MiChelle Jones

In this season of Japanese art in Nashville, Cheekwood is presenting two exhibitions — "Modern Twist: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art" and "Japanese Woodblock Prints: Selections from the Judith and Joseph Barker Collection" — through May 25.

The prints date from the late-1800s through the mid-20th century with images ranging from traditional scenes of kimono-clad women walking through falling snow to more unexpected images.

The latter include views of modernized women dressed in 1930s fashion or kneeling at dressing tables, always featuring a collection of patterns on wallpaper and fabrics. Hashiguchi Goyo's "Young Woman in a Summer Kimono" (1920), for example, depicts a woman in a navy floral kimono beside a wall covered in mauve floral paper. She holds swath of fabric adorned with colorful flowers and butterflies.

In a print by Torii Kotondo, the subject wears a white kimono covered in blue flowers and blades of grass and subtle silver and white stripes.

Ishii Hakutei's "12 Views of Japan" series incorporates window-like glimpses of Tokyo at the time of World War I with portraits of women. One includes a view of orange fireworks exploding over a beautifully dark blue sky and water with paper lanterns hanging in the foreground.

Along with the woodblock prints, Cheekwood's spring focus on Japanese art includes an exhibit of 38 bamboo pieces in "Modern Twist," a clean presentation of abstract forms, arching wall pieces, delicate constructions and fabric-like sculptures.

The works span a few decades and highlight 17 artists, two of whom have been honored as living national treasures.

Many of the bamboo works are baskets — bamboo art grew out the vessels used in Japan's long history of flower arranging — some quite unusual, such as Nagakura Ken'ichi's "Circle" (1990) of metallic-like clay and bamboo.

Another of Ken'ichi's pieces is equally unexpected: His vertical wall piece "The Clinging, Fire" (1993) is a dark and powerful mass of braids and twists.

Various textures, widths and hues are used in Mimura Chikuho's "Hope" (2004), a wedge of thick, rough bamboo roots and smoother stems and stalks.

Uematsu Chikuyu's "Tie," a wall piece from 1992, is meant to resemble a looping hair knot on the back of a woman's head. It also brings to mind the face and trunk of an elephant. Honma Hideaki's elegant "Shore II" (1995) is like a swan's head and curving neck atop a mass of sails.

One of the most delightful and surprising sculptures in "Modern Twist" is Nakatomi Hajime's fantastically light and playful "Natural Prism triangle 20" (2007), a jumble of interlocking triangles that reaches nearly 22 inches high. These geometric shapes are made of bamboo finished with a metallic-like patina.

If You Go

What: "Modern Twist" and "Japanese Woodblock Prints"

Where: Cheekwood, 1200 Forrest Park Drive

When: through May 25

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

Admission: $14 for adults; $12 for ages 65 and older; $10 for college students with ID; $7 for ages 3 to 17. Military discount is 50 percent with current military ID. $3 parking fee

Contact: 356-8000 or cheekwood.org

If You Go

What: "Modern Twist: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art" and "Japanese Woodblock Prints: Selections from the Judith and Joseph Barker Collection"

Where: Cheekwood, 1200 Forrest Park Drive

When: through May 25

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

Admission: $14 for adults; $12 for ages 65 and older; $10 for college students with ID; $7 for ages 3 to 17. Military discount is 50 percent with current military ID. $3 parking fee

Contact: 356-8000 or cheekwood.org