Turner "Revisiting" Japanese Prints, Oct. 7-29
The CSU, Chico Turner Print Museum presents “Revisiting Japan,” the bookend to another Japanese print exhibition, “After Ukiyo-e,” which was presented almost a year ago at The Turner.
“Revisiting Japan,” a survey of translated and researched Japanese wood-block relief prints from the 1800s to the mid 20th century, runs Oct. 7-29 with a curator's talk and reception on Thursday, Oct. 13 beginning at 5 p.m.
Janet Turner Print Museum curator Catherine Sullivan and CSU, Chico Professor Emeritus Dr. Yoshio Kusaba have selected for the exhibition around 30 prints ranging in genre and tradition from three styles of Japanese printmaking -- Ukiyo-e, Shin Hanga and Sosuku Hanga.
“Since I became curator in 1993 I have worked with Dr. Kusaba several times in presenting the Japanese holdings in the Turner Print Collection,” said Sullivan. “Janet Turner was very inspired in her printmaking by the historic Japanese printmaking techniques. She even knew some of the 20th century printmakers in the collection and got her print paper from Japan.”
Dr. Kusaba, in collaboration with students enrolled in a Osher Lifelong Learning Institute class he taught last Spring, Japanese Art, researched prints chosen from The Turner collection.
They did research using Internet sources, the Meriam Library and the Turner Museum Library to find information on each print. Since Dr. Kusaba is fluent in Japanese, he was able to access sources in Japanese and translate print identification information contained in the print itself. Kusaba edited the student’s text for authenticity and accuracy.
After researching the works, the students in the class formed teams and after much scholarly debate “nominated” prints to be considered by Sullivan and Kusaba for the exhibition.
“From what the students selected we made the final decision of what would be in the exhibition based on what appealed to us either historically or stylistically,” noted Sullivan.
The research team and Dr. Kusaba will include a summary of their findings in the labels that will be next to each print in the exhibit, as well as the exhibition’s resource binder.
“The information provided by the students as well as my additions and corrections, some of them running into seven to eight pages, will become archival information for the Turner Print Museum,” said Dr. Kusaba.
Sullivan found the findings on the prints interesting as they uncovered new information that The Turner did not previously have.
“It became quite exciting as discoveries were made, incorrect information got corrected, and, in some cases, previously unknown artist became identified,” she said.
Dr. Kusaba noted that the prints that are being shown are outstanding examples of Japanese printmaking.
“All the prints that are to be shown are outstanding, especially for this area, not being close to the larger collections in the Bay Area,” said Kusaba. “In fact, The Turner’s collection of Japanese prints is the largest between San Francisco and the Eugene-Portland, Oregon area.”
In addition to the prints from the Turner Collection, Dr. Valene L. Smith, for whom the next-door Museum of Anthropology is named, has contributed three Theodore Wores paintings to the exhibition. This San Francisco artist had an international reputation and was a contemporary to James Abbot McNeill Whistler.
“Wores visited Japan and these small paintings reflect his painting skill and interest in Japan life as subject matter,” noted Sullivan.
Also, several Imari Japanese bowls will be on display as well as a Japanese gong.
These contributions are a generous loan by Dr. Smith and her husband Robert S. Benner.
Enhancing the theme, Graduate Curatorial Assistant Chelsea Gilmore has curated a Japanese exhibition for The Turner’s Ayres Hall first floor cases.
“This exhibition demonstrates the international influence affecting Japanese artists in their choice of technique other than wood-block relief, subject matter and awareness of international art movements,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan said Revisiting Japan would be of interest to anyone who appreciates Japanese history, culture, language, printmaking and art.
A work honoring 2011-12 Turner Prize Winner James (Jimmy) Snidle, “Switchback Sisters,” by the artist SWOON, will also be on display during exhibition. A reception honoring Snidle takes place Thursday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. in the Turner Gallery. Call 898-4476 for more information.
(Snidle is also speaking the same evening at the University Art Gallery, Taylor Hall, where an exhibition of works he has collected over the years is being displayed. His talk at the University Art Gallery begins at 6:30 p.m.)
The Janet Turner Print Museum is located in CSU, Chico’s Meriam Library and is open during exhibitions Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information can be found online at The Turner’s website, www.janetturner.org. If you have a specific question about the exhibition, please call 530-898-4476 or send an e-mail to csullivan@csuchico.edu. The website also has information for schools and groups wanting to book docent tours.
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