Contributor: Gail Rieke

Aug.19

Isohi Setsuko basketry show at Tai Modern in Santa Fe

Aug.19 Gail Rieke

A wonderful show of contemporary basketry features the work of Isohi Setsuko. A relatively young woman in a field of craft dominated by elder men, this woman has shown herself to be extraordinary in design, skill, and inventiveness. Her lightness of touch and bold forms weave exquisite materials to honor her teachers and inspire future…

June.13

Japanese Karakami Woodblock Printed Paper

June.13 Gail Rieke

Karakami is woodblock printed ornamental paper displaying patterned motifs and designs with ancient significance for decorative applications to walls and sliding screens. This video follows two skilled artisans who are using collections of woodblocks carved over past times as well as original designs to bring this artform into contemporary use and consciousness. Video : https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2029154/

Apr.16

Travel Journal Part II

Apr.16 Gail Rieke

Another great joy of Japan travel is receiving so many exquisitely designed maps and tickets and memorabilia. They are treasured and folded into envelopes to make a book form. A jumble of gratitude goes out to Nancy Craft, Steve Beimel and Andy Bender… the Esprit Dream Team and all my extraordinary travel companions… Thank you…

Apr.11

Travel Journal

Apr.11 Gail Rieke

by Gail Rieke Since 1995, I have made artworks which translate travel experience into various media… collage, book arts, photographs, drawings, textile arts, and writings. I call them “travel journals” even though they transcend the usual preconception. Most of them are stored within suitcases or baskets in the Suitcase Wall in my studio. During this…

Mar.17

Welcome to Buaiso

Mar.17 Gail Rieke

On November 15, 2019 our group of travelers had the great privilege of taking an indigo workshop at Buaiso’s home in Tokushima We were welcomed by the young farmers, dyers and business associates who served us lunch and indigo tea. Kakuo Kaji then showed us various methods of resist dyeing and we folded and clamped…

July.09

A Visual Love Letter to Kyoto

July.09 Gail Rieke

“In that instant I knew that Kyoto had installed itself inside me much deeper than mere fancy. No other place I knew took me back so far and so deep, to what seemed like a better time and self. And as I wandered back in the dying light, lit up with a sense of rapture…

Mar.14

Glass Tea House Mondrian

Mar.14 Gail Rieke

During an artist’s residency that I had in Venice in 2015, I went to see Sugimoto’s Glass Tea House Mondrian and took these photos. This temporary pavilion project at Le Stanze del Vetro, San Giorgio Maggiore… was one of the off site installations that were part of that year’s Venice Bienale. It was intriguing that…

Jan.10

Wrapping Rap

Jan.10 Gail Rieke

Wrapping Rap by Gail Rieke ’Tis the season… so perhaps you are thinking about gifting and wrapping… I first learned about the Japanese art of packaging from a wonderful book called How to Wrap Five More Eggs by Hideyuki Oka from which I quote ”…the art of Japanese packaging has been disappearing almost as fast…

Nov.27

Kusama and the Compulsive Visionaries

Nov.27 Gail Rieke

Kusama and the Compulsive Visionaries by Gail Rieke Perhaps this sounds like the name of a band, but it is not. Yayoi Kusama may currently be the most appreciated international woman artist of this time. Some of you may have seen her polka dot pumpkin in Naoshima, or her mirrored installations, or the Forever Museum…

Oct.16

What’s black and white???

Oct.16 Gail Rieke

by Gail Rieke White turns to black/ black turns to white The Japanese design concept of Notan is the balance between light and dark elements. Adachi Garden in Yasugi It demonstrates the idea that the image and the ground or the positive and the negative spaces are of equal importance   Toji Pagoda in Kyoto…