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Artist's Statement

現在、日本語版を書いているところです。とりあえず、写真ギャラリーやフォトブログをご覧ください。絵はバイリンガルです。よろしくお願いします！！

My interest in Japanese culture began my sophmore year of college when I learned that many of the Western artists I admire -- such as James Whistler, and especially Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet and Van Gogh -- received inspiration for their paintings from Japanese woodblock printers such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, whose work was imported to the West in the late 19th century. The striking way in which Japanese compositions used line to create form, and their exploration of figure-ground relationships, influenced the Impressionists profoundly. As a result, they became of real interest to me, and led me to read a great deal about Japanese art, especially that of the Edo period (1603-1867).

Because my B.F.A. major did not allow time for study-abroad programs, I took a year's leave to attend a study abroad program at Waseda University, thanks to a Freeman Asia Foundation scholarship and a JASSO scholarship from the Japanese government. Waseda offered no studio art classes directly, but I independently pursued my interest in Japanese art by working with the Nihon-ga artist, Kobayashi Hitoshi, and the woodblock printmaker, Itow Takumi. These artists were introduced to me by Mr. Kosugi Takuya, one of my professors at Waseda. Through the great generosity of Mr. Itow, I was able to study Japanese woodblock printing in his studio during the winter vacation, as well as the following summer. I went to Mr. Itow’s studio five days a week and worked alongside him making woodblock prints. In these prints I experimented with combining traditional Japanese motifs with the elements of day-to-day life in Tokyo. I continue working with Mr. Itow to this day and am greately indebted to him.

My artwork focuses on the urban landscape of Tokyo and its commuter lifestyle. While studying at Waseda, I spent almost four hours each week-day commuting from home to school. I came to find the trains and my fellow commuters immensely fascinating. I have elaborated on this theme in my artwork, employing a wide range of media including the printmaking techniques I learned with Mr. Itow, oil and acrylic painting, photography, as well as digital video installation.

To read more about the themes present in my artwork and their inspirations, please take a moment to read my artist's statement here. My artwork is arranged into different galleries based on media. You can peruse the various sections of the site using the Transfer Information map on the banner above.

I hope you enjoy your visit today. Thank you for stopping by!

	2007		School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
B.F.A	2007	Studio Art (Summa Cum Laude)	Denison University, Granville, Ohio
	2004-2005		Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan One-Year Exchange Student, SILS. GPA 4.0
	1999-2002		Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, Arizona

(*solo and two person shows denoted by asterisk)

