been producing mokuhanga for nearly 25 years. Her work refelcts nature, and the power it contains. Remnants kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first. hanshita - is a thin sheet of gampi paper that is pasted, reverse side, on a piece of wood. This is a guide, carved onto the block and is generally used for the key block and subsequent colour blocks. Methods such as acetate with water based pigment, can also be used rather than the thin gampi paper, which can cause misregistration if not pasted correctly. Petrified Forest National Park - is a national park located in northeastern Arizona, on what is called the Colorado Plateau. The Plateau connects the American States of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Petrified Forest National Park is famous for early traces of human civilization through archeology and fossils, as well as an abundance of nature and natural formations. More info can be found, here, and here. The Great Lakes - are a series of lakes which are connecte to one another. They are located in North America. The lakes are; Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. The lakes connect to the Atlantic Ocean, and through various rivers and other tributaries. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. Keiko Kadota (1942-2017) - was the director of Nagasawa Art Park at Awaji City from 1997-2011, and then of MI Lab at Lake Kawaguchi from 2011 until her passing. shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the Ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers beginning to move away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. Watanabe Shōzaburō [渡辺 庄三郎] (1885-1962) - was the catalyst of the new print movement (shin-hanga) in the Japan of the early 20th Century. He assembled printers, designers, and carvers to re-create the now dead, ukiyo-e style, of woodblock prints in Japan. Watanabe also welcomed "foreign" artists to design prints, such as Charles Bartlett (1860-1940). His relationship with many of Japan's future woodblock stars, such as Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950), and Hasui Kawase (1883-1957) established a mokuhanga style that has been emulated ever since. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - found in Ontanagan, Michigan, USA. This state park has 35,000 acres of old growth forest, watefalls and abundant nature, on Lake Superior. The artist in residence perogram information can be found, here. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park -is an active volcano site, and a UNESCO Heirtage Site. With public tours, a rugged landscape made up of lava rock, as well as incredible biodiversity, the HLNPH is a wonderful way to visit Hawai’i. Their artist in residence program can be found, here. American National Parks - are a series of public parks that are federally run. Since 1916, the National Park Service has overseen the national parks in the United States. National Parks Art Foundation - is a foundatoin that offers artist in residence programs as well as other artist focused programs within the National Parks Service, heritage sites, and National monuments. More info can be found, here. petroglyphs - are a type of rock art where the rock is marked by abrasion, carving, or picking. Generally associated with humans living 10,000-12,000 years ago, and are found all over the planet except in Antarctica. Rebecca Salter - is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England. She is also an artist who has written two books about Japanese woodblock printing, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), and Japanese Popular Prints (2006). She worked with the Satō Woodblock Print Workshop, documenting their process. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Aurora 1 (2014) Satō woodblock workshop - is a traditional Japanese woodblock production house based in Kyōto, Japan. Here is an article from The Journal of Modern Craft with Rebecca Salter regarding this workshop. Michigan Artist and Culture Grants - are grants that are given to the citizens of Michigan who want to promote the arts within their communities. There are many avenues for application, so please look into your area of Michigan, perhaps there will be a grant program for you. Here is a link for the Michigan Arts and Council Grants, to get you started. Winsor & Newton - is a British artist supply company, started in 1832, which sells artist materials such as pigments, brushes, paper, etc. More info can be found, here. Paul Furneaux - is a Scottish mokuhanga artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He makes abstract mokuhanga, mixed with wood and other mediums. Lukas water colours - Lukas is an artist supply company founded in 1862, in Düsseldorf, Germany. They produce the Aquarell 1862 Water-colour which Linda describes in her interview. More info can be found, here. Jerry’s Artarama - originally founded in 1968 Long Island, New York, and now based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jerry’s Artarama sells various art supplies at reasonable princes. More info, here. Dick Blick Art Supplies - is an art supply store with various brick and mortar stores throughout the United States, as well as online. Founded in 1911 by Dick Blick in Galesburg, Illinois, BLICK, as it’s more commonly known, sells various types of art supplies, much like Jerry’s Artarama. More info, here. shina - is a type of wood used in mokuhanga. It is part of the linden family of trees. This wood is produced in various parts of the world, such as Japan and Russia. Not all shina is created equal so buyer beware. Center for Contemporary Printmaking - founded by Grace and William Shanly in 1995. Orginally called The Connecticut Graphic Arts Center, it is a non-profit which, as its aim, is to increase the publics knowledge of orignal printmaking. floating kentō - is a removable registration system attached to the block when printing. As the kentō isn’t affixed to the block; blotting, and very clean borders are one of the positives of using this method of registration. It is an "L" shape. * Production note - Linda says “last summer,” when discussing her last workshop. That “summer” was the summer of 2021. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - Spadina Station logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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10/17/2022 • 56 minutes, 14 seconds Lucy May Schofield - Printmaker: Light, Time, Process The time and dedication that it takes to make mokuhanga is well known. And if it isn't then it really should be. It feels that it's easy to follow social media, and watch the pretty prints come out of nowhere, but behind all those nice pictures is a lot of hard work, and dedication. One person who is a prime example of this hard work, dedication and passion for the craft, is Lucy May Schofield. Based in England, Lucy has been making mokuhanga for some time. She has travelled the world, using her environment, and her passion to create mokuhanga that is expressive and powerful. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with Lucy about how she discovered mokuhanga, her time at MI Lab, Lucy's love of bokashi, and her mokuhanga relationships; those that have helped her along the way. Lucy also speaks on the Mokuhanga Sisters Collective, how grants and scholarships assist in Lucy's artistic pursuits, as well as how her other artistic endeavours affect her mokuhanga. Lucy's is a story which explores independence, pilgrimage, freedom, and how it affects a persons life. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Artists works follow after the note about them. Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note. Lucy May Schofield - website, Instagram Rebecca Salter - is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England. She is also an artist who has written two books about Japanese woodblock printing, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), and Japanese Popular Prints (2006). She worked with the Satō Woodblock Print Workshop, documenting their process. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Untitled 2015-14 (2015) Royal Academy of Arts - is an English art institution which as been in operation for 250 years. More info, here. Fukuoka, Prefecture, Japan - is a Prefecture in the second most southern part of the Japanese archipelago. It is known for is temples, hot springs, and natural beauty. Fukuoka tourist website, here. kotatsu - is a low table, electrically heated by an internal heater underneath the table itself, more info, here. Munakata Shikō (志功棟方) - (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers, Shiko is famous for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural, and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work. Hizakura no Saku (1978) colour lithograph New Year Card - called nengajo (年賀状) in Japanese, these cards have been traditionally passed from person to person since the Heian Period (794-1185). Mokuhanga practitioners make them as well, creating a new one every year focusing on the zodiac sign of the year as a theme. shina - is a type of wood used in mokuhanga. It is part of the linden family of trees. This wood is produced in various parts of the world, such as Japan and Russia. Not all shina is created equal so buyer beware. magnolia wood - a straight grained hard wood located in North America and Asia. more info, here. washi paper - (和紙) is a type of Japanese paper made with the fibres of either gampi, mitsumata, or mulberry. It is versatile and can be used in many ways. International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Ralph Kiggell (1960-2022) - was one of the most important mokuhanga practitioners. Originally from England, Ralph lived and worked in Thailand. Ralph pushed the boundaries of mokuhanga with extremely large pieces, jigsaw carving, and by using fantastic colour. He also worked with the International Mokuhanga Conference to promote mokuhanga around the world. He will be greatly missed. Ralph's work can be found, here. His obituary in The Guardian can be found, here. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Pool Diver (1996) Keiko Hara - is an artist who works, and teaches in Walla Walla, Washington. She is a painter, and printmaker in various relief mediums, such as mokuhanga. Untitled (2019) Keiko Kadota - (d. 2017) was a director of MI Lab and of Nagasawa Art Park, previously. She was a mentor to many mokuhanga practitioners and helped to promote mokuhanga around the world. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. Kate MacDonagh - is an Irish mokuhanga printmaker based in Dublin, Ireland. Kanreki was an exhibition curated by Kate MacDonagh at The Model, Sligo. Kate's website. Katsutoshi Yuasa - is a printmaker and artist based in Tokyo, Japan. His work tends to be large scale, and created through photography, bits, and focuses on the overall "image" itself. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. website, Instagram I-know-not-what (2022) oil-based mokuhanga kirazruri - is a style of printing which uses mica to give a silver, glittering tone to the print. Mica is used as a lovely addition to your print. You can find more information, here. Hiroki Satake - is a mokuhanga printmaker, and instructor based in Japan. He has taught at MI Lab, as well as given demonstrations regarding tool sharpening, around the world. Carol Wilhide Justin - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in London, England. Her work focuses on the natural world and the process of making mokuhanga. Carol's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Asemic Writing Tochigi, Prefecture - is a Japanese Prefecture sandwiched between Saitama, Ibaraki, Fukushima, and Gunma Prefectures. It is famous for its autumnal leaves, temples, and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nikkō. More info, here. Nishijin - is an area in Fukuoka City known for its shopping district. inaka (田舎) - is a Japanese word for “country-side.” Kurokawa Onsen (黒川温泉) - is a hot spring town located on the island of Kyushu, near Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan. It is famous of its traditional style inns, hot springs, baths, and food. More info, here. Beppu (別府市) - is a hot spring town located in Kyushu. More info, here. matsuri (祭り)- is the Japanese word for “festival.” Japan is a country famous of it’s festivals. Each Prefecture, city, town, municipality has a special festival for their area, connected to the seasons, gods, or harvests. Itoshima (糸島市) - is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, popular for its beaches, surfing, and nature. Northumberland, Britain - is a county located in the northernmost area of Britain. It shares a border with Scotland. It is known for its nature, industry, castles, and history. https://www.visitnorthumberland.com cyanotype - a type of work which uses iron compounds, and when exposed to UV light creates various blues. More info, here. Indigo dyeing - made famous in the Edo Period (1603-1968), indigo dyeing has been a part of Japanese handicrafts for a long time. Shikoku is famous for it, towns such as Mima, Wakimachi, Tokushima, amongst others continue to produce hand dyed garments of indigo.More info can be found, here, and here. Awagami - is arguably the largest paper making company in Japan at the moment. With a large International name, Awagami sponsors, and promotes its paper all over the world. More information can be found on its website, here. 88 Temple Pilgrimage - associated with the Buddhist priest Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) [774-835]. It is one of the few circular pilgrimages in the world. You can walk, or drive the pilgrimage. You can also see it in parts, called kuguri-uchi. Essentially you can walk this pilgrimage in order, backwards or frontwards as they are all temples associated with Kūkai. If you do make the pilgrimage by foot, it is a commitment, but extremely rewarding. Pilgrims are called ō-henro. More info, here. Ō-settai - are gifts, such as lodging, food, money, or clothing. They are given by non-pilgrims to pilgrims on they journey of the 88 Temples. More info can be found, here. QEST - is the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, and is given to British craftspeople who are given money to pursue training and education in their specific field and medium. More info, here. kōzo - is a paper made from the bark of the mulberry bush. It is used in mokuhanga frequently, and comes in various weights. YInMn - is a blue colour discovered by Professor Mas Subramanian in 2009. Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) - was an American abstract impressionist painter who enjoyed experimenting, discovering new ways of expression through paint. More info, here. Echizen - is a region in Fukui Prefecture, Japan associated with Japanese paper making. It has a long history of paper making. There are many paper artisans in the area. One famous person is Iwano Ichibei whom Megan mentions in this episode. He is a Living National Treasure in paper making, and the ninth generation of his family still making paper today. More info can be found here in English, and here in Japanese. Paul Furneaux - is a Scottish born mokuhanga printmaker and teacher who uses the medium of mokuhanga in order to create pieces of work that are third dimensional, and abstract. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram Yasuyuki Sato - is the Chair of Center for the Science of Human Endeavor/CfSHE, and Director of the Mokuhanga Conference. Yoonmi Nam (b. 1974) - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher, based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. More Beer...For Instance (2013) Katie Baldwin - a woodblock printmaker, letterpress, screen printer. website, Instagram Raft (shore) #2 (2013) Mariko Jesse - is an illustrator, and mokuhanga printmaker based in Tōkyō, London, and California. Her work can be found, here. Mariko is also a part of the collective, wood+paper+box, which can be found, here. Between Times - folded screen with mokuhanga wood+paper+box - is a collaborative art group made up of Katie Baldwin, Mariko Jesse, and Yoonmi Nam. It is based on their experiences at Nagasawa Art Park, the precursor of MI Lab. Patty Hudak - is an American artist who splits her time between Vermont and NYC, who works in installation, and mokuhanga. She has travelled the world, and is a part of three artist collectives. Patty's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Force of Nature 1 Melissa Schulenberg - is a woodblock printmaker and professor of Art and Art History at St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY. Some of her work can be found on her website, here. Boom 2 (2019) Newcastle University - is a public research university located in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Britain. London College of Printing - now called the London College of Communication, is an art college associated with the University of the Arts London. Toshio Sayama - is an instructor at MI Lab as well as on the MI Lab Committee Board. Borderless scroll - is the Mokuhanga Sisters collaborative scroll. Shown in Nara during the International Mokuhanga Conference, as well as at the Southern Vermont Art Center. nori - is a type of paste made from starch. It is usually used when making mokuhanga. You can make nori from any type of material made of starch. For instance, paste can be made with tapioca, rice, corn, even potato. You can purchase nori pretty much anywhere but making it is more environmentally friendly. Laura Boswell has a great recipe, here. bokashi - is a Japanese term associated with the gradation of water into ink. There are several types of bokashi. For more information regarding these types of bokashi please check out Professor Claire Cuccio's lecture called “A Story in Layers,” for the Library of Congress, and the book Japanese Printmaking by Tōshi Yoshida, and Rei Yuki. Below are the following types of bokashi. This is from the Yoshida book: ichimonji bokashi - straight line gradation ichimonji mura bokashi - straight line gradation with an uneven edg. Ō-bokashi - a gradual shading over a wide area atenashi bokashi - gradation without definition futairo bokashi - two tone gradation Utamaro - A Prelude To Desire Series - is a series created by Kitagawa Utamaro (1750-1806) in 1799. His designs changed the whole perspective of shunga, erotic prints. Below is as print as designed by Utamaro and Lucy's self-produced print, Prelude To Desire IV. shunga (春画)- is a type of mokuhanga which is connected with the ukiyo-e period of the Japanese print. The theme is sexuality, whether male-female, or male-male. Many print designers helped to create these prints, and were very popular. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) - born in Edo, Hiroshige is famous for his landscape series of that burgeoning city. The most famous series being, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1859), and the landcape series, Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833-1834). His work highlights bokashi, and bright colours. More info about his work can be found, here. Ōmayagashi - from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo Northumberland National Park - is a park in Northumberland , England. It is considered a “dark skies” park where the night sky is preserved by having no artificial lighting in the area. Holbein - is a pigment company with offices located in Japan, The United States, and Canada. They offer high end gouache, watercolour, and pigment pastes. scrolls - called kakemono 掛物 or emakimono 絵巻物 in Japanese. These scrolls contain many different types of themes and subjects. More info can be found, here. The Legend of Gisho Turner Design Gouache - is a company based in Osaka, Japan. The make acrylic and design (water based) gouache. Oak gall - is a type of plant swelling, which can be found in various plants. Oak gall is made by the Gall Wasp. The ink and pigment made form oak gall has been used for centuries. hanshita - is a thin sheet of gampi paper that is pasted, reverse side, on a piece of wood. This is a guide, carved onto the block and is generally used for the key block and subsequent colour blocks. Methods such as acetate with water based pigment, can also be used rather than the thin gampi paper, which can cause misregistration if not pasted correctly. The Japanese Paper Place - is a Toronto based Japanese paper store servicing the Mokuhanga community for many years. Interview with the Nancy Jacobi of the JPP can be found, here. Ozuwashi - is a brick and mortar paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tōkyō. More info here. You can purchase all types of paper that Lucy mentions ion her interview, such as pansion, and sekishu. Chine-collé - is a two layered printmaking process where the paper is placed onto an inked metal plated run through a press. More info, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit - The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual from the album Meat Is Murder (1985) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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9/26/2022 • 1 hour, 34 minutes, 30 seconds Matthew Willie Garcia - Printmaker: Future Nostalgia Matthew Willie Garcia is an incredibly promising mokuhanga printmaker. Having only, relatively recently, begun his mokuhanga journey, Matthew has already travelled to Japan to participate in MI Lab, and is about to have his first solo mokuhanga show at COOP Gallery in Nashville, Tennessee. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga printmaker, Matthew Willie Garcia, about his mokuhanga journey, his technique, and learning new ways of printing. Matthew speaks on the concept of queer mokuhanga, the generosity of the mokuhanga community, and we discuss his other forays in printmaking, compared to his mokuhanga work. This episode was recorded before Matthew headed off to Japan to participate in the advanced MI Lab workshop in June of 2022. Please stay tuned until after the end credits for my bonus conversation with Matthew about his time at MI Lab. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Artists works follow after the note about them. Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after their note about them. Matthew Willie Garcia - website, Instagram Yoonmi Nam (b. 1974) - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher, based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Jazz (2017) Meiji Era Prints - The Meiji Era of Japan was between 1868-1912 CE. This was a period of immense modernization and industrialization in Japan, where the Japanese economy was booming. New ideas within mokuhanga was occurring as well. Perspective, colour, through new pigments (gamboge, certain yellows), the advancement of photography, and new topics and themes (war, industry, architecture), the Meiji era print designer and publisher had a lot of choice when producing their prints. Kansas University - founded in 1866 and is the state’s flagship University. More info, here. They have a fine printmaking department as taught by Yoonmi Nam, Shawn Bitters, and Michael J. Kreuger. This department focuses on screen printing, lithography, and relief printing. Shawn Bitters - is a printmaker, painter, draftsperson, and photographer. He is Associate Professor, and Undergraduate Director at Kansas University. Leftward (2007) Michael J. Kreuger - is a printmaker, ceramicist, painter, and animator. He is a Professor at Kansas University. Two Moons on The River from the series Nondoing (2016) Lawrence Arts Center - is an arts space founded in 1975 in Lawrence, Kansas. More info, here. Awagami Bamboo Select - is a heavy washi paper (170g), used in printmaking, letterpress, amongst other mediums. It can be purchased by Awagami Factory in Japan, here. Pansion paper - is a medium-heavy, between 89-95g, paper used in printmaking. Rives-BFK (Blanchet Frères & Kiebler) - is a type of paper made of 100% cotton, which comes in a variety of colours and weights. Richard Steiner - is a mokuhanga printmaker who has been making prints for over fifty years. He has lived and worked in Kyōto, Japan since 1980. He is currently still making work. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Nine Left, One Thanked (2017) Rebecca Salter - is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England. She is also an artist who has written two books about Japanese woodblock printing, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), and Japanese Popular Prints (2006). She worked with the Satō Woodblock Print Workshop, documenting their process. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. riff (2021) David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form outside Japan. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. bokashi - is a Japanese term associated with the gradation of water into ink. There are several types of bokashi. For more information regarding these types of bokashi please check out Professor Claire Cuccio's lecture called “A Story in Layers,” for the Library of Congress, and the book Japanese Printmaking by Tōshi Yoshida, and Rei Yuki. Below are the following types of bokashi. This is from the Yoshida book: ichimonji bokashi - straight line gradation ichimonji mura bokashi - straight line gradation with an uneven edg. Ō-bokashi - a gradual shading over a wide area atenashi bokashi - gradation without definition futairo bokashi - two tone gradation Marvel Comics - is an American comic book publisher founded in 1961. Famous for Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the X-Men. Jack Kirby (1917-1994) - was an artist and comic book innovator who focused on narrative in his work. More info can be found at the Kirby Museum, here. from The Eternals (1976) Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) - was an American Pop artist, who worked in New York City. His early work was based on comic books, and later developed into abstract and the melding of different types of Western artistic genres such as Cubism, and Futurism. More info on Lichtenstein's work can be found, here, at the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. serigraphy - is another word for the art of silk screen printing. Silk screen printing can be in on various materials, silk, canvas, paper. reduction printmaking - is a process in printmaking where the printmaker cuts away on a piece of wood, or linoleum. After every carving, the printmaker makes an impression with pigments, beginning with lighter colours, gradually using darker colours. William H. Mays has a fine description of reduction on his website, here. Cameron Bailey - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Queens, New York. He works predominantly in the reduction method. His interview with the Unfinished Print can be found, here. Paul Binnie (b. 1967) - is a Scottish born, mokuhanga printmaker, painter, and portraitist, based in San Diego, California. Paul's theme's in all of his mediums are of landscapes, beautiful men and women, as well as the kabuki theatre. You can find more information about his work, here, and on his Instagram, here. Romanticism - was a Western art movement in the 1800's focusing on imagination and emotion. Coming after the Enlightenment, a period of order and morality, Romanticism focused on the power of nature, and the chaos of the world. More info can be found at the MET, here. mudabori - is a technique in mokuhanga where the printmaker carves away unwanted wood in their key block during the colour separation process when planning their work. Power Grip - made by Mikisyo, Japan, Power Grip are wood carving tools of various types. Usually used by beginners, but are used by woodblock printmakers of all levels. masa paper - is a machine-made Japanese washi. Can be used in printmaking and is 100% sulphite pulp. codex - is a type of book binding in the Western method and is a precursor to the modern book. Japanese book-binding - in Japan the binding of books began with scroll books based on the Chinese method. Other binding methods evolved over time, such as flutter books (sempūyō) and butterfly books (detchōsō). By the Edo Period (1603-1868) and with the relative peace of the period, paper began to be produced at a steady rate creating a demand for books. Tale of Genji. and Tales of Ise were published for the very first time in this form. * Jon Lee - is a mokuhanga printmaker and tool maker based in Arizona. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. LO912 (2009) Gotō Hidehiko (b.1953) - is a mokuhanga printmaker and tool maker based in Japan. He makes and teaches seminars about the construction of the mokuhanga tool, the baren. Nothingness (Kyomu) [2010] Chihiro Taki (b. 1988) - is a mokuhanga printmaker who lives and works in Japan. She helps to teach students at MI Lab as an instructor. とばり - Shroud of Night Michiko Hamada - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Japan. She is an instructor at MI Lab. Her Instagram can be found, here. AB and K ball-bearing baren - is a type of baren used in mokuhanga. It is considered an alternative to the traditional hon baren which is made of a bamboo sheathe, and cord. The ball-bearing baren is made up of plastic, metal, and ball-bearing balls of various types. Bumpōdō - is an art store based in Tōkyō, Japan, and founded in 1887. The website can be found here, in Japanese. The English pdf, can be found, here. Lucy May Schofield - is a British printmaker who works in mokuhanga, book binding, byōbu (screens), kakemono (scrolls). Her work has been shown all over the world. Her website can be found, here. Her Instagram, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram CfSHE Gallery - is a gallery located in Chiyoda, Tōkyō. It is associated with MI Lab. More info, here. Their Instagram can be found, here. MI Lab - is a mokuhanga residency located in Kawaguchi-ko, near Mount Fuji. More info can be found, here. * Ikegami, Kojiro, and Barbara B. Stephan. Japanese Book Binding: Instructions from a Master Craftsman. New York etc.: Weatherhill, 1990. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing musical credit -Life is What You Make It, by Diamon D from his newest record, The Rear View. (2022) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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9/4/2022 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 19 seconds Megan Adie - Japanese Paper Company So much has been said about the "supply chain" these days. Our resources from around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Eastern Europe as well as environmental concerns such as climate change, have all had their toll on the movement of goods from around the world. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I will be try to unpack the "supply chain," and how it affects a specific artist, and small business owner. I speak with Megan Adie, a co-owner of the Japanese Paper Company. The JPC is an online shop which sells Japanese paper, or washi, with her wife Liz Jones. Megan is herself a printmaker and musician who opened a business at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when new ventures quickly became a risky proposition. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Artists works follow after the note about them. Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Japanese Paper Company - website, Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo. Post Nord - is a state run postal service. It is operated by the governments of Sweden and Denmark. It is not a private company as referred to in this episode. Chaveta Coffee - is a coffee shop servicing the Annex, and Seaton Village neighbourhoods of Toronto. More info, here. The Japanese Paper Place - is a Japanese paper store located in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto. It has been serving the Canadian and International artistic community for forty years. You can hear the JPP's interview with the Unfinished Print, here. conservation paper - is a paper used in preservation, disinfestation, and sterilization, wet/clearing etc of aging and old paper. Japanese paper is used in conservation as it has been known to have few impurities and is generally alkaline. More information can be found, here. Edition/Basel - is a printmaking program located in Basel, Switzerland, and San Fransisco, California. It focuses on relief, intaglio, lithography, and photopolymer. More info, here. kōzo - is a paper made from the bark of the mulberry bush. It is used in mokuhanga frequently, and comes in various weights. Bicchu torinoko - is a handmade paper made from gampi fibres. Used in mokuhanga. A4 - is a commonly used type of paper. It is 297x210mm. Brexit - is the term used when describing the separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union, in 2020. letterpress - is a type of relief printing by using a printing press. It was popular during Industrialization and the modernity of the West. By the mid twentieth century, letterpress began to become more of an art form, with artists using the medium for books, stationary, and greeting cards. Mariko Jesse - is an illustrator, and mokuhanga printmaker based in Tōkyō, London, and California. Her work can be found, here. Mariko is also a part of the collective, wood+paper+box, which can be found, here. Into the Garden Mia-O - is a South Korean printmaker based in Tōkyō, Japan. Her work is ephemeral and powerful. She has shown all over the world, most recently at the Kentler International Drawing Space in Brooklyn, New York. Waterfall (2019) Mara Cozzolino - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Northern, Italy. Her work is based on nature. She is the Publicity and Alternative Board Member for the International Mokuhanga Conference. Rock Garden #2 (2022) Randi Annie Strand - is an artist based in Norway. She works in sculpture, installation, and book art. Her work can be found on her website, and Instagram. Jupiter 2 (2012) - from the Univers series. Tami Komai - is a printmaker based in Basel, Switzerland. She has worked in intaglio, mokuhanga, linocut, and textile. More info can be found, here. Malmö Artist Book Biennale - is an international biennale which is hosted in Malmö, Sweden. It hosts workshops, and exhibitions "inspired by the structural and conceptual properties of the book form." More info can be found, here. Hiromi Paper - is a brick and mortar, and online Japanese paper shop located in Culver City, California. More info can be found, here. Echizen - is a region in Fukui Prefecture, Japan associated with Japanese paper making. It has a long history of paper making. There are many paper artisans in the area. One famous person is Iwano Ichibei whom Megan mentions in this episode. He is a Living National Treasure in paper making, and the ninth generation of his family still making paper today. More info can be found here in English, and here in Japanese. Nicholas Cladis - is an artist and paper historian who teaches and lives in Iowa. He lived in Echizen from 2014-2020 where he studied how to make washi, taught at the Fukui Prefectural University, as well as being the International liaison for the paper making union. More info can be found on his website, here. mitsumata - is a short fibre paper used in mokuhanga, and other art mediums. daikon radish - is a Japanese radish which has been found outside of Japan, in parts of Asia and North America. Ogawa - is a town in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It has a long history of paper making, from CE 774. You are able to visit Ogawa easily form Tōkyō. More info can be found, here. Awagami - is arguably the largest paper making company in Japan at the moment. With a large International name, Awagami sponsors, and promotes its paper all over the world. More information can be found on its website, here. tengu-jo - is a very thin machine made Japanese paper that is 100% kōzo. It has been used in archival conservation. William Morris (1834-1896) - was a British poet, textile designer, writer, journalist and politician. His work with book press design is very famous as well as is his hand in the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain. More information about William Morris can be found, here, at the Willam Morris Society of the United States. Andrew Stone - is an American mokuhanga printmaker based in Florence, Italy. He is also a baren maker. The baren is a mokuhanga specific tool. Andrew's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. The Three Graces Vandercook Press - is a proof printing press manufactured by Vandercook & Sons, beginning in 1909. They made different types of presses, such as letterpress and offset. They are now a part of NA Graphics. