Detail from a woodcut by Kitagawa Utamaro circa 1800.

Pieces from Syracuse University’s Art Collection

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Institute of Technology’s Foosaner Art Museum presents Ukiyo-e to Shin Hanga: Japanese Woodcuts from the Syracuse University Art Collection, from March 28 through May 24.

The 40-piece exhibition highlights the designed images of over 20 influential Japanese artists from key times in the country’s cultural history: the height of color Ukiyo-e printmaking (1780-1868) through the Meiji period (1868-1912) to 20th century impressions of the Shin Hanga movement (1915-1940s).

The prints exemplify the soft, painterly style that is synonymous with the Japanese woodcut and illustrate the wide range of subjects from courtesans to Kabuki theater and the Japanese landscape.

The exhibition is curated by Andrew Saluti, assistant director of the Syracuse University Art Galleries.

At 10:30 a.m. March 28 at the Foosaner’s Harris Community Auditorium, Saluti will give free a lecture titled, “Ukiyo-e to Shin Hanga and Beyond: The Art of the Japanese Woodcut.” He will speak about the history and process behind mokuhanga, the art of the Japanese woodcut, from its roots in 17th century Edo (now Tokyo) to contemporary artists and craftsmen who use the unique technique today.

In a related exhibition now at the Foosaner, Looking Inward: Japanese Artworks from the University Museums Collections will feature kimono, Haori, Japanese prints, ivory carved swords (wakizashi) and decorative art objects from the collections of Florida Tech’s two art centers.

The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, with its substantial collection of international textiles, has loaned an array of artfully designed kimonos, including a number featuring the yuzen dyeing method. Porcelain tea sets, decorative objects and wakizashi from the Foosaner Art Museum’s collection reflect another dimension of Japanese culture.

Find more information and related programming at www.foosanerartmuseum.org.

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