2008
	Nippon Steel USA 2008. Nippon Steel USA Gallery. Chicago, Illinois
	29th Annual Juried Photography Exhibition. Mills Pond House Gallery. St. James, New York Juror: Christopher James
	21st Annual McNeese National Works on Paper. McNeese State University. Lake Charles, LA
2007
	*Matthew Messmer. RoyGBiv Gallery. Columbus, Ohio
	BFA/BA Juried Exhibition. University of South Florida Juror: Dave Hickey
	48th Japan Print Society Exhibition Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tokyo, Japan. 第４８回日本版画会展、東京都美術館
	departures: 2007 Senior Art Majors Thesis Exhibition Burke Museum of Art. Granville, Ohio
	*Sotsuten. Burke Museum of Art. Granville, Ohio
	18th National Drawing & Print Exhibition. College of Notre Dame Juror: Rena Hoisington, Associate Curator: Baltimore Museum of Art
	96th Annual Ohio Art League Spring Juried Exhibition Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery. Columbus, Ohio Juror: William D. Barnes, Professor of Art, The College of William and Mary
	I’m Leaving You a Message; I’m Leaving You a Trace The Art Works Gallery. Newark, Ohio.
	Great Lakes Emerging Artist Competition Adams Art Gallery. Dunkirk, New York Juror: Elizabeth Switzer, Curator: Rochester Contemporary, Rochester, New York.
	UMKC National Print Exhibition. University of Missouri – Kansas City Juror: Melissa Rountree, Curator: Fine Art Collection at Hallmark Cards
	Agora Spring 2007. Junctionview Studios. Columbus, Ohio
	Majestic National 2007. Magestic Galleries. Nelsonville, Ohio
	Takumi no Kai Mokuhanga-Ten Setagaya City Museum. Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan 匠の会木版画展、世田谷美術館、東京都世田谷区
2006
	2006 Hanga Forum. Higashi-Chichibu, Saitama, Japan. 2006年版画フォーラム、埼玉県東秩父
	47th Japan Print Society Exhibition Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tokyo, Japan. 第４７回日本版画会展、東京都美術館
	RoyGBiv Small Works Show. RoyGBiv Gallery. Columbus, Ohio.
	The Five Colleges of Ohio 2006 Student Biennial The College of Wooster Art Museum. Wooster, Ohio. Juror: Mary Jo Bole, Professor of Art, Ohio State University
	*Painting and Photographing Japan Cleveland Gallery. Denison University, Granville, Ohio.
2005
	46th Japan Print Society Exhibition Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tokyo, Japan. 第４６回日本版画会展、東京都美術館
	Yonbiten. Shinjuku City Gallery. Tokyo, Japan 四美展、新宿区立区民ギャラリー
	Senryokuten. Gakusei Kaikan, Waseda University. Tokyo, Japan 鮮緑展、学生会館、早稲田大学
	ARTiO Gallery Holiday Show. ARTiO Gallery. Granville, Ohio
2004
	Kaigakai Fall 2004 Exhibition Gakusei Kaikan, Waseda University. Tokyo, Japan K展、学生会館、早稲田大学

2007
	The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Distinguished Scholars Scholarship
	48th Japan Print Society Exhibition, Honorable Mention 第４８回日本版画会展、奨励賞
	College of Notre Dame 18th National Drawing & Print Exhibition Purchase Award
	Agora Spring 2007, Couchfire Collective Award
2006
	Five Colleges of Ohio Student Biennial 2006, Juror’s Award
	George B. Storer Foundation Scholarship, 2006-2007
	Denison University Vail Fine Arts Scholarship, 2006
	Denison University Dean’s List
2005
	George B. Storer Foundation Scholarship, 2005-2006
	Denison University Art Department Fellow, 2005-2006
	Denison University Dean’s List
2004
	Bridging Foundation Scholarship for Study in Japan, 2004-2005
	Freeman Asia Foundation Scholarship for Study in Japan, 2004-2005
	JASSO Scholarship for One-Year Study in Japan, 2004-2005
	Waseda University Dean’s List
	Denison University Dean’s List
2003
	Denison University Marimac Scholarship for Fine Arts, 2003-2004
	Denison University Dean’s List

2007
	Claudine Isé, “Urban Developments,” Columbus Alive, November 15 2007
	Jacqueline Hall, “Made in Ohio,” The Columbus Dispatch, April 1 2007
	Creative Quarterly VII, Work published in Photography section
	Creative Quarterly VII, Work published in Fine Art section

Quick learner with a strong self-motivated desire to learn and acquire new skills.

Intermediate fluency in Japanese.

Highly skilled with both Windows and Macintosh computers and Adobe CS3 applications including Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, and Flash

Experience with standards-based web design; knowledge of HTML, CSS, Javascript, CMS and Flash.

Excellent computer skills including setting up, configuring and networking Macintosh and Windows computers for increased performance versus out-of-the-box configurations.

Extensive knowledge of DAM (Digital Asset Management) workflow systems using Adobe Bridge, Adobe Lightroom and iView Media Pro.

Background in both digital photography and alternative photographic processes including Cyanotype, Salt Prints, and Platinum Printing processes. Experience including studio photo shoots as well as high volume wedding photography.