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing credit - Sleepy Time Time by CREAM. From their debt full length, Fresh Cream (1966). logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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8/19/2022 • 45 minutes, 38 seconds April Vollmer - Printmaker: The Balance of Paste, Water, and Colour April Vollmer is one of the most important mokuhanga printmakers and authors working today. Her book, Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop, is a must have for any person interested in mokuhanga. its process, history, and the artists making it. On this epsiode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with April Vollmer about her travels throughout the mokuhanga landscape. Her time at Nagasawa Art Park, and then onto MI Lab. How she got into becoming an author, writing Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop, her influences and her process. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Artists works follow after the note about them. Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. April Vollmer -website, Instagram, Facebook. April was recently a part of the mokuhanga exhibition at the Kentler International Drawing Space, in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. This show was curated by the Mokuhanga Sisters collective and is called Between Worlds from, June 17 - July 31st, 2022. Rochester, New York - is a city located in Upstate New York. It was originally inhabited by the Seneca peoples. Shaped by the Genesee River, Rochester was once a flour making city as well as a city famous for its horticulture. More information can be found, here. Hunter College - Is a public college located in Manhattan, New York, and was founded in 1870 as a college for women. More info, here. abstract art - is an art type which moved away from a 19th Century artistic idea of perspective. Abstract art was a rebellion of colour, shape, and experience, for both the viewer and the maker. It corresponds to the modernism of the industrial world, with science, technology, and architecture. More info can be found, here. colour field - is a term in painting associated with the abstract painters of the 1950’s and 1960’s using large swaths of flat colour. Mark Rothko (1903-1970) is one such painter associated with colour field. More info, here. Vincent Longo (1923-2017) - was a painter, printmaker and teacher based in New York City. He was a part of the New York School of artist’s of the 1950’s and 1960’s. His work was based in geometry. You can find more information about Vinnie, here. 4 Blocks (1985) Bill Paden (1930-2004) - was a woodblock printmaker and artist who studied under the American expat Clifton Karhu (1927-2007) in Kyoto. More info, here. Beppu Beach Water Bay Mountain (ca. 1970's) hanmoto system - is the Edo Period (1603-1868) collaboration system of making woodblock prints in Japan. The system was about using, carvers, printers, and craftsmen, by various print publishers in order to produce woodblock prints. The system consisted of the following professions; publisher, artist, carver, and printer. Tetsuya Noda (b 1940) - is a contemporary print artist, photographer and professor emeritus at Tokyo University of the Arts (Tōkyō Geidai). His process uses photographs through a mimeograph machine, then woodblock and silk screen. Considered one of Japan’s most famous living artists, Noda’s work is a wonderful representation of what can be done with the print medium. More info, with video, can be found, here. The LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies - is a not for profit centre at the Columbia University School of the Arts, which provides an atmosphere of print education for students and invited guests. Tōkyō v Kyōto (Ōsaka) school of mokuhanga - Tōkyō and Kyōto have, historically, been culturally different throughout Japanese history. Even today, especially with foreign expats, which side of the border you pledge allegiance to can make or break a pleasant conversation. Regarding woodblock printing, it was the moving of the capital to Edo from Kyōto by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), officially in 1603, which centred the world for an entire nation. Edo became the business, and cultural district in which most people found themselves. The sankin kōtai system, where daimyō from the entire country, were obligated to spend alternating years in the capital, allowed the merchant classes to grow prosperous, spending their time and money on entertainments such as ukiyo-e, kabuki, and sumo. This didn’t mean that Kyōto and Ōsaka didn’t have ukiyo-e, it simply meant that it was overshadowed by Edo. This is because many publishers and artists lived and worked in Edo’s environs. Kabuki from Edo and kabuki from Kyōto thrived, therefore there were many prints published for the plays performed in both cities. Stylistically the prints are different, with Ōsaka ukiyo-e being called Kamigata-e, the region where Ōsaka, and Kyōto are situated. For instance, the work of Ōsaka artist, and painter Shunkōsai Hokushū (active 1802-1832) is famous in Ōsaka for his kabuki prints, but is relatively unknown today, as compared to Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) who lived and worked around the same time in Edo. Comparing the two is perhaps comparing Brad Pitt (b. 1963), with Steve Buscemi (b. 1957), but I feel that it shows what both artists, successful in their fields, can accomplish for the genre. More information on Ōsaka ukiyo-e, can be found, here. Keiko Kadota (1942-2017) - was the director of Nagasawa Art Park at Awaji City from 1997-2011, and then of MI Lab at Lake Kawaguchi from 2011 until her passing. Minimalism - is an art movement based on simplicity and geometry. Generally connected to 1960’s New York City. More info, here. Yoonmi Nam (b. 1974) - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher, based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Yakult (2018) Katie Baldwin - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, illustrator, book maker, and artist based in Huntsville, Alabama. Her work can be found, here. The Dance (2015) Mariko Jesse - is an illustrator, and mokuhanga printmaker based in Tōkyō, London, and California. Her work can be found, here. Mariko, Katie, and Yoonmi are also a part of the collective, wood+paper+box, which can be found, here. Summer Flowers (2021) Daniel Heyman (b. 1963) - is a painter and printmaker based in Rhode Island at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he is Assistant Professor. His work can be found, here. Janus (2019/2020) IMPACT Conference - started by The Center for Print Research, IMPACT stands for "International Multi-discipinary Printmaking, Artists, Concepts and Techniques’. Based in Europe, it is an academic conference discussing printmaking and how it fits into this world. More info about the most recent conference can be found, here. Kari Laitinen (b. 1952) - is a Finnish artist and printmaker based in Finland. His works explore colour and dimension. More information can be found, here. He helped write, with Tuula Moilanen, the book Woodblock Printmaking with Oil-based Inks and the Japanese Watercolour Woodcut. It was published in 1999. Secret Space II (2014) Tuula Moilanen - is a Finnish mokuhanga printmaker and painter based in Finland. She lived and studied in Kyōto from 1989-2012, where she learned her printmaking at Kyōto Seika University and from printmaker Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019). Her work can be found, here. Clear Day Fuji (2014) Arches - is a brand of Western watercolour paper that is acid-free. BFK - also knowns as Rives BFK, is a Western printmaking paper, made in France. Like Arches, it is 100% cotton. Lower East Side Print Shop - founded in 1968, and is a not-for- profit printmaking studio located in New York City. More information can be found, here. Jennifer Mack-Watkins - is a contemporary mokuhanga printmaker, and serigrapher based in New York City and New Jersey. Her work explores American culture through a personal lens. Her work has been featured in Vogue and the New York Times. More information can be found, here. What To Do (2013) Andrew Stone - is based in Florence, Italy. Andrew is a wine maker and former full-time doctor who has been making mokuhanga and baren, for years. His blog can be found, here. his interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Mons Veneris (2016) Frogman’s Print Workshop - is a print space, opened in 1979, in South Dakota. In 2016 the space moved to the University of Nebraska. More info can be found, here. The Adachi Institute of Woodblock Prints - is a print studio located in Tōkyō. Established in 1994 in order to promote and preserve the colour woodblock print of Japan. More information, in English and in Japanese. bokashi - is a Japanese term associated with the gradation of water into ink. There are several types of bokashi. For more information regarding these types of bokashi please check out Professor Claire Cuccio's lecture called “A Story in Layers,” for the Library of Congress, and the book Japanese Printmaking by Tōshi Yoshida, and Rei Yuki. Below are the following types of bokashi. This is from the Yoshida book: ichimonji bokashi - straight line gradation ichimonji mura bokashi - straight line gradation with an uneven edg. Ō-bokashi - a gradual shading over a wide area atenashi bokashi - gradation without definition futairo bokashi - two tone gradation Ansei Uchima (1921-2000) - was a mokuhanga printmaker in the sōsaku hanga style of Japanese printmaking. He was the translator for Japanologist Oliver Statler (1915-2002). In Memoriam (1958) Keiji Shinohara (b. 1955) - is a Japanese mokuhanga printmaker who apprenticed under Uesugi Keiichiro in Ōsaka. He is the artist-in-residence at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. More info about Keiji can be found here, and here. Twilight (2012) Ursula Schneider - is a painter, woodblock printmaker and teacher at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York. More info about her work can be found, here. Leaf and Wood (2018) Jackie Battenfield - is a painter, printmaker, collagist, author, and motivational speaker. April alludes to Jackie’s book, “The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love,” (2009). More information about Jackie’s work can be found, here. Soundings (1999) International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami 2011 - (東北地方太平洋沖地震) was a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami which struck the coast of North East Japan on March, 11, 2011. The earthquake was 9.0 - 9.1 on the Richter scale. Watson-Guptill - is an American publishing house, starting business in 1937. It is now a part of Ten Speed Press. Mina Takahashi - is the editor of Hand Papermaking magazine dedicated to the production and preservation of handmade paper. Was the editor of Dieu Donné in New York City from 1990-2004. She is also a curator. Printmaking Today - is a magazine published by Cello Press in England, and is published quarterly. The magazine focuses on printmaking themes and artists. More info, here. Mid-America Print Council - promotes the art of printmaking of all types. It was started in 1990 in Des Moines, Iowa. It publishes an annual journal with essays and articles about printmaking. More information can be found, here. Edvard Munch (1863-1944) - was a Norwegian artist, who at the time of his death in 1944 had amassed thousands of his own works, including 15,391 prints of all types. Munch loved printmaking, using various mediums. The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. has an excellent exploration of his prints, here. Mokuhanga books in English - Here is a list of books for those interested in studying and understanding mokuhanga, that I am aware of. This list is by no means exhaustive, so if you believe I've missed one please message me. If the book is in print (or even out of print and there are PDF's) you will see the authors name hyper-linked so you can get the books : April Vollmer - Japanese Woodblock Printshop: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Art of Mokuhanga. (2015) Watson-Guptill Publications Tuula Moilanen, Kari Laitinen, and Antti Tanttu - The Art and Craft of Woodblock Printmaking. (2013) Aalto Books Laura Boswell - Making Japanese Woodblock Prints. (2020) The Crowood Press. Hiroshi Yoshida - Japanese Woodblock Printing. (1939) Sanseido Company, Ltd. Walter J. Phillips - The Technique of the Colour Woodcut. (1926) Brown-Robertson, New York. Rebecca Salter - Japanese Woodblock Printing. (2001) A&C Black. Tōshi Yoshida & Rei Yuki - Japanese Print Making: A Handbook of Traditional and Modern Techniques. (1966) Tuttle Publishing. Marilyn Chesterton and Rod Nelson - Making Woodblock Prints. (2015) Crowood Press Terry McKenna - Terry has written two excellent woodblock primers for the beginner and the intermediate practitioner. The first is Mokuhanga Fundamentals: Core Skills... & the second book is, Creative Print. Both can be purchased directly from here, and other fine establishments in e-book or physical form. Self Published. Fabiola Gil Alares - her book, Mokuhanga: Manual Ilustrado de Xilografía Japonesa, is one of the finest books on the subject of mokuhanga. This book is in Spanish. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Keiko Hara (b.1942) - is a painter, printmaker in mokuhanga, lithograph, and stencil. She is also a sculptor, and collagist. More info can be found, here. Verse R - Black and White (2017) floating kentō - is a removable registration system attached to the block when printing. As the kentō isn’t affixed to the block; blotting, and very clean borders are one of the positives of using this method of registration. It is an "L" shape. baren - is a Japanese word to describe the flat, round shaped disc which is predominantly used in the creation of Japanese woodblock prints. It is traditionally made of cord of various types, and a bamboo sheath, although baren come in many variations. Guerra & Paint Pigment Corp. - is a brick and mortar store located in Brooklyn, New York that sells artists pigments. More info, here. Endi Poskovich - is a printmaker and artist who focuses on symbols, and language for his work. More info about his work can be found, here. Two (Hälftberg) (2004-2017) Holbein - is a pigment company with offices in Japan, Canada, and the United States. More info, here Benjamin Selby - is an artist who works in mokuhanga, as well as touching on serigraphy and installations. More information about Benjamin’s work can be found, here. Turbulent Waters (2020) Auto Mach Reciprocating Wood Carver - is an automatic chisel that is made in Japan. It is plugged into an outlet. It comes with a variety of bits for carving. It makes carving large areas of hard wood a breeze. More information can be found, here. acetate - is a plant based, non-petroleum product. It is made from wood pulp and cotton. It is bendable, and stiff enough to use for getting into your kentō registration if you decide to use it for key block transfer. Yoshida Family of Artists - The Yoshida’s are one of the most famous family of artists from Japan. Started with painter Yoshida Kasaburō (1861-1894), and made famous by Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) and his work with the shin-hanga movement and woodblock printing. The Yoshida family has helped shape many artists around the world. More info from the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, here. Generation by April Vollmer (2002) © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing credit - Anyone Can Have a Good Time by OWLS (2001). From their self-titled album, and released on Jade Tree. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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8/3/2022 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 33 seconds David Kutcher of Moonlit Sea Prints - It Relates To History A brand new venture can bring trepidation, and is never as straight forward as it may seem. That's something that I know all too well. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with curator, collector, and small business owner David Kutcher about his Japanese woodblock print gallery Moonlit Sea Prints. Located in Easthampton, Massachusetts, David opened his gallery to share his love of Japanese woodblokc prints. We discuss why he got involved with the Japanese woodblock, the background of the business, his own private collection, the competition, and how history plays a part in his business. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Moonlit Sea Prints - website, Instagram. Night Fishing by Arai Yoshimune (1873-1935) - Arai Yoshimune was a woodblock print designer who designed for the Hasegawa/Nishinomiya publishing house. “Night Fishing” is one print in a series of popular shin-hanga style woodblock prints published in the early 1900’s by Hasegawa/Nishinomiya of Tōkyō, called "Night Scenes". The series is made up of 21 prints. A fascinating article on this series can be found, here. Below is the "Fishing Boat," print from the this series. Fuji Arts - is an online Japanese woodblock print store, for collectors and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company has been in operation since 2000. Connie Mack (1862-1956) - was an American professional baseball player and manager, and is the longest serving manager in baseball history. Babe Ruth (1895-1948) - is arguably the greatest American baseball player of all time. Made famous for his time with the New York Yankees form 1920-1934. Is said to have hit his first ever home run here in Toronto in 1914 when baseball was played on the island, against the Toronto Maple Leafs (baseball club). 1934 Japan Baseball Tour - baseballs all stars of the time, including Connie Mack and Babe Ruth, went to Japan in 1934 to play on an “All American All-Stars” team. More information can be found here, with some footage. Acidic and non acidic matting - acid is a natural occurring element within paper. Like food, some have more, some have less. For very acid-free paper you would be using paper made from cloth rag and containing a small amount of a chemical compound called “lingnin” which is in all paper. The more lignin, the more acid the paper has. You want to use an acid-free paper to protect your print or piece of art from yellowing and other damage. For a great read on the subject, you can check it out, here . Starry Night by Takahashi Shōtei (1871-1945) - is a woodblock print, 6”x15” produced around 1926-1927. Shōtei designed woodblock prints for the Okura Shoten publishing house, and later for Maeba Shoten, finally designing some of his most famous prints, such as the one below, with Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962). I have seen this print with the 1926/27 year of production as well as a 1936 date as well. A biography of Shōtei can be found, here. Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) and the Franklin Mint - in the early 1980’s Tōshi Yoshida, the eldest son of Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) embarked on a collaboration with the Franklin Mint. A private mint (a place where currency is made) based in Pennsylvania. The series of prints are considered surimono (privately commissioned prints). The prints are three sets of prints, called The Friendly Garden, Birds of the Seasons, and the calendar prints of birds and flowers. The sizes seems to vary. In muy research i've seen some prints as being 13.5" x 21.5" for the calendar prints and 12" x 20" for Birds of the Seasons. You can see some of these prints here. print sizes - Japanese print sizes vary. The following are from the book, “The Printed Image: the Flowering of Japan’s Woodblock Print Culture, (2018). ōban - 15” x 10” chūban - 10.4” x 7.5” ōtanzaku - 15.3” x 7” chūtanzaku - 15.3” x 5.2” For a larger and more extensive list you can find that, here, at artelino.com Japan in the 1950’s - coming out of the second world war, Japan was slowly beginning to recover ecenomically. Starting with the U.S/Japan security alliance, called the San Fransisco Peace Treaty of 1951. By the late 1950’s, and well into the late 1960’s, with the help of the United States, Japan’s GDP began to grow exponentially. A few economic reasons were for this. First, the US market was opened to Japanese exporters, leading to protectionism by a stregthening Japanese bureaucracy, enabling the Japanese government to control domestic and international production. Second, is what Jeff Kingston calls “industrial targeting.” This is where the Japanese government would focus on certain sectors deemed to be vital to economic growth, thereby giving private loans which in turn would create strength in Japanese infrastructure like heavy industry, crude-oil and natural gas. This also enabled the cartel system by creating fixed cliques which as a matter of course, were open to corruption. These cartels (zaibatsu) played a large part in the fascist Japanese war machine, but with their connections with American corporations and being anti-Communist, the American post-war occupying government saw these zaibatsu as an asset to Japanese growth. Companies that had connections to militarist Japan are, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, and Hitachi to name a few. This growth that began in the 1950’s, continued until the Japanese economic bubble burst in 1989. For more information on Japan’s economic history check out Jeff Kingston’s 2019 book, called Japan: Polity Histories. Moonlit Sea by Shoda Koho (1871-1946) - Koho was the designer of this famous print. Little seems to be known about this print designer who published his designs with Nishinomiya Yosaku, also known as the Hasegawa Publishing Co. Jimbōchō - is an area in the city of Tōkyō. Located in Chiyoda. It is an area made famous for its bookstores, where you can buy vintage, used, and new books of all genres. Some information can be found, here. Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) - considered to be the last ukiyo-e designer. Known as an incredible talent and having his own demons, Kunichika studied under Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) and lived and died in Tōkyō. His work is powerful, bombastic, and colourful. His triptychs at times broke from the single panel sheet traditoin of one image per sheet, where one image for Kunichika could take up all three panels. More information can be found, here. The Museums of Liverpool have a new Kunichika exhibition from April 15, 2022 - September 4, 2022. The print below is Onoe Kikugoro V as Akashi no Naruzo (1890) Yoshikazu Utagawa (dates unknown but active from 1850-1870) - famous for his Yokohama-e prints, prints that focused on the foreigners in Yokohama City in the 19th Century. Yoshikazu also made triptychs of tengu (long nose trickster forest goblins), and other demons. The triptych below is, Yoshitsune on Mount Kurama. Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189) - was a leader of the Minamoto clan, associated with the period of warrinhg between the Minamoto and the Taira clans during the Heian Period (794-1185). Yoshitsune’s history, like many individuals of that historical period in Japanese history, is mixed with legend and is difficult to know what is true and what is not. Many woodblock prints were made describing his military prowess, as well as his adventures with his friend Benkei. Some history of Yoshitsune can be found, here. intaglio printmaking - is a style of printmaking, the opposite of relief printmaking, where scratches are made with a burin on the plate (copper, zinc, aluminum) and then dipped in acid. Ink and pigment is rubbed on with a brayer, brushes, etc. More info can be found, here. Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) - a designer of more than six hundred woodblock prints, Kawase Hasui is one of the most famous designers of the shin-hanga movement of the early twentieth century. Hasui began his career with the artist and woodblock designer Kaburaki Kiyokata (1878-1971), joining several artistic societies along the way early in his career. It wasn’t until he joined the Watanabe atelier in 1918 that he really began to gain recognition. Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) had Hasui design landscapes of the Japanese country-side, small towns, and everyday life. Hasui also worked closely with the carvers and printers of his prints to reach the level Hasui wanted his prints to be. The print below is Kude Beach, Wakasa (1920) Tsuchiya Kōitsu (1870 - 1949) - apprenticed under artist and print designer Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915), and worked as a lithographer. Kōitsu then joined the Watanabe atelier in 1935. Kōitsu also collaborated with Doi Sadachi publishers, amongst others. Below is Suma Beach (1938) James Abbott McNeil Whistler (1834-1903) - was an American painter based in Britain. His paintings are generally of landscapes of lonely terrain, as well as of portraits. His most famous painting is of his mother. His complete works can be found, here. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) - born in Edo, Hiroshige is famous for his landscape series of that burgeoning city. The most famous series being, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1859), and the landcape series, Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833-1834). His work highlights bokashi, and bright colours. More info about his work can be found, here. Below is, Coastal Landscape In Moonlight (1857) Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) - was a Viennese born artist who was a part of the art nouveau, and Vienna Secessionist movements. His subjects were, generally, of women. More information can be found, here. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) - was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter. He began to collect Japanese woodblock prints around the winter of 1886-1887 from the art dealer Siegfried Bing, to collect and to sell for a profit, although he didn’t sell very many. This collection would go on to influence much of his work. Red Fuji - also called “Fine Wind, Clear Morning,” is a woodblock print designed by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) and made around 1830-1832. The Great Wave off Kanagawa - is a woodblock print designed by Katsushika Hokusai in 1831. It is very famous. Hokusai Updated - was an exhibition held at the Mori Art Museum in the Roppongi area of Tōkyō which ran from January, 17th, 2019 to March, 24th, 2019. Hokusai manga - first published in 1814 these comical figures, lansdscapes, flowers, and other various images were created by the woodblock designer and artist Katsushika Hokusai. Beginning with Volume 1, “Transmitting the Spirit and Revealing the Form of Things,” the series became impressively popular and was continually produced, in fifteen volumes, until 1878, and in woodblock print form. More information from the Princeton Library can be found, here. Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889) - was a woodblock print designer and painter who focused on dark, devious, ghostly images and even some war prints. Kyōsai’s work has had a resurgence the passed decade with many people outside of the woodblock print community. More information can be found, here. Below is his triptych, Demon's Out. The Western influence on the Japanese print market - Western collectors have had a deep affinity for Japanese woodblock prints since the late 19th Century. In 1891, the print curator of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts held a Japanese print exhibition at the Smithsonian and in many ways, helped usher in a love for the Japanese woodblock print in America. As the popularity of Japanese woodblock prints began to grow, with more foreign artists living and working in Japan and abroad, such as Emil Orlik (1870-1932), Bertha Lum (1869-1954), and Helen Hyde (1868-1919) who started making their own woodblock prints. This new awareness of contemporary and vintage Japanese woodblock prints began to foster more collecting. As time has gone on, and with the Japanese woodblock print becoming so famous in the West, prices in Japan have begun to climb steadily, with more collectors in Japan collecting woodblock prints. sensō-e - are Japanese woodblock prints which focus on war. They can be single panel, diptych and triptych's. Complicated woodblock techniques were used, which highlighted war, specifically the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). Artists such as Kobayashi Kiyochika designed prints for this war, the beginning of the Japanese Imperialist project. More information can be found, here. Below is Great Victory and Occupation of Jiuliancheng (1894) by Watanabe Nobukazu (1874-1944) Shirō Kasamatsu (1898-1991) - was a woodblock print designer who worked with the Watanabe atelier making shin-hanga designs. Below is Mount Wakakusa (ca. 1930) and Mountains Cottage in Spring (ca. 1960's) Floating World Gallery - is a Chicago-based brick and mortar / online Japanese woodblock print outlet in operation since 1987. Focusing on all genres of Japanese woodblock prints. More info, here. Crosseyed Gallery - is a Los Angeles based woodblock print online store. More info, here. Art Walk: Easthampton, Massachusetts - is a monthly art walk held the first Friday of the month and created by Easthampton City Arts. They arrange arts programming and cultural events. More info, here. Pillar prints - also called hashira-e (柱絵), are prints which have the shape of scrolls but are smaller. They are 4.5” x 28” and were attached to pillars in Japanese homes. Associated with the 18th Century. More info can be fond, here. Below is Cherry and the Moon, by Yoshimoto Gesso (ca. 1910-1930) Yoshimoto Gesso (1881-1936) - was a shin-hanga print designer who designed many landscapes, birds, and flowers. More info, here. Below is his Blue Bird and Asters (ca.1930's) surimono (摺物)- are privately commissioned woodblock prints, usually containing specialty techniques such as mica, and blind embossing. Below is Heron and Iris, (ca. 1770's) by Andō Hiroshige (1797-1858). This print is from David Bull's reproduction of that work. You can find more info about that project, here. Ronin Gallery - is a NYC based Japanese woodblock print brick and mortar, online shop, and was established in 1975. More info can be found, here. Taoist alchemy - also called nei-dun, is a type of internal alchemy in Taoism which purports to give the initiate a long life. External alchemy in Taoism is called wai-dan which uses herbs and minerals to promote a long life. More info can be found, here. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing credit sound - I am listening to the CBC's IDEAS podcast and the episode is called "Madame Blavatsky: Intellect, Adventurer, Occultist...Fraud. This can be found on any podcast platform. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.*** Bibliography: Forrer, Matthi, Michael Scuffil, and Adele Schlombs. The Printed Image: The Flowering of Japan's Woodblock Printing Culture. Köln: Buchhandlung Walther König, 2018. Marks, Andreas, Chiaki Ajioka, and Elisabeth Sövik. Seven Masters: 20th-Century Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Wells Collection. Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2015. Martin, Katherine. Highlights of Japanese Printmaking, Part 3: The International Perspective.Scholten Japanese Art, 2008. Uhlenbeck, Chris, Louis van Tilborgh, Shigeru Oikawa, Lynne Richards, and Diane Webb. Japanese Prints: The Collection of Vincent Van Gogh. London: Thames & Hudson, 2018.
