I found this while browsing the Chicago SunTimes newspaper where the same image was used and covered about half the page. The Symposium is sponsored by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) ad METI (Japanese Ministry of Trade and Industry).

Quote:"...there has been a dramatic change in the mindset of the Japanese government and business community toward FDI. A realization has been made that in order for the economy to grow, Japan must be open to the world."

This is also interesting as 140 years ago Japan made a somewhat similar decision when opening it's door to welcome the West and it's culture.

The artist is Toshusai Sharaku one of the most famous (and short lived careers (1794-1795)) portrait artist in Japanese printmaking history. I found the same image on my PC among my collection of Japanese print images but in the advertising Sharaku's image has been reversed !

For more on Sharaku visit this link by John Fiorillo:
Viewing Japanese Prints

Posted on October 08, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 01, 2008

Mokuhanga in Toronto

Posted by Julio

Here is the link: http://www.mokuhangatoronto.com/

Ralph Kiggell

Yasuyuki Shibata

Posted on October 01, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 09, 2008

Ten years ago on Barenforum.org

Posted by Julio

The way it was..... June 9th 1998

--------------------------------------------------------------------
From Dave Bull:

"Hien Pham, the friend who made the suggestion about the Vietnamese
prints the other day, dropped me another line this afternoon. He
suggested a new section in the 'Exhibitions' section of the Encyclopedia - a section on traditional woodblock prints from various countries.

This is obviously a good idea, and I'll start work on it right away ... but _what_ countries have such a tradition? I've seen woodblocks from China, Taiwan, Tibet/Nepal ... and now Vietnam.

Anybody else know of any others? Please let me know if you do, and if you know of any images that we might be able to use for such a page ..."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From James Mundie:
Excerpt of correspondence with Max Yela (Head, Special Collections Golda Meir Library,UW-Milwaukee. WI) on response to a James Mundie inquiry:

"Thanks for your note about american artist Danny Pierce. I'm pleased you
enjoyed the exhibit; it was certainly fun putting it together and a
pleasure to work with the artist. Now in his mid-70s, Danny is still very active, creating about one complete book a year, each with a dozen or more of his expressive, multi-color wood block prints. His most recent book is called The Trek (1996), and deals poetically with the subject of North American caribou migration.

There is a book artist in Philadelphia whose woodblocks and linocuts I
admire, Claire Owen. Do you know her?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted on June 09, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 13, 2008

Traditional Japanese Printmaking

Posted by Julio

For more info into the artist check this website:
http://bs.doshisha.ac.jp/kakushin/shokunin_e/int/int_harada.html

or for the list of shokunin:
http://bs.doshisha.ac.jp/kakushin/shokunin_e/index.html

Posted on May 13, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 24, 2007

Don Black Woodcut Engraving video

Posted by Julio

Here is an excellent video by Don Black in Toronto explaining and demonstrating the art of woodcut engraving.If you are not familiar with Don Black he runs a company that caters in old presses, refurbished letterpress equipment, type and just about everything else to do with printmaking. Please check out additional YouTube videos ( 19 at this time !) at DonBlackLetterpress:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DonBlackLetterpress

Posted on October 24, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 15, 2007

Andy English - Preparing the woodblock

Posted by Julio

Here is a clip from YouTube showing barener Andy English preparing a
block of lemonwood for engraving. Make sure to checkout Andy's other videos.

Andy printing on a 1865 Albion Press:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn9Q9n1-EiQ

Repairing a damaged block:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv-LwtaJYB8

Posted on October 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 06, 2007

Introduction

Posted by Wimberley Burton

My name is Wimberley and I have been a lurker on the Baren Blog for over a year. I have previously taken classes with Mike Lyon and April Vollmer. Both were terrific teachers. I am interested in the next year or so in taking a class in Japan. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where, when, how long, etc. I look forward to participating more in the Baren Blog.

Posted on September 06, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 09, 2007

Yoshitoshi at the Asian Art Museum

Posted by Nathalie Roland

The San Francisco Asian Art Museum is having a wonderful exhibition of Japanese woodblock prints by Taiso Yoshitoshi (1839–1892). The show runs through September 2, 2007.

Posted on July 09, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)