Gallery Fukurou of Rockland is honored to present the iconic Cherry Blossoms exhibit by 18 Japanese woman
ROCKLAND — Gallery Fukurou is holding an exhibit with work from the Ajisai group of Japanese women photographers. The gallery is located at 20 Main Street in Rockland. The show runs from Aug. 30 through Sept. 7—open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We are honored and humbled to showcase the photographic art of these amazing women. Their empathy, sensitivity and creativity give us an opportunity to see the Japanese cherry blossoms through their insightful vision,” said Ramona du Houx, president of The Solon Center for Research and Publishing — the non-profit that owns Gallery Fukurou. “Cross-cultural exhibitions can deepen our understanding of the world and our home.”
The original one-of-a-find art pieces were taken as the women explored the world through the viewfinder of cameras. Walking with nature they became inspired by the freedom of creativity and able to express themselves openly. When the artists took these images, Japanese society was very restrictive for women, and in many situations still can be.
Ajisai is the name for the Hydrangea flower. The direct translation of ajisai is purple sunflower. The Hydndra flower has become a symbol of the endurance of Japanese women.
According to a legend, a Japanese emperor gave a bunch of hydrangeas to the family of the girl he loved to apologize for neglecting her because he was too focused on his work, and to show how much he really cared for her.
The Ajisai group are all alumni from the College of Art, Nihon University, in Tokyo where they studied photography.
The artists of the exhibit: Takiko Inami, Takako Umemura, Ikuko Ogiwara, Kazuyo Kaneko, Kayoko Kimura, Heeson Kou, Ikuko Sato, Rie Sato, Kiyomi Shibata, Yoshiko Shoji, Myunghee So, Takemi Tazawa, Noriko Takahashi, Mitsuko Tanaka, Chihoko Tanefusa, Akiko Fukushima, Hitomi Wada, and Miyoko Wada.
Gallery Fukurou means owl in Japanese as well as prosperity and health. The owl in Ancient Greece often is associated with Athena, the goddess of arts and wisdom. The gallery borders Owl’s Head, two doors down from Primo.
Fukurou represents Maine artists, and fosters cross-cultural connections with Japanese artists and others. We host exhibits, book signings, have lectures, workshops and other events. Our books have themes of long-term intrinsic value and are published through our Solon Center publishing arm, Polar Bear & Company.
The Solon Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit Maine Public Benefit Corporation that helps build community in Maine and beyond through educational, literary, scientific and artistic means, with publications, research, exhibits, events and other initiatives. We work to help the humanities flourish.
The Solon Center for Research and Publishing is also a platform where people from diverse disciplines can examine issues of cultural and environmental importance, while developing connections.
Democracy flourishes when creativity is allowed freedom of expression.