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7/20/2022 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 18 seconds Andrew Stone - Baren and Printmaker: The Beautiful and The Ugly One's mokuhanga journey takes many twists and turns. One can begin that journey at any age, at any time. For Andrew Stone that journey began at the age of 40, where in the last fifteen years or so, Andrew has done a deep dive into the nuances of the art form, from technique, to tools. His exploration into what makes mokuhanga, mokuhanga, is fascinating and important. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker and baren maker Andrew Stone. We speak about his Florence Baren Project, his own mokuhanga, his life in Italy, his meeting with baren maker Hidehiko Gotō. We discuss his philosophies on mokuhanga and baren making, what it takes to make such a beautiful tool like the baren, and how they function and work. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Andrew Stone - Lacrime di Rospo blog April Vollmer - is a mokuhanga artist based in New York City. She has been working in the medium for over thirty years. Her book, Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop, is a classic of the genre and a fantastic instructional book to begin mokuhanga. Andrew's wine label prints - here is one such print Andrew describes in his interview. David Bull/Mokuhankan - David Bull is a Canadian mokuhanga printmaker and business owner based in the city and Prefecture of Tōkyō, Japan. His company, Mokuhankan, has promoted the making of mokuhanga via the hanmoto or collaboration system of making woodblock prints, where the image begins as a black and white copy, evolving into a multi-layered colour woodblock print through a series of designers, carvers, and printmakers. etegami - meaning image letter, etegami is a style of calligraphy which was created by Kokei Kunio in the 1960’s, by writing his own distinct style of calligraphy on New Years postcards. Although, sending postcards on New Years has been a tradition in Japan since the 700’s. By using watercolours on washi, Kunio creates beautiful postcards which lend a hand to the ephemeral nature of the season and the medium. lithography - is a printing process which requires a stone or aluminum plate, and was invented in the 18th Century. More info, here from the Tate. Shin hanga - is a style of Japanese woodblock printmaking which began during the end of the Ukiyo-e period of Japanese printmaking, in the early 20th Century. Focusing on the foreign demand for “traditional” Japanese imagery and motifs such as castles, bridges, famous landscapes, bamboo forests, to name just a few. Shin hanga was born in 1915 by Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) when he found Austrian artist Frtiz Capelari (1884-1950) and commissioned Capelari to design some prints for Watanabe's feldgling printing house . From there shin-hanga evolved into its own distinct “new” style of Japanese woodblock printing. It lasted as this distinct style until its innevitable decline after the Second World War (1939-1945). Pop art - is a an art movement generally connected to post war America and commodification. Artists such as Andy Warhol (1928-1987), and Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) are well known pop-artists. Rebecca Salter - is a British artist who focused on mokuhanga early in her career, and painting in later life. She is the President of The Royal Academy of Arts, London. Her book Japanese Woodblock Printing is a classic of the genre. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. International Mokuhanga Conference - is a conference conducted by the International Mokuhanga Association for Japanese woodblock printing. It is held every two years and is themed. More info can be found, here. Mara Cozzolino - is a mokuhanga artist, based in Turin, Italy. Mara’s subjects tend to be landcapes and trees. Mara is also the IMC Publicity Advisor. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Annie Bissett - is a mokuhanga artist and designer based in Rhode Island, USA. Annie’s subjects vary, from landscapes, politics, and even tarot. You can find her interview with the Unfinished Print, here. California forest fires - The State of California in the United States, has dry, hot weather. Because of climate change, this has been exacerbated by a higher population, deforestation, and heavy use. Forest fires have become common yearly events. Impressionism - is a 19th Century art movement where the art is defined by visible brushstrokes, pastel colour, and the depiction of natural light. Artists associated with his movement are, Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), Edgar Degas (1834-1917), Claude Monet (1840-1926). Fauvists - a group of artists and an art movement of the early 20th Century who focused on the painterly and lasted only a short time, 1904-1908. It is influenced by the Impressionists and is also considered a break from that. A few artists of this short movement are Henri Matisse (1869-1953), André Derain (1880-1954), Jean Puy (1876-1960), amongst others. Secessionists - is an independent art movement, and historical break of the avante garde from the conservative ideals of European art. This period was from the late 19th to the early 20th Century. Started in Germany (Munich Secession) and then onto Vienna led by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918). The several secessionist movements of the late 19th century (Munich, Vienna, Berlin) was grouped as one movement in the 1970’s by art scholars. hanshita - is a thin sheet of gampi paper that is pasted, reverse side, on a piece of wood. This is a guide, carved onto the block and is generally used for the key block and subsequent colour blocks. Methods such as acetate with water based pigment, can also be used rather than the thin gampi paper, which can cause misregistration if not pasted correctly. Biomass plants in the EU - biomass is a form of energy which uses trees as energy. Large biomass plants can be found and subsidized by federal governments in Europe. They take in biological materials such as wood residue, energy crops and other agricultural residues and convert these items into energy. There are both pros and cons for this type of energy generation. shina - is a type of wood used in mokuhanga. It is part of the linden family of trees. This wood is produced in various parts of the world, such as Japan and Russia. Not all shina is created equal so buyer beware. basswood - is a type of wood from the linden family of trees, soft and generally grainless. Can be used in mokuhanga. Florence, Italy - the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. Famous for its renaissance architecture, and culture. Large art galleries, such as the Bargello National Museum, and the Uffizi Gallery, are located here. fabriano artistico - is a machine made Western watercolour paper, which can be purchased in rolls and sheets. Guerra Pigment - is a family run pigment store located in Brooklyn, New York. Holbein - is a pigment company with offices located in Japan, The United States, and Canada. They offer high end gouache, watercolour, and pigment pastes. Paul Furneaux - is a Scottish mokuhanga artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He makes abstract mokuhanga, mixed with wood and other mediums. sizing recipe - sizing is a term used for a recipe, containing animal glue, alum, and water. It is used to coat your paper, dried, and then remoistened and printed with, to keep your pigments from bleeding in the paper. Sizing, in the short term, keeps your prints bright and colourful, although over time it has been proven that heavy sizing can deteriorate the print. Some recipes can be found, here, and here. McClains - is an online, and brick and mortar store located in Portland, Oregon, USA. It sells mokuhanga tools, books, and educational items. McClain's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. takenogawa bamboo skin - is a bamboo skin, made from a bamboo leaf, which covers the coils on your baren. You can wrap them yourself or have them sent to Japan to be wrapped professionally. Be sure to buy more than a few baren skins as you’ll go through a few when wrapping your own baren. Gotō baren clinic Ginza - called Baren Juku, and located in the Ginza, Tōkyō. It was started in 2012. tannin - are a class of molecules which are found in amino acids and alkaloids. They are found in tree bark, wood, leaves, fruits, seeds, plants. They protect the tree from bugs and other infections. Gotō Huidehiko's book on baren - Mia-0 - is a mokuhanga artist based in Tōkyō, Japan. Her work can be found, here. Terry McKenna - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. He studied under Kyōto-based mokuhanga artist Richard Steiner. Terry also runs his own mokuhanga school in Karuizawa. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Richard Steiner's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. John Moss - is a mokuhanga artist based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. His work focuses on landscape. His work can be found here. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. murasaki baren - is a mid-range mokuhanga baren. “murasaki” meaning “purple” , come in two types of weight (medium and heavy), and two types of sizes (10cm and 12cm). They are reasonably priced baren. gomazuri - is a mokuhanga technique where slight pressure is used with pigments too make a “spotty” image, what look like sesame seeds. It can add depth to your prints. baren suji zuri - is a Mokuhanga technique used with the baren and by the baren to create a circular design and can be layered with various colours. Paul Binnie's Black Storm (2016) is a fine example. Yuki baren - is a heavy ball bearing baren made in Japan. It is used to print large flat colours. Padua, Italy - is a city in the North of Italy, the Veneto region. It is famous for its frescoes and religious heritage. More info can be found, here. bokashi - is a mokuhanga technique, where the pigment fades from a heavy colour to a softer, broad colour. Made famous by prints designed by Hokusai and Hiroshige, this technique is, for me, the most popular technique utilized by mokuhanga printmakers. There are various types: Ichimoji-bokashi or straight line graduation, used in the above mentioned Hiroshige and Hokusai prints. Ichimoji-mura-bokashi or straight line gradation with uneven edge. Ō-bokashi or wide gradation, Ate-nashi-bokashi or gradation without definition. Futa-iro-bokashi or two tone gradation, and ita-bokashi or softer-edge gradation, where the block is cut in a specific way to achieve this style of gradation. All of these styles of bokashi technique take practice and skill but are very much doable. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing credit music - Rob Swift, A Turntable Experience, from trhe album Soulful Fruit (1997) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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6/28/2022 • 1 hour, 36 minutes, 48 seconds Rebecca Salter - Printmaker: Skilled Unknowing On this episode of The Unfinished Print it is with honour, and great pleasure that I am able to present to you, my interview, with British artist Rebecca Salter. We speak on her mokuhanga, her own work and work produced together with the Satō woodblock workshop in Kyōto. We discuss where Rebecca believes mokuhanga has gone since writing her book, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001), a book which constantly inspires me in my own work. This book helps me to understand, what has felt at times to be such an esoteric and complicated art form, just a little bit more. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Rebecca Salter - website, interviews with Royal Academy, 1 and 2. University of West England - once called Bristol Polytechnic, is a public research University located in Bristol, England. British Museum - is a public museum, located in London, England, and is focused on human history, arts and culture. It was established in 1753. Kyoto City University of Arts - is a public university of the arts located in Kyōto, Japan, and was established in 1880. lithography - is a printing process which requires a stone or aluminum plate, and was invented in the 18th Century. More info, here from the Tate. screen printing - also called, serigraphy, is a method of printing by using stencils and forcing the ink through a screen onto paper, or other fabric. More info, here. Akira Kurosaki 黒崎彰 (1937-2019) - one of the most influential woodblock print artists of the modern era. His work, while seemingly abstract, moved people with its vibrant colour and powerful composition. He was a teacher and invented the “Disc Baren,” which is a great baren to begin your mokuhanga journey with. At the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan there was a tribute exhibit of his life works. Azusa Gallery has a nice selection of his work, here. intaglio printmaking - is a style of printmaking, the opposite of relief printmaking, where scratches are made with a burin on the plate (copper, zinc, aluminum) and then dipped in acid. Ink and pigment is rubbed on with a brayer, brushes, etc. More info can be found, here. scrolls - called kakemono 掛物 or emakimono 絵巻物 in Japanese. These scrolls contain many different types of themes and subjects. More info can be found, here. monoprint - is a print made from a re-printable block, such as wood, or an etched plate. It is usually a one and done type of printing with only one print being made. blue and white Japanese ceramics - are ceramics made for the Japanese market. Originally imported into Japan in the 17th Century from China, local Japanese ceramists from northern and southern Japan began locally producing ceramics. As trading with the Dutch escalated more porcelain wares were being imported from Europe into the Japanese port of Imari. Imari became the word to describe these types of blue and white ceramics. Genji Monogatari emaki - is an elaborate scroll produced in 12th Century, Japan. It is based on the famous Tale of Genji, a tale written in the 11th Century and is attributed to Murasaki Shikibu (around 973-1014). You can find images of this scroll, here. Edo Culture - the Edo Period of Japan (1603-1868) was a period of peace and prosperity for the Japanese military government, or bakufu. Led by the Tokugawa family, Edo period culture flourished in theatre, literature, and the arts. For a fantastic book on the subject please seek out, Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions of Urban Japan by Kazuo Nishiyama (trans. Gerald Groemer) and Edo Kabuki in Transition: From the Worlds of the Samurai to the Vengeful Ghost by Satoko Shimazaki. Edo v. Kyōto Kabuki - kabuki theatre is a bombastic and powerful theatre from Japan. In its long history it has been generally attributed to both Edo (Tōkyō) and Kyōto. Edo kabuki is called aragoto kabuki and Kyōto kabuki is called wagoto kabuki. Aragoto kabuki is generally very loud and external, whereas Kyōto kabuki is more understated and gentle. Satō woodblock workshop - is a traditional Japanese woodblock production house based in Kyōto, Japan. Here is an article from The Journal of Modern Craft with Rebecca Salter regarding this workshop. Japanese woodblock of the 1950’s and 1960’s - post-war Japan was growing at an exponential rate, and this was true for the Japanese woodblock print. As the sōsaku-hanga movement began to out last the shin-hanga of the 1920’s in terms of production, where most people could produce prints on their own, American scholars , Oliver Statler (1915-2000), and James Michener (1907-1997), helped catalogue and document the burgeoning Japanese woodblock print movement through their books, The Floating World (1954), by Michener, and Modern Japanese Prints: An Art Reborn (1956) by Statler, for a Western audience. Along with the Western art scene and the 1951 São Paulo Art Biennial, Japanese woodblock prints began to be respected as a stand alone piece of fine art. kozo paper - is paper made from mulberry bark and is commonly used in woodblock printmaking, and cloth. Echizen, Fukui - is a city located tin the prefecture of Fukui. The paper produced from this region is kozo, mitsumata, and gampi. More information can be found from the website of Echizen Washi Village. Mosquito net technique - is a technique in ukiyo-e, and can of course be reproduced by the modern mokuhanga practitioner, where very fine lines are carved on two wood blocks and, when printed together, create the image of slight, thin netting. Rebecca Salter details this technique in her book, Japanese Woodblock Printing (2001) Yale Center for British Art - located in New Haven, Connecticut, the YCBA is dedicated to British art of all types. Louise Caan - is a British architect and teacher based in Oxford where she teaches architecture at the Oxford Brookes School of Architecture. urushi zuri - is a technique which is used in traditional Japanese woodblock and mokuhanga, where pigment is mixed with nikawa (animal glue), and printed to enhance the enjoyment of the print. Usually seen in black hair, or garments represented in the print. Japanese museums dedicated to Japanese woodblock - if you are visiting Japan and are interested in the Japanese woodblock print you are spoiled for choice. This list is definitely not complete so I would advise doing some research for local museums which may be open in different parts of Japan you may be visiting. This list is a mix of museums dedicated specifically to the woodblock print, or museums dedicated to woodblock print artisans. Finally, check online for larger art museums , galleries, and department stores, in the area that you’re visiting to see whether they are having any shows dedicated to woodblock print artists, genres, etc. while you’re there. I’ve added hyper-links. The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum - Matsumoto, Nagano Sumida Hokusai Museum - Ryogoku, Tōkyō Ōta Memorial Museum of Art - Harajukiu/Omotesando, Tōkyō Tokaidō Hiroshige Museum - Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Hokusai Museum - Obuse, Nagano Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum - Ōsaka CIty, Ōsaka Nakagawa Batō Hiroshige Museum - Nakagawa, Tōchigi Kawanabe Kyōsai Museum - Warabi, Saitama Naoko Matsubara - is a Japanese/Canadian contemporary artist, and sculptor, who lives and works in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She has focused much of her artistic life on making mokuhanga and has gained critical acclaim for it. My interview with Naoko Matsubara can be found, here. Katsutoshi Yuasa - is a Japanese contemporary artist, and sculptor, who works predominantly in mokuhanga. He has produced an incredible mount of work. My interview with Katsu can be found, here. Brook Andrew - is an Australian contemporary artist who has shown internationally. Ukiyo-e Censorship - the military Tokugawa government (bakufu) was not happy about being criticized. Ukiyo-e prints often lampooned authority with their imagery. Other artistic pursuits in Japan at the time, such as kabuki theatre, did the same. In ukiyo-e and Tokugawa history there were “reforms” which the bakufu created in order to stem this type of criticism. The Ehon Taikōki of 1804, which focused on woodblock prints and poetry, and The Tempo Reforms of 1841/42 that focused on actor prints, the manufacturing of woodblock prints, and their price, to name just a few reasons. William Evertson - is an American woodblock printmaker and sculptor based in Connecticut, USA, who’s themes focus on the politics and process of The United States. Annie Bissett - is an American mokuhanga printmaker based in Rhode Island, USA. She explores American life, past and present, sexuality, and the esoteric through her prints. My interview with Annie Bissett can be found, here. Paul Binnie - is a Scottish mokuhanga printmaker and painter, based in San Diego, USA. Having lived and worked in Japan in the 1990’s, studying at the Yoshida atelier while there, Paul has successfully continued to make mokuhanga and his paintings. Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition - is a summer exhibition held at the Royal Academy in London, England. It is an open submission, one which started in 1769, showcasing all types of artistic mediums. 余韻 - (yoin) - is a Japanese word which means “lingering memory.” The Lake District - is an area in North West of England which has numerous mountains, lakes, and a National Park. It has been an inspiration for many artists, writers, and actors for years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing credit music - Cut/Copy - Rendevous from the album, I Thought of Numbers (2001) logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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6/14/2022 • 56 minutes, 32 seconds Cameron Hilker of Mokuhankan - A Beautiful Object How does one get a job at one of the most sought after positions in the mokuhanga community, Mokuhankan, and go on to be a large part of the success of the company while there? Cameron Hilker did just that. We don't make mokuhanga alone. We ask advice, search out tutorials, workshops, and have mokuhanga conversations with each other. But when your business has many moving parts and is expanding everyday, then things can become a little more complicated. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Cameron Hilker, who worked with David Bull at Mokuhankan from 2017-2022, as Business Operations and Social Media Marketing Manager. Cameron's work with David Bull and Mokuhankan was important work for the rise of mokuhanga and the new found interest in the making and production of the Japanese woodblock print. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form around the world. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. Jed Henry - is an American artist and graphic designer. His work with woodblock prints is as designer. He works with Mokuhankan, as well as various other mokuhanga artists who carve/laser, and print his designs. His work under the Ukiyo-e Heroes banner is very popular. Ukiyo-e Heroes - is a series of designs created by Jed Henry, collaborating with the woodblock printing house, Mokuhankan, in Tōkyō. Starting in 2012, Ukiyo-e Heroes has expanded year after year with many different designs. You can find more information, here. Provo, Utah - is the fourth largest city in the United States. It has a large Mormon community. It is close to beautiful canyons and nature. Brigham Young University - was founded in 1875, and is associated with the Church of Latter Day Saints. BYU is a liberal arts university located in Provo, Utah. Niigata Prefecture, Japan - located in the northern Chūbu region of Japan, Niigata Prefecture is a quiet and beautiful Prefecture. Known for winter sports such as skiing, and agriculture. Mokuhankan - is a brick and mortar woodblock print shop located in Asakusa, Tōkyō. It is a learning and working space, where it sells the works of artist Jed Henry, master carvers of the past, and various print series. All are printed and carved by Mokuhankan printmakers and carvers. Started by printmaker David Bull as a way to sell his own series and reprints of old carvers of the past, Mokuhankan has grown exponentially over the years and is a must visit when coming to Tōkyō. More info, here. Tsukuba Express Line - founded in 2005 this train line services two Prefectures (Tōkyō and Ibaraki) within the Kantō Region of Japan. The Kantō Region consists of the following Prefectures: Tōkyō, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba and Kanagawa. Infestation Print - from the Ukiyo-e Heroes series. Designed by Jed Henry and carved and printed by Mokuhankan, Tōkyō. Kickstarter - started in 2009, Kickstarter is an online platform and Public Benefit Corporation used to promote and raise money for independent projects which cannot receive funding by other means. ukiyo-e - is a multi colour woodblock print generally associated with the Edo Period (1603-1867) of Japan. What began in the 17th Century as prints of only a few colours, evolved into an elaborate system of production and technique into the Meiji Period (1868-1912). With the advent of photography and other forms of printmaking, ukiyo-e as we know it today, ceased production by the late 19th Century. anime - is a term associated with Japanese animation. Japanese animation first began in 1917, but became famous to the West in the 1950's with Tōei Dōga. Nippon.com has a fine history of anime, here. David Bull's Twitch - his stream can be found, here, titled Japanese Printmaking. Twitch - was created from its previous platform Justin.tv in 2011. It focuses on gaming. Wisconsin, United States - located in the mid-west of the United States and became a U.S state in 1848. It was originally inhabited by the Mississippi and Oneota peoples. Early Japanese COVID Protocols - Japan currently is one of the last affluent democratic countries to open their borders to tourism. Early in the pandemic, Japan prevented many Japanese nationals, and foreign citizens, from re-entering the country. This went on for most of 2020, and all of 2021. This also adapted with the different SARS-CoV variants. JNTO has more information, here. Don Quijote - also known as DONKI, is a a large discount store founded in 1995, and is located throughout most major cities in Japan and Asia, today. Okutama - is a city located near the Okutama Mountains in Western Tōkyō. Ōme - is a city located near the Okutama Mountain in Western Tōkyō. Tsushima Yasue - is a printmaker who works at Mokuhankan and has been with the company since 2011. Yoko Ishikawa - is a printmaker who works at Mokuhankan. Ayumi Ohashi - is a printmaker working at Mokuhankan. Ayumi Shiba - is a printmaker working at Mokuhankan. Your First Print: David Bull - this was the first DVD I ever purchased on how to make mokuhanga. This was in 2007. While I look back at that time thinking about why I didn't take it up as seriously as I do now, I sometime wonder, "Where would I be now in my Mokuhanga journey?" I realize that that is a redundant way of thinking. I am where I am now today, and to be happy with just that. You can still find this product on Dave's website. Pikachu - is an electric-like Pokéman first appearing in 1996. Mario - is a video game character created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Famous for the Mario Bros. Nintendo video games. The print by Mokuhankan with Mario, called The Rickshaw Cart was the first print in the Ukiyo-e Heroes series. Link - is a character from the Nintendo video game series the Legend of Zelda, first seen in 1986. the Mokuhankan woodblock print starring this character is called The Hero Rests. The Fourth Wall - is a term in the performing arts which separates us from what we are watching on screen or on the stage. If the actor begins to speak to the audience, they are "breaking the fourth wall" and are bringing us into the story. woodblock.com - is one of the first websites created by David Bull in order to describe the process of Japanese woodblock printmaking in English. It was and is an asset for those of us continuing the art form today. The Japan Times - the oldest newspaper in Japan, and first printed in 1897. Yomiuri Shimbun - is a Japanese newspaper founded in 1874 and is considered a conservative newspaper. US Time zones - there are nine times zones in the United States. They are as follows - Atlantic Standard Time, Eastern Standard Saving Time, Central Daylight Saving Time, Mountain Standard Time, Pacific Daylight Saving Time, Alaska Daylight Saving Time, Hawaiian Aleutian Standard Time, Samoa Standard Time, and Chamorro Standard Time. Yuzawa Town, Niigata - is a resort town located in the Japanese Alps. Known for its skiing and other winter activities. karoshi (過労死) - is the Japanese word for "death by overwork." Haneda Airport (羽田空港) - is one of two International airports (Narita International in Chiba Prefecture is the other) which supports travel into Japan. First built in 1931 from reclaimed land in Tōkyō, it was the primary International airport to and from Japan form 1978-2010. Sensō-ji Temple - is the crown jewel of Asakusa in Tōkyō. The oldest temple in Tōkyō, it holds the image of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva of Mercy. The entire property of Sensō-ji is heavily touristed and has many shops (nakamise) and places to visit. Asakusa, Tōkyō - is a famous part of Tōkyō with restaurants, festivals, shops, shopping arcades, places to purchase anything from Buddhist statues, to pots and pans (Kappabashi). You can see kabuki theatre and buy woodblock prints. It is a special place. toro (灯籠) - is the name of traditional lanterns. kappabashi - is the avenue located near Ueno and is in the Asakusa area of Tōkyō. It is famous for servicing restaurants with their wide array of kitchen utensils like pots, pans, etc. © Popular Wheat Productions opening and closing credit music - The Promise Ring - Everywhere In Denver (1996) from the album 30 Degrees Everywhere. logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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5/27/2022 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 34 seconds Ralph Kiggell - Printmaker: Beyond Japan Ralph Kiggell (1960-2022) was an important part of the international mokuhanga community for many years. Ralph took the different elements of mokuhanga, the energy and exploration of an artist, to create some of the most dramatic and ambitious mokuhanga today. Ralph Kiggell passed away in 2022 a few months after this episode was published. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Ralph Kiggell about his life in Thailand, using locally sourced materials for his mokuhanga from that country; we also speak on his artistic ambitions, his observations on the current state of the mokuhanga community, and what he would like to see as its future. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Ralph Kiggell - website, Instagram, interview with Evil. O Japan and the West - Japan as a country has had an uneasy relationship with the "West." In many cases this relationship has focused solely with the United States. For a fine early description of this particular relationship please read The Making of Modern Japan, by Marius B. Jansen, and Empreror of Japan: Meiji and His World, 1852-1912 by Donald Keene. ukiyo-e - is a multi colour woodblock print generally associated with the Edo Period (1603-1867) of Japan. What began in the 17th Century as prints of only a few colours, evolved into an elaborate system of production and technique into the Meiji Period (1868-1912). With the advent of photography and other forms of printmaking, ukiyo-e as we know it today, ceased production by the late 19th Century. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - was a Dutch painter, considered to be a part of the Dutch Golden Age of painting. He was notable for his self-portraits, landscape painting, and empathic painting. Serigraphy - is another word for the art of silk screen printing. Silk screen printing can be in on various materials, silk, canvas, paper, etc. Western Engagement with Mokuhanga - the connection with woodblock prints and the West, predominantly with the United States and Britain, began when the elite of both countries started collecting ukiyo-e. Collecting ukiyo-e was the fashion for wealthier patrons of the arts who saw the beautiful images from Japan and their “Oriental” aesthetic as worth collecting. By the start of the twentieth century ukiyo-e production had began to wane. It wasn’t until Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) who worked in the woodblock print business, and who exported prints to the West to a foreign market, saw the benefit of focusing his business for foreign buyers. He established his publishing house in Tōkyō for making woodblock prints with high end techniques (almost lost at that point) and used the traditional hanmoto system of print production to facilitate the demand. This began a fruitful business which created a new generation of woodblock production and Japanese aesthetic. The two important types of woodblock print styles from this period are shin-hanga (new prints), and sōsaku-hanga (creative prints). shin-hanga - or, new prints, is a style of woodblock print production connected to the early twentieth century in Japan. Attributed to Watanabe Shōzaburō, and were created via the ukiyo-e, hanmoto system. Prints are produced through a hierarchy. This hierarchy is as follows: publisher commissions artist who designs the prints, professional woodblock carvers carve the prints, and professional printers print the prints. This collaboration system helped make shin-hanga into the collectable works we find today. They help to codify a romanticized Japanese aesthetic, for a Western audience. sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers beginning to move away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints. War prints & Japanese Imperialism - as Japan entered the Pacific Theatre of war (1941-1945) with the United States, the fascist military government had complete power in Japan at the time, and used woodblock prints, as well as other mediums such as lithography and photography, to propagandize their war effort. Printmakers such as Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) even got involved in producing prints that helped the war effort. He designed several war prints during this time period. Prints such as The Red Setting Sun, is a prime example of how the times and aesthetic show a relatively innocuous scene of figures (Japanese soldiers) riding on horses with a setting sun back drop. For more detailed information regarding war time prints I suggest, Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan, ed. Philip K. Hu w/ Rhiannon Paget, and The Politics of Painting by Asato Ikeda. My interview with Rhiannon Paget PhD can be found, here. The American Occupation and Woodblock Prints - the occupation of Japan occurred after the end of the Pacific theatre (1941-1945) and World War 2 (1939-1945). The Occupation of Japan was from 1945-1952. During this period of nation rebuilding, the Japanese print market as a post-war souvenir was very popular. The rapid growth of the woodblock print in the immediate post-war is attributed to several factors. Robert O. Muller (1911-2003) was an American collector who helped establish print connections with Japan and the United States. From owning the Shima Art Co. of New York City, to working with Shōzaburō in Tōkyō after the war, Robert O. Muller's contribution can be considered unprecedented in woodblock print history. Kōshirō Onchi (1891-1955) was another factor in the rise of woodblock prints during the Allied Occupation. His First Thursday Society, and with the help of his daughter who worked directly with the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers (SCAP), Onchi was able to spread the word on the creative prints project (sōsaku hanga) by making connections with important collectors in the American military government, as well as recruiting American artists, such as Ernst Hacker (1917-1987). For more information regarding the American Occupation of Japan and woodblock prints please read, Japanese Prints during the Allied Occupation 1945-1952, and Troubled Times and Beyond: Japanese Prints 1931-1960, published by Nihon no Hanga, Amsterdam. My interview with Maureen de Vries, curator of Nihon no Hanga, can be found, here. Evolving Techniques in Japanese Woodblock Prints - is a book published by Kodansha International in 1977. It was written by Canadian woodblock printer Gaston Petit, and Amadio Arboleda, who currently apprentices as a violin maker in Tōkyō. Tama Art University - is an arts university located in various campuses in Tōkyō. It has various departments such as Architecture, Product and Textile Design, and Art Studies. 入門 - "nyuumon" in the title of the book Ralph speaks about in our interview, where we discuss what the following kanji means. There are a few meanings for this particular kanji, but in regards to the book I believe it to mean, "beginning training." 水生 - "suisei" is a Japanese word meaning, "water based." 