From the 17th century through the 19th century, woodblock printing in Japan enjoyed great acclaim. In a time before movable type, the process enabled a notable merging of artistic flair and the beginnings of mass production. But as the 20th century dawned, strength became weakness and modernization took its toll. “Woodblock prints were seen a bit as being obsolete and old-fashioned,” says Rhiannon Paget, curator of Asian Art at The Ringling Museum, and the mind behind the museum’s latest exhibition, Woodblock Prints from Postwar Japan, opening this Sunday, November 18. Even its brush with mass production became a negative, and woodblock printing would not be taught in major Japanese universities. “It had the taint of commercialism,” Paget says. But the storied art form never disappeared entirely, and in postwar Japan the technique enjoyed a resurgence as artists sought to establish the medium as “equal to painting or sculpture.”

Through a series of 20 woodblock prints from The Ringling’s permanent collection, and loans from three private collections, this latest exhibition seeks to showcase the medium and the technique in all its glory. From the figurative to the abstract, the surreal to the straightforward, the illustrative, the realist, the stylized, intricate, minimalist and vibrant—it’s all on display.

See works from Onchi Kōshirō, considered a central figure in modernist Japanese printmaking. Often using found objects in his prints, look for imprints of leaves and even fish fins in the composition. Working in lean times after World War II, Kōshirō also incorporated leftover wax paper from discarded cigarette cartons into his process. Hanging nearby, see work from Kōshirō’s student, Yamaguchi Gen, as well, whose Propagandist reveals more secrets the closer the viewer gets, with wood grain and artistic intention coming to the fore from hidden depths.

On the figurative side, the work of Inagaki Tomoo takes a classic subject—the cat—and injects a playfulness fitting of its feline form. The piece hangs in conversation with one of the many glass-cased sculptural pieces arranged in the inner circle of the gallery, Morimura Torizo’s Ornament of a Hare, a carven take on the legend of the White Hare of Inaba. For a surrealist approach to woodblock printing, make time to see a pair of works from Sekino Jun’ichiro, who destroyed his woodblocks as he printed, using what is referred to as the reduction method. As a result, his prints came in very limited editions, sometimes as few as three or five.

The exhibition continues around the room, with works from Yoshida Hodaka—whose process remains a mystery—the ever-popular Saito Kiyoshi and Hiratsuka Un’ichi, a father of the movement who lived to be 102 years old. And for an in-depth look at the process via the process, a woodblock print book by Maekawa Senpan, detailing his entire process from conception to distribution, has been digitized and translated for guests to peruse.

On display in the Chao Gallery of the Ringling Museum Center for Asian Art, Woodblock Prints from Postwar Japan opens Sunday and runs through May 5. 

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With the imminent arrival of PINC 2018 on December 6, once again promising a day full of passionate speakers covering a broad and varied range of topics, SRQ went behind the scenes with a few of these incoming artists, activists and entrepreneurs for a quick taste of what’s to come. As cofounder of Bee Saving Paper, Anna Gadecka looks to save our bumbling and buzzing buddies with new biodegradable food sources to combat loss of bee-friendly environments.

SRQ: Why did you want to come to Sarasota and spend time with this audience in particular? Gadecka: First of all, Bee Saving Paper is already a global brand, so it’s kind of natural for me to go global with it in every aspect. Second thing is that I discovered that PINC conference sounds really interesting. I checked past speakers and all of them have inspiring stories to tell. I believe the audience at PINC searches also for inspirations and creativity. Also the more people to talk about bees the better.

How did you fall in love with bees? Were you ever scared of them as a child, like so many are? Unfortunately I can’t tell here how i fall in love with bees because that’s the beginning of my presentation. Generally, bees are not only crucial to our survival but also fascinating creatures. Of course, I am scared of bees. As most children, I was scared of them during my childhood. I think I’m still scared of them a bit, but I think I’m much more scared of dragonflies han bees, despite the fact that they’re beautiful.

What is your favorite bee fact? My favourite bee fact is that a bumblebee during pollination creates a frequency equal to the middle C note. That’s unbelievable. 

Pictured: Anna Gadecka. Photo courtesy of PINC Sarasota.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts has announced the appointment of Morgan Gerhart as advancement director. Gerhart has more than nine years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, and more than 20 years as a volunteer in various nonprofits in Florida, Connecticut, New Jersey and Scotland. Currently, Gerhart sits on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals SWFL, and Sarasota Musica Viva, and is a former board member of Sertoma Club of Sarasota, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Sarasota/Manatee Guild. Prior positions with Girls Inc. of Sarasota County as Director of Advancement, Goodwill Manasota as Director of Development, and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce as Membership Services Director. 

The Players Centre for Performing Arts

The 14th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon, Relay & 10K, a signature event produced by Life Time, a premier healthy lifestyle brand, will be shifting to the fall for 2019. Scheduled for October 20, 2019, the half marathon, relay and 10K will continue to showcase the beautiful Sarasota area. All participants will start/finish at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and embark along a waterfront route, including the John Ringling Bridge, and around St. Armand’s Circle before heading toward downtown Sarasota. Half marathon and relay participants will then continue up Tamiami Trail, where they will turn onto Bay Road to run the second half of the course through the scenic waterfront neighborhoods up to the Ringling Museum of Art. All athletes will finish along the stunning Sarasota Bay. All existing registrations will automatically be transferred to the new date. Registration for the event will be open on December 3 at the website below. 

Sarasota Half Marathon

All Faiths Food Bank received $35,000 from the Kathleen K Catlin Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to provide frozen turkeys and side dishes to distribute to those in need in the community this holiday season. Along with the distribution of over 7,100 turkeys, more than the food bank has ever distributed, families will also take home mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce. Turkeys will be distributed through the food bank’s Mobile Pantries, with the largest distribution of holiday groceries occurring on November 20, from 11am to 5pm at Robarts Arena in Sarasota. All Faiths Food Bank has also provided turkeys for distribution through its Partner Agencies in Sarasota and Desoto counties. 

All Faiths Food Bank

Goodwill Manasota recently relocated its 15th Street Bargain Barn to its Whitfield Logistics Center at 2150 Whitfield Industrial Way, Sarasota. At Bargain Barns in North Port and Sarasota, shoppers can purchase clothing and shoes by the pound, and furniture at rock-bottom prices. Merchandise comes in from retail stores several times a day, and items are only for sale at Bargain Barns at most for 24 hours, so inventory is continuously replenished. The square footage of the sales floor at the new Bargain Barn is 8,329, up from 7,301 at the previous location. The new location also features a GoodPartner Coach office, to help people with disabilities and other barriers gain positive personal and workplace behaviors and skills, and move toward self-sufficiency. 

Goodwill Manasota