Year of the Rat Print Exhibition

Year of the Rat Exhibit
In celebration of the Chinese Year of the Rat, Toronto based PROOF Studio Gallery held an international print exhibition last March. To see more photos and all the prints click on the link above.

"Year of the Rat", Elissa Kindzierski, Winnipeg, MB, Canada (Lithograph)

Sheridan Students with Krista Keller and her Trio print at the opening of the International Print Exhibition

For a short video of the exhibition and printmaking activities go here: video.
PROOF Studio is also taking applications for 2009 Year of the OX exhibit: click here

M.C. Escher video clip printing 'Snakes'

Rare video of the great late M. C. Escher (1898-1972) doing what would be his last ever print shortly before his death: "Snakes". Notice how he registers the partial block to the printed paper...and that he was left-handed.
For more on 'Snakes' visit this link: "Snakes"

Japanese print in modern day advertising

Invest in Japan Symposium 2008. This upcoming symposium is designed to highlight investment opportunities in the Japanese market. I thought it was an interesting use of a traditional Japanese print image.
I found this while browsing the Chicago SunTimes newspaper where the same image was used and covered about half the page. The Symposium is sponsored by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) ad METI (Japanese Ministry of Trade and Industry).
Quote:"...there has been a dramatic change in the mindset of the Japanese government and business community toward FDI. A realization has been made that in order for the economy to grow, Japan must be open to the world."
This is also interesting as 140 years ago Japan made a somewhat similar decision when opening it's door to welcome the West and it's culture.
The artist is Toshusai Sharaku one of the most famous (and short lived careers (1794-1795)) portrait artist in Japanese printmaking history. I found the same image on my PC among my collection of Japanese print images but in the advertising Sharaku's image has been reversed !
For more on Sharaku visit this link by John Fiorillo: Viewing Japanese Prints

Mokuhanga in Toronto

Here is the link: http://www.mokuhangatoronto.com/
Ralph Kiggell
Yasuyuki Shibata