刷物 - "surimono" is a Japanese word which means, literally, "printed thing." These were also privately commissioned prints made by wealthier clients for special occasions. These prints usually were extremely extravagant, using high-end techniques and pigments. I could not in my research find whether or not "surimono" was used more colloquially, rather than "ukiyo-e." kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first. Wood Like Matsumura - is an online and brick and mortar store, for woodblock printmaking, located in Nerima City, Tōkyō. website. Will Francis - is a British mokuhanga printmaker who works predominantly for American graphic designer Jed Henry, and Mokuhankan. shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. jigsaw cutting - Ralph uses various methods when making his mokuhanga. One such method is jigsaw cutting, where the blocks are cut and those cuts are used to make prints. In this video, Ralph explains his process on making his prints. Akira Kurosaki 黒崎彰 (1937-2019) - one of the most influential woodblock print artists of the modern era. His work, while seemingly abstract, moved people with its vibrant colour and powerful composition. He was a teacher and invented the “Disc Baren,” which is a great baren to begin your mokuhanga journey with. At the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan there was a tribute exhibit of his life works. Azusa Gallery has a nice selection of his work, here. Munakata Shikō 志功棟方 (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers, Shiko is famous for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural, and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work. flâneur - is a French word, meaning idler, walker of streets, a way to see a city, to understand it. The freedom to walk a city is a type of freedom that allows someone to truly understand where they are. While almost always written in French literature [(Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867)], for men there has been a question about why women haven't been associated with the word. Lauren Elkin, an American writer in Paris, tries to understand why women aren't associated with the term. The CBC podcast, IDEAS, interviewed her and it was a great way to understand what makes a flâneur, or flâneuse. You can find it, here. Alex Kerr and Lost Japan - Alex Kerr is an American Japanologist who lives and works in Japan. He has written many books on Japan, but is famous for Lost Japan, published in 1993. It describes the modernity of Japan, and what is destroyed when searching for that modernity. Meiji-jingu (明治神宮) - is a large parkland area near the Harajuku neighbouhood of Tōkyō. It is dedicated to Emperor Meiji (Prince Mutsuhito - [1867-1912]). It is open 365 days of the year and is especially busy during the New Years celebrations. Black Ships - are associated with the American naval commodore, Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858). The United States wanted to open trading with Japan, who had been in self-imposed isolation with the West since 1635. Matthew C. Perry essentially bullied his way into the conversation of trade with Japan and these "Black Ships" he arrived on, became a symbol of this moment. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Imperial Hotel - (1867-1959) FLW was an American architect who designed many different buildings in Japan since his first visit in 1905. The Imperial Hotel was located in Tōkyō in the Hibiya district. It was moved to, and reconstructed in 1968 at the Meiji-mura Museum Village in Aichi Prefecture. It was built in the Mayan Revival style. I got a chance to visit it in Aichi and it's pretty spectacular, and smaller than I thought it would be. The Imperial Hotel still exists today. Kozo paper - is a long fibered mulberry paper used for mokuhanga and cloth making. It is produced in Japan, Thailand, and South America. Lampang, Thailand - located in Northern Thailand and is a trading city with tourism, and farming. Yoshida Family of Artists - The Yoshida’s are one of the most famous family of artists from Japan. Begun with painter Yoshida Kasaburō (1861-1894), made famous by Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) and his work with woodblock printing. The Yoshida family has helped shape many artists around the world. More info from the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, here. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier, that made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925. Yoshida Tōshi (1911-1995) - eldest son of Hiroshi Yoshida. Having been affected by polio, and the pressure of continuing his fathers legacy, Tōshi Yoshida made prints and paintings which gradually became expressive, avant garde and abstract. Later in life he focused on birds and mammals. Yoshida Hodaka (1926-1995) - the second son of Hiroshi Yoshida, Hodaka Yoshida seemed to be a bit of the black sheep of the Yoshida family. His desire to become an artist was against his fathers wishes, and his work was an extreme departure from what his father had produced as well as his older brother. Inspired by western artists such as Henri Matisse (1869-1954), and Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Hodaka began to move away from painting to woodblock prints in the 1950’s. Hodaka travelled (the Yoshida family were constant travellers) and was constantly inspired by the world. This was reflected in his woodblock prints and woodblock/photo etching prints. Yoshida Tsukasa (b.1949) - is the son of Tōshi Yoshida. He is a woodblock printmaker focusing on themes of nature and especially the moon. Bangkok Art Biennale - is an art biennale located in Bangkok, Thailand. It was founded in 2018, and was created for visitors to immerse themselves in Thai culture through various arts installations and shows. The 2022/23 biennale will be from October 22, 2022 - February 23, 2023. (IG) Province of Manitoba, Canada - joined Confederation in 1870, and is known for its natural beauty and vast landscapes. The capital is Winnipeg. Province of Saskatchewan, Canada - joined Confederation in 1905, and is known for its vast fields and flat land. Its capital is Regina. April Vollmer - is an established artist who works predominantly in mokuhanga. Her book Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop is one of the authoritative books on the subject and has influenced many up and coming mokuhanga artists. Natasha Norman - is an artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Here mediums are mokuhanga, mokulito, monotype, and paintings. My interview with Natasha Norman can be found, here. MDF - Medium-density fibreboard is a board made of discarded wood fibres and bonded together by wax and resin, which makes it bad for you if you carve it. opening and closing credit music - Spadina Sounds as told by the walkway which had a moving sidewalk. Here are some of the sources used for the above notes: LIPSHULTZ, SANDRA LAWALL. A Japanese Legacy Four Generations of Yoshida Family Artists. Laura W. Allen, Kendall H. Brown, Eugene M. Skibbe, Matthew Welch, Yasunaga Koichi. Held at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts from FEBR. 2 to April 14, 2002. Chicago, Ill: Art Media Resources, 2002. MARTIN, KATHERINE. Highlights of Japanese Printmaking: Part Two - Shin Hanga. Scholten Japanese Art, 2006. DE VRIES, MAUREEN, Chris Uhlenbeck, and Elise Wessels. Troubled Times and Beyond: Japanese Prints 1931-1960. Nihon no Hanga, 2013. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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5/21/2022 • 1 hour, 25 minutes, 45 seconds Timothy Laurin: Printmaker - The Ritual of Preparing Established artists have found mokuhanga to be an asset to their practice. It is a medium which can be very different to what an artist may currently be focused on. It builds patience, and helps creativity. Timothy Laurin is an established artist, who has worked in several artistic mediums, such as letterpress, screen printing, glass, intaglio, and mixed media. Tim discovered mokuhanga a few years ago and has decided to pursue the art form. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with artist Timothy Laurin about his discovery of mokuhanga, the rituals of process, memory and contemporary society. We also speak on the matrix of mokuhanga, gallery relationships, and how ones own environment can affect what an artist produces. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Tim Laurin - Print Collective, Octopus Studio Press, Instagram , Twitter Georgian Bay - is a large bay off of Lake Huron in Southern, Ontario, Canada. It is known for cottages, fishing, hunting, and beautiful sunsets. It is a part of the Canadian Shield, and was painted by such artists as Tom Thompson (1877-1917). It is about two hours drive from Toronto. Barrie, Ontario - is a city with a population of 145,000. It was originally populated by the Anishinaabeg People and the Wendant. It was then populated by white settlers in 1828. intaglio printmaking - is a style of printmaking, the opposite of relief printmaking, where scratches made with a burin are made on the plate (copper, zinc, aluminum) and then dipped in acid. Then ink and pigment is rubbed on with a brayer, brushes, etc. More info can be found, here. washi - is a type of naturally fibrous Japanese paper made for many different types of artistic pursuits. Mokuhanga printmakers use washi, sized and unsized, to produce their woodblock prints. More info from the Japanese Paper Place, can be found, here. birch plywood - is a hardwood used in various ways, such as furniture building, homes, and woodblock. There are white birch, black birch, and white birch. It can be purchased, as well as other woods, in thin veneer and pasted onto regular plywood, or purchased as birch plywood in many hardware stores. John Milton Cage Jr. - (1912-1922) was a composer and music theorist who was influenced by Zen Buddhism and Indian philosophy. One of his beliefs was to "free the creative gesture from all intentional subjectivity." Life is chance. More info can be found, here. representational art - is art which identifies something which exists in real life. Métis - is in reference to a group of Indigenous peoples from Canada. Recognized in 1982 by the Constitutional Act of Canada. Emerging in the Northwest of Canada during the late 18th century, they are the offspring of Indigenous women and European fur traders. The homeland of the Métis is considered as, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and parts of the Northern United States. More info can be found, here. kitakata - is a specific type of washi made of Philippine gampi, and sulphite pulp. For bookbinding, and mokuhanga and other types of printmaking. More info, here. William Morris - (1834-1896) was a textile maker, poet and artist. He produced over fifty patterns of wallpaper based on the movement of nature. More info from the Victoria & Albert Museum, here. Arts and Crafts Movement - was an artistic movement as a opposition to the industrial world. the movement originally began in mid-19th Century Britain, moving across Europe and the Atlantic to the America's. More info can be found, here. Sheridan College - is a college located on three campuses, Brampton, Mississauga, and Oakville in Ontario. It is a practical college with various programs such as business, special effects, television, film, etc. More info can be found, here. The Japanese Paper Place - is a Japanese paper brick and mortar store located in West Toronto. The Unfinished Print interview with owner Nancy Jacobi, can be found, here. The JPP's website can be found, here. Early Canadian History - is fraught with colonialism and displacement. There is not enough space to speak on the subject but more information can be found, here through the lens of Indigenous history. Ojibwe - historically from the Great Lakes Region of Canada and the United States, the Ojibwe fished, and hunted as well as harvested wild rice and participated in the fur trade. More info can be found, here. The Group of Seven - were a group of landscape painters from Canada. The artists were, Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945), Lawren Harris (1885–1970), A.Y. Jackson 1882–1974), Frank Johnston (1888–1949), Arthur Lismer (1885–1969), J.E.H MacDonald (1873–1932), and Frederick Varley (1881–1969). Later, A.J. Casson (1898–1992) was invited to join in 1926, Edwin Holdgate (1892–1977) became a member in 1930, and LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) joined in 1932. While Tom Thomspon (1877–1917), and Emily Carr (1871–1945) were not "official" members it is generally accepted that they were a part of the group without being "officially" a part of the group because of the group relationship with the artists. More info can be found, here. The Canadian Shield - is exposed rock located throughout North America, Mexico and Greenland. Robert Motherwell - (1915-1991) was an artist who worked in printmaking and painting. He was a contemporary of Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), and Willen de Kooning (1904-1997). More info can be found, here. Flextools - is a tool brand founded in 1986. The tools are for woodworking, woodcut, and other wood related carving. More information can be found, here. Daniel Smith Pigments - is a company which makes various types of paints, pigments, and mediums. It was started by Dan Smith in 1976. More info can be found, here. Winsor & Newton - is a British artist supply company, started in 1832, which sells artist materials such as pigments, brushes, paper, etc. More info can be found, here. Holbein - is a pigment company based in Japan, Canada, and the United States. Their pigments are lush and strong. More info, here. opening and closing credit music - We Three by Cory Weeds, from the album Just Coolin' (2022) © Cellar Live © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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4/22/2022 • 49 minutes, 17 seconds Lynita Shimizu - Printmaker: Order To The Chaos of Creativity Lynita Shimizu's prints are ambitious, colourful; and most importantly, bring the viewer into their fantastic world. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Lyniyta Shimizu, about her history as a mokuhanga working printmaker, her teachers from Japan as well as her experiences in that country. Lynita speaks on her varied print subjects, her materials and her mokuhanga process. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Lynita Shimizu - website, Instagram, New Leaf Gallery video. Chinese University Hong Kong - is a public research university based in Hong Kong, and established in 1963. more, info here. JET Programme - a teaching programme created in 1978, which is sponsored by the Japanese government, and various Japanese ministries. This organization brings people from around the world to teach English to Japanese students in grade school, junior high, and high schools throughout the country. More info, here. nengajo - (年賀状) what began as a way for Japanese nobility to communicate with faraway friends and family during the New Year festive period, has become a way for all people to send New Year greetings to their own friends and family. More info, here. Books Kinokuniya - is a Japanese chain of bookstores located throughout every Prefecture in Japan and around the world. More info, here. Tomikichiro Tokuriki (1902-1999) - was a woodblock printmaker based in Kyōto, Japan. His prints were considered sōsaku hanga (creative prints), and shin-hanga prints (new prints). More info, here. David Stones - was a student of Tokuriki in Japan. His woodblock prints are bright in colour and have traditional Japanese themes. His website has more information, as well as this really well produced video that came out late last year. Margaret Stein Nakamura - is a designer and illustrator who studied three years under Tomikichiro Tokuriki in the 1970’s. Her Tumblr of her projects can be found, here. sizing/dosa - is a liquid form (prepared) animal glue which is brushed onto your washi, hanji, or other natural papers to stiffen the paper and prepare it for keeping the colour in your woodblock print. It has come to pass that size tends to be acidic and will break down the print over time. It’s a bit of a double edged sword. Recipes for size can be found, here. Yoshisuke Funasaka - is a woodblock printmaker in the sōsaku hanga style of printmaking. His work revolved around colour, fruit, and abstract shapes. More info, here. Sho Kidokoro (1934-1988) - was a woodblock printmaker from Tōkyō, Japan. His prints were colourful, abstract, and he too focused on fruit, such as apples and pears. reduction printing - is a method of printing where one block is used and is subsequently carved little by little and printed every time, until there is nothing left to carve. Cameron Bailey’s recent prints are in this style. floating kentō - is a removable registration system attached to the block when printing. As the kentō isn’t affixed to the block; blotting, and very clean borders are one of the positives of using this method of registration. Annie Bissett - is a woodblock printmaker based in the United States. Her work focuses on themes of sexuality, magic, politics, and nature. Her work can be found, here. Her interview with The Unfisnihed Print can be found, here. Artelino - is an online woodblock print repository run by Dieter Wanczura. It is a website that educates about woodblock prints, as well as sells and buys. More info, here. Hankyu-Ōsaka-Umeda Station - is a train station located in the city of Ōsaka, Japan. It is a major transit hub which connects Ōsaka City, to Kobe, Kyōto, Nara, as well as the rest of Japan. In my opinion it’s one of the busiest stations in the country. More info, here. kabuki theatre - is a traditional Japanese theatre begun in Kyōto in the 17th Century. It has always been considered, much like Japanese woodblock prints, as a lower form of art in Japan. Over time kabuki theatre has developed into a very sanitized theatre run by the Shōchiku Entertainment Company. For more information about its rich history please check out Kabuki21.com. I wrote (write) a blog about kabuki called Kabuki Live, and that can be found, here. Kabuki-za - is a kabuki focused theatre located in Tōkyō, Japan. It has been at the same spot in the Ginza, in different constructions, since 1889. More info can be found, here. Linda J. Beeman - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Michigan. Considered an environmental artist, Linda’s subjects are of the environment through landscape representation. More info, here. luan wood - is a type of hardwood native to the Philippines and other parts of South East Asia. More info can be found, here. magnolia wood - a straight grained hard wood located in North America and Asia. more info, here. katsura wood - is a straight grain hard wood from China and Japan. It is pretty good for fine line cutting in mokuhanga and is cheaper than cherry wood. More info can be found, here. Sennelier pigments - created by Gustave Sennelier in Paris, 1887, Sennelier has become a seller of pigments of all types. More info can be found, here. Jerry’s Artarama - originally founded in 1968 Long Island, New York, and now based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jerry’s Artarama sells various art supplies at reasonable princes. More info, here. Dick Blick art supplies - is an art supply store with various brick and mortar stores throughout the United States, as well as online. Founded in 1911 by Dick Blick in Galesburg, Illinois, BLICK, as it’s more commonly known, sells various types of art supplies, much like Jerry’s Artarama. More info, here. tokonoma - is an ascribed area in a Japanese home which is used as a way to make visitors and guests appreciate the home they are visiting, even more. It usually displays scrolls or other forms of art, flowers, or other ephemera connected to those living in the home, the seasons, or general likes. More info, here. yamaka paper - is a type of fusuma paper, soft and textured and quite thick, around 40g-60g New Leaf Gallery - is a brick and mortar, relief print focused gallery located in Keane, New Hampshire. It was created by Taryn Fisher and Matt Brown. more info, here. Matt Brown - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in Lyme, New Hampshire. He has been making woodblock prints for over thirty years. Matt’s interview with the Unfinished Print can be found, here. His website can be found, here. Kunisada/Kuniyoshi Exhibit - was an art exhibition held at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston from August 11 - December 10, 2017. There was also an excellent catalogue printed for this show and would add to any woodblock print fan’s library. more info, here. manga - is a style of comical imagery that started in and around the 19th Century in Japan. Hokusai’s manga has made a resurgence as of late and has inspired artists of all types, around the world. Other artists who made manga in Japan and are worth a look at are, Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989), Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889), Naoko Takeuchi, and Eiichirō Oda, amongst many others. More info, here, and here. Sumi-Fusion - was the theme of the 2021 International Mokuhanga Conference where entries, into the juried exhibition, created works that used sumi ink in their mokuhanga. More info, here. opening and closing credit music - Time's Up (Instrumental) by O.C (2022) © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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4/9/2022 • 58 minutes, 19 seconds Yoonmi Nam - Printmaker: Stages of Understanding Yoonmi Nam is an artist whose work dances between emptiness and the frailty of things. What's left behind, and the beauty that comes from that. Yoonmi’s work reminds me of the kuchi-e prints of the early twentieth century where space and soft colour creates prints that draw the viewer into the work. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Yoonmi Nam about her mokuhanga, the materials used in her work, and what attracts her to the medium. We also go into detail about her travels around the world, the “other” and how that feeling is worked into her mokuhanga and lithography, and much much more. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Yoonmi Nam - website, Instagram The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram Hong-Ik University - is a private university located in Seoul South Korea. More info, here. State of Kansas - the state of Kansas was founded as a US state in 1861 and is an interesting microcosm of American history. A long history of Native American, early settlers, the Louisiana Purchase, Brown v Board of Education etc. More info, here. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) - one of the first independent colleges of art and design in the US and started by women. A fascinating story, more info can be found, here. lithography - is a printing process which requires a stone or aluminum plate, and invented in the 18th Century. More info, here from the Tate. intaglio printing - is a printing method using metal plates such as zinc, and copper, creating “recessed” areas which are printed with ink on the surface of these "recesses.” More info, here. screen printing - also called, serigraphy, is a method of printing by using stencils forcing the ink through the screen onto paper, or other fabric. More info, here. Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting - is an early-Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912) manual focused on colour printing. More info can be found, here. Ten Bamboo Studio - created in 1633 by Hu Zhengyan and is an early example of woodblock printing. More, info can be found here. oriental - is a word generally used to describe area’s of East and South Asia and is considered offensive and deeply rooted in colonialism. Western Art History - has a deep and long history which cannot be described adequately in a short post. More info can be found, here. Asian Art History - has a deep and long history which cannot be adequately described in a short post. More info can be found, here. Toru Ueba - was a print instructor at Nagasawa Art Park, and was one of Yoonmi's instructors in 2004. The Korean War - is a war begun in 1950, and continues today, between North and South Korea. It is considered to be the first battle of the Cold War between the United States and Communism. More info, here. Japanese Occupation of Korea - from 1910-1945, the Japanese occupation of Korea was a brutal, colonial project by the then Japanese military government under the “Greater East Asia Co-Propserity Sphere.” It was used as a an excuse by the Japanese government to colonize Korea and spread the Japanese imperial project. More info, here. Lithographic turpentine touche wash - is a method or technique in lithography using turpentine. More info, here. Crown Point Press - is a print shop, started in 1962 by printmaker Kathan Brown in San Fransisco. The group worked on many different types of printmaking such as etchings and even woodblock. More info, here. Nagasawa Art Park (MI Lab) Awaji City - Nagasawa Art Park was an artist-in-residence program located in Awaji City, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It was open for 12 years before evolving into MI Lab in 2012. More info, here. woodblock water based printing in Asia - woodblock printing has been produced throughout Asia, not just Japan. China, and Korea have histories of water based woodblock printing. Some info can be found, here Shoichi Kitamura - is a woodblock carver and has been involved in MI Lab through demonstrations. More info can be found, here. Mariko Jesse - is a mokuhanga printmaker, author, and designer. She is a member of the Mokuhanga Sisters collective, and a part of Wood+Paper+Box with Yoonmi Nam. website Katie Baldwin - is an artist, with part of her focus being on mokuhanga, who is a member of Wood+Paper+Box and Shift-Lab. website Melissa Schulenberg - woodblock printmaker and teacher. Some of her work can be found, here. Lucy May Schofield - is a printmaker, photographer, and scroll maker (kakemono, 掛物) and is based in England. website, Instagram. scrolls - called kakemono 掛物 or emakimono 絵巻物 in Japanese. These scrolls contain many different types of themes and subjects. More info can be found, here. kirazuri - is a technique in woodblock printing using mica to add a sheen to the print. Mokuhanga artist Marcia Guetschow has written about kirazuri on her website, here. shōmenzuri - which literally means “front-printing” is where the finished print is rubbed in reverse to give a polished texture. More info, here. Borderless scroll - is the Mokuhanga Sisters collaborative scroll. Shown in Nara during the International Mokuhanga Conference, as well as at the Southern Vermont Art Center. Brexit - is the withdrawal of the UK form the EU. Sumi Fusion - was the theme from the 2021 International Mokuhanga Conference. Arranged Flowers Series - can be found, here. Photo lithography - is a way of creating a piece of art which transfers the photograph onto an aluminum plate or stone. More info, here. Ikebana - the art of flower arranging, and is a part of the three Classical Japanese arts of refinement. The others are incense appreciation (kōdō), and the tea ceremony (chadō). More info here. Sugetsu ikebana - described as “anytime, anywhere, by anyone” is a style of ikebana which can be created wherever you may find yourself. More info can be found, here. Four Seasons series - found, here. Japanese book binding - called yotsume toji, or four hole book binding, is a style of Japanese bookbinding or the book, or scroll. There are different variations in Korea, and China. More info, here. Camellia flower/oil - is an oil used in beauty products but also when treating your baren. More info can be found at woodblock.com nattō - is a traditional Japanese food made of fermented soybeans and is an acquired taste. Usually served on rice in a traditional Japanese breakfast with fish and raw eggs. Wood Like Matsumura - is an online and brick and mortar store, for woodblock printmaking, located in Nerima City, Tōkyō. website. Ozuwashi - is a brick and mortar paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tōkyō. More info here. hanji - is a Korean paper made from mulberry. More info found, here. Holbein - is a pigment company based in Japan, Canada, and the United States. Their pigments are lush and strong. More info, here. Daniel Smith pigments - is a provider of pigments in watercolour, paints and oil. More info, here. pansion paper - is a type of Japanese paper which can be used in mokuhanga. It is a heavy paper, about 89g. More info can be found at Ozuwashi, here. shina - is a type of Japanese plywood used in mokuhanga. University of Kansas - started in 1866 and is the state’s flagship university. More info, here. Penland School of Craft - is a school which welcomes students from all over the world. Located in North Carolina, the school offers eight-week workshops in many different types of mediums. More info, here. Print Center - is a gallery and store located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More info, here. Paradigm Gallery - is a gallery and studio located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and established in 2010. More, info here. opening and closing credit music - Spadina subway station music. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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3/30/2022 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 17 seconds Fabiola Gil Alares - Printmaker: Una Experiencia Colectiva Fabiola Gil Alares is one of mokuhanga's most interesting artists. Her work, with bright flat, rich colours with a romantic appeal, tells a fantastic story, one which naturally draws you to her work. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Fabiola Gil Alares about her prints, her artistic background, the amazing book project she's undertaken and what it feels like to be one of the hardest working mokuhagna artists, today. Special thanks to my good friend Consuelo Orrego for help in translation. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Fabiola Gil Alares - website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Mokuhankan Laura Boswell - is a British printmaker who uses mokuhanga, and linocut and reduction printmaking, as her mediums of choice. She was interviewed by The Unfinished Print, which can be found, here. She is an important teacher and promoter of mokuhanga. More info can be found, here. MI Lab - Is an artist-in-residency located in Lake Kawaguchi, near Mt. Fuji. Once called Nagasawa Art Park, MI Lab has been an important centre of many talented and successful mokuhanga printmakers, working today. More info, here. Mokuhankan and David Bull - is a brick and mortar woodblock print shop located in Asakusa, Tōkyō. It is a learning and working space, where it sells the works of artist Jed Henry, master carvers of the past, and various print series. All are printed and carved by Mokuhankan printmakers and carvers. Started by printmaker David Bull as a way to sell his own series and reprints of old carvers of the past, Mokuhankan has grown exponentially over the years and is a must visit when coming to Tōkyō. More info, here. Shoicihi Kitamura - is a master carver of Japanese woodblock. He has taught at Nagasawa Art Park and has conducted many demonstrations on carving, and at various International Mokuhanga Conferences. More info, here. Hidehiko Gotō - is a master baren maker and mokuhanga artist who has conducted many demonstrations on baren making throughout the world, and at the International Mokuhanga Conferences. Some of his mokuhanga can be found here. Gotō also contributed to Fabiola's book. Terry McKenna - is a mokuhanga artist and instructor based in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. He is a student of Richard Steiner, an American woodblock printmaker based in Kyōtō, Japan. Terry runs and operates the Karuizawa Mokuhanga School, which is a school open to those who are interested in wanting to learn and study mokuhanga in a Japanese setting. Both Richard and Terry have been interviewed by The Unfinished Print, here, and here. Educational Museum of Origami, Zaragoza - is a one of its kind museum focused on the Japanese paper art of origami, located in Zaragoza, Spain. More info, here. Serigraphy - is another word for the art of silk screen printing. Silk screen printing can be in on various materials, silk, canvas, paper, etc. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) - is one of the most, if not the most, famous Japanese artist ever known. He designed woodblock prints, as well as creating his own paintings, screens, scrolls, and commissioned art in Buddhist temples throughout Japan. More info, here. The British Museum has a lot of info, here. Miyakodori - is a publishing house of woodblock prints. Started by Takashi Kashiwagi, a woodblock carver himself, he releases and carves (through laser and hand carving) artists such as Tōkyō based graphic designer Shinji Tsuchimochi. More info, here. shop. Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997) - was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist who worked in the sōsaku hanga style of mokuhanga. His fame outside of Japan was fairly comprehensive with his peak fame being in the 1950’s and 1960’s. For a comprehensive book on his life and times, Saitō Kiyoshi: Graphic Awakening published by The John & Mable Ringling Museum is an excellent source. Can be found, here. Lecture by Dr. Paget about Saitō can be found, here. Royal Talens Gouache - is a specific brand of gouache pigment. Gouache pigments are a mixture of pigment, water and binder and usually opaque and used in painting, and various types of printmaking. Royal Talens is a maker of different types of pigments, originally a Dutch company but is currently produced all over the world. More info, here. Nakajima Tsuzen - is a mokuhanga printmaker who has been working in the medium for many years. His work highlights the woodblock technique of mokume, where the grain of the wood is used to highlight certain aspects of the print. Mr. Nakajima's website can be found, here. Instagram Different types of wood - mokuhanga printmakers can use many different types of wood for their work. Most of the time, shina veneer harvested sustainably, is used for modern woodblock prints. Japanese cherry wood was used a lot but because of it's expense today it is used rarely. Other woods used is basswood, elm, and even red oak. Mokuhanga books in English - As Fabiola mentions in the episode, there are various other books on mokuhanga and it process in the English language. Here is a list of books that I am aware of. It is also important for me to say, that through this list we can see how important Fabiola's book is for those who speak languages other than English and hopefully other mokuhanga practitioners will publish books in various languages around the world. This list is by no means exhaustive, so if you believe I've missed someone please message me. If the book is in print (or even out of print and there are PDF's) you will see the authors name hyper-linked so you can buy the books : April Vollmer - Japanese Woodblock Printshop: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Art of Mokuhanga. (2015) Watson-Guptill Publications Tuula Moilanen, Kari Laitinen, and Antti Tanttu - The Art and Craft of Woodblock Printmaking. (2013) Aalto Books Laura Boswell - Making Japanese Woodblock Prints. (2020) The Crowood Press. Hiroshi Yoshida - Japanese Woodblock Printing. (1939) Sanseido Company, Ltd. Walter J. Phillips - The Technique of the Colour Woodcut. (1926) Brown-Robertson, New York. Rebecca Salter - Japanese Woodblock Printing. (2001) A&C Black. Toshi Yoshida & Rei Yuki - Japanese Print Making: A Handbook of Traditional and Modern Techniques. (1966) Tuttle Publishing. Marilyn Chesterton and Rod Nelson - Making Woodblock Prints. (2015) Crowood Press Terry McKenna - Terry has written two excellent woodblock primers for the beginner and the intermediate practitioner. The first is Mokuhanga Fundamentals: Core Skills... & the second book is, Creative Print. Both can be purchased directly from here, and other fine establishments in e-book or physical form. Self Published. Naoko Matsubara - is a Japanese-Canadian mokuhanga printmaker who has been a printmaker for over 60 years. She has worked with artists such as Munakata Shikō (1903-1975) and has published many books, and has traveled the world for her work. More info, here. Her website can be found, here. opening and closing credit music - TELEVISION - Marquee Moon (1977) Elektra/Asylum © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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Rhiannon Paget, PhD - Fantastic Objects Dr. Rhiannon Paget is the curator of Asian Art at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Ms. Paget joins me on The Unfinished Print to discuss the life and times of mokuhanga printmaker Saitō Kiyoshi, war print production of the later 19th Century and early 20th Centuries and she speaks on kabuki prints through the years. These topics are framed through the three shows which Dr. Paget was involved in, Saitō Kiyoshi: Graphic Awakening (March 14 -August 15, 2021 @ The Ringling), Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan (October 16, 2016 - January 8, 2017 @ the St. Louis Art Museum), and Kabuki Modern (November 13 -July 27, 2021 @ The Ringling) Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Dr. Rhiannon Paget PhD - curator of Asian art at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art own Sarasota, Florida. She was also a A.W Mellon Fellow for Japanese Art from 2015-2017, and wrote for The Japan Times. