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...
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...
Mokuhanga in Fujikawaguchiko- First Impressions
It's been a hectic spring- lots of teaching and admin, and not as much art as I'd like. However, the semester culminated in an early departure and a trip Fujikawaguchiko, where I'm going to be doing a one-month residency studying Mokuhanga (traditional Japanese...
Inspiration Monday- Sea Lion Rescue
For this week's inspiration Monday, I'm looking back to a research trip to the Galapagos one year ago. Sea Lions are amazing creatures... big puppies when they're young, sort of a lion-rhino combo when they're mature. I got charged by a big bull one year when I was...