Katie Baldwin: Printmaker - It's An Exchange Amongst Friends
Release Date: 11/30/2022
The Unfinished Print
When creating mokuhanga, one requires time – time to prepare, time to plan, and time to explore. The essence of the work emerges from this delicate balance of managing one's time and integrating life within mokuhanga. In this episode of 'The Unfinished Print,' I have the pleasure of speaking with printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho. Wuon-Gean approaches her mokuhanga with a keen focus on work-life balance, emphasizing creation not at the expense of life but as a means to enrich and enhance it. Join me as we delve into Wuon Gean's unique perspective on mokuhanga, how it skillfully blends with her...
info_outline David Barker of The Muban Educational TrustThe Unfinished Print
Several years ago, a book caught my eye, called "Lu Xun’s Legacy". Published by the Muban Educational Trust, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of woodblock art in China and located in London, England, it opened my eyes to Chinese woodblock prints. Reading the book, I realized how little I knew about printmaking, woodblock or otherwise, from China. All I really knew was that Japanese woodblock has roots within Chinese printmaking and I was curious as to how that transpired. Today, I speak with Senior Research Fellow at the Muban Educational Trust, David Barker. David’s interests...
info_outline Jack Moranetz - Printmaker : Evolve NextThe Unfinished Print
Embarking on the journey into the world of mokuhanga, each of us starts with a unique desire. It begins with early prints, guided by exploration, and the innate desire to create something—anything—all viewed through the prism of mokuhanga, shaping our voices in this captivating journey. In this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with the burgeoning mokuhanga printmaker Jack Moranetz. We discuss how he got involved in the art form, his early prints, his visit to Japan and meeting David Bull, collaborations, and how he approaches his printmaking. ...
info_outline Hiroki Morinoue - Printmaker: The Philosophy of The PastThe Unfinished Print
On this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Hiroki Morinoue, an artist who resides and creates on the Big Island in Hawai'i. Together, we delve into his personal journey with mokuhanga, reflecting on his experiences at MI Lab, exploring his unique color palette, and gaining insights into his meticulous process in crafting mokuhanga prints. Additionally, we uncover Hiroki’s life in Hawai'i, his ventures, and his relationships with prominent galleries such as Studio 7 Fine Arts, print studio’s like Shark’s Ink, and the arts center at Anderson Ranch. Please follow The Unfinished...
info_outline Henry Smith PhD - Physical ChemistryThe Unfinished Print
In this episode of The Unfinished Print, I speak with Henry Smith, Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of East Asian Languages & Cultures at Columbia University. Together we delve into the scientific aspects of Meiji woodblock prints, exploring the trajectory of Nishiki-e during the late Edo and Meiji eras. Additionally, we examine the significance of cochineal and naphthol dyes, and scrutinize particle sizes. Henry's scholarly contributions include groundbreaking articles on subjects such as Hokusai and the Blue Revolution, with the introduction of Prussian Blue to the Japanese...
info_outline Tuula Moilanen - Printmaker : Life Is An ExperimentThe Unfinished Print
When it comes to the idea of longevity, my guest on this episode of The Unfinished Print has just that: the hard work and sacrifice to make a career in making mokuhanga, bringing the art form to people worldwide. Today I speak with mokuhanga printmaker, graphic designer, and writer, Tuula Moilanen. Currently living in Finland, Tuula has made mokuhanga for almost 40 years and has been an essential part of the worldwide mokuhanga community, teaching, instructing and overseeing the art form’s growth. Tuula speaks about her twenty years in Japan, her teachers, and how she...
info_outline Hellory - Printmaker: Each Line Will Have Its Own LifeThe Unfinished Print
It’s been said before, yet I feel it’s worth repeating that when making mokuhanga, you don’t make it alone. So many people influence us that it may be difficult to pinpoint who or what impacts our creative lives the most. In this episode of the Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga printmaker Hellory. Based in Italy, Hellory makes multi-colour mokuhanga with luxury techniques. She learned these techniques from her mentor, Giovanni Berio Ligustro. We discuss the intertwined artistic lives of Hellory and Ligustro. What learning from a mentor was like, what studying...