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art - This museum is dedicated to the arts, Western and “non-Western”from all periods of human history, focusing on education, and conservation. More info, here. Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997) - was a Japanese woodblock printmaker and artist who worked in the sōsaku hanga style of mokuhanga. HIs fame outside of Japan was fairly comprehensive with his peak fame being in the 1950’s and 1960’s. For a comprehensive book on his life and times, Saitō Kiyoshi: Graphic Awakening published by The John & Mable Ringling Museum is an excellent source. Can be found, here. Lecture by Dr. Paget about Saitō can be found, here. Cleveland Museum of Art - founded in 1913 and opened in 1916. It has an online collection, and open access to its works in its collection. More info, here. Honolulu Museum of Art - dedicated to art and education focusing on arts from around the world and Hawaiian culture itself. More info, here. Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) - was a U.S born sculptor and designer who traveled the world to understand his own works. He collaborated with many artists from all over the world. More info, here. Kiyoshi Nakashima - an artist and designer who designed woodblock prints, in the 1980’s. His most famous are his melancholy women prints. Some can be found, here. Karl Bickle (1881-1972) - was an ex newspaper man at the turn of the 20th Century. Bickle retired to Sarasota, Florida in 1935. He was influential in the opening of the Ringling Museum in 1945. More info, here. Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955) - originally designing poetry and books Onchi became on of the most I important sōsaku hanga artists and promotor of the medium. His works are saught after today. More info, here. Paul Gauguin (1848 - 1903) - self taught artist, ex-stockbroker, travels to Brittany, France in 1886 where he sows the seeds of his Symbolist Movement. He is famous for his works made in Tahiti, perhaps now seen as a bit naïve and privileged, these works, were expressed through painting, woodcuts and the written word. He also painted self portraits, and landscapes searching for the spiritual via colour and form. The National Gallery has a very good history of Gauguin here. François Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) - a sculptor of the human form, Auguste Rodin was a French artist who’s work took off when he was commissioned by the French government in 1879. One of his most famous works is “The Gates of Hell” a commissioned work for the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, a museum which was never built. For more information about Rodin, The National Gallery has a biography, here. mokume - is a woodblock printing technique where, by using heavy pressure on wood which contains a heavy grain, the artist can reveal the grain in their work. Kiyoshi Saitō Museum of Art - located in Yanaizu, Fukushima, Japan this museum is dedicated to the art and works of Kiyoshi Saitō. Opened in 1997, the museum holds rotating shows connected to Saitō’s works. Museum website can be found, here. Boston Museum of Fine Arts - a museum with a rich history with Japanese artwork, especially woodblock prints. It holds the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan. Many of their woodblock prints are held online, here. A video on YouTube found, here, describing the MFA’s history, and its collections. Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art - opened in 1984 in Fukushima City, Fukushima, this museum contains works from Japan and all over the world. The website is in both Japanese and English, and can be found, here. Ms. Paget uses the Japanese words for certain woods which mokuhanga printmakers can use. They are: kiri - a paulownia wood keyaki - Japanese zelkova tree Steady Gaze - is a print which Saitō produced in 1952, with two cats staring in different directions with two different backgrounds, one red (Animal) and one blue (Two Cats). I found another Steady Gaze cat print from 1950 and sold as a scroll. It can be found, here. Edward Munch (1863-1944) - was a painter from Norway who is collectively famous for his painting, The Scream, painted in 1893. More info can be found, here. Pieter Cornelius Mondrian (1872-1944) - a Dutch artist who’s work helped found De Stijl in 1917, a group of Dutch painters who helped codify Mondrian’s abstraction and industrial design. Mondrian has a wide spectrum of works and styles created throughout his career. More information can be found, here from the Guggenheim. Aizu, Fukushima, Japan - is a geographical area located in West Fukushima Prefecture, , Japan. It has a long history and is one of the nicest areas in Japan that I have visited, Tourist information can be found, here. Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) - was a Japanese woodblock designer of the Utagawa School of artists. His work flourished in the Meiji Period (1868-1912) of Japanese history, a period of immense change politically, economically, and industrially. Some of Kunichika’s works can be found, here. Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) - was a woodblock print designer famous for his war prints on the First Sino-Japanese War (July 25, 1894- April 17, 1895). More info, here. Toshihide Migita (1863-1925) - a woodblock designer known for his own print designs of the First Sino-Japanese War, kabuki portraits, bijin-ga, and landscape. More info, here. Pearl Habor woodblock prints - are a series of woodblock prints produced in 1942. One such print, found here, was designed by Hasegawa Sadanobu III (1881-1963). Russo-Japanese War (February 8, 1904 - September 5, 1905) - was a war between the Imperial Russian and Imperial Japanese military taking place in China. Information about its background can be found here at history.com, and here. Andreas Marks - is a scholar and Mary Griggs Burke curator of Japanese and Korean Art and Director of the Clark Center for Japanese Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. print panels - artworks, like woodblock prints, can come in various numbers of panels. Single panels is one print, diptychs are two panels, triptychs are three panels, quadriptych his four panels, pentaptych is five panels. Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) - was a woodblock designer who began his art life as a painter. He worked predominantly with Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962) designing some of the most famous woodblock prints from the Watanabe atelier such as Winter Moon over Toyama Plain, here. Ogata Gekko (1859-1920) - was a woodblock print designer during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) of Japanese history. Famous for his war prints of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895.) more info, here. Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) - was a Nihon-ga painter who exhibited around the world. His work, such as Mount Fuji in Japan has been deemed to have been nationalistic and proto-fascist. A great book on the subject is, “The Politics of Painting: Fascism and Japanese Art during the Second World War (University of Hawai’i Press, 2019) Hitler Youth - was a a youth organization formed in 1922 to indoctrinate children in Nazi propaganda, to be better prepared to fight in the German military. More info, here. Teiten - started in 1919 until 1934, Teikoku Bijutsu Tenrankai, was one of several (Bunten, Shin Bunten, Nitten, and Shin Nitten) Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition’s held yearly in Japan. Teiten was famous for creating a platform for creative woodblock printing. Minami-za - is a kabuki theatre located in. Kyōto, Japan. more, info here. Yamamura Kōka (1885-1942) - was a woodblock print designer and artist who helped design many prints for Watanabe as well as for his Publishing Committee for Yamamura Kōka’s prints. more info here. Yotsuya Kaidan - ghost play, predominantly performed in kabuki. Staged for the first time in 1825. It has been performed steadily in kabuki since its first performance. more info, here. Heron Maiden (Sagi Musume)- is a Japanese folk-tale which is a very famous kabuki dance expertly performed by Bandō Tamasaburō V. Watch, here. Bromide photography - is a type of early Twentieth Century commercial photography found in Japan , usually photos of geisha, kabuki actors, and sports people. Junichiro Sekino (1914-1988) - was a woodblock printmaker and illustrator who studied with Onchi Koshiro (1891-1955). More info, here. Yakusha-e - is a Japanese word for kabuki actor prints. More info, here. First Thursday Society - started by Onchi Kōshiro in 1939 to develop sōsaku hanga. more info from Ronin Gallery, here. opening and closing credit music - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll (1976) Gone Gator Records © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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3/11/2022 • 45 minutes, 9 seconds Adrian Holmes: Printmaker - Peaks & Troughs The works of Adrian Holmes play between the traditional and the contemporary. His mokuhanga explores colour, and form in new and interesting ways. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak to woodblock printmaker Adrian Holmes about his work, his process, how teaching affects how he sees mokuhanga, how he balances between his “shin-hanga” and “sōsaku hanga” prints, and we discuss the collaboration system of Japanese woodblock prints and whether there is still merit in the process within the contemporary world. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Adrian Holmes - website, Instagram Tochigi, Prefecture, Japan - Is a prefecture in Japan and is considered the “gateway to the North” of Japan. The capital is Tochigi City. Famous for it’s Tokugawa mausoleum in the mountain city of Nikkō, and the beauty of the region in all seasons. tourism website dentōteki 伝統的- is the process of traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking produced by the collaboration system of publisher, designer, carver, and printer. sōsaku hanga - the creative print, is a style of mokuhanga which is where the artist produces, designs, carves, and prints the prints themselves. It is also a period of woodblock printing in Japan attributed to the early 20th Century. Kiyoshi Saitō (1907-1997) - a creative printmaker (sōsaku hanga) for over sixty years. Saitō’s work’s covered theatre, museum studies, cats, and women. A fantastic book came out in 2021 called, Graphic Awakening published by The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and can be found, here. It was based on the show held from Mar 14, 2021 – Aug 15, 2021 Ōta Memorial Museum of Art - located in the Ōmotesando area of Tōkyō, near Harajuku. It is a woodblock print museum which has rotating shows throughout the year. They also offer a grant for the research of ukiyo-e. website, is in English and Japanese. Wood Like Matsumura - is an online and brick and mortar store, for woodblock printmaking, located in Nerima City, Tōkyō. website. Asaka Motoharu - is a woodblock printmaker located in Tōkyō. He takes apprentices, such as Taran Casey (Gingko Hanga) from the UK and teaches at home and around the world. website, Instagram. Cornwall, England - located in the most Southern part of England. Famous for its beaches and natural beauty. Tourist website, here. Yoshida Family of Artists - The Yoshida’s are one of the most famous family of artists from Japan. Begun with painter Yoshida Kasaburō (1861-1894), made famous by Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) and his work with woodblock printing. The Yoshida family has helped shape many artists around the world. More info from the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, here. Kawase Hasui - (1883 - 1957) was a woodblock print designer who worked within the burgeoning shin-hanga movement in early 20th Century Japan. Hasui designed landscapes, and women, and was very involved in how his designs were printed. More info, here. David Bull - is a Canadian woodblock printmaker, and educator who lives and works in Japan. His love of mokuhanga has almost singlehandedly promoted the art form around the world. His company, Mokuhankan, has a brick and mortar store in Asakusa, Tōkyō, and online, here. mashiko pottery: is a red-brown clay style of pottery which was revived by Shōji Hamada (1894-1978) in the 1920’s. More info, here. Bernard Leach - (1887-1979) was a British potter who, with Shōji Hamada, founded Leach pottery in St. Ives, UK. Born in Hong Kong, Leach lived in Japan as a child and then in the early 20th Century. It was in Japan where Leach studied pottery with Urano Shigekichi (1881-1923). More info, here. St Ives School of Painting, Cornwall - is a school located in St. Ives Cornwall, England. Adrian Holmes teaches woodblock printmaking at this school. More info, here. nori - is a paste, traditionally made of rice starch, or tapioca starch, or corn starch and water., It acts as a binder between the pigment and the paper by giving body to the colour. ōbokashi - or, “wide gradation” is a large bokashi, where the pigment and the water intertwine ,creating a soft blending of the water and colour. Famously made in sky gradations by prints designed by Hiroshige (1797-1858) Holbein - is a Japanese/Canadian/American company which focuses on artist pigments. website nezumi ban - or, “grey block” is used to give depth to the colour used over the grey block. More info from Yoshida’s book, here. colour theory - encompasses the colour wheel, harmony, and what is useful. It is a way of seeing colour and how it transfers to your work. More info, here. print sizes - there are various sizes when making woodblock prints. In Japanese woodblock printing the most standard of sizes are as follows: aiban - 9x13” 22.5x34.5cm chūban - 7.5x10” 19x25.5cm dai ōban - 13.75x18.25” 34.5x45.5cm more info can be found, here. surimono - is a privately commissioned print where, because money tended to be no object, many high end techniques and pigments were used. Their size tended to be 20.5x18.5cm. Paul Binnie - is a Scottish born artist who works in oils and woodblock. Studying in the Yoshida atelier in the 1990’s, Paul continues to make work from his home studio in San Diego, California. catalogue of prints natsukashii - is a Japanese word, generally meaning “nostalgia." An interesting BBC article about the word can be found, here. Masami Teraoka - is a Japanese born artist who has worked in various media, including screen printing, woodblock printmaking, water colour, and oils. His work has incorporated ukiyo-e themes and tropes, lampooning society. More info, here. He currently lives in the United States. website butsudan - is a Buddhist shrine usually found in Japanese homes and temples. They tend to be large and extravagant, paying respect to the dead, more info, here. kotatsu - is a low table, electrically heated by an internal heater underneath the table itself, more info, here. opening and closing credit music - Holy Mountain by SLEEP (1993) © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) Слава Україну If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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2/25/2022 • 1 hour, 26 minutes, 26 seconds Carol Wilhide Justin - Printmaker: The Slow Reveal Carol Wilhide Justin creates woodblock prints that are ethereal, and mysterious. They create a sense of emptiness and space, working together to bring the viewer into Carol’s world. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I talk to Carol Wilhide Justin where we speak on her personal experience in Japan, by stepping out of her comfort zone, adapting to life’s constant flux, and how memory plays into her artistic pursuits. We also speak on her teaching, eduction and the relationships she’s made along the way. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Keiko Kadota - (d. 2017) was a director of MI Lab and of Nagasawa Art Park, previously. She was a mentor to many mokuhanga practitioners and helped to promote mokuhanga around the world. Kickstarter - started in 2009, Kickstarter is an online platform and Public Benefit Corporation used to promote and raise money for independent projects which cannot receive funding by other means. Narita, Chiba, Japan - is a city located roughly 70km from the city of Tōkyō. Known predominantly as the home to Narita International Airport, the city and its environs have a long and rich history unto itself. For tourist information, here. For the history of protest in the area, here, Lawson and Family Mart - are two ubiquitous convenience stores located throughout the Japanese archipelago and around the world. They vary in quality throughout but mostly have cheap and plentiful food. More info, here, and here. International Mokuhanga Conference - a conference focusing on mokuhanga bringing together mokuhanga practitioners and instructors from all over the world. Started in 2011 and is to be held every three years, but was held in 2021 because of the pandemic. More info, here. The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram hangitō - a Japanese carving knife which is primarily used for mokuhanga, which comes in a variety of blade sizes. McClains has a varied assortment, here. Royal College of Art and Design - is a postgraduate art university located in London, England. More information, here. Kenzō Tange - (1913-2005) was an award winning architect, teacher, and urban planner celebrated throughout the world for his design of the Hiroshima Peace Center and Memorial Park. More info, here. A1 Size - paper which is 23-3/8 x 33-1/8 inches in size. No More, Not Yet - are two works made by Carol for her RCA Degree show in 2017. They can be found, here. itabokashi - is a type of bokashi which is created through affecting the wood block through knife or sandpaper. Here is what Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) has written in his book Japanese Wood-Block Printing (1939), “Use sandpaper on the block where ita-bokashi is desired, rubbing it down towards the end. A better result may be obtained, however, by finishing the end with a knife, as the colour does not adhere well to a surface rubbed with sandpaper. The place where ita-bokashi is desired should be cut down gradually to the level of the space cleared away. I have used it for clouds; but I found it necessary to wipe the block with a wet cloth in addition in order to obtain the desired effect. Some artists may be able to utilize this method of ita-bokashi to better advantage.” Tuula Moilanen - is a mokuhanga printmaker and instructor based in Helsinki, Finland. She is the founder of the Finnish Woodcut Artists Society, and has been an instructor at MI Lab. website William Morris - (1834-1896) was a British creative and political Socialist who worked in design, textiles and poetry during the burgeoning Arts & Crafts Movement (1880-1920). The V&A have a fine history about Morris, here. Banksy - is a modern street, pop artist and activist based in the UK. Not much is known about the person but their work is known all over the world. More info, here. Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an influential artist and filmmaker who ushered in the genre of art, considered as "pop art." Bethnal Green - is an area in East London and is famous for its estate and council housing which has been a large part of its history since the 19th Century. More history can be found, here. Mark Rothko - (1903-1970) was a New York based artist who’s use of emotion through colour made him one of the most preeminent artists of his time. More info can be found, here from The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. reduction printmaking - colloquially known as “suicide prints,” is a form of printmaking where the printmaker cuts away from a wood or Lino block , printing as they go. More info can be found, here from Mesh Gallery. Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair - located in Woolwich Arsenal, London is a popular print fair showcasing printmakers of mediums from all over the world. More info, here. Michel Foucault - (1926-1984) was an historian and philosopher attributed to structuralism ( human activity as part of a constructed system) and post-structuralism (the fluidity of life as associated with structuralism). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a thorough history of Foucault, here. Morley College - opened in 1889 and located in London, England Morley College is a school which offers many different types of subjects for study. More info can be found, here. caligo pigment - is an oil based lithography pigment which is soluble when wet and is non-toxic. Cranfield sells them, here. The Art's Society - is a non-profit charitable organization based in London, England. It attempts to bring people from all over, together through the arts. website opening and closing credit music - So I Can Grow by Cold Showers from Love and Regret (2012) © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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2/12/2022 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 27 seconds Katsutoshi Yuasa: Imagemaker - The Image Is In The Process (Like a Dream) Katsutoshi Yuasa is one of the most ambitious artists working in mokuhanga today. His work has been appreciated and admired all over the world while testing the medium with variant print sizes, colour combinations, mixed media and photography. Katsu pushes the boundaries of what mokuhanga can be. I speak with Katsutoshi Yuasa about his process, what its like to be a working artist and what mokuhanga means to him. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Katsutoshi Yuasa - website, Instagram Musashino Art University - is a University based in Tokyo, Japan focusing on giving students the best education in the arts and design. website Royal College of Art and Design - is a postgraduate art university located in London, England. More information, here. Ayomi Yoshida - is a visual artist who works in mokuhanga, and installations and commercial design. She is the granddaughter of the printmaker and print designer, Hiroshi Yoshida. She teaches printmaking and art. More info can be found, here. Wolfgang Tilmanns - is a German photographer, author, lecturer and maker of installations. More info, here. Thomas Wolf - a German photographer who's work focuses on the every day items of the world. more info, here. MI Lab - Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory is located in Tōkyō. It is a place set up for learning mokuhanga. The artist-in-residence program, having been held since 2011 on Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji, is an application based program hosting international mokuhanga practitioners who are looking to move their work forward. More information can be found, here. Rives BFK paper - an acid free paper used for printmaking of all types. more info, here. photographic paper - is a light sensitive paper used for making photographic prints. washi - is a handmade Japanese style paper used for woodblock printmaking. shina - is a soft type of Japanese plywood used predominantly for Japanese woodblock. P.E.T bottle - are bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate, used around the world. Japanese garbage system - is a sorting system used in Japan. It requires the citizen of Japan to sort their trash through various means, and these types of garbage such as "combustible," "non-combustible," and "recycling." Each Prefecture has their own rules and regulations as to trash and recycling. More info, here. Adobe Photoshop - a graphic editor used by artists worldwide. A4 paper size - is a size of paper from the ISO 216 standard, with the dimensions of 210x297 mm. acetone - a chemical which acts as a solvent. Used for many situations, also in art. orange oil - is an essential oil used in the wellness community as well as in the arts. Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki - is a hotel where Katsu's work "Geometric Landscape #1," is being shown from January 8th - February 28th, 2022. more info, here , and here. gilding - is a method in art where the artist used leafed metals such as gold and silver. Used in Japanese art [screen making (byōbu)]. more info, here. urushi - is a type of lacquer used in Japanese lacquerware for hundreds of years especially in maki-e lacquer decoration. A very good blog posting by Woodspirit Handcraft has great information about urushi, here. Holbein - is a paste pigment made in Japan used by printmakers and artists. more info, here. CMYK colour model - stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key which are the colours used in the printing process of whichever work you are making. More info, here. Tama Art University - is an art university located in the Setagaya area of Tokyo. It focuses on the "freedom" of the individual. more info, here. Collaboration System - the collaboration system Katsu speaks on, regarding ukiyo-e, was a system which involved the artist, carver, printer, and publisher working in collaboration to make a series of prints. All prints made until the early 20th Century where made through this system. opening and closing credit music - The Cramps - "Rockin' Bones," 1981. From the album Psychedelic Jungle © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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1/27/2022 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 31 seconds Patty Hudak - Printmaker: Entering The Method Patty Hudak is an accomplished artist, one who uses nature, and the human condition for her work. For Patty, the intimacy of mokuhanga has been a part of her artistic journey. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with artist Patty Hudak about her mokuhanga journey, her process, as well as where her artistic pursuits have taken her, around the world. We also speak in length about the current show, The World Between The Block and The Paper, at The Southern Vermont Arts Center, one in which Patty had much to do with. The show is currently being held until March, 27th, 2022. In that conversation we touch on her work with the mokuhanga group, The Mokuhanga Sisters, the history and relationship of that group as well as the rich history of the many artists and teachers involved with the show. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Patty Hudak - website, Instagram The World Beteween The Block and the Paper - was a mokuhanga centered show held at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont from December, 11, 2021 to March, 27, 2022. It was hosted and presented by SVAC and the Mokuhanga Sisters, a mokuhanga collective of mokuhanga artists and teachers from around the world. More info, here. Yoonmi Nam - artist who works in lithography and woodblock mokuhanga. website, Instagram Mia-O - artist who works in painting and mokuhanga. website, Instagram The Mokuhanga Sisters - are a mokuhanga collective consisting of Yoonmi Nam, Mariko Jesse, Lucy May Schofield, Melissa Schulenberg, Kate MacDonagh, Katie Baldwin, Mia-O, Patty Hudak, and Natasha Norman. Instagram 798 Art District Beijing - also called Dashanzi is an old reworked industrial district located, now art space located in Beijing, China, beginning in 2002. More info, here. Chen Qi - is an artist and professor from Nanjing who lives in Beijing. His printwork is predominantly in black and white. Some of it can be found, here, here, and here. Claire Cuccio PhD - is a printmaker and woodblock print scholar. She is a part of WoodPaperHand.org Ralph Kiggell - (1960-2022) was a British woodblock printmaker based in Thailand. He worked in different types of paper making and collage. He was an author, academic and valuable resource of all things woodblock. website MI Lab - Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory is located in Tōkyō. It is a place set up for learning mokuhanga. The artist-in-residence program, having been held since 2011 on Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji, is an application based program hosting international mokuhanga practitioners who are looking to move their work forward. More information can be found, here. April Vollmer - a mokuhanga printmaker and author. Her book Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop is an important book on the subject of mokuhanga and can be found, here. website. Tuula Moilanen - is a Finnish woodblock printmaker and scholar on the subject, and founder of the Finnish Woodcut Artists Society. website Art Byte Critique - a network of artists in Tōkyō and around the world. website Louis Rouse - is a translater, printmaker, artist, scholar and academic based in Tōkyō, Japan. website, Instagram, interview with Global Speed, here. Motoharu Asaka - is a woodblock carver and printer based in Tōkyō, Japan. website Lucy May Schofield - is a printmaker, photographer, and scroll maker (kakemono, 掛物) and is based in England. website, Instagram. Kate MacDonagh - is an Irish mokuhanga printmaker based in Dublin, Ireland. Kanreki was an exhibition curated by Kate MacDonagh at The Model, Sligo. Kate's website. William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) - was an Irish poet who's work contained elements of Irish history, legends and heroes. more info, here. Katsutoshi Yuasa - is a printmaker and artist based in Tokyo, Japan. His work tends to be large scale, and created through photography, bits, and focuses on the overall "image" itself. website, Instagram Michael D. Higgins - the ninth President of Ireland. Dublin Castle - built in the thirteenth century and was the centre of English and British rule of Ireland and returned to Ireland in 1922. more info, here. Sailing to Byzantium - a poem by WB Yeats. It is also an installation by Patty Hudak. Literati Culture of China - the “four arts” associated with cultured, literate males : music, the game of go, calligraphy, and painting, as well as poetry and lyrical essays. more info, here. Katie Baldwin - a woodblock printmaker, letterpress, screen printer. website, Instagram Jennifer Mack-Watkins - is an artist who works in woodblock print and screen print. Her interview with me can be found, here. website. Annie Bissett - is an artist and woodblock printmaker. website her interview with me can be found, here. Florence Neal - is an artist who works in woodblock, sculpture, and draftsperson. website Terry McKenna - is an Australian artist based in Karuizawa, Japan. He runs the Karuizawa Mokuhanga school and is a mokuhanga artist. His interview with me is, here. Melissa Schulenberg - woodblock printmaker and teacher. some of her work can be found, here. College Women's Association of Japan - an organization dedicated to education and the arts. website. CWAJ print show website. Cone Editions Press - based in Vermont and focuses on digital printmaking working with artists for exhibitions around the world. website bokashi - is a technique in mokuhanga where pigment and water are used together to make a gradation, adding depth to your print. Carl Jung's The Red Book - is a series of writings by the late psychoanalyst about the unconscious mind. NPR has a good write up about it, here. Mount Mansfield - is the tallest mountain in Vermont. It is 4393 ft. Mount Equinox - the second highest mountain in Vermont. The monastery on the mountain is connected to the Carthusian Order. Reika Iwami (1927-2020) - was a sōsaku hanga printmaker. Artelino has some of her work, here. kitakata paper - a printing paper made of Philippine gampi fibre. Ozu Washi - is a paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. website, Instagram pansion paper - is a medium-heavy paper and can be found at Ozu Washi, here. McClains Printmaking Supplies - is an American woodblock printmaking supply store located in Portland, Oregon. website Mariko Jesse - is an illustrator and woodblock printmaker. website, Instagram. cubism - is a style of abstract painting created in 1907 by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). more info, here. hon baren - a top of the line hand made baren made by craftsmen in Japan. It comes in different strands, 8, 12, and 16. McClains sells them, here. Shoichi Kitamura - is a master carver based in Japan. A nice article about his work can be found, here. opening and closing credit music - The Rolling Stones"Just Your Fool" from Blue And Lonesome, 2016. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***
