SGC 2010 Recap

Packing for SGC

This year, Sachi and I attended the Southern Graphics Council in Philadelphia. It was both of our first times at SGC and Philadelphia at the same time, so we were excited and a bit unsure of what to expect for the trip. For example, arriving with coats, scarves, umbrellas, and boots on a very warm and clear Thursday morning (it *did* get plenty cold the next day). So, after a red-eye, we arrived around 6am Thursday. Once we left our luggage at the Loews hotel, we had until 2pm to check in, which was the plan as we were to spend the day walking around Philly and seeing the sights! Of course, a stop at Dunkin’ Donuts to regroup and plan it out was necesary (and a nice change from the drive by Starbucks of L.A.) First stop was the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell.

Independence Hall

One of the many statues spotted

Our next stop was the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, one of the largest nonprofit conservation centers in the country. It is always amazing to see conservation studios at work in person, and here we were able to see and learn how the very thin kozo papers were being used, as well as how important the fibers are.

Conservationist Minah showed us a river route to walk to our next destination, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, luckily the nice weather continued on. The museum was hard to miss, we saw it looming ahead 15 minutes before we arrived. We first went to the Perelman Building across the street and met with the head of paper conservation, Nancy Ash, and Scott. The conservation department recently moved to this building, which provided more space and growth. I couldn’t help but to think what a great city it must be to work as a conservator.

Perelman Building

After we checked out the exhibitions at the Perelman Building, it was time to tackle the large Philadelphia Museum of Art, which was having a “Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris” exhibition, along with the Philagrafika: Works by Oscar Muñoz and Tabaimo.

Philadelphia Museum of Art East Entrance

Spring is in the air

Outside the museum and throughout the city, cherry blossoms & other spring trees were in bloom. The sculpture garden outside the west entrance was also featuring Isamu Noguchi.

Isamu Noguchi Sculpture Garden

Once back and after a quick rest in our hotel room, we were in the Millenium Ballroom setting up for the Vendors Fair portion of the conference. With three tables and our display board, we were able to spread our sample books this time. Travelling around the country to attend these conferences for us means that people are able to see and feel our papers in person.

The next day was the fair from 9am to 6pm, and it opened with a rush of attendants early on. It was a busy morning, and with our conference specials (20% off, free shipping, no tax) and sample packs, we definitely felt productive! We also gave an art sample pack to the Gamblin booth, who demonstrated their oil painting tools with the sheets throughout the day. Our Gampi sample packs, Paperwood, and VF papyrus were a hit with shoppers.

Relief & Hand printing on our samples by Gamblin

R&F beeswax and paint on our Gampi (Silk Tissue & Surface Gampi)

Our last night there, we made sure to ride (or sneak) into the highest floor of the hotel, it sure is another world stepping out into the streets of Philly at night.

Top floor of Loews Hotel

We had a wonderful time, see you in St. Louis for SGC 2011!

DWG Dan Goldman

Los Angeles artist Dan Goldman has shared with us some of his work into the world of sumi-e painting with sumi ink, brushes and different papers (including washi).

They’re sumi ink on paper, 4 panels, each 13.25″ x 18″ (vertical running down from first image to last).

Below is a more traditional ensou by Dan. In zen calligraphy, an ensou is a circle drawn in one or few strokes. It is a symbolic expression for enlightenment, truth, the Buddha nature, and the entire cosmo universe, with the interpretation left for the person viewing or creating it.

We look forward to seeing more of Dan’s sumi-e series, for his previous work, check out his site here.

For HPI papers best suitable for sumi-e: Seichosen, Seikosen, Kumohada-mashi, KH-61 Kozo White, SH-4 Harukaze

Isamu Noguchi

Available for purchase through Hiromi Paper now (with mid-January shipment arrival) here

ISAMU NOGUCHI

A photo catalog essay by photographer, Kishin Shinoyama.  The first and only catalog for the Mure museum in commemoration of its 10th anniversary.

Isamu’s words and thoughts describe his fundamental approach to art and creation.  The photo editing creates a wonderful experience as if you are walking through Isamu’s garden museum.

Includes several two-page spreads and three Shinoyama’s unique ‘SHINORAMA’ panorama collages which fold out.  Shot in 1988 during Isamu’s visit and additional photos taken 20 years later, in spring 2008.

Soft cover with special Japanese paper inlay front and back.

Limited First edition.

Photos by Kishin Shinoyama
Design Concept by Issey Miyake
Graphic Design by Taku Sato

Publishing- Bijutsu Shuppan sha

Details:

Full color, large format, soft cover.  Coffee table format

33.5 cm c 30 cm, 166 pages, 1.4 kg

105 color photos, plus three special Shinorama spreads which fold out

34 pages of text in English and Japanese
includes map, time chronology, list of works

Main text is Isamu’s words and thoughts.

HPI First Edition price: $65.00

Start of Annual Sale 2009

Our Annual Sale has started and you can view items and more information here and here.

In addition to our sale papers, we are offering a $10.00 Gift Reward:

Annual Sale Gift Reward Special

Spend over $50.00 from now to December 24th &
receive a Gift Reward of $10.00
(to be used on a future purchase over $10.00)

Gift Reward expires January 30, 2010
and will be deducted from order total
(including other discounts!)

Gift Reward will be given out in store
and in your online/phone order.

“Melting Point” Exhibition at El Camino College

If you are coming out to see the “Melting Point” at the El Camino College art gallery, be sure to check out Bill Brody‘s four woodcut pieces on Okawara paper from HPI. The reception will be held on December 1st, 2009 7-9pm.

