Robert Crowder Gallery in Kirkland Fine Arts Center is hosting a reception celebration for the Nihonga-In Exhibition on Saturday, November 8th, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The art can be viewed until December 19th.
The current art in the Kirkland Fine Arts Center is the Nihonga-In Exhibition, featuring over 20 unique works in varying sizes and mediums. Nihonga is a traditional Japanese painting style that uses mineral and organic pigments on silk or paper.
Nihonga-In is a recognized organization and association founded in 1938 by 21 Japanese artists to promote Nihonga art through public exhibitions. Each year, Nihonga-In hosts a national exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in May, followed by a traveling show in Yamanashi in September.
Ed Walker, an associate professor of art and gallery director, is coordinating a unique reception at the gallery along with Jessa Wilcoxen, Director of the School of Art and Creative Media. The exhibition, made possible by sponsor Yasu Tanano, features artists from Japan who create paintings using natural materials such as abalone shells and lapis lazuli.
Tanano, a former apprentice of Robert Crowder, helped bring professional and student Japanese artists together for this special showcase. This Saturday, Tanano and two Japanese artists from this exhibition will be flying in from California and Japan to be recognized and celebrated.
The exhibition goes beyond traditional display by incorporating student work. Ed’s computer art and design students were tasked with designing a catalog for the show, as well as a recreation project in which students pick their favorite Nihonga artwork and recreate it in their own style. Some students produced standout designs, one of them being junior Jodi Dingman.
Dingman’s booklet was selected for printing and distribution during the reception. This approach allows students to engage directly with international art and develop their creative skills.
The exhibition itself fascinated Dingman, particularly the artwork’s materials and techniques. She was impressed by how “the materials are crushed up to make pigment” with “iridescent points” that create shimmering effects.
Highlighting the artwork’s diversity, the subject matter varied. Some are about wildlife, some are geographic to Japan, some are about people, and some are about healing.
The cultural exchange is opportunistic for Dingman. The exhibition showcases women artists, which Dingman remarked doesn’t happen nearly as often as it should.
“We should always be learning about other places in the world and their arts and their history, because it only brings everybody together and makes us better as artists and humans,” Dingman said.
The reception promises to be a significant cultural event. Walker has reached out to various organizations, like the Japan House at the U of I and our sister city in Japan, to ensure broad community participation. He hopes administrators, faculty, and students from different disciplines will appreciate the exhibition.
The event represents more than just an art show; it’s an opportunity to showcase the School of Art and Creative Media’s innovative approach to cultural exchange and artistic education. However, the project wasn’t without challenges.
“When you’re working with artists that speak another language, we had to interpret the text…using AI to figure out how to convert text to English,” Walker said. “We’re trying to be much more purposeful in terms of the scheduling… and set a precedent of really high-quality exhibitions.”
Despite challenges like language translation and coordinating international shipments, Ed remains excited about the exhibition. His primary goal is to honor the gallery’s legacy and create a purposeful exhibition that demonstrates the university’s commitment to diverse and meaningful artistic experiences.
The exhibition represents a meaningful cultural exchange, a learning opportunity for students, and a testament to the university’s commitment to innovative artistic experiences.
Check out the Nihonga-In Artworks this Saturday, November 8th, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Robert Crowder Gallery located in the Kirkland Fine Arts Center at Millikin University.
Link to RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/Nihongaexhibition
If you have any questions about the event, contact [email protected].