Over two years experience in art museums and galleries with duties ranging from collections management, conservation, matting and framing, and hanging and lighting.

09/07 – Present	Photographer, Gerber + Scarpelli Photography. Chicago, IL Photographed weddings in a photojournalistic documentary style. Helped process photography shoots for tonal and color correction in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
09/06 – 05/07	Lab Technician, Denison University Mulberry Intermedia Computer Lab Was responsible for maintaining multimedia arts computer lab used by students from all the fine-art departments (studio arts, music, cinema, and theatre). Helped reimage computers and troubleshot student issues with lab hardware and software.
05/06 - 09/06	Student Researcher, Denison University Young Scholars Program Art research project that included experimentations in fusions of painting and traditional printmaking processes with digital printing and mixed media artwork.
09/05 - 05/06	Departmental Fellow, Art Department, Denison University Worked as the assistant to the collections manager in the university gallery. Assisted in cataloging and inventorying of the university art collection (7000+ objects) as well as assisted in the preparation of exhibitions drawn from the collections.
09/03 - 05/04	Exhibitions Preparations Coordinator, Burke Art Gallery, Denison University Managed staff of up to seven workers, coordinated installation and lighting of professional art exhibitions, cleaned and organized gallery collections which included paintings dating back to the 14th century C.E. and sculptures from the 6th century B.C.E., and assisted with inner office duties in art gallery.
09/03 - 05/04	Teaching Assistant, Denison University Art Department Assisted professors in class with answering student questions and giving related assistance, helped with purchase and delivery of supplies, performed general maintenance tasks in painting, drawing and printmaking studios.

04/06 - 04/07	President, Ludus Classical Civilizations Club, Denison University Organized trips to museums and lectures on campus.
09/04 - 08/05	Member, Kaigakai (絵画会) Art Club, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan Participated in club events such as exhibitions of club member’s artworks and weekend trips to scenic locals for on-site painting and drawing.
01/03 - 05/04	President, Student Art Club, Denison University Organized trips to area galleries and museums, expanded membership, encouraged student art shows on campus in club funded student gallery space.
01/03 - 05/04	Art Editor, Exile Art and Literary Magazine, Granville, Ohio Managed staff of 3-5 co-editors, was responsible for soliciting and reviewing submissions to magazine.

Artist's Statement

In Tokyo the night sky shines silvery purple, not quite the color of television tuned to a dead channel. Subway-staff on the platforms push commuters into trains so that each car can be filled with as many people as possible. I am one of those commuters. I live under that sky, so bright from light pollution that the buildings stand out as shadows against it. Some people might find these things repulsive, but I found them inspiring, and in the case of the sky, eerily beautiful.

My work focuses on the urban landscape of Tokyo and its commuter lifestyle. While living in Japan, I have at times spent almost four hours each week-day commuting from home to work. Taking this as inspiration, I have elaborated on the theme of commuting and the day-to-day lifestyle of Tokyoites in my photos and prints.

My status as an outsider in the largely racially homogenous Japanese culture works as a double-edged sword. While I can never assimilate and become fully accepted as a member of Japanese society, at the same time, I am afforded movement outside the system that a native Japanese person could never have. This status grants me a unique perspective different from that of a cultural insider.

In my photographs and woodblock prints, I explore the impact that the mixing of traditional Japanese culture and imported Western culture in contemporary Japan has on the citizens of Tokyo. Modern Japan is a mixture of these two influences, which has resulted in a unique culture in itself. At a first glance, the clean and relatively crime free Japan might look like a paradise to a tourist or someone unfamiliar with Japanese society. But underneath the surface of cherry blossoms and cute animated characters lay rigid social structures and conflicting cultural values that clearly have their effects on the citizens of Tokyo. In my work, I delve into these shared experiences, dealing with humanistic issues such as feelings of autonomy (or a lack there of) in a large group of people, gender roles and stereotypes, and issues of power and authority as seen in the urban environment.