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1/17/2022 • 1 hour, 31 minutes, 3 seconds Natasha Norman - Printmaker: A Human System The world wide connection of mokuhanga is a vast one. Working and living in Cape Town, South Africa; Natasha Norman is a talented artist involved in several types of printmaking. One of those types of printmaking is, of course, mokuhanga. Along with her independent work as a mokuhanga printmaker, Natasha is involved in the Mokuhanga-kai, a group she co-founded with printmaker Oliver Hambsch, where as a group, they attempt to spread the message and ideals of mokuhanga and Japanese culture. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Natasha Norman about her mokuhanga journey, from MI Lab to her current mokuhanga works. Natasha also speaks on what it's like to source materials for her mokuhanga work while living in South Africa. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Mokuhanga-Kai - website Natasha Norman - website, Instagram University of Cape Town - founded inn 1829 and became a full university between 1880-1900. More info can be found, here. Jennifer L. Roberts Mellon Lectures - Contact: Art and the Pull of Print is a series of online lectures dedicated to the art of printmaking and the relationship between the person making it and the essence of the medium. It can be found, here. Idyllic Colonial Postcards - Natasha speaks on the South African colonial project through idyllic postcards. More information can be found, here via the Library of Congress. South African Art History - South African art has a long and distinguished history. The Contemporary African Art website has a very good introduction to the history of South African art, here. Some history of the South African modernists, here. Contemporary artist landscape, here. Black Consciousness Movement - led by anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko (1946-1977), the BCM was a movement which empowered South African black people to believe that they have the power to organize and control their own destiny. More info can be found, here. Nelson Mandela - (1918-2013) was a black nationalist and the first black Prime Minister of South Africa from 1994-1999. He was jailed from 1964-1990 for his political beliefs, being deemed a threat to the South African colonial government. More information about his life and legacy can be found here, at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Rainbow Nation - used first by Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), it is a term used to describe a post-apartheid South Africa, to describe the country as multicultural and as a call for unity of all South African peoples. South African Biennale - held from February 28 - April 30, 1995, this biennale was hosted by Johannesburg and contained 63 national pavilions and 20 South African pavilions. It was the first biennale held in a post-apartheid South Africa focused on "decolonizing the mind." More information can be found, here. Link to the 2nd biennale held in 1997 can be found, here. Mongezi Ncaphayi - is a South African artist who lives and works in Cape Town. His medium is Indian ink and watercolour on Fabriano. Lots of colour and a very unique perspective. His Instagram can be found, here. His work can be found, here. South African Printmaking - there is a long history of printmaking in South Africa. From apartheid South Africa to post-apartheid South Africa printmaking has made an indelible difference to the landscape of South African art through resistance and dialogue. More information can be found, here, here, and here. Printmaking Today - is a printmaking magazine published by Cello Press in the UK and began in 1991. Embassy of Japan in South Africa - located in Pretoria. Information for the Culture and Information Centre can be found, here. Japanese Relations with South Africa - Japan has had a long history of relations with South Africa since the 19th Century, with trade beginning in 1910. Although raw material trade began in earnest in the 1960's. For more information on Japan's, at times tenuous, relationship with South Africa look, here. monotype printmaking - a type of printmaking which creates a "painted" type of print. More information can be found by the MoMA, here. The Printing Girls - is a printmaking collective based in South Africa in which Natasha Norman is a member. More information can be found, here. Ozuwashi - is a brick and mortar paper store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. It has been in business since 1653. More info can be found, here. Cameron Bailey - is a mokuhanga printmaker who focuses on reduction woodblock. His Unfinished Print interview can be found, here. website, Instagram. mokulito - a type of lithography which incorporated woodblock. Artist Danielle Creenaune uses mokulito in her work. She has a fine detailed explanation on its uses, here. Winsor & Newton - is an artist supply company based in the UK. website. kiaat - is a hardwood, also called muninga. More information can be found, here. Woodstock, Cape Town - is an old suburb of Cape Town, South Africa known for its shopping and art galleries. More info can be found, here. Salon Ninety One - a gallery located in Cape Town with a focus on contemporary artists of all mediums. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - originally a watercolorist and painter Yoshida started designing woodblock prints for Watanabe in 1920. By 1925 he was designing prints for his own studio. The works which came from his studio were meticulous and masterpieces of the medium in their own right. Ukiyoe.org has a good collection of Yoshida works. Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an influential artist and filmmaker who ushered in the genre of art considered "pop art." Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) was another artist considered a part of the pop art movement through imitation. The MoMA has a great description of his work, here. Benoit Varaillon - is a mokuhanga printmaker based in France. His interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. William Kentridge - is an award winning South African artist, animator and printmaker. An interesting studio visit with Kentridge can be found, here. japonisme - is the influence of Japanese art on Western art practices, specifically in Europe of the 19th Century. The MET Museum has a fine essay on the subject, here. Waza - is an importer, retailer, and distributor of Japanese goods into South Africa. website opening and closing credit background sound from the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference, discussing how animals are involved in mokuhanga, and whether we can, as artists, be sustainable. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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12/28/2021 • 57 minutes, 22 seconds Walter J Phillips (1884-1963) w/ Sophie Lavoie curator: As It Could Have Been, Wherever I Happen To Be History is an important facet of mokuhanga. It goes without saying that whatever we learn as printmakers comes from somewhere else. It’s up to us as to whether we embrace it or push it away. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I look to the past, at artist Walter J Phillips, who’s prints I have been a fan of long before I took up the art form myself. As a British Canadian, Phillips used Canada as his muse, it’s ruggedness, power, and humanity to make his woodblock prints. Phillips was a bit of a Renaissance man, with his hand in many aspects of society and art in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from 1913-1940; and then teaching in Banff, Alberta, Canada. He was a water colourist, made etches, also tried his hand at oils but it’s his woodblock prints which have always been the most powerful of his artistic forays. Joining me on this episode is curator Sophie Lavoie, of The Muse/Douglas Family Art Centre, a museum and gallery located in Kenora, Ontario. Sophie curated the popular Phillips Interpreted show which ran from July 16th - September 11th, 2021. She also guest curated the amazing McMichael Gallery show, Walter J Phillips: At The Lake which ran from February 15th - October 12th, 2020. Her knowledge about the life and times of Walter J. Phillips is what makes this episode special for me. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Walter J Phillips - here are various hyperlinks for information about Phillips. A great historical website dedicated to Phillips can be found, here. Phillips technique and method can be found, here. This is a modern website dedicated to Phillips, here. Sophie Lavoie - The Muse/Lake Of The Woods/Douglas Family Arts Centre info can be found, here. The McMichael Gallery info can be found, here. etching - also called intaglio printmaking which uses chemicals on a metal plate , copper or zinc. The Tate Modern has a good definition, here. Cyril Barraud (1877-1965) - was a British/Canadian artist who focused on etching. Roberts Gallery has a fine bio of him, here. Winnipeg, Manitoba - Phillips spent a lot of time in Winnipeg, before moving out West to Banff in 1941 and then Victoria, British Columbia in 1948. For the history of Winnipeg, more info can be found here. Studio International Magazine - founded in 1863 and lasted until 1964 was based in London, England. The International Studio was the American version from 1897-1921. Pavilion Gallery Museum - based in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg the Pavillion focuses on artists from the province of Manitoba and contains many of Phillips’ works. Website, here. brayer - is an artists tool used to spread ink or pigment onto a surface. It looks like a small roller but with a handle. The Technique of the Colour Wood Cut (1926) - was a book published by Brown-Robertson & Co, which is Phillips describing his process of making woodblock prints. It can be found in its entirety, here. Winnipeg Tribune - was a newspaper servicing the city of Winnipeg from 1890-1980. Archives of Manitoba - is an online repository of the history of the province of Manitoba. More information can be found, here. Glenbow Museum - is a museum located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Their collection is made up of Canadian artists with some international artists. More info, here. Early 20th Century wood cuts - Sophie brings up in our interview the renaissance of early 20th wood cuts in New York. With the little bit of research of this subject it seems that many artists during the Great Depression found wood cut as an inexpensive way of creating. During this time was the Regionalist Movement where farms, industry and labour in New York were being documented through the wood cut. The woodcut revival of the early 20th century in the US and Canada also, according to one source, was connected to the Art Deco movement, as well as German Expressionism. Not to mention the popularity of Hiroshige and of Japonisme of late 19th Century Europe. The sources for my definition can be found, here, and here. Please reach out to me if you have access to more information, as I find this fascinating. Urushibara Yoshijirō - (1888-1953) was a Japanese carver and printmaker who lived in London, England from 1910-1940. He had arrived during the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition of 1910 and stayed until the Pacific War when he moved back to Japan. As a carver and printmaker he collaborated with many artists in England especially Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956). It has been said that Urushibara was a great influence on Phillips and his career as a woodblock printmaker from 1925. More information can be found, here, and here. hosho - is a type of mulberry paper either hand made or machine made for many uses but especially for mokuhanga. torinoko - a printmaking paper made of gampi as the main ingredient although there are different types of torinoko. A more detailed description can be found, here. McMichael Gallery - located in Kleinburg, Ontario just outside of Toronto it houses the largest collection of The Group Of Seven artists. The Go7 were a collective of artists who painted the Canadian landscape, getting away from the European traditions. More info can be found here about their history. The Great Depression - was a world economic downturn from 1929-1939. Beginning with the stock market crash of 1929 it affected people of most walks of life. More information can be found here. Winnipeg Art Gallery Qaumajuq - is an art gallery located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It’s contains Canadian and international artists as well as a large amount of Inuit Art. More information can be found here. The Banff School - where Phillips taught from 1940 is now called the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. More info, here. Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies - established by artists Peter and Catherine Whyte, located in Banff, Alberta. More info, here. Truth and Beauty in the Canadian Rockies: An Explorer’s Guide to the Art of Walter J. Phillips - is a book by Lisa Christiansen about Phillips and his travels throughout Canadian Rockies. Find the book, here. Canadian Pacific Railway - is a railway system founded in Canada in 1881 and has routes throughout southern Canada and the northern States of the US. The National Gallery of Canada - established in 1880 in Ottawa, Ontario. The gallery contains Canadian and international pieces of art of all mediums. More info, here. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria - the largest public collection in British Columbia, and founded in 1951. More info, here. Orientalism and The Arts and Crafts Movement - Sophie speaks a bit on the idea of Orientalism in art and how it influenced artists in the arts and crafts movement of Walter J. Phillips. This is a very large topic to cover and can’t really be done here. Briefly, Orientalism in art history, has roots in how Western artists of the 19th Century saw and represented Western Asian peoples in romantic and “mysterious” ways. It wasn’t until Edward Said (1935-2003) wrote his Orientalism in 1978 which critiques the concept of Orientalism as a racist and hegemonic, and an ultimately inaccurate and romantic, representation of the East. John P. Crabb Gallery - located in Annisiboine Park is a gallery dedicated to Walter J. Phillips and the collection of Philips’ work acquired by Crabb himself. More info, here. opening and closing credit background music: Sepalot - More Flute from Selected Archive (1996-2002) (2021) © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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12/11/2021 • 55 minutes, 27 seconds Jon Lee - Craftsperson/Artist: Go Back To What’s Most Basic The world of mokuhanga has a lot of moving parts. It’s a machine that needs to be consistently monitored, updated and supervised. This is especially true when most mokuhanga practitioners are the ones working on every step to get their finished product. Many times we as mokuhanga artists tend to overlook what goes into our tools; the barens, the brushes, pigments and paper, many of us simply wanting to get the work, “done.” Jon Lee, a printmaker, craftsperson and artist based in San Antonio, Texas goes a little deeper where most people don’t. Jon makes barens, and brushes, and paper through his academic work as well as personally. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak to Jon Lee about how he approaches his work, how he builds and constructs his tools, his studying under master baren maker Gotō Hidehiko, and how all of this melds with his academic research. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Jon Lee - The Print Center bio and Instagram page University of Iowa - founded in 1847 U of I is a public research university. More information can be found here. Trinity University of San Antonio - founded in 1869, more info can be found, here. mezzotint - a print made using copper plate and a “rocker.” Invented in the mid-17th Century. More info can be found, here from The National Portrait Gallery, England. hanji Korean mulberry paper - is a paper used, amongst other ways, for woodblock printmaking. It’s a very dense and fibrous paper. More info can be found, here. Tamarind Institute - dedicated to prints of all types, this institution began in 1960 as a lithography workshop in Los Angeles. More information can be found, here. Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019) - one of the most influential woodblock print artists of the modern era. His work, while seemingly abstract, moved people with its vibrant colour and powerful composition. He was a teacher and invented the “Disc Baren,” which is a great baren to begin your mokuhanga journey with. At the 2021 Mokuhanga Conference in Nara, Japan there is a tribute exhibit of his life works. Azusa Gallery has a nice selection of his work, here. McClains Woodblock Print Supply Co. - based in Portland, Oregon McClains is the go to supplier of woodblock print tools in the United States. Their website can be found, here. My interview with Daniel Jasa of McClain’s can be found, here. Gotō Hidehiko - is a baren maker and printmaker from Japan. He has conducted workshops at MI Lab, the mokuhanga residence program , for baren making. He has also conducted workshops at the Mokuhanga Conference several times, and will be there in 2021. His prints can be found, here. Jim Croft bookbinder - bookbinder based in Idaho. His website can be found, here. Hon baren - is the traditional Japanese baren used in mokuhanga printmaking. David Bull has a concise description of it, here. Wood-like Matsumura - a supplier of tools and other necessities for woodblock printmaking based in Tōkyō. Website can be found, here. Meiji Period (1868-1912) - a period of upheaval and change as the Tokugawa military government toppled with a brand new government replacing it, based on a European model. For a fantastic book on the subject please read, Meiji and His World by Donald Keene (1922-2019). Taishō Period (1912-1926) - a short lived period of Japanese modern history but an important one in world history. This is where the militarism of fascist Japan began to take seed, leading to The Pacific War (1931-1945). More info can be found, here. Hosho paper - a handmade paper from Japan used for printmaking. Some information can be found here. Yokohama - a port city located in the prefecture of Kanagawa in Japan. Made famous for its Chinatown, historical foreign settlement and ramen museum. Yokohama-e was a series of prints made from around 1850-1870 about the new foreign people coming into Japan. More info can be found, here. Bracken plant - a fern located throughout the world. More info can be found, here. mochi - glutinous rice cake made for holidays or simply for everyday enjoyment bfk Rives - a cotton mould paper used for printmaking Hangul - is the written system of the Korean language with 10 consonants and 14 vowels. More info, here. King Sejong or Sejong The Great (1397-1450) - was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), and amongst other contributions to Korean culture, helped create the Hangul language. Shinjuku City - a ward in the city of Tōkyō famously known for its entertainment district, parks, and shopping. More info can be found, here. Shibuya City - a ward in the city of Tōkyō also, famously known for its shopping and heavy tourism. More info can be found, here. urushi - is a type of lacquer used in Japanese lacquerware for hundreds of years especially in maki-e lacquer decoration. A very good blog posting by Woodspirit Handcraft has great information about urushi, here. David Bull size recipe (s) - can be found here. tempera - a pigment mixed with binder historically used throughout Europe and the Middle East. More info, here. gesso - a hard drying white paint used in priming canvas for work. More info can be found, here. Nakayama stone - a very famous sharpening stone which can fetch to upwards of 7,000 CDN, like here. From a region in Kyōto, the stone requires little to no soaking in water. Japan Stone has more info, here. opening and closing credit background music: By the almighty KRS One. ‘Outta Here’ from the 1993 album Return of the Boom Bap. © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed an produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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11/27/2021 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 26 seconds Mara Cozzolino - Printmaker (Part 2): Cold Steam (There Is No Big Truth) The work of Mara Cozzolino is nuanced and powerful. Her works of nature take the viewer to a wonderful place, of loss and of love. In Part 2 of my interview with printmaker Mara Cozzolino we speak about her mokuhanga method, the unique tools she uses when making large prints, her “cloud” lockdown project and I find out what shallow carving means. If you haven’t heard Part 1 of my interview with Mara, you can find that, here. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Mara Cozzolino’s website. sizing paper - at times mokuhanga printmakers will size their paper. Size is made from water, animal glue (rabbit, horse), and alum. What the size does is keep the pigments the artist uses from “bleeding” into the outer edges of the paper. There are many recipes of size, here is one that artist Walter J. Phillips used. Mara’s workshop Panel Prints - there are many different types of ways to make prints, and Mara uses different panels to make larger images. In ukiyo-e, shin hanga, and sōsaku hanga, diptychs and triptychs were ubiquitous . Modern printmakers like Mara, use many panels sometime up to ten. Here is a list of panel prints you may encounter: single panel, diptych, triptych, tetraptych, pentaptych, hexaptych, heptaptych, octaptych, enneaptych, and decaptych. brush pens - these are pens, usually refillable, which mimic the use of brushes, calligraphic or otherwise. Some bigger brands are Pentel, Ecoline, and Tombow. hanashita - or “preparatory drawing” this is generally the first image pasted on your woodblock, with glue. Some artists use gampi paper pasted to copy paper, some use other lighter natural papers. This paper holds the outline of your key block in order to make the necessary copies for colour blocks. Here is a a step by step way of pasting from David Bull and woodblock.com Paul Binnie - is a Scottish born artist and woodblock printmaker based in San Diego. His work has touched on the male and female form, kabuki theatre, Japanese history and tattoos. A collector of his works has created a website on his work and can be found here. His work is also represented by Scholten Japanese Art based in NYC. His Instagram page can be found, here. Winsor & Newton - is a UK based fine art’s manufacturing company. They sell all types of artist supplies including pigments. Their pigment page can be found, here. Holbein - is a manufacturer of artists materials based in North America and Japan. Their pigments are rich and vibrant and are used by many mokuhanga artists. Their website can be found, here. sumi - is a rich black stick, or liquid used by artists, calligraphers, and traditional Japanese horimono tattoo artists. It is made from the soot of burnt lamp oil. Used in key blocks predominantly in traditional mokuhanga, it can also be used to mix pigments. Pigment Tōkyō conducts a great interview with their chief of pigments, Kei Iwaizumi, about sumi ink, here. aizuri-e - popular in the Edo period (1605-1867), these are prints made with various shades of blue, like Prussian blue. Artelino makes a great introduction video to a aizuri-e, here. mawata paper - from Woodlike Matsumura in Tōkyō can be found, here to purchase. As for the dates Mara speaks about, papers are made in different years and at times depending on various factors the paper may be made either in a superior quality or a poorer quality depending on your needs. yuki baren - is a ball bearing baren made in Japan used for large colour. It is a heavy baren but very very good at what it does. Richard Steiner, printmaker based in Japan, uses and promotes the yuki baren exclusively. More info can be found here on his website. My interview with Richard Steiner can be found, here Roslyn Kean - is an Australian printmaker who makes her own ball bearing baren called the Kean Ball Bearing Baren. The KBB baren comes in two sizes and are lighter than the yuki baren or other ball bearing barens because they’re made of high-grade plastic. For more information about Roslyn, her work, and baren can be found, here. Annie Bissett - is an amazing American woodblock print artist. Her blog woodblockdreams can be found, here. My interview with Annie can be found, here. Her Instagram page can be found, here. Lockdown Project 2020 - Mara discusses with me about her lockdown project from 2020, where she drew clouds she saw outside of her window. These can be found, here on her big cartel. reduction printmaking - is where an artist takes their block and reduces the wood by carving away whatever is unnecessary for the final piece, printing each reduction until one has the piece they’re looking for. Cameron Bailey does a fantastic job of reduction printmaking. His website can be found, here and my interview with Cam can be found, here. His Instagram can be found, here. aisuki - is a flat, fan beveled chisel for mokuhanga and comes in different sizes. itabokashi - is a type of bokashi in woodblock printmaking where the printmaker carves the block slightly larger than needed and then shaves away the edges. This makes a slight gradation, which is softer than the main colour of the block. Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) sometimes used sandpaper. opening and closing credit background music: unknown (2021) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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11/11/2021 • 42 minutes, 22 seconds McClain’s Printmaking Supplies w/ Daniel Jasa: The Supply Chain Most everyone who creates and produces mokuhanga has purchased tools, barens, or any other items needed for their work, from McClain’s Printmkaing Supplies. Located just outside of Portland, Oregon in Tigard sits one of the most interesting and important companies within the world of mokuhanga. Representing McClain’s for this interview is artist and printmaker Daniel Jasa. Daniel has worked with McClain’s since 2014 and is an accomplished artist in his own right. In this episode I have a fascinating conversation with Daniel about McClain’s history, how the company helps the local community both artistic and societal. We also deal with art as politics, whether mokuhanga as an art form can or should be political and we delve heavily on the current supply chain disruption which is affecting the world. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. McClains Printmaking Supplies - website Daniel Jasa - his work can be found , here. Alex Prentiss - owner of McClain’s and is a printmaker herself. She teaches mokuhanga as well at the Multnomah Art Center in Portland. Natsume Sōseki (1867-1916) - one of the preeminent modern Japanese authors. His career mirrored the rise of Japan as an industrial nation which is reflected in his works. Asianstudies.org has a great article on his life and important works. Fulbright Grant - a not for profit organization which promotes international exchange. More information can be found, here. sōsaku hanga - an art movement of the early 20th Century which redefined how people looked at the Japanese print. Ronin Gallery in NYC has a great overview, here. Sekino Jun’ichirō (1914-1988) - was a woodblock print artist from Japan. His works have been shown throughout Japan as well as internationally. His works are appealing because of his deft use of colour. His love of portraiture as well as landscape makes his work difficult to pigeonhole. More info can be found here, along with some of his pieces. Elaine Chandler - is an American woodblock printmaker and artist located in Oregon. Her work is vibrant and colourful. An interview with Elaine can be found here via McClain’s from 2005. Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019) - was a modern Japanese printmaker who used powerful colour and abstract shapes. The video which Daniel alludes to in our interview is Kurosaki speaking to various traditional craftspeople via the NHK. letter press - is a type of printing using plates. A video describing its use can be found, here. Portland Japanese Garden - is a Japanese garden located in Portland, Oregon. Built in the 1950’s on the site of an old zoo, it provides the citizens of Oregon a beautiful place to relax. More information can be found, here. From November 2021 to January 2022, the garden is showing an exhibit of Japanese prints called “Ukiyo-e To Shin-Hanga.” More info can be found, here. Southern Graphics Council - founded by Boyd Saunders in 1972, the SGC is an international printmakers council originally started with printmakers within the Southern United States. More information can be found here. Chris Harmon - is a printmaking instructor at Multnomah Art Center in Portland. Some more information about him and his work can be found, here. Portland State University - is a university begun in 1946 and located in Portland, Oregon. Portland Community College - is a community college located in Portland, Oregon. Atelier Meridian - is a print making studio and community located in Portland, Oregon where Daniel is the resident etching instructor. This is a space where artists can find like minded people in the Portland area for help with their work. More info can be found here. Native American Community Portland - the indigenous community in Portland and throughout Oregon has a rich and varied history. More information can be found, here. Black History Portland - Black history within Portland, Oregon has been fraught with violence and colonialism upon black bodies. If you’re interested in reading the traumatic history of Portlands black communities, this Atlantic article from 2016 is a good start. George Floyd Protests 2020 - Beginning in May, 2020 following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, many Portlander’s took to the streets to protest police brutality and systemic racism. KOIN, a local Portland ABC news affiliate has written about the evolution of the 2020 protests in Portland, here, with more info being here. Ai Wei Wei is the artist quoted as saying, “Everything is Art. Everything is Politics.” This blog post from Gerry in Art in 2015, describes in detail Ai’s imprisonment by Chinese government authorities and the installation which came from that experience. Michihamono - is a tool manufacturer for woodblock printmaking as well as other woodworking. Located in Tōkyō. You can find their online store, here. Woodworking in Japan - Japan has a long and rich history. One place to begin is WeXpats, a website dedicated to helping those living in Japan or wanting to visit. Their article on woodworking is great. Gamblin Ink - is an American relief ink manufacturer located in Portland, Oregon. Their inks are used by many types of relief printing. Their website can be found, here. Cranfield Colours - is a British company which focuses on artists paints and relief inks. Their website can be found, here. The Japanese Paper Place - located in Toronto, it is a Japanese paper supply store with a rich history. Their website can be found, here. My interview with Nancy Jacobi, owner of the JPP can be found, here. Futatsu Wari - is a six tool mokuhanga carving set. Can be purchased from McClain’s, here. Taran Casey - is an apprentice woodblock carver living in Tōkyō. His interview with me can be found, here. opening and closing credit background music: “Keep Dancing” by Wolf Saga (2017) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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10/27/2021 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 49 seconds Mara Cozzolino - Printmaker: You Really Improve With Time (Part 1) Mara Cozzolino is one of the best and brightest mokuhanga printmakers working today. Her work delves into the silence and simple moments, sending us face to face with the solitude and beauty that only nature can bring us. On this first of two episodes dedicated to Mara’s work and journey, we speak on her early attempts at mokuhanga, what traveling and attending mokuhanga workshops around the world has done for her current work, and how she believes in the power of mokuhanga as an art form. This episode of The Unfinished Print is dedicated to our friend, Tim Whyte. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Mara Cozzolino’s work can be found on her website, And on Instagram. Mara also takes care of the International Mokuhanga Conference Instagram page. shina - tilia japonica, is a specific plywood harvested for its sustainability and versatility in mokuhanga. It is a soft wood great for colour blocks but limited in its ability to hold thin line work. McClain’s sells blocks, here. MI Lab - Mokuhanga Innovation Laboratory is located in Tōkyō. It is a place set up for learning mokuhanga. The artist-in-residence program, having been held since 2011 on Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji, is an application based program hosting international mokuhanga practitioners who are looking to move their work forward. More information can be found, here. hanshita - is the preliminary drawing or sketch pasted on your woodblock, for the key block, and subsequent blocks of a multi block colour print. One can use a printer and spray tack, or a more traditional method of drawing on the paper itself and pasting with rice glue. One can also draw onto the block themselves, or use a soft plastic acetate to transfer the kentō and key block to the other blocks. Skies the limit. Motoharu Asaka - is a master woodblock carver located in Tōkyō. His Instagram, and FB page, and website are a few ways to see his work. David Bull - is well known around the world as a modern scholar and preserver of the Japanese woodblock print and it’s process. Mokuhankan, woodblock.com, Twitch, and his YouTube channel are a few ways to see his work and what he is currently doing. mica - a mineral which, when ground into a fine powder, has been used to add a sheen or shine to woodblock prints. David Bull demonstrates this, here. Woodlike Matsumura - is a supplier of woodblock print equipment, tools, and information. Jinbōchō - is an area in Tōkyō predominantly known for its plentiful array of used bookstores. Some information regarding the area can be found, here. Yamada Shoten - is a woodblock print art gallery located in the above mentioned Jinbōchō area of Tōkyō. Here they sell and exhibit woodblock prints of all types. Their English website can be found, here. Laura Boswell - is a lithograph and mokuhanga printmaker based in England. A very talented and busy printmaker, Laura is constantly evolving her work, and creating some of the finest prints you can find. Her interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here. Her website can be found, here. Paul Furneaux - is an artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His work is a fabulous blend of colour and geometric shapes. By blending his mokuhanga, with other types of mediums such as chiné colle, etching, and even sculpture. Paul creates powerfully unique works. His website can be found, here. intaglio - a type of printmaking which uses etching into a copper plate (or other metals) and pressing the paper onto the etched grooves. A MoMA video can be found here, regarding this process. Katsushika Hokusai - (1760-1849) is one of the most famous woodblock print designers and painters in history. More information can be found, here. Kitagawa Utamaro - (b. ? - d. 1806). A famous ukiyo-e print designer who helped create many amazing prints of women (bijin). Savvy Tōkyō has a fun article about Utamaro, here. Utagawa Hiroshige - (1797-1858) was a painter and print designer known predominantly for his landscape designs of Edo, (100 Famous Views Of Edo) and the Tōkaidō, (The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō), the main road which leads one from Tōkyō to Kyōto. sōsaku hanga - an art movement of the early 20th Century which redefined how people looked at the Japanese print. Ronin Gallery in NYC has a great overview, here. kentō - are the registration marking carved, or stuck onto, the woodblock in order to align all of your blocks together into one unified image, when printed. Traditionally it is an “L” at the bottom right of your block (kagi), and a flat bit to the center left of your block, (hikitsuke). McClains has a great pdf about the kentō, here. opening and closing credit background music: “Static Age” by The Misfits, Reel Platinum, 1985. © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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9/30/2021 • 56 minutes, 5 seconds Kevin Frances - Printmaker: The Strangeness Of The Everyday One of the most interesting and intriguing mokuhanga printmakers working in the medium today, is Kevin Frances. Kevin lives in New York City and uses the everyday life of his space to make his prints. Combining sculpture, and photography in his mokuhanga Kevin Frances uses these different mediums to create some of the most compelling and fascinating woodblock prints I have ever seen. His attention to detail is amazing. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, we delve into Kevin’s mokuhanga, how he creates his projects, via tools and pigments, his philosophical approach and all with a sense of humour. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Any and all of Kevin’s works mentioned in this episode can be found on his website. Kevin’s interview and studio tour with the New Leaf Gallery can be found here. Stella Ebner - printmaker and Associate Professor of Art and Design at SUNY, Purchase, NY Richard Serra - celebrated sculptor and artist from San Francisco. Serra uses steel, lead, stone, and other materials for his massive installations and sculptures. MDF - medium density fiberboard, used by artists for all types of art from oil painting to models. Arnold Berleant - is a scholar and academic focusing on philosophy, music, and the environment. He discusses many subject through the lens of aesthetics. George Adam’s Gallery - located in New York City, the George Adams Gallery provides a platform for new and emerging contemporary artists. You can read the galleries interview with Kevin Frances, for his 2020 show Superpositions, here. 