Artists in Residence Kazuko and Kaoru

Two artists from Tokyo Japan have been in residence here during November.   Kazuko Araki and Kaoru Morita are sharing a great experience for concentration on their printmaking and enjoying cultural exchange.   This is their first visit to the USA, and they are seeing Nebraska go through  all the drama of fall to winter changes, while enjoying the open prairie landscape, football crowds, and studio activities of exhibitions and workshops.   We are enjoying our language efforts and translations about life and printmaking!   Special thanks to the Center for the Science of Human Endeavor in Tokyo for continuing to facilitating this exchange opportunity for Japanese artists!

Kaoru is working in Mokuhanga (Japanese watercolor woodblock) with soft colors printed by hand, one each day for a color record of atmosphere and influences.  She specializes in shallow carving into the woodblock, so that beautiful nuances of tone are printed.   Her drawing is here of a still life from some of the handblown glass pieces of Kenny Walton, and her woodblock print from this image is just getting underway.

Kazuko has created two editions of collagraph prints, from multiple cardboard plates, that have textures and drypoint scratches that hold the ink, printed in registration for a constructivist landscape for mountain goats.   She is inventive with her platemaking and the beautiful printed layers.   These two artist friends have studied printmaking together at the Musashino Art School in Tokyo.