Adopt a Remediation Sphere
Remediation. Reconciliation. Restoring a right relationship with the natural world. Can art do this? If you’re interested in any aspect of this question, I invite you to host a coffee-clay remediation sphere in your local stream, creek, pond, lake, or river.But… what...
Torii Gates… and Hiroshima University Students are Awesome
In Japan, Torii gates are symbols of transformation and entry, for the transition into a sacred space. They celebrate places of worship, or places of spiritual impact. They are often found in quiet, hidden locii of stunning natural beauty. See previous post. See the...
A Torii Gate for the University of Idaho
In August 2025, The University of Idaho is hosting students from Hiroshima University. These students are studying concepts related to place, sustainability, and conflict, with an integration of Japanese concepts such as 自然 (Jinen, the role of humans in nature) and ...
Wakasagi (Japanese Printmaking and Little Fish)
It's been a year since my residency at MI-Lab- an art residency program in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan. (Now moved to the city of Echizen). Adapting what I learned to my own home studio has been an interesting process, complicated by my own busy schedule as a professor....
Between the Cracks
I teach an course on Art and Ecology at the University of Idaho. Here's some interesting work generated by two of my students- Augustus Hahn and Maia Cuddy. Their work is currently on display as part of a curated exhibition of Ecological Artwork at the University of...
Mokuhanga in Fujikawaguchiko- some reflections
My residency (and subsequent travel) time in Japan is coming to an end. I’m currently on a plane from Fukuoka to Tokyo, and then en-route to Seattle. (Update- I’m now at home in Moscow, Idaho). It’s been a month and a half in this lovely country, and I’ll miss it....
Mokuhanga in Fujikawaguchiko- Evolution of a Print
My residency time at Fujikwaguchiko is finished- and I'm now travelling with family in Kyushu (southern Japan). Japan is a lovely place- and much more rural and uncrowded overall than most people realize. See below.I thought I'd talk through the design process for my...
Mokuhanga in Fujikawaguchiko- a few ceramics on the side
I had mentioned to the hosts at MI-Lab (my Mokuhanga Residency) that I was also interested in ceramics. and curious about any local potters. Well- it turns out there there's a Civic Center (Katsuyama Fureai Center- 勝山ふれあいセンター） about a block from the residency....
Mokuhanga in Fujikawaguchiko- First Edition
During our first week at MI-Lab, it was all about boot camp. 12-hour work days, lots of carving, inking, paste application. We didn't have a lot of time to think about design- basically, we were asked to create a simple idea that could quickly be used to explore the...
Mokuhanga in Fujikawaguchiko- Things get Real
The mountain continues to stride the edges of sight. Fuji is unthinkably iminent and lovely. I guess I've seen other mountains that were equally beautiful (Cortina, Alaska. and Nepal all have legitimate contenders)... but none more instantly iconic. I've been in...