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968) - is a science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999). Talas - is a conservation, archival, and bookbinding supply store based in Brooklyn, NY. Guerra Paint & Pigment - is an art supply store based in NYC with a wide assortment of pigments from powder to dispersions. Used by many mokuhanga printmakers. Daniel Heyman - is a painter and printmaker currently working as an assistant professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. Some of his most recent work can be found, here. murasaki baren - is a specific style of baren unique to mokuhanga. It is generally cheaper than other baren. According to David Bull’s Encyclopedia of Woodblock Printmaking, this baren shouldn’t be used for fine and delicate work. But, if it’s all you have, then you’ll make it work. If you’re in the US, then McClains carries this baren, here. Yoonmi Nam - is an artist and mokuhanga printmaker originally from Seoul, South Korea. Her work is delicate and powerful. Richard Steiner - is an American printmaker who has made Kyōto, Japan his home for over forty years. Richard has been interviewed for The Unfinished Print, here. A huge proponent of the yuki baren, a ball bearing baren invented by printmaker Rei Yuki (1928-2003) this particular baren is a fine example of the ball bearing baren style. A video of Richard using the yuki baren can be found here. Awagami Factory - a Japanese paper manufacturer popular with mokuhanga artists. Based in Tokushima, Shikoku, Japan. kentō - in mokuhanga one uses kentō, an “L” shaped corner cut and another flat cut to the right/center of the block. It, in essence, allows the paper to align with your carving, especially with multi block colour prints. But as Kevin described in his interview, there are various other ways to get proper registration, such as the positive and negative bolts, or a floating kentō, which is a piece of wood with your cut registration marks but used in conjunction with your block. These registration marks aren’t carved directly into your block. Kamisaka Sekka - (1866-1942) was a painter and woodblock printmaker. He was influenced and was a part of the Rinpa school of painting, focusing on nature, animals, and people which he worked into his woodblock prints. Some of his prints can be found, here. His travels, subsidized by the Japanese government of the time, made him look at the European attraction to Japanese arts and culture, later called Japonisme. Japonisme is a French term describing the influence of things Japanese to Europe in the 19th Century. Japanese art, architecture, and culture influenced Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), and Edgar Degas (1834-1917) to name but a few. More can be found in Japonisme and The Rise of The Modern Art Movement (2013) by Gregory Irvine. Bushwick Community Darkroom - is a community film processing space in Bushwick, Brooklyn , NYC. Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) and his family made many famous prints which didn’t contain a “traditional” key block, the black “outline” block associated with ukiyo-e woodblock prints. As mentioned in his Japanese Woodblock Print-Making (1939). Yoshida describes the process of not using a key block, here, briefly. Not using a key block adds to the photographic feeling of the print itself, see printmaker Lynita Shimizu’s work here, for an example. Matt Brown - is an American mokuhanga artist who has been interviewed on the Unfinished Print, here. He is a brilliant philosopher of mokuhanga, its concepts, its ideals. His work can be found here. He is also associated with the New Leaf Gallery. opening and closing credit background music: “Roadrunner” by The Modern Lovers, from their self-titled album, The Modern Lovers, 1976. © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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9/4/2021 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 43 seconds Benoit Varaillon - Printmaker: I Work As I Go The art of the modern printmaker is universal. All over the world mokuhanga has reached people from all aspects of life. It touches a chord that is unique and powerful. On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak to an artist who’s work does just that. Benoit Varaillon, also known as Beno Uki Ga, is a French mokuhanga printmaker who mixes the traditional and the modern; pieces that are full of colour, exciting, and interesting. When setting up this interview, Beno’s one request was to have a translator. You’re going to hear three voices on this episode, of Beno, myself, and his cousin Lucie Galinon who kindly agreed to help translate. I hope you enjoy this newest episode of The Unfinished Print. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Beno’s Instagram, website can be found, here. Prints mentioned in the episode can be found on wither Instagram or Beno’s website. Edo Period prints - woodblock prints of the Edo Period (1603-1867) were predominantly of kabuki actors (Sharaku), and courtesans (Harunobu) beginning in the middle of the 18th century. The traditional system of production came into play when making ukiyo-e of this period, designer, carver, printer, and publisher. Famous designers of the day were Hiroshige (1797-1858), Hokusai (1760-1849). Meiji Period prints - 1868-1912 This period of woodblock prints were rich in colour and in experimentation. Still using the traditional production system, the printing become more intense via larger formats, triptychs and subject matter from war to murder. Famous artists of the time were Kunichika (1835-1900), and Yoshitoshi (1839-1892). Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920) was a self taught designer of woodblock prints. His life began designing rickshaw’s and under the auspices of the Ogata family his career began to flourish. His style is said to favour ukiyo-e, with subjects raging from landscape, war (past and present), Japanese history, and nature. A great website of his work and history can be found here. Akira Kurosaki (1934-2019) - Japanese printmaker and scholar who developed the Disk Baren. His printmaking career and academic career go hand in hand as he always seemed to be creating his abstract and surreal works while working as a professor. Seeing his work in person is a must, as the vibrant and powerful colours of his pieces can only do justice in person. Some of his works can be found here, at the Azuma Gallery Shun Yamamoto - is a modern printmaker who has worked with artist Shinji Tsuchimochi making his “Ginza In The Rain” print using a laser engraved block and can be found here via Mokuhankan. David Bull - is a Canadian mokuhanga printmaker who has spent most of his life in Tōkyō. He is the owner of Mokuhankan of Asakusa in Tōkyō where he and his staff create woodblock prints. He teaches and educates people from all over the world via his Twitch live streams and YouTube videos. aizuri-e - a late Edo Period (1603-1867) type of printmaking where the woodblock print is predominantly in blue, or shades of the color blue. The blue colour was usually a Prussian Blue imported into Japan around 1790. artelino have a great description of Prussian Blue and aizuri-e, here. shōmenzuri - “front printing,” rubbing the print in reverse so as to get a polished look on the print, usually for patterns. Bretagne, France - a peninsula in Western France, which contains old architecture, beauty for sea coasts, nature walks, as well as a great art scene. More information can be found, here. shin-hanga 1915-1940 - a renaissance of the Japanese woodblock started by Shōzaburō Watanabe (1885-1962). He used the traditional methods and line of production from the Edo and Meiji Periods. Mixing western painting and traditional Japanese motifs, for these new prints Watanabe commissioned artists like Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) and Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) kickstarting some of the greatest masterpieces of world art. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - originally a watercolorist and painter Yoshida started designing woodblock prints for Watanabe in 1920. By 1925 he was designing prints for his own studio. The works which came from his studio were meticulous and masterpieces of the medium in their own right. Ukiyoe.org has a good collection of Yoshida works. gouache - a water based pigment used by many mokuhanga artists. powder pigments - ganryō are usually kept in paste form with alcohol. According to David Bull’s old site, woodblock.com, artists such as Keizaburo Matsuzaki, with whom David speaks with, here, only needed several types of powdered pigments with which to mix an assorted rainbow of colors. ōban - the most common size of woodblock print, 15”x10” nishinouchi - is a bleached Japanese paper that is 100% kozo (mulberry) paper and generally comes from eastern Japan such as Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures. Links can be found here for nishinouchi paper made of Nasu kozo, and nishinouchi from the Japanese Paper Place in Toronto from Ibaraki. sōsaku hanga - the creative print movement in Japan of the early 20th century. The entire process of design, carving, and printing of the woodblock print was done by the artist. The Ronin Gallery of New York have a great definition and history of sōsaku hanga, here. opening and closing credit background music: “Dirty Laundry” by Curtis Mayfield, from his Honesty album, 1983. © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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7/31/2021 • 40 minutes, 37 seconds Maureen de Vries - Curator at Nihon no Hanga Gallery Amsterdam: We Like To Talk About Ideologies Up to this point for The Unfinished Print, the primary goal has been to share the lives and works of mokuhanga creatives, for those who want to understand how contemporary Japanese woodblock prints are made. While understanding contemporary mokuhanga is important I believe that one must also search the past histories of mokuhanga. History, how prints were made, sourced and produced in Japan will, I believe, help the contemporary mokuhanga artist understand their craft all the more. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak to Maureen de Vries, co-curator of the Nihon no Hanga gallery in Amsterdam. A small boutique gallery which is the vision of Elise Wessels, a collector who’s passion for the Japanese print led her to create a place for people to see and be educated on mokuhanga. Maureen and I speak on multiple ideas and concepts about modern Japanese prints, post Meiji Period (1868-1912), such as how these prints were viewed in Japanese and Western society. We do this via Nihon no Hanga’s exhibitions. We try to understand the ideas and concepts behind the production of woodblock prints in that era. We also speak esoterically about what it means to produce prints from history, what is considered an “original” print, as well as how people from the past and today view post-Meiji mokuhanga. I certainly hope when you listen to this episode you will be inspired to friendly debate, and realize that there can be a lot more involved when trying to understand mokuhanga. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Nihon no Hanga - website Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) - Nihon-ga, and woodblock print artist and designer who worked for print publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō (1885-1962). Shinsui designed some of our most famous shin hanga, or “new” prints of the early 20th century. One of my favorites is “Fragrance of a Bath” 1930. Hashiguchi Goyō (1880-1921) - a woodblock print designer who also worked, albeit shortly, with Shōzaburō. In his short life Goyō designed some of the most iconic woodblock prints ever made. “Kamisuki” 1920, and “Woman Applying Powder” 1918. shin hanga/sōsaku hanga - on the surface shin hanga, the new print movement that began with Watanabe Shōzaburō and sōsaku hanga started by Kanae Yamamoto (1882-1946) couldn’t be more different. Whereas the shin hanga movement harked back to an idillic time of ukiyo-e, sōsaku hanga looked to folk traditions and a more rustic aesthetic. Both can be considered “new” prints in my estimation as both began to present their products to a general population at a time when mokuhanga was on the decline. Kondō Kōichiro (1884-1962) - a painter who produced a small amount of woodblock prints. Produced a series of printed called Senryu Manga dedicated to the poetry of Kenkabo Inoue (1870-1934). For more info and to see his work check out the Artelino page. Koizumi Kishio (1893-1945) - from Shizuoka, Kishio was a sōsaku print artist. Although his work, such as “Girl Before a Mirror,” 1933, shows the aesthetic of shin hanga in my opinion, so talented was he. For more information, Scholten Japanese Art has a great write up on him with an image of the above print. Nihon no Hanga has a wonderful array of catalogues for sale on their website, here. They are incredibly well done and very accessible scholastically. Every exhibit spoken about by Maureen in this episode can be found on their website. Junichirō Seki (1914-1988) - an accomplished sōsaku hanga printmaker , Seki travelled the world and his work was published in Oliver Statler’s groundbreaking work “Modern Japanese Prints,” 1956. For more info on Seki and a visual of his works Artelino does a great job, here. Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955) - arguably one of the most important sōsaku hanga printmakers. Coming from an aristocratic family he had an oil painter background. He designed books for money as he was making his prints. His “First Thursday Society” began in 1939, is what helped printmakers make their prints away from censorship by the military fascist government in Japan at the time. For more info regarding Onchi click here, here, and here Rijks Museum - the national museum of the Netherlands. Opened originally im 1800 the museum has moved several times, finally resting at its current location in 1885. The museum holds masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others. The New Wave: Twentieth Century Prints of the Robert O Mueller Collection - was a book published by Bamboo Publishing in 1993. It is long out of print and very expensive. Emil Orlick (1870-1932) - was a Prague born artist who also worked in the medium of woodblock. He travelled expensively throughout the world, especially to Japan. His woodblock prints are of portraits landscapes and of people. For more information orlickprints.com is a good start. Doi Hanga and Mokuhankan - the collaboration between the Doi Hanga print company and David Bull’s Mokuhankan began in 2016. Videos can be found here regarding how the collaboration began and where it’s at. You can purchase the Doi Hanga collaborations here. Wada Sanzō (1883-1967) - an oil painter who at a young age would cover the Japanese colonial experiment through his paintings in the 1930’s. Sanzō began to be interested in woodblock prints when supervising his artist friend’s , Ōno Bakufu (1888-1976), project. Sanzō’s designs would become popular throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s as they showed the everyday of life, focusing on professions and occupations of the Japanese people of the time. His works straddles wartime propaganda and post war Japanese cultural idealism which makes Nihon no Hanga’s 2021 show about Sanzō “Memories of Shōwa,” so interesting. oban - Japanese woodblock print’s come in various sizes. "Oban" is considered 10x15 inches. Artelino has a great guide on print sizes here. opening and closing credit background music: “Changes” by Charles Bradley, 2016. It’s a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” from their Vol.4 album, 1972. © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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6/30/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 51 seconds Graham Scholes - Printmaker: Do/Undo The work of Canadian mokuhanga printmaker Graham Scholes is the work of an artist searching for history. His career has taken him across Canada, teaching, studying and creating his prints and water colours. Graham has worked in various types of printmaking and art but it is mokuhanga which he seems to have found his voice. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, Graham (accompanied with his wife Marnie) goes into his artist life, his relationship with printmaker Noboru Sawai, his various print series as well as his printmaking methods and philosophies. We also discover how history shapes an artist. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Graham Scholes website and shop can be found here. Art Gallery Of Ontario is a big box art gallery located in the city of Toronto founded in 1900. Western Technical School is a high school located centrally in the city of Toronto and was founded in 1927 with a focus on machinery and robotics. Font de libération du Québec (FLQ) was a neo-nationalist and separatist political group and terrorist organization which was highly active in the Canadian province of Québec from 1963-1971. For a good read on the subject, D’arcy Jenish’s book The Making of the October Crisis is worth a read. Barrie, Ontario, Canada is a city located in the Canadian province of Ontario with a long a rich history of First Nation and settler tradition and culture. The McLaren Art Centre which Graham discussed in the episode is located in Barrie. Vancouver Island is an island off the coast of Canada with a rich history of First Nations and settler culture. Watercolours and How is a book published by Graham Scholes describing the use of watercolours as an art form. Let There Be Light is a book by Graham Scholes about his lighthouse woodblock prints. Noboru Sawai (1931-2016) - mokuhanga and printmaking teacher of Graham Scholes, an American/Japanese printmaker who spent 22 years in Calgary, Alberta at the University of Calgary. He studied printmaking with Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) in Japan. His studio, Sawai Atelier was established in Vancouver, BC in 1981. Kochi, is a prefecture located on Shikoku Island in Japan. It has a rich samurai history and tradition of paper making. Inochō paper making museum is located in Kochi. Takamatsu is a port city in Kagawa prefecture on Shikoku Island in Japan. shina (Tilia Japonica) is a Japanese plywood made for mokuhanga printmaking. The West Coast Trail is a 75km trail for backpacking which follows the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island. gomazuri is a printmaking technique called sesame printing in English printed with water and pigment. waterless lithography is a form of printmaking developed by Canadian printmaker Nik Semenoff using silicone, offset aluminum plates, toner, water-soluble pencils and heat. dry point is drawing on copper plates with diamond or carbide tipped needles, inked then cleaned. This process is in the intaglio family of printmaking. John Amoss is an American mokuhanga printmaker whose Appalachian Trail series is one of the greatest modern mokuhanga print series available today. He was interviewed by The Unfinished Print and can be found here. Sybil Andrews (1898-1992) was a British modernist linocut printmaker, painter, and teacher who lived in British Columbia. Her works are lauded and highly collectable. kappazuri are Japanese stencil prints by layering colour and form with stencils cut by the artist. Made famous by Yoshitoshi Mori (1898-1992). Mokuhanga printer and painter Paul Binnie also began his career with kappazuri. Ronin Gallery NY has a great blog post about kappazuri here. reduction printmaking, colloquially known as “suicide prints,” is a form of printmaking where the printmaker cuts away from one wood or Lino block , printing as they go. Walter J. Phillips (1884-1963) was a British born printmaker who lived in Victoria, British Columbia. Famous for his watercolours and self-taught woodblock prints, WJP made his own tools and made some of the greatest woodblock prints ever produced. opening and closing credit background music: Blue, Red and Grey by The Who from the record, The Who By Numbers (1975) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions. .
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5/31/2021 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 14 seconds Jennifer Mack-Watkins - Printmaker: Our Life Evolves And Changes All The Time Jennifer Mack Watkins is making thought provoking and powerful work. Jennifer’s hard work and her unique approach to mokuhanga, screen printing, and lithography has begun to pay off. Her current solo show, “Children Of The Sun,” has been written about in The New York Times, Essence, Vogue, and Bust. Along with her solo show at the Brattleboro Musuem and Art Center in Vermont, where she organized all of the events regarding her exhibition, she is also currently taking part in Womb of Violet 2 or Unraveled. Restructured. Revealed at the Trout Museum of Art in Appleton Wisconsin. It is a group show which recognizes how marginalized peoples have been affected by society today. In this episode of the Unfinished Print I speak with Jennifer about her mokuhanga experiences, what she has learned from travelling to Japan, what mokuhanga brings to her life as an artist and the evolution of her work. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Notes: Jennifer Mack-Watkins - website Instagram Morris Brown/Clark Atlanta Power Grip - are beginner/middle range tool set which are easy to use and are perfect for all levels of carvers. This set is sold at Intaglio Printmaker in London. Tufts University Pratt Institute Lower East Side Printshop April Vollmer - a seasoned printmaker who wrote one of the standards in woodblock printmaking, Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop, sold wherever you buy your books. Her long and successful career as a teacher and a printmaker are unparalleled. MI Lab - (Mokuhanga Inovation Laboratory) at Lake Kawaguchi. It is a program dedicated to the art of mokuhanga and hosts artist in residence programs. Takuji Hamanaka - printmaker based in Brookly, NY. Uses bokashi, a printmaking technique, predominately in his works. Unique and powerful. website Instagram Manhattan Graphics Center Speedball - make printmaking tools for various styles of printmaking. McClains Printmaking supplies - the go to woodblock printmaking supply company in the US. Guerra Paint and Pigments - located in NYC a wonderful place to get the colours for your prints. Mt. Fuji/Yamanashi Prefecture tourist website. Female samurai existed in Japan. Called onna musha (女武者), these women warriors were associated with the ruling samurai of the time. I hate to say it, but Wikipedia has a good write up about these warriors as a start. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) - was one of the greatest print designers of his time. Yoshitoshi’s works straddled the line of beautiful and horrific in many of his series. Famous in the West for his One Hundred Aspects Of The Moon, Yoshitoshi’s works are highly collectable. Some of his works are available to view at the Lavenberg Collection, and Ukiyo-e.org. Studio Noize Podcast - a podcast focusing on contemporary black artists. Jennifer Mack-Watkins’ episode can be found here. Kremer Pigments - a NYC based pigment shop carrying all types of pigments, especially powdered pigments. E/AB Fair Agness Scott College Newark Public Library Jungle Press Editions Katsutoshi Yuasa - printmaker who lives in Tokyo. Began the East Tokyo Mokuhanga Studio in 2017. Creates works that are without key blocks and with a lot of bright colour. Project For Empty Space - “A nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe and equitable spaces for audiences and artists alike.” This description is from their website, found here. risograph printing - is a method of printmaking using a digital printer. More info can be found here. opening and closing credit background music: Zangetsu - from the album Japanese Shamisen released in the US by Lyirichord. © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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4/30/2021 • 50 minutes, 23 seconds Richard Steiner - Printmaker: I Do The Prints That Occur To My Mind And Not To My Eyes Richard Steiner has been making woodblock prints for over 50 years. Living in Kyōto, Japan for most of that time, Richard has been inventing new tools for making mokuhanga, has been creating new works on a regular basis, as well as instructing. Richard is an innovator and creator in the world of woodblock printmaking and has the body of work and success to show for it. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I sit down and speak with Richard Steiner about his life in Japan, what goes into making his prints and we discover who Richard Shakespeare really is. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Notes: Richard Steiner website, blog, and shop can be found, here Kyōto - capital of Japan from 794-1868 it is a city which continues to beguile and attract tourists from around the world. Information regarding the cities attractions can be found here Tochigi prefecture is a landlocked prefecture famous for the city of Nikkō, which is the burial place of shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616). It’s a beautiful and wonderful prefecture. Tourist information can be found, here at the JNTO website. Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) designed several prints for the temples and surrounding areas of Nikkō such as Futatsudō Hall, Road To Nikkō, Snow At The Sacred Bridge In Nikkō, and Yumoto Hot Spring At Nikkō. Other print designers such as Koitsu Tsuchiya (b 1870 - d?), Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991), and Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) all designed prints about Nikkō with many being quite rare and collectible today. Hiroshima City is the capital port city of Hiroshima, Prefecture which has a long and famous history. Hiroshima City is well worth the visit, with its rolling hills, beautiful sea and city scapes as well as plenty of hiking and outdoor activities. Hiroshima tourist information can be found, here. In Japan the passing of names from teachers to students is very common. Traditionally this occurs in the arts such as theatre, or within various martial arts schools. Tattooing culture and woodblock prints also follow this tradition. Richard Steiner explains how he received his Japanese name from his teacher in the interview. In horimono, or traditional Japanese tattooing the prefix”hori” (carver) is given to the student as they themselves have graduated from the teachings of their master. In kabuki theatre, family names (yagō) are bequeathed to sons (sometimes daughters) of famous fathers, most famously The Danjurō line of actors, (Naritaya), but of course there are many other acting guilds, such as the Nakamuraya, Matsushimaya, Otowaya and Omodakaya. For more information about kabuki theatre always go to kabuki21.com. Richard received his name Tōsai from his teacher, Masahiko Tokumitsu, in 1980. Holbein is a pigment company based in Ōsaka, Japan. A popular pigment used by many mokuhanga printmakers. Richard Steiner’s “moistening pack” can be found here, on Richard’s website. Terry McKenna is a printmaker and instructor of mokuhanga based in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. He was one of my earliest interviews. He runs and operates the Karuizawa Mokuhanga School Expo ‘70 was one in a series of “Expo’s” or world’s fair held throughout the world organized by the Bureau des International Expositiones (BIE). Over 76 countries participated with over 68 million people from all over the world attending. It showcased all that post-war Japan had to offer to the world with a “future city” approach housing world pavilions to share cultural ideas under the banner of “Progress and Harmony of Mankind.” More information can be found, here. calligraphy (shodō) originally beginning in China but eventually became rooted in Japan with Japanese aesthetics, with many shodō schools settling throughout the country. ikebana and kado is the art of flower arrangement. Believed to have begun by Buddhist monks it contains many elements, and layers to the art form so it is best to try it yourself. The Ikenobo Society of Floral Art located in Kyōto has a website dedicated to ikebana and can be found, here. Hiroshi Yoshida made a fabulous and very famous shin-hanga print of The Grand Canyon located in Arizona. The New Year’s card prints, or nengajyō, are small post card prints sent out by printmakers yearly to commemorate the Chinese zodiac, or simply the New Year’s occasion itself. shina plywood (Tilia Japonica) is a soft wood created for the modern mokuhanga printmaker in mind. While not cheap, nor nearly good enough for thin lines the softness of the ply allows for faster production of woodblock prints as prints made with harder woods generally take much longer to make. David Bull is a printmaker and mentor to the modern mokuhanga practitioner. Mokuhankan is the brick and mortar store located in Asakusa, Tōkyō where his team of carvers and printmakers make their prints. He also has a Twitch stream which is regularly updated where he shows what is currently in the works. Hillgate Gallery in Kyōto can be found, here. The website is in Japanese. genkan (玄関) - is an walkway in a Japanese home where one take off their shoes. Flowers, art, can be shown they’re as a welcome to guests. Wakkanai is the northernmost point in Japan and is located in Hokkaido, Japan. It is where I started my cross country bicycle ride in 2015. Kyōto International Print Association Facebook site. opening and closing credit background music: “Without A Song,” by Sonny Rollins from his 1962 record The Bridge. © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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3/31/2021 • 57 minutes, 12 seconds Annie Bissett - Printmaker: You Design For The Error You Know You’ll Make Annie Bissett is one of the most thought provoking and interesting mokuhanga artists working today. Her pieces allow the viewer to contemplate subjects and ideas which may never have entered their consciousness . Especially in the current political and cultural climate, her prints make all the more sense. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Annie Bissett about her career in mokuhanga, what her “sociopolitical” prints are meant to signify, her method as well as her philosophies on mokuhanga as a form of artistic expression. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Notes: Annie Bissett - website , Instagram Matt Brown - an established mokuhanga artist who is a mentor and leader in contemporary mokuhanga. website Instagram sōsaku hanga - an initial period of woodblock print making beginning in the early 20th century and dedicated to what I would call, natural printmaking. Omitting the traditional division of labour method of the publisher, carver, and printer, sōsaku hanga printmakers create their prints entirely on their own. Although this is not always the case with some printmakers notably Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997) who as he got older and more popular began to mete out his work for others to produce. A great history on Saitō can be found here from the town of Yanaizu in Fukushima, Prefecture’s website where the Saitō Kiyoshi Museum of Art is located. Annie Bissett’s map prints can be found here. Annie Bissett’s “We Are Pilgrim’s” prints can be found here. a great article, albeit from 1958, on the development of early American woodcuts can be found as open access on JSTOR. The National Security Agency in the United States has been accused of surveillance on the American citizenry. Annie Bissett’s prints about the NSA can be found here. Smith College is a private liberal arts women’s college in Northampton, Massachusetts. Annie Bissetts “pots” series of prints can be found here. John Alden was a crew member and Pricilla Alden was a passenger on the Mayflower, and were married. Annie Bissett’s print of the couple can be found here. Printmaker David Bull’s “Baren Forum” can still be found, here. It’s chock full of information for printmakers of all levels. I Was A Twentieth Century Lesbian (series) can be found here. shunga - generally speaking is a woodblock printing style and motif that has to do with sex and sexuality. Much of the time it is gratuitous and fantastical. Usually banned throughout its history it was and still is extremely popular. Annie Bissett’s “Twentieth Century Lesbian” series is tasteful and powerful and, in my personal opinion, still connects to the shunga tradition through that tasteful and powerful light. Wood-like Matsumura - an incredibly important online and brick and mortar store located in Nerima City, Tokyo. I allude to the print, The Dream Of The Fisherman’s Wife (蛸と海女) published in 1814. It is one of the most famous shunga prints ever made where a female figure is being made love to by an octopus. For an interesting take on this print look to photographer Sawatari Hajime and his series of photos “Hysteric Ten” to see that print, essentially, come to life. PEN magazine in Tokyo wrote an article in English, here. opening and closing credit background music: Bruce Springsteen “Highway 29,” from The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1995) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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3/15/2021 • 54 minutes, 58 seconds Laura Boswell ARE: Printmaker- Concepts Of Simplicity and Space Laura Boswell is one the most productive mokuhanga and linocut printmakers working today. Not only does she print, she co-produces a popular art podcast called Ask An Artist, and with her husbands help The Talented Mr. B, she also produces instructional videos on YouTube on mokuhanga and lino cut. Her output these days is inspiring and exceptional. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with Laura about her creativity, her history with mokuhanga, her podcast and her ideas, her book and on mokuhanga itself. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Laura Boswell - website Ask An Artist Podcast - website Nagasawa Art Park - is a program which stopped in 2011 and has since moved to MI-Lab (Mokuhanga Inovation Laboratory) at Lake Kawaguchi. It is a program dedicated to the art of mokuhanga and hosts artist in residence programs. Wood-like Matsumura - an incredibly important online and brick and mortar store located in Nerima City, Tokyo. diptych - is a two panel print sometimes pasted together making one single image seen in a lot of ukiyo-e and mokuhanga. Awagami Paper Factory - located in Yoshinogawa Village on Shikoku Island in Japan, is a paper making company which produces Japanese paper called washi. You can purchase their papers online here. Near Applecross - a series of prints by Laura made in different colours and a couple of designs can be found on her archive here. Awaji Island - is an island linking the mainland of Hōnshu to the island of Shikoku by the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway (神戸淡路鳴門自動車道) Awaji Island has a rich history and culture and can be researched here. Buckinghamshire, England - is a country in the South-East of England near Oxford. It has a lovely natural beauty and a long history. Find more information here. Peter Keegan - co-host and co-producer of the Ask An Artist podcast with Laura and is an established painter in his own right. You can find more information about Peter’s work here. Making Japanese Woodblock Prints - Laura Boswell’s book on how to make Japanese woodblock prints, or mokuhanga. It is rich in information and a great book for beginners and seasoned mokuhanga printmakers alike. Purchase the book here. Michael Harding - makes oil paints. More information can be found here. Artist Support Pledge - information can be found here. mica - is a mineral, when ground, is used in mokuhanga. It was famously used in several ōkubi-e (large head prints)by the artist Sharaku (active 1794-1795). It is held onto the paper via a paste, or gum-arabic. David Bull writes about how to use mica on woodblock.com. bokashi - a technique used in mokuhanga which fades colour, usually in landscape prints especially in the sky. Made famous by the landscape prints of Hiroshige. Printmaker John Amoss writes a fine description of bokashi on his blog. Will Francis - a mokuhanga carver and printer based in England. He collaborates with artist Jed Henry who also works with David Bull of Mokuhankan. His website can be found here, his patreon can be found here. Holbein - a company which makes many colours for artists. opening and closing credit background music: The Black Eyed Peas, Karma, from their first record, Behind The Front. (1998) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.
