February 2, 2009

Master Japanese calligrapher Chukin Takagi will exhibit her recent typography paintings and work with students as a Rankin Scholar of the Graphic Design program. Her expressive typography will be featured in OMOI, an exhibition featuring a visual translation of a 7th century chanted Buddhist teaching, Hannyashingyou. The exhibition is now on display in the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery and runs through March 20th. At the exhibit's opening reception on February 19th at 6 PM, Janice Merendino, Director of the Branch Out Project and founding member of The Clay Studio, will give an introduction on the history of Japanese/Asian calligraphy followed by Chukin's demonstration of her traditional calligraphy. A reception with traditional Japanese food, including sushi and plum wine, will follow Chukin's talk.

Chukin has studied Shodo (a style of scripting) since childhood. She received her graduate degree from the Japanese Shodo Education Association in Tokyo and subsequently won three prestigious Amori Provine awards. In 2006, Ms. Takagi was appointed the Director of the Northern Shodo Institute in Hirosaki.