In 1998, I became a student of Yoshisuke Funasaka to learn the traditional methods of Japanese woodblock printmaking in Tokyo for five months. The concept of shitei-kankaei, or master-disciple, exists less now than in previous times, though its remnants remain. When a person commits to an art form, then passes their practice along to another who is also willing to commit, a bond can develop between them as strong as a parent-child.
These days in Japan, this kind of association might well be described as kizuna – meaning the enduring bond forged through mutual trust and support. However one defines it, the relationship between Mr. Funasaka and myself has been an indelible part of my Japanese experience and is forever woven into my life story.
Cross Currents: East/West commemorates our longstanding connection and celebrates the cultural blending of modernism, tradition, and aesthetics in our woodblock prints.
Hope to see you a chance to see this very special exhibition in Kalamazoo!
Please scroll down to find more outstanding opportunities throughout 2023. Thank you!
KALAMAZOO, MI | April 14 – 16 | 3-Day Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Printmaking at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Registration is open.
KALAMAZOO, MI | May 12 – 14 | 3-Day Baren-making Workshop with Yoshisuke Funasaka at Kalamazoo Book Arts Center. Registration is open.
KALAMAZOO, MI | May 12 – July 28 | Cross Current: East/West Woodblock Print Exhibition at Kalamazoo Book Arts Center.
KALAMAZOO, MI | Tuesday, May 16 | ArtBreak Noon Presentation with Yoshisuke Funasaka at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
IOWA CITY, IA | July 10 – 15 | 5-Day Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Printmaking with Frogman’s Press at the University of Iowa. CLASS IS FULL
GRAND MARAIS, MN | July 24 – 28 | 5-Day Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Printmaking at Grand Marais Art Colony. Registration is open.
FISH CREEK, WI | Oct 10 – 13 | 4-Day Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Printmaking at Peninsula School of Art. Registration is open.
Learning never exhausts the mind. –Leonardo da Vinci
Yoshisuke Funasaka (b. 1938) is a Tokyo-based woodblock and silkscreen printmaker best known for his repeated depictions of various themes. His colorful artwork is in collections at prominent American museums including the Freer Gallery of Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, and many others worldwide.
Mary Brodbeck (b. 1958) is a Michigan-based artist recognized for her graphic depictions of the Great Lakes watershed region. Inspired by her love of the out-of-doors and the aesthetics of Japan, her work in both print and film (Becoming Made, 2014) has garnered her acolytes and inclusion in many workshops, exhibitions, and collections throughout the USA and abroad. CV
* Original Woodblock Prints * Guest Lecturer and Instructor * Documentary Film * Note Cards *
©2023 Mary Brodbeck Productions LLC
