Divine Inspiration in Japanese Prints at the Spencer Museum of Art | Exhibitions

Religion in Japan is quite diverse, including Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity, folk beliefs and various interminglings between these practices. The Japanese prints displayed in this exhibition are visual manifestations of Japanese culture that challenge viewers to consider the wide variety of ways, from the humorous to the sacred, Japanese religious imagery interfaces with society.

For this exhibition, students in the spring 2012 History of Art seminar “Japanese Prints and the American Museum,” taught by Dr. Sherry Fowler, Associate Professor of Japanese Art History, selected Japanese prints from the Spencer Museum of Art collection. Seven students, Yen-yi Chan, JiYeon Kim, Takaaki Kumagai, Ye-Gee Kwon, Kirsten Marples, Amanda Martin and Myenghee Son will each write two essays on prints selected from the Spencer collection. In addition to writing essays, three students in the course agreed to serve as co-editors for this project: Brian Hogarth, Annie Kroshus, and Alison Miller.

The class would like to thank Kate Meyer, Curatorial Assistant for Prints & Drawings, Celka Straughn, Andrew W. Mellon Director of Academic Programs, Bill Kummerow, Web Programmer, Robert Hickerson, Information Technology Manager and Kris Ercums, Curator, Global Contemporary & Asian Art, for their assistance with the exhibition and website.

The works will be on display in the Spencer Museum of Art Teaching Gallery, 3rd floor, from Tuesday, April 10 to Sunday, April 22, 2012. We welcome guests to attend the gallery talks that will take place on April 10, 2012 from 2:30 to 3:30 PM.