[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Saturday, 21 February 1998 Volume 02 : Number 075 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Mary Dornenburg Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 14:33:27 -0500 Subject: [Baren 417] Introduction Hello. After reading the dicussion archives, I would first like to thank David for his enormous effort in setting up this group and for his generosity in sharing his expertise. I congratulate all of you for your willingness to attempt these traditional techniques. My name is Mary and I am an artist living in Pittsburgh, PA. I have been a teacher and until last year I owned a retail picture framing business and antique print gallery. I now work for a select list of clients out of my studio so that I can concentrate on my own work. I have always trained as a painter, but I was fortunate in high school to discover woodblock prints through Bruce Carter, while he was an instructor here in Pittsburgh. I continued study during my undergraduate years because my printmaking instructor also made woodblock prints. These were all traditional black and white western style woodblocks. After teaching art in the public schools for a few years, I made my way to a teaching job in Japan. I spent three years in the Tokyo area. I met Yoshida Hodaka (Hiroshi's younger son) and spent two years learning traditional Japanese woodblock in his studio. This was back in '77-'78 so I was very fortunate to also meet Hiroshi's wife. She was a delight. The family also shared Hiroshi"s blocks and they were some of the most beautufully pieces of carved wood that I have ever seen. I returned to the United States to do my MFA in printmaking at Drake in Iowa. I worked on combinations of wood and etching techniques. I have not been making prints in recent years, so it will take me some time to get back up to speed. My tools, brushes and barens appear to be in good shape and have certainly aged with more grace than I have; so I will simply have to work hard to rise to their level of quality. Again, thank-you for this enjoyable discussion. Mary Dornenburg Bedford Square Framery 52 S.12th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 e-mail: bedfdsq@bellatlantic.net ------------------------------ From: Ray Esposito Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 04:41:58 -0500 Subject: [Baren 418] Re: Introduction Mary wrote: >My name is Mary and I am an artist living in Pittsburgh, PA. I have been >a teacher and until last year I owned a retail picture framing business >and antique print gallery. I now work for a select list of clients out >of my studio so that I can concentrate on my own work. Dear Mary Welcome aboard. Your experience will be a real benefit to the forum and I for one look forward to hearing of your experiences in Japan. Cheers Ray Esposito ------------------------------ From: Gary Luedtke Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 17:22:55 -0500 Subject: [Baren 419] Introduction Hello Mary, A warm welcome to the group. We'll look forward to your participation. I'd sure like to hear more about your experience in the Yoshida Studio. Perhaps as topics come up, you might reference that experience with some side stories of what you saw going on there. I'd be delighted to hear that as well as your own views on the various spotlighted issues of the day. Again, welcome. Gary Luedtke ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 07:31:06 +0900 Subject: [Baren 420] Re: Introduction Mary wrote: > After reading the dicussion archives, ... Did you really read through _all_ that stuff? I would like to think that we've all had something useful to say, but when I browse back through there, I see that it certainly wasn't always so ... Welcome to the group; and thanks for introducing yourself. > I met > Yoshida Hodaka (Hiroshi's younger son) and spent two years learning > traditional Japanese woodblock in his studio. It sounds like you should have many interesting stories for us! My knowledge of this family only extends to Toshi Yoshida's studio, and I wasn't even aware that his brother also accepted people into his studio. We're looking forward to your input into [Baren]. Dave ------------------------------ From: Phil Bivins Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 00:32:12 -0500 Subject: [Baren 421] Re: Introduction Welcome, Mary to Baren. Looking forward to hearing more from you. I hope to visit Japan, hopefully within the year. Take care, Phil ------------------------------ From: Graham Scholes Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 21:54:22 -0800 Subject: [Baren 422] Welcome Hi Mary Welcome. Look forward to feedback and input here on the Baren. Course you realize that I will be forever envious that you got to spend so much time with the Japanese Printer Yoshida Hodaka. I have hopes that some day when my boat comes in and I am not at the airport to be able to go to Japan to learn from a master. I learned the other day the teacher I take from Noboru Sawai (Vancouver) spend his apprenticeship with Hiroshi Yoshida. At any rate sure glad to have on board another person with some other points of view. Look forward to it. Do you have a web page or intend to have one? Graham ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V2 #75 **************************