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April 2 to April 29, 2024.
The Miller Library located at the Center for Urban Horticulture welcomes Aki Sogabe for her exhibit, Walking in Nature. From the artist’s statement:
My medium, paper cutting (kiri-e in Japanese), is an ancient and traditional art form. I have created my own style and made it a fine art. I like to use this art form to depict delicate Northwest nature scenes stylized with Japanese sensibilities.
Inspired by Edo period printmaster Hokusai, I began making paper cuts as a junior high school student. For a long time, I did it as a hobby for myself, and sometimes would give them to my friends, but never thought that I was going to be a professional artist.
I use an X-Acto knife to cut out a design and add hand-colored rice papers underneath the stencil. Next, the entire image is glued onto an illustration board.
I have a number of public art commissions in Washington and Oregon. Additionally, I have created five panel murals made of porcelain enamel for the Pike Place Market, commemorating the history of Japanese American farmers.
When I am cutting my work among the scattered bits of paper, I feel most content and happy.
The exhibit is open during library hours.
