Jun Kaneko: Sculpture and Painting

Artist’s Reception: First Thursday, May 1, 5 - 8 pm
Exhibition runs: May 2 - June 1, 2008

Jun Kaneko: Sculpture and Painting

The William Traver Gallery is pleased to present a solo show featuring new work by noted ceramic artist Jun Kaneko. The exhibition showcases a selection of Kaneko’s signature Dango sculptures, named after a similarly shaped type of Japanese dumpling. Also included in the show are a variety of the artist’s intensely graphic, abstract drawings and paintings.

Jun Kaneko’s early training in painting is evident in the richly glazed surfaces of his sculptures, as well as in the paintings themselves. Among the most prolific artists working in clay today, Kaneko’s constant experimentation with building, glazing, and firing techniques results in the refreshing sense of spontaneity seen in his pieces.

A native of Japan, Kaneko is strongly influenced by Asian aesthetic sensibilities and Zen ideology. He has said that his creative process is itself very spiritual. “I give up thinking and just sit in front of my piece, trying to catch what the shape is saying to me - the only way to know is to keep working. I try to listen to what my heart is telling me and to flow with everything around me.”

Jun Kaneko’s ceramic sculpture has been exhibited around the world. Born in Nagoya, Japan in 1942, Kaneko began serious artistic study in the studio of painter Satoshi Ogawa in 1961. He came to the United States two years later and stayed at the home of Fred and Mary Marer, whose extensive ceramic collection became Kaneko’s first serious encounter with clay. Subsequently, Kaneko realigned his focus from painting to ceramics and studied with artists such as Peter Voulkos, Paul Soldner, and Jerry Rothman.

Over the years, Kaneko has taught at some of the nation’s leading art schools, including the Cranbrook Academy of Art and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He was instrumental in the development of the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NE, where he also recently created KANEKO, a non-profit organization providing a public forum for research and exploration of creativity in the arts, sciences and philosophy. In 2006, he designed and executed the set for Omaha Opera’s presentation of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and a selection of the drawings, costumes and sets were displayed at the Joslyn Art Museum soon afterward. Kaneko currently maintains a studio in Omaha, Nebraska.

Located just across the street from the main entrance of the Seattle Art Museum, the Traver Gallery is one of the country’s premier exhibition spaces for contemporary studio glass, painting, sculpture, and installation art. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday 10 - 6, Saturday 10 - 5, and Sunday 12 - 5. For more information, please call (206) 587-6501 or visit our website at www.travergallery.com.