Oct 27, 2021
Most everyone who creates and produces mokuhanga has purchased tools, barens, or any other items needed for their work, from McClain’s Printmkaing Supplies. Located just outside of Portland, Oregon in Tigard sits one of the most interesting and important companies within the world of mokuhanga.
Representing McClain’s for this interview is artist and printmaker Daniel Jasa. Daniel has worked with McClain’s since 2014 and is an accomplished artist in his own right. In this episode I have a fascinating conversation with Daniel about McClain’s history, how the company helps the local community both artistic and societal. We also deal with art as politics, whether mokuhanga as an art form can or should be political and we delve heavily on the current supply chain disruption which is affecting the world.
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Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase.
McClains Printmaking Supplies - website
Daniel Jasa - his work can be found , here.
Alex Prentiss - owner of McClain’s and is a printmaker herself. She teaches mokuhanga as well at the Multnomah Art Center in Portland.
Natsume Sōseki (1867-1916) - one of the preeminent modern Japanese authors. His career mirrored the rise of Japan as an industrial nation which is reflected in his works. Asianstudies.org has a great article on his life and important works.
Fulbright Grant - a not for profit organization which promotes international exchange. More information can be found, here.
sōsaku hanga - an art movement of the early 20th Century which redefined how people looked at the Japanese print. Ronin Gallery in NYC has a great overview, here.
Sekino Jun’ichirō (1914-1988) - was a woodblock print artist from Japan. His works have been shown throughout Japan as well as internationally. His works are appealing because of his deft use of colour. His love of portraiture as well as landscape makes his work difficult to pigeonhole. More info can be found here, along with some of his pieces.
Elaine Chandler - is an American woodblock printmaker and artist located in Oregon. Her work is vibrant and colourful. An interview with Elaine can be found here via McClain’s from 2005.
Akira Kurosaki (1937-2019) - was a modern Japanese printmaker who used powerful colour and abstract shapes. The video which Daniel alludes to in our interview is Kurosaki speaking to various traditional craftspeople via the NHK.
letter press - is a type of printing using plates. A video describing its use can be found, here.
Portland Japanese Garden - is a Japanese garden located in Portland, Oregon. Built in the 1950’s on the site of an old zoo, it provides the citizens of Oregon a beautiful place to relax. More information can be found, here. From November 2021 to January 2022, the garden is showing an exhibit of Japanese prints called “Ukiyo-e To Shin-Hanga.” More info can be found, here.
Southern Graphics Council - founded by Boyd Saunders in 1972, the SGC is an international printmakers council originally started with printmakers within the Southern United States. More information can be found here.
Chris Harmon - is a printmaking instructor at Multnomah Art Center in Portland. Some more information about him and his work can be found, here.
Portland State University - is a university begun in 1946 and located in Portland, Oregon.
Portland Community College - is a community college located in Portland, Oregon.
Atelier Meridian - is a print making studio and community located in Portland, Oregon where Daniel is the resident etching instructor. This is a space where artists can find like minded people in the Portland area for help with their work. More info can be found here.
Native American Community Portland - the indigenous community in Portland and throughout Oregon has a rich and varied history. More information can be found, here.
Black History Portland - Black history within Portland, Oregon has been fraught with violence and colonialism upon black bodies. If you’re interested in reading the traumatic history of Portlands black communities, this Atlantic article from 2016 is a good start.
George Floyd Protests 2020 - Beginning in May, 2020 following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, many Portlander’s took to the streets to protest police brutality and systemic racism. KOIN, a local Portland ABC news affiliate has written about the evolution of the 2020 protests in Portland, here, with more info being here.
Ai Wei Wei is the artist quoted as saying, “Everything is Art. Everything is Politics.” This blog post from Gerry in Art in 2015, describes in detail Ai’s imprisonment by Chinese government authorities and the installation which came from that experience.
Michihamono - is a tool manufacturer for woodblock printmaking as well as other woodworking. Located in Tōkyō. You can find their online store, here.
Woodworking in Japan - Japan has a long and rich history. One place to begin is WeXpats, a website dedicated to helping those living in Japan or wanting to visit. Their article on woodworking is great.
Gamblin Ink - is an American relief ink manufacturer located in Portland, Oregon. Their inks are used by many types of relief printing. Their website can be found, here.
Cranfield Colours - is a British company which focuses on artists paints and relief inks. Their website can be found, here.
The Japanese Paper Place - located in Toronto, it is a Japanese paper supply store with a rich history. Their website can be found, here. My interview with Nancy Jacobi, owner of the JPP can be found, here.
Futatsu Wari - is a six tool mokuhanga carving set. Can be purchased from McClain’s, here.
Taran Casey - is an apprentice woodblock carver
living in Tōkyō. His interview with me can be found,
here.
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Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :) if you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. The opinions expressed in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of Andre Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.