Beautiful Things and Some Calendar Notes

Today at 2 the Easton Historical Society is having its annual meeting at Queset House, all are welcome to attend. Meanwhile, undisclosed people at an undisclosed location will be judging the 40 entries in the Hockomock Film Festival. The number of entries has set a record as media education takes off regionally. The winners will be announced at a gala event on May 14. More info on that later.

Interesting how the new electronic world works. Yesterday I updated the operating system on my Barnes and Noble NookColor and discovered it now supports a free newsreader as well as paid subscription to newspapers. I spent most of the day playing with the reader-I love being my own news editor. One special feature of the program is a top 25 story page for a number of areas including "Art and Design." There I found a blog entry about modern Japanese artist Ikenaga Yasunari. The blog was based on an article at koikoikoi.com. The artist, born in 1965, does a wonderful job of blending the contemporary and the traditional. You can see more at his website. His paintings done on linen cloth with traditional paints and brushes have the feel of old Japanese screen paintings. While each picture is a portrait of a woman, each also features beautiful Japanese textile designs (and some western ones). The composition as a whole also reflect Japanese traditions. Here's an example:

There's also an Art Nouveau feel which is no surprise since that late 19th century European movement was influenced by earlier Japanese art. While not considered an Art Nouveau artist compare this James Whistler painting that hangs in the Freer Gallery in Washington.

Or this from a true Art Nouveau master Alphonse Mucha:

I prefer the elegance and subtlety of Yasunari.