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Akio Takamori, Local Ceramic Artist, Passed Away

Akio Takamori passed away last month in Seattle. I had recently discovered his work and posted a few photos on Instagram last fall.

Akio Takamori was a talented ceramic artist. Born and raised in Japan, he lived in Seattle where he was a art professor at the University of Washington. He had exhibitions all over the world but worked in his studio here, in Seattle.

You may have seen see some of his arts at the Seattle Art Museum, in Seattle galleries, and on the Seattle’s streets.

Here on Westlake avenue:
“Young Woman, Girl and Mother and Child” 2006 – Three Painted Cast aluminum sculptures – Collection Vulcan, Inc. Seattle, WA

Here at the Seattle Art Museum:

Girl in Dress, Male Student, and Middle Aged Man – 1999 – Stoneware with underglaze

SAM: “These figures come from an ensemble depicting a Japanese village street scene. Villagers were drawn from childhood memories of the hopes and fears of people in his hometown as they struggled to rebuild in the aftermath of World War II.”

Upcoming New Exhibit: Takamori’s Apology, a series of drawings and sculptures of men apologizing, will be shown at James Harris Gallery on February 16 (604 2nd Ave – Seattle, WA 98104)

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Chuck Close at the Henry Art Gallery

This exhibition features Chuck Close’s photographic work. Chuck Close is renowned for his highly inventive techniques of painting the human face, and is best known for his large-scale, photo-based portrait paintings. He has mostly photographed friends and relatives but you can also see some nudes, flowers, and celebrities. But what I found more interesting is how he has used photographs as tools or first step to create paintings, prints, and also tapestry. This exhibitions also shows how photography has always played a fundamental role in his art.
If you like Chuck Close’s artwork, you may also have heard that in NEW YORK, the new Second Avenue Subway Line (an extension of the Q line on Upper West Side) has opened on New Year’s day and 12 works of Chuck Close adorn the brand new 86th Street station’s walls.
If you are interested, here are two New York Times Articles on this subject: Art Underground: A First Look at the Second Avenue Subway  and Second Avenue Subway opening 
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Through April 02, 2017

— Henry Art Gallery  

University of Washington
4100 15th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543 2280

 

 

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At Frye Museum Through January 8 2017

The exhibition  To: Seattle | Subject: Personal  brings together contemporary works by locally based or locally born artists. These pieces are part of the museum collection and have been acquired during these past 8 years. You may have seen some of them already during previous exhibits but it is worth your time to see them alongside new ones.

Always, FREE ADMISSION and free parking.

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DK Pan, Tsunami Capable Tide Stations > West Coast, Video 2015