Summer Schedule:

We will be closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from July 19th to August 16th.

–

Upcoming Exhibitions:

Kentaro Fujioka Solo Exhibition

“Values”

August 28 - September 19, 2010

Opening Reception: Saturday August 28, 5-7pm

Kentaro Fujioka "Values"

Artist statement

In this series Values, collages of diamonds are made using house paint color samples as a medium. By meticulously cutting and pasting numbers of different hues, intensities and values of color samples on boards, I create realistic images of the gem. Then the surface is spray finished with a gloss acrylic coating on the gem to enhance the luminous quality.

I have always been fascinated by the transparent crystal matter and optical science which deals withthis material. And I have come upon diamonds as a subject rather accidentally. Then I realized diamonds appear where our lives are in a keenest situation. In other words, diamonds represent the ultimate value in life. We live in the value system, either economic or cultural. I believe beauty appears where there is a lot of energy. The power of this ultimate value is such a energy. The ultimate value also has been involved in a dark side of human history. There are people who abuse the power and powerless people who suffer abuse. My art is about freedom. Freedom to create and find beauty in it. Freedom to find beauty without having the power.

I have come upon the medium also accidentally. As an emerging artist striving to survive in New York City, I have taken many odd jobs, including house painting. In my studio, I had house paint color samples from these jobs and then I started making collages of diamonds. House paint manufacturers now have hundreds of different colors and offer those samples for free, thanks to our consuming culture where we are encouraged to buy new colors for our home every once a while. I call this free stuff the diluted value. We can find this diluted value everywhere today. The diluted value is often used to control consumers. I don’t like the consuming culture, and I use the diluted value not in the way I’m supposed to. This is my freedom here.

I like to work with dichotomy, dialectic method of juxtaposing two opposite things to fuse into the next level like yin and yang. Here, I put the ultimate value and the diluted value together. Heaviness of the subject and lightness of the medium.

I think the title Values is timely because I believe we live in a very crucial moment in history where our value system is being questioned. Cheap mass production has given us more problems than prosperity for human kind. Cheap money created a bubble economy and is creating a new bubble economy rather than distributing real value to people. Rich developed countries owe tremendous amount of money to poorer developing countries. These contradictions seem expanding rather than being solved. I think this is the time when we start to realize the need for reconsidering our value system. I like to question what the real value is. I am at my starting point of this question.

Kentaro Fujioka

–

Woodblock Print Exhibition by Koichiro Yoshimura

September 25 - October 9, 2010

We would like to introduce the woodblock prints by Koichiro Yoshimura. The artist studied at Tokyo Bijutsu School, now called Tokyo Art University (1927 - 1932), and subsequently worked as a textile designer.  His art deco style geometric patterns and fantasy images are references to Paul Klee and his colorful abstraction. Yoshimura’s work encompasses the spirit of modernism.

吉村幸一郎　花写生 Koichiro Yoshimura, Flower Sketch

吉村幸一郎　Koichiro Yoshimura 友禅図案 Design for the Yuzen process dyeing

吉村幸一郎　Koichiro Yoshimura 堆朱卓図案 Design of Tsuishu lacquer table

–

New Arrival:

“Chochin” (Traditional Japanese light fixture)

by MIC* ITAYA from Japan

We would like to introduce the traditional Japanese lantarn, “Chochin” (提灯).  These fine crafted, hand made fixtures are made with Bamboo and Washi paper by Suzuki Mohei Company, and desgined by contemporary designer Mic*Itaya. Itaya has successfully blended contemporary sensibility with the desire to harness the “communication power” of traditional lantern shapes. He came up with slender human faces and curving tubes that are part sculpture and part lighting fixture. Suzuki Mohei Company, Mito, Ibaragi, Japan, was found in 1865.

提灯 Chochin by MIC*ITAYA

提灯 Chochin by MIC*ITAYA

–

Past Exhibitions:

Pochi-Bukuro and Chiyogami Exhibition

June 12 - 25, 2010

We would like to introduce Japanese antique woodblock printed ”Pochi-Bukuro” and “Chiyogami” from Kyoto Sakuraiya from Meiji period to the early Showa period.  ”Pochi-Bukuro” is a tiny envelop, which is traditionally used for giving gratitude and “Chiyogami” is a washi paper with exquisite colored patterns.