info_outline Darrel C. Karl - Collector : A Responsibility of StewardshipThe Unfinished Print
As a collector of mokuhanga, I am constantly exploring the reasons behind my love of collecting mokuhanga and why I make it and educate myself about it; it seems to be layered, even for my modest collection. So it is always fascinating to speak to someone who has been collecting for many years, with a deep understanding of why they collect and how they do. I speak with mokuhanga collector Darrel C. Karl about his collection of prints, paintings and scrolls. It's one to admire. Collecting for years now, Darrel was kind enough to speak to me about his collection, how he began it,...
info_outline Gaston Petit - Printmaker/Author : The Most Important Thing Is To Do SomethingThe Unfinished Print
A few years ago, I was recommended a book called Evolving Techniques in Japanese Woodblock Prints. Written by Gaston Petit, it was a new book for me. Going through it, I realized how forward-thinking it was; even though it had been published in 1977, its instruction is still relevant today. It was fascinating how it approached woodblock printmaking, taking it into the future. On this episode of the Unfinished Print, I speak with printmaker and author of Evolving Techniques In Japanese Woodblock Prints, Gaston Petit. We discuss how he got to write the book, interviewing some...
info_outline John Resig - Digital HumanitiesThe Unfinished Print
When making mokuhanga and producing The Unfinished Print, I have looked towards various online tools for research and inspiration. One of these tools is ukiyo-e.org. A Japanese woodblock print database which collects and archives woodblock print collections from around the world. John Resig is the chief software architect at the who, in 2013, for his love of mokuhanga and the Japanese woodblock print, and through his own collection, developed ukiyo-e.org. Those researching, collecting, and making mokuhanga can explore some of the best Japanese print collections at the click...
info_outlineMany mokuhanga printmakers today touch on different mediums when they create their work. It could be sculpture, bookbinding, or installation. There is no limit as to what can be accomplished with mokuhanga.
On this episode of The Unfinished Print I speak with mokuhanga printmaker and artist Katie Baldwin. Based in Alabama where she is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Katie has travelled the world, from Poland to Taiwan. She is involved in several collaborative groups, such as ShiftLab, wood+paper+box, and The Mokuhanga Sisters.
Katie speaks on her early days of making mokuhanga, her time at Nagasawa Art Park, the influence of her artist father, studio space and what it does to her work. We also discuss the concept of "craft," and her evolution as an artist.
Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me at [email protected]
Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase.
Artists works follow after the note. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted.
Katie Baldwin - website, Instagram
Progress from the Two Stories Series (2013) - woodblock and letterpress
Tornado Shelter (Practice Evacuation) [2021]
Neighbourhood 2 from Things Left Behind Series (2010)
portion from Multiple Discovery by Shift-Lab (2022) artists book
Fire Drill (ca. 2020)
Evergreen State College - is a state funded college located in Olympia, Washington, USA. It covers environmental justice, history, amongst other subjects. More info can be found, here.
letterpress - is a type of relief printing by using a printing press. It was popular during Industrialization and the modernity of the West. By the mid twentieth century, letterpress began to become more of an art form, with artists using the medium for books, stationary, and greeting cards.
woodblock printing in Europe - first starting in and around 1400, woodblock printing in Europe used the medium to represent Chirstian subjects. Albrecht Dührer (1471-1528) made detailed devotional works with woodcuts. Another famous style of woodcutting in Europe was using the chiaroscuro (light and dark) method of drawing within a woodcut as seen in the work of Louis Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). More info can be found, here.
The Four Horseman of The Apocalypse (1496-1498) woodcut
The Werewolf or the Cannibal (date unknown) woodcut
opening and closing musical credit - Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa (1982)
logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny
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***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***