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2/28/2021 • 56 minutes, 55 seconds Taran Casey - Craftsman: If I’m Visible, Then I Haven’t Done My Job Right. Taran Casey is very committed to the craft of mokuhanga. Taran is an apprentice carver in Tokyo, Japan. Following his progress on social media over the past year or so, I have found his work fascinating as well as educating. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with Taran regarding the apprenticeship process under a Japanese teacher, what he has learned in technique the last two years, as well his opinions on the future of mokuhanga in a modern world. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my print work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Taran Casey (Gingko Hanga) - Instagram, website, Patreon Motuharu Asaka - Taran's teacher. Class and workshop information can be found on his website and Instagram. Kodaira - is a city in western Tokyo with many colleges and universities. It also has an abundance of museums, parks and temples and shrines. Mokuhankan (David Bull) - Canadian carver and printer located in Asakusa, Tokyo. If you are interested in watching Dave work, he has a Twitch stream updated regularly. Wood-like Matsumura - is a brick and mortar woodblock print supply shop in Nerima City, Tokyo. They also have an online shop where overseas printmakers can purchase equipment for their work. Ozu Washi - is a handmade paper shop located in Nihonbashi, Chuo ward, Tokyo. They sell from their shop as well as online. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川 國芳 - 1798-1861) - was a print designer and painter known for his triptychs, yoko-e (horizontal landscape prints), Yokohama-e (prints about the port city of Yokohama), and yakusha-e (actor prints). Considered one of the last of the golden age print designers of ukiyo-e. The Last Samurai (film) - is a 2003 feature-length film starring Tom Cruise, and Ken Watanabe. Rife with historical inaccuracies it attempts to tell the story of Saigō Takamori (1828-1877) one of the leaders of what would be considered the Meiji Restoration. The film describes the attempt at restoring power to the Emperor and Takamori's death for this cause. The David Bull carving Taran is speaking about is the very popular YouTube full stream woodblock carving from start to finish, of a lithographic print originally by Ichijō Narumi (1877-1911), called At The Hotspring (1906). It can be seen in its entirety on YouTube here and can be purchased, here. Komura Settai (1887-1940) - an artist who painted, and illustrated many things from books to woodblock prints, to kabuki stage sets. Taran carved and printed Settai's Osen Kasa. Shodō - is Japanese calligraphy tamari (溜まり) - is the pooling of ink between the carved lines of your woodblock. This is exposed when testing your carving but can be fixed by either recarving the part of the block causing tamari or altering the amount of ink or water being used. Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎, 1760-1849) - was an artist and woodblock designer made famous for The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1829-1832) His career was long and exemplary. One of the most famous Japanese artists of all time. bijin-ga (美人じん画) - woodblock prints associated with the depiction of women using elements from nature, fashion, and culture to depict the female image in many interesting ways. Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806 -喜多川 歌麿) - artist and woodblock print designer made famous for his ōkubi-e (大首絵), or large head prints. His influence has stretched all over the world. Adachi woodblock print company - located in Shinjuku-ward Tokyo is a company based on reproducing old prints. You can purchase prints directly from them, here. yamazakura is wood traditionally used for making Japanese woodblock prints. An interesting conversation from 2016 on David Bull's Mokuhankan Conversations discusses yamazakura. Tokyu Hands is a large chain of department style stores throughout Japan. They carry absolutely everything. Check out their website for a better understanding of what they do. opening and closing credit background music: Donald Byrd "Love's So Far Away" from his 1973 album Blackbyrd © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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2/13/2021 • 51 minutes, 52 seconds Halle Castille: artist/assistant to printmaker John Amoss - Slow And Steady Wins The Race Everybody needs a helping hand. Halle Castille is an artist and assistant to printmaker John Amoss, who I interviewed here. At 26 Halle has been working diligently at her career as an artist shortly after leaving school. One of her teachers happened to be woodblock printmaker John Amoss of Tanuki Prints. Since August of 2020, Halle has been assisting John with his Appalachian Trail series as well as his social media accounts. In my interview with Halle we talk her own career, her experience with mokuhanga in an academic setting, her day to day tasks helping John undertake such an ambitious journey, as well as advice on how to navigate the social media landscape as an artist. I had a lot of fun with this interview and learned a lot. follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: all notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase! Halle Castille - Instagram , Etsy University of North Georgia runs printmaking courses at the Dunlap-Mathis building. John Amoss and Tanuki Prints can be reached here and here. The Appalachian Trail print series is created by John Amoss and can be ordered here. The term “suicide prints” is in reference to the reduction method of printmaking as once you’ve cut away the wood there’s no going back. Printmaker Nick Wroblewski describes the process much better than I can. opening credit background music: Koop G Rap: For Da Brothaz from his debut solo album ‘4,5,6’ (1995) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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1/28/2021 • 22 minutes, 45 seconds Naoko Matsubara: Printmaker - Colour Works; Colour Speaks: Colour Itself One of the main reasons I wanted to start The Unfinished Print was to have a chance to speak to the artists who have made an indelible mark on the world of mokuhanga. In many respects, I would call those printmakers, "legends." Naoko Matsubara in my humble opinion is one of those "legends." Her work spans several generations, across many countries, and has challenged what it means to be a mokuhanga artist. In this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak to Naoko Matsubara about her philosophies on mokuhanga, her travels across Canada, Tibet, and the United States, as well as her new book In Praise of Hands. I conducted this interview with Naoko Matsubara in her home in Oakville, Ontario where she has lived for over forty years. She was gracious enough to allow me into her home, and as we were using masks (PPE), and were socially distanced from each other the microphone did its best to pick up the audio. While the audio is good, it is not as good as I have come to expect from The Unfinished Print, so I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the listener. There is a lot of great information in my interview with Naoko Matsubara for the mokuhanga practitioner, historian, and layman. Enjoy. follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: all notes may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase! Naoko Matsubara 直子松原 - website In Praise of Trees - was a book published in 1984 showcasing, with poetry Naoko Matsubara's tree prints. It is no longer in print. In Praise of Hands - is a book just published by The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK. Like In Praise of Trees it contains poetry accompanied by prints related to the hand. You can purchase this book here. Man'yōshū 万葉集 - Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves, compiled during the Nara Period (710-794) the Man'yōshū is a compendium of waka 和歌 poetry relating to many topics such as court life but is more famous for its poems about romance and love. The new Japanese Emperor Period Reiwa (令和) comes from the Man'yōshū. The Abbozzo Gallery in Toronto contains a large number of Naoko Matsubara's works. Nihonbashi Takashimaya - is a large department store located in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. This district was a famous merchant district during the Edo Period (1603-1868). It is also famous for its bridge where at one point one could see Mt. Fuji. The Takashimaya chain of department stores began from humble beginnings in Tokyo in 1831. What I find of interest is that department stores such as the Takashimaya in and around major Japanese cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) will have curated art shows. Munakata Shiko 志功棟方 (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers, Shiko is famous for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural, and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work. HAP Grieshaber (1909-1981) - a German printmaker who is famous for his large printwork full of colour and themes of anti-fascism and anti-oppression. Having lived during the Nazi occupation Grieshaber's work is powerful and relentless. Fritz Eichenberg (1901-1990) was a German printmaker, illustrator, designer who criticized the Nazi party and moved to New York where most of his work was created. His prints are predominantly black and white with themes from literature, especially Russian. Harry Abrams (Abrams Books) - an art book publisher who began publishing art books in 1949. Boston Impressions - a series of prints as well as a book (1970) of the same name created by Naoko Matsubara of her life in Boston, Massachusetts. Kinggait ᑭᙵᐃᑦ - formerly known as Cape Dorset, is located in the territory of Nunavut in the Qikiqtaaluk Region (ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ) It is an artistic hub especially for printmaking. James Houston (1921-2005), was a civil administrator at Cape Dorset and is said to have taught several Inuit artists the art of printmaking. John Houston, James' son continues to work with the Kinggait community as a filmmaker. The hyper-link of John's name links to a talk he gave for IdeaCity, a TED Talk type. Canada has its own embarrassing history of colonialism (The Hudson's Bay Co., Catholicism) and this has affected the Inuit people of the Qikiqtaaluk Region. If you have the time please read this "people's history" of the Inuit of this region, here. It is told by the people who lived during the period of 1950-1975, as a community history describing the abuse suffered by many during this time from alcohol, unemployment, and relocation. Iwano Ichibei - ninth-generation Living National Treasure of the Echizen paper making family. Carnegie Mellon University - located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. opening credit background music: One For Daddy-O by Cannonball Adderly © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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1/18/2021 • 33 minutes, 54 seconds John Amoss - Printmaker: You Have To Create A Void Printmaker, teacher, artist, John Amoss has created, in my humble opinion, one of the most important modern mokuhanga landscape series in The Appalachian Trail. In my interview with John Amoss we speak on his philosophies behind mokuhanga, the journey’s throughout his life that helped him reach the creation and completion of The Appalachian Trail, the works of Hiroshi Yoshida and Kawase Hasui, as well as his own printmaking process. follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! John Amoss (Tanuki Prints) - website where John blogs, and discusses his Appalachian Trail series. You are able to purchase the series or the first and second prints of the series as well. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) - 100 Views of Famous Places in Edo Paul Binnie - Flowers Of A Hundred Years The prints made from this series can be found in the above link via Scholten NYC Annie Bissett - We Are Pilgrims Matsubara Naoko - naokomatsubara.com contains some of the prints from her In Praise Of Hands series. It is also a book being released by Yoshiki Waterhouse in 2021. Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) - The Complete Woodblock Prints is a fantastic book which comes in several editions. David Bull’s Baren Forum was an early incarnation of Mokuhankan and his Twitch streams. This was where artists from around the world would come and ask questions and get advice regarding mokuhanga. It helped many early printmakers get going. gomazuri - is a technique in printmaking which gives the print a sesame seed pattern on the paper. Yoshida discusses this here Hasui Kawase (1883-1957) - one of the most important print designers of the shin-hanga movement. His prints tap into the idealized visuals of Japan through the weather such as snow, rain, and autumn leaves. His landscape prints are incredibly powerful and moving. Shōzaburō Watanabe (1885-1962) - began the shin hanga movement in Japan in 1915 by hiring printers, carvers, and designers in the style of ukiyo-e. Artists such as Hasui, Yoshida, and Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) started their careers with Watanabe. Calendaring/beta ban block - John discusses calendaring the paper which is running the paper through a press to flatten the paper more to get better flat colour. Beta ban is a term regarding a flat area of the wood block “containing an area of wide, featureless colour.” surimono - a term regarding privately commissioned prints allowing for a more free artistic expression. Ukiyo-e Heroes - a print series begun by David Bull and Jed Henry with a focus on video game culture and characters from that universe. The Appalachian Trail - a trail which travels through the American states of Maine to Georgia (14 states). It is 2193miles (3529km) which is walked. Suffice it to say it looks spectacular and John’s prints reflect that. Daoism (Taoism) - a philosophy and religion which discusses and teaches the release of desire. The Japanese Alps - a mountain range which runs form several prefectures in Japan; Niigata, Toyama, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu and Shizuoka, on the island of Honshu. 100 Poems from 100 Poet’s Series by David Bull Pacific Crest Trail - a trail which runs 2,653 mi (4,270 km) from the states of California, Oregon, Washington and terminates at the Canadian province of British Columbia. Graham Scholes - Canadian printmaker. The boot camp does not seem to be running any longer. dispersion pigments - concentrated pigments which use water. Guerra paints make these pigments. Kremer pigments sell powdered pigments. Cal Carlisle - an American printmaker (@heritageprintmakers) based in Cleveland, Ohio who has sold his own prints as well as worked for Jed Henry. He was also my first interview on The Unfinished Print. Kitaro Echizen Washi opening credit background music: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Cannonball Adderley (1997) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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12/8/2020 • 54 minutes, 57 seconds Matt Brown - Printmaker : Limits Are Form Matt Brown is a philosopher of mokuhanga. It can be so very easy to get lost in the technique and the minutiae of what we do that the philosophical elements of the art form can be lost. In my interview with printmaker and teacher Matt Brown we try to get to the heart of the woodblock print. Through Matt’s stories and his desire to understand his passion we move along various topics such as his inspirations, his way of working, and what exactly does “limits are form,” mean? follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Matt Brown Fine Art - Matt’s site dedicated to his space and the artists represented. Ooloo Press: Matt Brown Woodblock Prints site with history, shop, and gallery is a good introduction to what Matt is doing. Dartmouth College/Hood Museum Hiroshige 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō The Phillips Collection Washington DC Museum Of Fine Arts in Boston’s show of Kuniyoshi Utagawa (1798-1861), and Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1864) was a huge show for the museum and was very well received. Suzuki Harunobu (1724-1770) was one of the earliest printmakers who made nishiki-e, or multi block prints. Utamaro Kitagawa (1753-1806) - a printmaker famous for his large head prints or ōkubi-e, especially of women. Paul Binnie’s Grand Canyon print of 2007 Kevin Francis - his website containing all relevant information regarding his work and process. David Bull/Mokuhankan Arthur Dow (1857-1922) - American teacher and printmaker who connected with academic of Japanese history and art Ernest Fenellosa (1853-1908) who introduced Dow to ukiyo-e. The above link from the Smithsonian shows the few prints Dow made. He also wrote a book called “Composition” that Matt brought up in our interview which is very good. Frances Gearhart (1869-1958) - a California based water-colourist and printmaker whose prints are an excellent example of the vast landscape of the California countryside. The link is of an excellent website dedicated to her work. Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) - his encyclopedia of woodblock prints is a go to in order to understand the techniques of mokuhanga. Walter J Philips (1884-1963) - one of the most important printmakers in my opinion. English born but a career that was cultivated here in Canada. Walter J Philips watercolour and woodblock print landscapes, much like Frances Gearhart and her California landscapes, show Canada in its splendour. He also made his own tools and was largely self-taught. His catalogue raisonné is worth a look. Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) - was an abstract painter who also made woodcuts in the 1970’s. Please check out frankenthalerfoundation.org opening credit background music: So Far So Good...So What by CIV (1995) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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11/22/2020 • 48 minutes, 22 seconds Terry McKenna: Karuizawa Mokuhanga School: It’s For Everybody Terry McKenna is the owner and operator of the Mokuhanga School located in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. In this episode of The Unfinished Print, Terry and I discuss sustaining a business during COVID-19, his own work, and how his school is run. follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Karuizawa Mokuhanga School , Instagram Richard Steiner - printmaker Ballarat Hakkei print set Ōmi Hakkei - this entire set can be seen here at Fuji Arts. waterfall prints by Terry McKenna Karuizawa Tourist info at Japan-Guide.com Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan tourist visa info The koru is the sacred frond of the Māori people of New Zealand. Along with the silver fern, it’s use is considered to be sacred. To list the many non-Japanese printmakers of Mokuhanga would be too much for these notes. In my research I haven’t come across a definitive list, but one could begin with Annie Bissett, Ralph Kiggell, Paul Binnie and Elizabeth Keith, Canadian arts grants The Japan Cultural Studies Visa Hidehiko Goto is a baren maker from Japan. Terry referenced his book about making your own baren. I have linked a YouTube video of Mr. Goto making a baren in Hawai’i at the 2017 International Mokuhanga Conference. MI-Lab (mokuhanga innovation) is an artist in residence program designed to help promote mokuhanga and assist in its learning. The pandemic has affected Terry and MI-Lab and their main source of income, people. MI-Lab has done some crowdfunding and will most likely do that again in the future. If you can assist please do. sōsaku hanga was an art movement of printmaking in Japan in the early 20th century. It’s main difference from ukiyo-e, and shin-hanga was its creation by one person, who carved and printed their own prints. Some famous sōsaku print artists were Onchi Kōshirō (1891-1955), Kanae Yamamoto (1892-1996), and Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997). Dave Bull and Mokuhankan opening credit background music: Living In A Ghost Town by The Rolling Stones (2020) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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11/8/2020 • 40 minutes, 44 seconds Nancy Jacobi: The Japanese Paper Place Toronto - The Conversation Between The Paper And The Artist Without the use of paper there would be no mokuhanga. Washi has played an indelible position in the world of the Japanese print. Many artists in mokuhanga use washi for their prints and as The Unfinished Print is a podcast dedicated to the workings of mokuhanga I felt it was necessary to interview an expert in all things washi. Nancy Jacobi has worked tirelessly in promoting the use of washi in her life through her company and store The Japanese Paper Place, here in Toronto. She has lectured on the subject, as well as educated many about the possibilities of washi. In this episode of The Unfinished Print Nancy helps me understand how important washi is to many artists, its history, and how it needs to be saved. follow The Unfinished Print and my work on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! The Japanese Paper Place Echizen washi Iwami UNESCO paper Ogawa Hosokawa UNESCO kozo paper - this video I found on YouTube is a great mini doc of the intensive paper making process. Rembrandt (1606-1669) - washiarts.com have written on Rembrandt’s use of Japanese paper. Inuit printmaking - The Inuit are an Arctic group of indigenous peoples located in Canada, Greenland, and the US state of Alaska. They have a tradition of printmaking beginning in the 1950’s, as introduced by administrator John A. Houston (1921-2005),who according to The Canadian Encyclopedia, studied in Japan for a few months under print artist Un’ichi Hiratsuka (1895-1997) Today, there is a rich history of printmaking from the Inuit people. Mitsumata paper Timothy Barrett is a printmaker and paper maker from the US who was interviewed on the Paper Talk Podcast Dutch trade with Japan as found on a multi part website dedicated to the Netherlands/Japan exchange Japonisme - a great essay found in the MET website The Ontario College of Art is located in downtown Toronto near the Art Gallery of Ontario. With a long history of artists and art OCAD continues to teach art in Toronto. The Bookbinders Guild of Toronto chiyogami paper is a patterned paper for decoration and art CERB - the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit plan was a monetary response to the current COVID-19 pandemic Queen St. West is a street in the central part of Toronto, running West to East, with a rich history. In the 1980’s when Nancy was first setting up The JPP it was a seedier part of Toronto with a lot of prostitution, drugs, and poverty. CAMH - The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is an institution in Toronto for the care of individuals afflicted with various psychiatric issues. It is still located on Queen St. West and has always been a fixture in the area. With a rich varied history of research and awareness CAMH continues its efforts today. Toronto artist co-ops have been important to the preservation and cooperation between artists for a long time. Artscape, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and others have been working with artists in Toronto for years. The Paper Place Trinity Bellwoods Park is a 16 hectare park located in and around Queen Street and Dundas Streets in Toronto. It’s an important park for many students, artists, hipsters, and bohemians. Once used by the University Of Toronto with the building of Trinity College in the mid 19th century, the college had been demolished in the 1950’s much like many architecturally important buildings in Toronto at that time, and currently. Etobicoke (Ētowbicoe) is a part of the city of Toronto which stretches west towards the city of Mississauga. It was a suburb until Toronto amalgamation in January of 1998. Au Papier Japonais (Montréal) - I would encourage my American printmaker listeners to seek out Canadian paper shops like the JPP and APJ, as well as Washi Arts in the US, for their paper needs. With shipping being complicated with COVID-19 it may be a better option. The Ontario Arts Council is a grant based organization in the province of Ontario which grants subsidies for artists in visual and theatrical art. The Japan Foundation is an organization based in Japan but found with art spaces and offices all over the world which spreads the culture of Japan. Creative World Brian Kelley - printmaker Harbourfront is a portion of the lake shore in Toronto from Bathurst St. to Queens Quay. It has become a center for art, sports, theatre and outdoor activities. The arts have predominantly been exhibited at The Harbourfront Centre. ARTiculations - a shop in Toronto which conducts many workshops in many art forms. opening credit background music: Return 0f The Crooklyn Dodgers feat. Chubb Rock, O.C., Jeru The Damaja (1995) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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10/31/2020 • 48 minutes, 28 seconds Will Francis: Printmaker - When Its Purpose Is Itself (Part 2) Join me for the final part of my two part interview with printmaker Will Francis. What started as a discussion about pigments, used historically and currently in the world of mokuhanga, quickly morphed into a lively discussion about what it means to be a mokuhanga artist in modern times. follow me on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Will Francis: Patreon and website cochineal pigment Hokusai 36 Views of Mount Fuji Prussian blue pigment Natalie Stopka has a very good article written on her website regarding indigo pigment. Shōzaburō Watanabe (1885-1945) - an entrepreneur and publisher who kicked off what would become one of the most significant chapters in mokuhanga history. It was his vision which brought together artists from the yōga and nihonga schools of Japanese art to help make woodblock prints in the ukiyo-e tradition. A fantastic book on the subject is Seven Masters: 20th Century Japanese Woodblock Prints from The Wells Collection. There is a detailed history of the shin-hanga movement and those involved. sepia pigment ochre pigment - great article of earth pigments from ThoughtCo. Harunobu Suzuki (1725- 1770) One of the original nishiki-e printmakers. His prints would pave the way for many who would make and design prints in design and subject matter. overprinting - this is a term coined for printing the same spot on a print over and over again to get the desired colour, depth and richness. Lucy Morrish is Will Francis’ partner. She works on illuminated manuscripts and uses vellum for this work. Her work is spectacular. Her website will tell you everything you need to know regarding her process and her works. shell gold pigment - article is from naturalpigments.com gouache pigment - great article on handprint.com Laura Boswell - printmaker based in the UK and is a teacher of Will Francis. You can find her work here, and her YouTube channel here. sōsaku hanga - a style of mokuhanga which involves a more free approach to printmaking where one person does the design, carving, and printing in their own. Good article here from Ronin Gallery in NYC. Hashiguchi Gōyō (1881-1921) - a yōga painter who transitioned to designing a single woodblock print for Watanabe and then designed on his own. His life was cut short at 40 by meningitis. He left a lasting legacy on the Japanese print through the design and construction of his work, especially with the design of images of women. CMYK printing Henri Matisse (1864-1954) - French artist who was arguably influenced by Japanese woodblock prints. While although not officially connected to the Japonisme movement of the later 19th Century because of his age, Matisse did make the occasional woodcut as well as used the flat colouring of ukiyo-e for some of his work especially in his Paris period and his later years with his decoupage. Shikō Munakata (1903-1975) - eccentric folk woodblock artist who in an almost free-hand manner created some of most fascinating mokuhanga of the 20th century. He also painted oils and in watercolour. Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) - is the greatest artist associated with the woodblock print. His designs, for me, forever altered the way prints have been seen. His use of movement and his use of the five elements, especially for his triptychs, are powerful and electric. The decadence of his work only enhances the visual power of what can be done with the art form. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) - one of the most famous woodblock artists Yoshitoshi’s powerful, grotesque, and bloody images have inspired tattoo culture in Japan and around the world. While Kunichika stayed within the boundaries of ukiyo-e, Yoshitoshi bent the rules and used a more “modern” perspective in his work which mirrored the chaos of Japan historically at that time. Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) - an all encompassing artist Hiroshi Yoshida was the person who really personifies the Japanese print of the 20th century. Trained in Western oil painting, he developed an affinity for the woodblock print before meeting with Watanabe in the 1920’s. Yoshida would take what Watanabe was doing and would continue it throughout his life, albeit with a different philosophy. This influence on woodblock printing has been felt well into the 21st century. Yoshida hired carvers and printers for his works, as well as carved on his own. At the time of his death he had produced 250 woodblock prints. His books on the subject are some of the most important books an aspiring or seasoned woodblock artist can own. Mokuhankan published his work on their website for those who are interested. kuroko - are the shadow men who help kabuki actors and bunraku puppets with their garments and stage direction. opening credit background music: Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King (1967) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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10/22/2020 • 36 minutes, 38 seconds Will Francis: Printmaker - It’s A Matter Of Consistency (Part 1) In this first part of my multi-part episode with printmaker Will Francis we begin with a short introduction with Will about who he is, what he does, and his partnership with Jed Henry. follow me on Instagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Will Francis: Patreon and website David Bull Jed Henry Hokusai (1760-1849)- this hyper link will send you to the .org website of Hokusai’s complete works. James A Michener (1907-1997) - a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, scholar and academic who wrote on Japanese prints, amongst many more topics, and worked with art historian Oliver Statler (1915-2002) bokashi - a style of gradation on woodblock prints using water and pigment. This technique gradually fades the pigments into emptiness. Sigourney Weaver (b. 1949) and her character from the Alien franchise were made into a print called Unseen Fear, carved & printed by Will Francis and designed by Jed Henry. practice blocks - I bring up the term “practice blocks” during my interview with Will because historically to practice one’s carving you would paste hanashita of specific lines and circles. These would be carved over and over again to practice your carving technique. It is still used today, albeit rarely, by artists such as Adrian Holmes, and Taran Eden Casey who have and currently post about it on their social media. Echizen washi is a paper made in a specific part of Japan, in this case in Fukui prefecture. Please visit www.echizenwashi.jp/english for an amazing website dedicated to the making and history of this paper, as well as its geography, and social history. opening credit background music: Born Under A Bad Sign by Albert King (1967) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)
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10/16/2020 • 20 minutes, 49 seconds Cam Bailey: Printmaker - Memory and Reduction Join me on the second episode of The Unfinished Print podcast as I speak with New York based printmaker Cam Bailey. We discuss a myriad of topics, including how memory affects Cam’s approach to his print work, how the environment may push him to new heights and a detailed description of the reduction process. follow me onInstagram @popular_wheatprints, Twitter @unfinishedprint, or email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Cam Bailey website Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop book by April Vollmer The Metropolitan Museum of Art Prints Maryland Institute College of Art Shin-hanga definition (artlino.com) Moebius & Jean Giraud (iamag.co) Bijin-ga (美人画) McClain’s art supplies Kitaro Japanese paper David Bull LUX Center for the Arts - Surface Impressions exhibition Woolwich Contemporary Art Fair The Southern Reach Trilogy WB Sebald Paul Binnie (catalogue) kentō registration system from McClains Tsuruya Kōkei (弦屋光渓) from USC Pacific Asian Museum opening credit background music: the almighty Diggin’ In The Crates: Day One (instrumental) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written consent. I'm friendly :)
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9/29/2020 • 32 minutes, 30 seconds Cal Carlisle: Printmaker - I Like What I Like Welcome to The Unfinished Print Podcast! Here I delve into the world of modern Japanese woodblock print through its artists, curators, and collectors. On the first-ever Unfinished Print Podcast, I chat with Cleveland based printmaker Cal Carlisle on his work, his woodblock print journey and what makes him love printing so much. Follow my Instagram for updates on the podcast as well as my work and don't forget to subscribe! @popular_wheatprints email me at theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Show Notes: all links are hyperlinked. Just click! Cal Carlisle Printmaker David Bull/Mokuhankan: for information regarding David Bull's work through his Mokunakan group, where you can find the prints he makes and sells, as well as information about how you can do your own work. Twitch stream Laura Wilder Prints Roycroft artisan, Roycroft East Aurora Campus McClain's Woodblock Printing Supply Co. Wood-like Matsumura Printmaking Supply Co. Beno Uki Ga mokuhanga Jed Henry/Ukiyo-e Heroes Holbein gouache April Vollmer Printmaker Guerra Paint & Pigments William Francis Printmaker Cam Bailey Printmaker Matt Brown Printmaker Stephen Winiecki Printmaker Hiroshi Yoshida's Encyclopedia Of Woodblock Printmaking Morgan Conservatory Cleveland Hachiko story Paper Connection Arches Paper Echizen Washi Awagami Paperworks Ilse Buchert Nesbitt Printmaker John Amos/Tanuki Prints opening credit music: Yūjirō Ishihara & Junko Makimura (銀座 の 恋 の ものがたり) © Popular Wheat Productions Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written consent. I'm friendly :)
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9/22/2020 • 1 hour, 23 seconds The Unfinished Print trailer The trailer for the upcoming podcast The Unfinished Print. This is where the Japanese print, or moku hanga, is explored through its artists, dealers, and collectors.
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7/31/2020 • 1 minute, 34 seconds