御祝儀袋 (Tip Envelope)

御祝儀袋 (Tip Envelope)

御祝儀袋 (Tip Envelope)

千代紙 (Chiyogami)

千代紙 (Chiyogami)

千代紙 (Chiyogami)

–

Junko Solo Exhibition

“Into the Space”

April 24 - May 7, 2010

With her camera in hand, Junko sees beauty in the world not in frames but in filmstrips.  The landscapes her method creates become compositions of life’s harmony and cacophony, all at once wondrous and precious.

Junko

"Factory" by Junko, 12" x 79"

Opening Reception

Into the Space Exhibition by Junko

–

Miki Rokuroda Solo Exhibition

“Gendai Nihonga” (Japanese Style Abstract Work) Exhibition

March 20 - April 7, 2010

Miki Rokuroda is a New York City based artist.   Much of her abstract artwork use traditional Japanese materials.  They are highly detailed and labor-intensive, creating exciting, moody, and emotional combinations of color and texture.

Early in her artisitic development, she trained as a traditional Japanese painter in Tokyo.  Moving to New York City in 2000.  She has continued to evolve her vision. Most recently, she’s held 2 separate solo shows in New York City, participated in the Viewing Program at The Drawing Center, as well as her work exhibited at Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan.

*Japanese painting incorporates the use of unique materials, such as an adhesive (nikawa), Japanese chalk (gofun), powdered mineral pigments (iwa-enogu), natural pigments, Japanese ink (sumi), and gold and silver leaf. Various tools and techniques influenced by tradition are also employed. Learning how to make effective use of such materials, tools, and techniques requires considerable patience, ambition, and spirit on the part of an artist.

–

HARIE (Japanese Landscape Collages) by Junko Yamada

January 8 - 22, 2010

–

Paintings by Sonomi Kobayashi

“Balance”

November 13 - December 5, 2009

I strive to express the relationship between humanity and nature, humanity and earth, and humanity and the universe through my art. Recent studies show scientific proof that living as intellectual humans in the universe are more rare and unique than we’ve imagined. I contemplate the meaning of human existence and its connection to the universe, as well as exploring the origin of our planet and its future in the universe.

I use images and symbols found in space and the ocean. My frequent use of round and circular objects reflects the cycle of life and their common occurrence in the universe. The work on canvas is based in oil paint. Mixed medium are used in subsequent layers to accentuate each layer, creating with each stratum a link to the past, present and future. The work on paper is on the other hand, painted without layers using Japanese pigment, Sumi ink (traditional Japanese writing ink), and pencils. I drop ink and paint very carefully, to create and express a beauty of life with accidents and chances.

The varied colors, fine lines, and organic shapes in my art reflect my sensibilities and emotions. These feelings are often uncertain and intimidated by the challenges the future may bring, but ultimately inspired and hopeful.

-Sonomi Kobayashi

–

ANTIQUE BOTANICAL ART COLLECTION

September 26 – October 10, 2009

We would like to introduce Japanese Antique Woodcut print for the botanical encyclopedia from Meiji period, based on original artworks by Edo Rimpa School Artists; Hoichi Sakai (1761-1829), Kiichi Suzuki (1796-1858), and Kimei Nakano (1834-1892).

–

Ceramics by Yumiko Kuga

“Korogari”

August 28th - September 10th, 2009

Opening reception: Friday, August 28th, 6-8pm

Korogari

As I wander along a mountain path, through a field, or along the banks of a beach, a thought suddenly occurs to me: how the natural evolution of plant life, going beyond the everlasting history of time, allows one to see the way in which nature’s work is shaped and formed after multiple changes. Through its adaptations, mother nature greets the environment, not always with anger, but with also a smile. Instead of resorting to theory, I respond to this kindness that nature bestows, within my pottery. TheKorogari series stems from the Japanese verb, korogaru, meaning “to roll.” Korogari is a new term invented to represent this meaning in noun form to describe my work. I imagine my pottery as an evolution of an ever constant rolling work in progress, which nonetheless manifests into smiling creations. When people use my pottery everyday, it is my hope that both the pottery and its owners are able to live more harmoniously and peaceably together.

Yumiko Kuga