Here is my latest project…. Not solarplate but a good thing.

After Hiroshegi

July 8, 2011  …..   Press Release  … For Immediate Release ….

What:            “Inspired by Japan – Relief for Relief” a sale of original woodblock prints to benefit Tsunami Victims

• All monies raised to go directly to Mercy Corps and their partner in Japan, Peace Winds

Where:                         Pacific Northwest College of Art

Commons Gallery at

1241 Northwest Johnson Street

Portland, OR 97209-3023

(503) 226-4391

When:                        Aug 4-18, 2011

Opening 5-8pm Aug 4^th

Who:            Woodblock Printmakers from the Baren Forum, (www.barenforum.org) an international organization that is free to join, the only criteria is that you like woodblock and make them as part or all of the art you produce as an artist.

Contact: Barbara Mason 503 591 8912 or cell 503 703 9623 barbaramason45@yahoo.com

In March of this year, almost immediately after the massive earthquake in Japan, Barbara Mason, one of the managers of the Baren Forum International Printmakers Group suggested the group do a fundraiser to help the Tsunami victims. It would be similar to the portfolio of original hand pulled prints that was produced and sold in 2001 as a benefit for the NY City fire fighters. It was decided that Mercy Corps and their partner in Japan, Peace Winds, would be the recipient of money for prints sold in the United States.

Over the following week Barbara received an outpouring of support for the proposal and more than 60 printmakers from around the world signaled their intention to join in the project and support the fundraiser. As the project has developed, exhibition opportunities have opened up in Portland, Bend (Atelier 6000 in August), New York, Europe and South Africa (Johannesburg in September) , with others still in the wings.

Sponsorship has also been wonderful, Tina Browder, a Baren Forum member who works for Dick Blick, secured 60 portfolios as a joint donation from Dick Blick and their supplier Daler-Rowney.  McClains Printmaking Supply, an Oregon based company, gave the Baren Forum members a 50% discount on “washi”, the Japanese handmade paper that woodblock printmakers use. The Portland Japanese Gardens and the Japan-American Society of Oregon are sending out an email blast to help publicize the event. Representatives from Mercy Corps will be on hand at the opening to also help support the fundraiser. We owe special thanks to PNCA who will host the exhibit in Portland.

Barbara Mason, a local co-owner of Waterstone Gallery and Atelier Meridian, is an artist /printmaker and a long time arts advocate and educational volunteer in the Portland area.

Barbara says “this is a trying time for our friends in Japan, even those who live very far from the earthquake and subsequent nuclear plant meltdown. Many are waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is a world-wide disaster, Japan will recover but it will be many years and for many families there is no recovery at all. As woodblock printmakers using the Japanese method of water based non-toxic printmaking, we owe much to Japan. The influence of Japanese prints began with artists like Lautrec and Degas and changed the direction of art, flattening out space and giving work a more graphic look.  The beauty of the old prints from Japan is unequaled and contemporary printmakers have carried on the traditions using modern imagery.  We are excited to promote this fundraiser and any money raised will go to Mercy Corps. Artists are always so willing to help others, they usually don’t have a lot of money, but they can give their work. We are grateful to PNCA for stepping forward to offer their commons area for the exhibition.”

See the work here, with more prints being added dally -   http://barenforum.org/japan/prints.html

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I am entirely too busy and am my own worst enemy because I cannot seem to say no to people who ask me to do things. I love to teach and love to work with kids. I just did a big project with Springvill elementary school where we printed of 12 fabric panels that were 30” wide and 120” long. I will see if I can insert them here. The school is an exponential learning school, which means they do a more concentrated type of leaning, delving into one subject and using it to learn all their other subjects. They partnered with the Tillamook Forest so they designed and printed these panels over 4 months. It was a big project but the results were good.

There were 12 panels in all but we made 14 since we made an error

We used the wrong ink and it refused to dry. A stress for sure.

here is the first post