“Bill Brody, denizen of Alaska, shows black and white woodcuts of ice fields and glaciers from his surroundings. These dramatic pieces have the curious quality of intricate 19 th century illustration, dealing directly with the enormity of wilderness landscape while addressing the contemporary issue of changing global climate.”

LAPS 20th National Exhibition Awards

This years Los Angeles Printmaking Society (LAPS) 20th National Exhibition is their largest yet and will continue to January 3, 2010. In support for the artists using washi, Hiromi Paper has given 2 Hiromi Paper Company Materials Awards this year to Endi Poscovic and Cathy Weiss. Both artists used Japanese paper in their exhibition pieces this year. You can view the list of artists here.

‘The Way of the Japanese Bath’ Exhibition

Photographer Mark Edward Harris, author of “The Way of the Japanese Bath”
Location: Kopeikin Gallery
Exhibition Dates: November 28 – December 24, 2009
Opening Reception & Book Signing: Saturday, November 28, 2009 5pm-8pm
Free & Open to public

One thing I miss from Japan was taking on the weekends or holidays to visit a hot spring (onsen) resort with friends and visitors. To leave town on a train with friends and vistors to often remote and mountainous areas for the hot spring hotel, nestled in hot spring towns selling their own trademark snacks from their region. Then, spend the whole day and night in your yukata, soak in the hot springs, and be served a full traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast. Mark Edward Harris has captured onsen moments throughout Japan and has come out with a second edition of “The Way of the Japanese Bath“.  Join him this Saturday for the opening reception and book signing, with an exhibition of his photographs.

Guild of Bookworkers Standards of Excellence Seminar 2009

Hiromi Paper attended the Guild of Bookworkers Standard of Excellence Seminar last month for the first time in several years (and somehow it is already the end of November as I write this recap!). It was located in Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, San Francisco, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to drive up the 6 or so hours. I went with Joanna(her very first conference) and had a great time there. We were surrounded with Japanese restaurants and goodies, not to mention a few bus stops down from Union Square/Crown Point Press/SFMOMA. It was certainly nice to take a break from driving in the city. The seminar itself took place in the span of 3 days. We were able to setup the morning of and come down from our room every morning after. Participants certainly took advantage of our 20% off & free shipping. Our new complete Text Libris swatchbooks came just in time as well.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

Setup day: How to fit everything on two tables!

Visiting Crown Point Press (who are having their Winter Sale this Dec 4-5!

Our favorite piece of jewelry worn by a participant

Also, I have just received word that over 1,500 origami cranes were folded for the banquet!

Gloria Stuart: Flight of Butterfly Opening Reception

On Sunday, November 22nd, Gloria Stuart’s Flight of Butterfly Kites exhibition had it’s opening reception at Buckwild. Hiromi Paper staff was there to help out, (if you were there, we would be the ones serving at the bar!) It was a great opening, the place was buzzing all night, with and around Gloria who was there until the end(and looked fantastic by the way!)

Our view at the bar

a plate full of fruit and butterfly cookies

Toast for Gloria Stuart

Works on Thai butterfly and Unryu paper

Ring Paper

skeleton leaves

Katazome and Gold & Silver Unryu

Come to Buckwild Gallery Tuesday -Sunday 12pm -5pm until December 3 to check out her works in person.

Kyoko Ibe Presentation

On Monday November 16th, Kyoko Ibe presented her lecture, slideshow, and art at the UCLA faculty center. She was very happy with the event, and since I was able to go, the following is a summary I have made.

Kyoko Ibe has worked with paper fiber media for over 30 years and has been touring many different countries, now working on projects under sponsorship of Japan’s Agency of Cultural Affairs. For her exhibitions here in the states, Kyoko created pieces using over 100 year old Gampi papers for the sheet formation and 200 year old handwritten manuscripts and documents for the Gampi base. She used all natural Sumi, calligraphy black-ink, and mica particles. In the past, washi was very precious and not to be wasted. Not only were both sides to be used, but the whole sheet would be recycled as layering materials in constructing traditional sliding doors (fusuma) and folding screens. As an export, used washi with woodblock prints would be packed as wrapping paper for Japanese ceramics and art. Artists and connoisseurs in the 19th century Europe took notice of it, many collecting and taking inspiration from the washi. The largest collection of washi is in the German National Library in Leipzig, donated by Frantz Von Batz. Kyoko traveled to this national library in the nineties to view a particular washi collection documented by a British scholar, and found to her surprise that it had been kept hidden and forgotten in the corner all this time. She began research with Germany, discovering the world’s largest collection. Working with such matured washi was an experience that would become a turning point for Kyoko’s work.

An interesting part of washi’s history was that people in the past favored the recycled washi over newly made washi, valuing the traces of ink that lingered and the harmony it created. With this knowledge, Kyoko’s work was born. Using old washi documents and gampi, Kyoko invented methods to create her washi art pieces in such a vibrant and active way, different from traditional washi papermaking. At the end of the presentation, we were able to view her art pieces, and some of the 100/200 year old materials used (as shown to the left).

During her visit here, Kyoko brought us her designed handmade washi jewelry and accessories available in Japan. You can come see and purchase them in our store.

(click for larger image)

Related books available for purchase:

On the Washi Works of Kyoko Ibe

Washi in the 19th Century (cataloging the washi collection from Leipzig)