For a couple of weeks eighth-graders who are having art at Lewiston Middle School are enjoying a wonderful experience. Anthony Shostak and Annie Wachnicki have been taking the time from Bates College to teach Ukiyo-E block printing. Ykiyo-E wood block prints were popular in Japan between the 17th to 18th century. Ukiyo-E means “floating world,” the world which has many pleasures. These prints displayed the floating world through fashion and theater landscapes, and mystical creatures to viewers that were too poor to visit the world themselves.
The eighth graders, after a quick slideshow, split into groups and drew their designs on a sheet of paper. The best but easiest was chosen to transfer onto five different rubber blocks. It was transferred onto five different blocks because there is a different block for every color. Then, you decide who is doing what color and begin to carve your block. You carve out everything except for the areas that are your assigned color. Then when they are all carved, you roll ink onto your blocks and put a piece of paper on one block. Then, using a special wooden circular tool, apply pressure to get the ink to stick on the paper. Lastly, press the paper on every block to get the final print!
Anyways, this was an awesome experience and a special thanks is sent out to Anthony, Annie, Mrs. Cargile and all who helped put this together.
Comments are no longer available on this story