North Art Summer Show Exhibition

Thanks to my wonderful friend Patrick who helped me hang my woodblock prints for the North Art Gallery Summer Show. Thanks also to Adrian for curating the event. The preview was fab and the show will be up for 4 week so do pop in and say hello! 

Hanging the Woodblock prints

Netsuke Miniature Prints

Save The Elephants

£5 from the sale of each print will be donated to Save The Elephants. 

Through my interest in Japanese antique netsuke, I have become more aware of the ivory trade that is still in operation today. 

Save The Elephants are a founding partner of the Wildlife Conservation Network in the US which transmits 100% of donated funds to the field. 

"Our mission: to secure a future for elephants and to sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places they live; to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between the two species."

Save The Elephants continue their research to find solutions to reduce conflict, end poaching, trafficking and the demand for ivory. They raise awareness and provide internships and scholarships in conservation education. 

Inspiration for the Project

The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal

This book was the inspiration for my journey into the wood. Each woodblock is hand printed with a baren using Japanese carbon ink on white hosho paper. The description 'NETSUKE’ is debossed with 10pt New Clarendon metal type printed on the adana 8 x 5 printing press.

The space invites you to take a quiet moment and sit on the cushion provided and read from the book if you wish. There are also hand printed bookmarks for you to take away.  

Other Artists exhibiting at North Summer Show 2018 include:

Show Miche Watkins, Tina Altwegg, Gareth Pitt, Sarah V Penrose, Ian Pillidge, Jane Warring, Jess Stevenson, David Brown, Tony Eastman, Victoria Fox, Ian Usher, Caroline McGlone, Lenny, Andrew Wilson and Luz Gallardo-Franco.

North Art

Gallery Opening Hours

Thursday 2pm - 6pm

Friday 2pm - 6pm

Saturday 10am - 4pm

Sunday 10am - 2pm

...and by appointment; please email contact@northart135.com

North Art - Summer Show Preview

“A new show with over a dozen local and international artists at North Art Gallery. Original works, prints and sculptures as well as installations and events. ”

— North Art Gallery

Next Thursday 19th July I will be showing a selection of my netsuke mini woodblock prints at North Art Gallery, Bristol. The Summer Show Preview will be from 6pm - 9pm. Other artists exhibiting their work include: Miche Watkins, Tina Altwegg, Gareth Pitt, Sarah V Penrose, Ian Pillidge, Jane Warring, Jess Stevenson, David Brown, Tony Eastman, Victoria Fox, Ian Usher, Caroline McGlone, Lenny, Andrew Wilson and Luz Gallardo-Franco.

I look forward to seeing you there! : ))

North Art Summer Show 2018

Preview Event

6-9pm - Thursday 19 July 2018
135 North Street, Southville, BS3 1EY
contact@northart135.com
www.northart135.com

Dreams of Wildlife

Netsuke - Elephant and Man in the Form of a Seal. Woodblock print. 

“Finally, we can congratulate ourselves on the unprecedented accomplishments of modern Sapiens only if we completely ignore the fate of all other animals.”

— Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Yuval Noah Harari

Through my exploration of woodblock printing inspired by Japanese antique netsuke I have discovered many beautifully carved creatures in museum collections, catalogues, books, exhibitions and from friends who have had netsuke passed down to them through family. I have also encountered a deep sadness and uncertainty throughout this process. 

As humans our love for aesthetics and beauty throughout time has come at a great cost to other living beings. If the desire to make stuff is "our shared human inheritance” (Elizabeth Gilbert) I wonder if we can begin to learn new ways of using our ‘gifts' to connect in a more harmonious way with the environment and our fellow creatures on the planet.  

Ivory has been, and continues to be, one of the main materials used for carving netsuke. Elephants are poached for their tusks in order for humans to maintain trade relations, causing extreme suffering of this rare and beautiful species.   

“Of 13 elephants found dead in a sanctuary between September and November 2016 all but two were shot poisoned or snared.”

— Impossible Dream - Alice Owen

A few weeks ago I went along to the UWE degree show at Bower Ashton Campus in Bristol. I was so moved by this short film that I wanted to share it here. Impossible Dream was written, produced and directed by Alice Owen based in the Southwest of England. 

Daniel Zuma lives in the Tsavo corridor in Maungu Village, Kenya. His dream was initially to become a pilot flying commercial airplanes until he met Rob Dodson from Wildlife Works. Rob, a gyrocopter pilot in charge of a wildlife arial surveillance team, took Daniel under his wing giving him the opportunity to understand the importance of wildlife and study a diploma in aeronautical engineering. Daniel’s dream is now to become a Bush pilot helping to reduce conflict and conserve wildlife every day.

Another screening of ‘Impossible Dream’ will take place at UWE in the Autumn. Dates not confirmed yet but to find out more or to connect with Alice Owen click on the link below. 

If you want to help the elephants by purchasing one of my netsuke prints, I give a donation of £5 to Save The Elephants for each print sold.

Online Resources 

Impossible Dream Trailer

Impossible Dream 

Alice Owen

Wildlife Works

Save The Elephants

Books

Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari