Sulfur Studios is pleased to host Kazumi Wilds in the ON::View Residency from July 6th - August 6th, 2022.
About the Artist: Kazumi Wilds is a book illustrator, writer, and artist’s book artist currently based in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from Joshibi University of Art and Design Tokyo with a degree in Japanese Painting, and earned her M.F.A. in Book Art from The University of Iowa Graduate College. Wilds is currently teaching Book Art and other courses at Temple University, Japan Campus. She has published a dozen picture books in the US, Japan, and Singapore, including “Hajime in the North Woods” by Arcade Publishing and “Kojiki: The Birth of Japan: The Japanese Creation Myth Illustrated,” based on the 1,300-year-old myth. Its editions are now housed in The Bainbridge Museum of Art and the special collections of eleven universities in the US. To learn more about Kazumi and view her work, visit: https://wildskazumi-picturebook.jimdofree.com/
About the Project: Inspired by the magical beauty of the Spanish moss hanging from the trees in the parks and along the streets of Savannah, Wilds will investigate regional botany and create a limited-edition artist book. She will use a combination of woodblock and monoprint techniques using actual Spanish moss, printed with a Japanese baren to make artist’s books.
Workshop: Join the artist on Saturday, July 30th from 2 - 4 PM at Sulfur Studios to learn about Traditional Japanese paper suminagashi (marbling) techniques. All materials provided, including Japanese paper that Kazumi has brought with her from Tokyo! Participants will also learn about the Japanese 4 Hole Stab book binding technique.
$10, materials provided. Space is very limited! 6 - 8 adult participants - no experience necessary. Register here: www.sulfurstudios.org/kazumi-wilds
About Suminagashi (墨流し) Suminagashi is the ancient Japanese technique of decorating paper with inks. It is believed to be the oldest form of marbling, originating in China over 2,000 years ago and practiced in Japan by Shinto priests as early as the 12th century. Suminagashi (sue-me-NAH-gah-she), which means literally “ink-floating,” involves doing just that. Japanese Sumi-e inks were originally used, dropped carefully to float on a still water surface and then blown across to form delicate swirls, after which the ink was picked up by laying a sheet of white rice paper atop the ink covered water. The practice of Suminagashi remains much the same today, although now artists also use acrylic paints that flow and spread over a liquid water surface. Combining the knowledge of fluid mechanics with artistic talent, the artist controls the floating pigments through the viscosity and surface tension of the water to create images suggestive of mountain ranges, landscapes, clouds and animals before printing them on a sheet of paper.
Open Studio Hours: Kazumi will host Open Studio Hours in the Residency studio on Saturdays from 12 - 5PM. Stop by to meet the artist and see her work in progress!
Project Finale: On Friday, August 5th from 5- 9PM, we will host the finale of Kazumi’s project with a Closing Reception in conjunction with First Fridays in Starland.
Follow @onviewresidency on Instagram to keep up with the project.
The ON::View Residency Program is presented with investment by the City of Savannah. Special thanks as well to our Residency Sponsors: Starlandia Supply, Green Truck Pub and Starland Yard.
