February 2023 ArtWalk: Kacho-e, 413 Plant Swap, and the Library grand opening

In the summer of 2016, after working in the yard with my wife and separating tons of irises, I decided to create a Facebook group to facilitate the sharing/trading of plants in the local area, the 413 Plant Share & Swap. While there was slow and steady growth in the beginning, this group exploded during the pandemic and currently has ~3800+ members with plants (and advice!) being provided every day. For a long time I wanted to explore hosting an in-person plant swap, and I think now could be that time.

To kickoff a lively 2023 filled with beauty, what better way than to host an exhibit of kacho-e (bird and flower prints) and a 413 plant swap?

With that in mind, this is my idea:

• Peruse the art at your leisure
• Bring cuttings (labelled please!) to share if you have some
• Bring a way to take new cuttings or plants home with you

At the same time, we’re also celebrating something special, the grand opening of the new Sam Sokolov Library within the gallery!

The Sam Sokolov Library at Moonlit Sea Prints is a collection of over 300 volumes exploring the rich genre of Japanese art with a focus on woodblock printmaking (mokuhanga) commonly referred to as ukiyo-e or shin-hanga. Many of the volumes contained here are long out of print and contain notable research on specific artists, topics such as artistic censorship in Edo-era Japan, surimono prints, and much more. Works in the library extend from “L’Art Japonais” by Louis Gonse (1883, the first serious Western work on the subject of Japanese art), to the more recent “Japanese Woodblock Prints” by Andreas Marks (2019).

Read the press release or learn more about the Library.