The Art of Sushi and Sake
Kanemitsu at LACMA
By Nancy Uyemura
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents Kanemitsu in California during the 1960’s and 1970’s, an installation featuring the works of Matsumi Kanemitsu (1922-1992) during his time in California. The exhibition curated by Aya Yoshida, is an effort to promote LACMA’s Asian American Art Intiative, increasing public awareness of the importance of Asian-American art in post-war American art. This installation is a rare opportunity to view Kanemitsu’s work. His mastery of line and use of color along with the variety of his profound yet playful and sensual images make this exhibition something that should not be missed. These works on paper from LACMA’s permanent collection will be up from February 23, 2008 through June 15, 2008.
Nicknamed ‘Mike’ by his friend Jackson Pollock, Matsumi Kanemitsu was an abstract painter of the New York School during the 50’s. Then in 1961, June Wayne, founder and director of the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, invited him to Los Angeles to create lithographs. (June Wayne, created Tamarind was instrumental in reviving lithography as an art form in the United States.) Given this opportunity Kanemitsu mastered the new medium quickly. Mike’s ability with sumi ink and watercolor translated well with the lithographic process of working quickly and mixing the correct ratio of tusche to ink which created a certain wet look or flow that became somewhat of a hallmark of his work. Then an invitation to teach at the Chouinard Art School along with the birth of his daughter Patia solidified his move from New York to Los Angeles in 1965. He spent the next twenty years living and working in Los Angeles. It is this time period that this exhibition focuses on.
His poetic nature and political commentary are evident in the selections from his suite “Illustrations of Southern California”. In the lithograph “Santa Anita Yesterday and Today” there is a poignant quality to his depiction of Japanese Americans being incarcerated during WWII because of their heritage. Though Kanemitsu did not go to camp he did get drafted in the U.S. Army. The conflict of his own duplicity and memories of fighting in Europe with the famed 442nd underlie this image. He captures the sadness in their faces and the fear of the unknown as they look out from behind barbed wire. His political commentary in this suite is strong yet subtle like the use of his brush strokes and lines that are firm, definite yet sensitive and fluid all at the same time.
One other work which was one of his more sexually charged lithographs was one that was inspired by the scandalous Oxnard Madame, a black transvestite that worked in that area during the war. He documented the historical events of the time in his own way, with an honesty that was somewhat shocking to some at the time. But, then again, that is what artists do and Mike was an artist in every sense of the word.
One sumi painting on paper, “Last Page 12 a.m.” 1973-74 is an example of his mastery of precision with brush and the Zen thought of being one with nature and one’s environment. It was his tradition to paint on New Year’s Eve, the last painting of the year and the first painting of the New Year. This was Mike’s frozen moment in time.
June Wayne produced an Academy Award nominated documentary film “Four Stones for Kanemitsu”. It is an excellent film about the art of lithography and the process of collaboration between the artist, Mike Kanemitsu and the master printer, Serge Lozengot.
This film will be screened on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Brown Auditorium at the lower level of the Bing building at LACMA. This screening is a rare opportunity to watch Kanemitsu and two master printers create a lithograph from conception to completion. June Wayne has also generously offered to be present and give some comment about the making of the film.
The exhibition and the screening of “Four Stones for Kanemitsu” is an opportunity that you will not want to miss. It is free to the public and you may call (323) 857-6000 or log on to lacma.org for more information. LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 and is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, noon – 8pm; Friday, noon – 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 8 pm; closed Wednesday. Though they won’t be serving sushi and sake at this exhibition, it would be appropriate and who knows, maybe next time. It is a beginning. (For further information concerning work by Kanemitsu you may call (213) 625-8259.
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