Thursday, October 2
5 to 9 pm
FREE with museum admission
There's more to getting inked than you think. Takahiro Kitamura -- aka "HORITAKA," apprentice to the revered master Horiyoshi III -- is an author, prolific tattoo artist, and owner of San Jose’s State of Grace. He will deliver a talk on the time-honored art of Japanese tattoos, a rich culture of beauty, commitment, and history.
See LIVE demonstrations of employing both traditional (no electric needles!) and modern techniques. Joining Horitaka's diverse, talented crew of tattooists are special guests from Japan -- Shige, a powerhouse tat artist who's showcased all over the world; Mutsuo, who's designed for Bathing Ape and Hysteric Glamour; and Kazunobu Nagashima, a client of Shige who will proudly display his backpiece, which won a 2007 Milano Tattoo Convention award.
In addition, dip into the world of Zen among ancient Samurai warriors through a guided tour of the galleries, learn about Japanese altars, sample teas by Ito En, soak up DJ Saiman's aural offerings, enjoy a cocktail with friends, and much more.
Fudo Myoo zazo, The Buddhist deity Achala Vidyaraja (Japanese: Fudo Myoo)
1100-1185, Heian period, (794-1185), The Avery Brundage Collection, B60S146+.
Fudo (the Immovable One) is one of the powerful deities known as the Five Bright Kings in Japanese Buddhism and folk religion. As a manifestation of the central cosmic Buddha Mahavairochana (Japanese: Dainichi), Fudo is believed to protect Buddhism and its true adherents.
Like all Bright Kings, Fudo assumes a frightening form, with a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left. He sits in front of a swiring flame of fire, with which he purifies evil.
Artist Bios
Horitaka-Takahiro Kitamura
Horitaka is an apprentice of world renowned Japanese tattoo master Horiyoshi III and owns State of Grace Tattoo in San Jose, California. He has a BA in Community Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Horitaka has been tattooing for over ten years and specializes in the traditional Japanese tattoo style. He is the author of Bushido- Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo, Tattoos of the Floating World and Tattooing From Japan to the West. He has also published four other books and is the co-producer of the San Jose Tattoo Convention. For more information visit www.horitaka.com.
Horitomo-Kazuaki Kitamura
Horitomo has been tattooing since 1992 after apprenticing with Japanese tattoo pioneer Sabado in Nagoya, Japan. He worked at Sabado's Eccentric Tattoo for three and a half years and then moved to Tokyo's Scratch Addiction shop. Horitomo then moved to Osaka and helped found Three Tides Tattoo. In an effort to change his focus to traditional Japanese tattooing, Horitomo moved to Yokohama and studied full time with Horiyoshi III for five and a half years. His title, Horitomo, was given to him by Horiyoshi III himself. In 2007 he moved to the United States and now works at State of Grace Tattoo. He is one of but a few tattooers in the United States versed in Japanese folklore as well as the Japanese hand tattooing technique.
Horiyuki-Jill Mandelbaum
Horiyuki has been tattooing at State of Grace in San Jose with Horitaka since 2003. She began tattooing professionally in 1999 while accomplishing a BFA from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan's East Village. Upon graduation she already had a full time job tattooing in Queens and eventually made it to the West Coast in 2000. In 2005 she received the prestigious honor of receiving her title, Horiyuki, from Yokohama tattoo master Horiyoshi III. Her paintings and designs have been featured in many gallery shows as well as a variety of books and magazines. She is currently a full time columnist for Japan's Tattoo Burst magazine and contributes articles to various magazines internationally. Her first book Studying Horiyoshi III- A Westerner's Journey Into the Japanese Tattoo was published this past winter.
Colin Kenji
Originally from Sacramento, Colin Kenji is a graphic designer as well and has produced four books for State of Grace. He has been with State of Grace since 2006 as Horitaka's apprentice.
Shige
Japanese powerhouse tattoo artist, Shige, was born in March of 1970 in Hiroshima, Japan. He moved to Yokohama as a Harley Davidson mechanic in 1993. From there, he began tattooing in 1995. In June of 2000 he founded Yellow Blaze Tattoo in Yokohama. In 2001, Shige attended the Massachusets Tattoo Festival starting off what would be a dedicated tour of conventions worldwide. In 2002, he stayed in Lausanne, Switzerland for three months in order to complete his bodysuit as well as study with tattooers in Europe. In 2003 Shige moved the shop in August and then celebrated the birth of his daughter, Ayaka, in September. Since then, he has made it a point to travel as a family and devotes his life to the betterment of his art and the Japanese tattoo while studying all over the world. For more information, see http://www.yellowblaze.net.
Kazunobu Nagashima
Kazunobu Nagashima will be flying to San Francisco from Japan to exhibit his tattoowork from Shige. His tattoo was winner of the 2007 Milano Tattoo Convention backpiece contest as well as the 2007 Taiwan International Tattoo Convention. After requesting the tattoo from Shige in 2003, they commenced work in 2005 starting with his chest and sleeve work, a phoenix, dragon and lucky cat. In 2006 they completed his backpiece design in 16 sessions for a total of 96 hours. Nagashima's work is a perfect modern example of the beauty, commitment, and culture of the Japanese tattoo.
Mutsuo
Mutsuo was born in 1977 and tattoos at Three Tides Tattoo in Osaka, Japan. He has been tattooing for seven years and has worked conventions all over the world: San Jose, CA, Milano, Italy, London, UK, New York, NY, Sacramento, CA, Long Beach, CA . Mutsuo has done graphic work with Japanese fashion giants Bathing Ape and Hysteric Glamour. http://www.threetidestattoo.com
Lecture
Household Buddhist Altars in Contemporary Japan: Rectifying "Ancestor Worship" with Home Décor and Consumer Choice
With John Nelson
This is part of the First Thursday Lecture Series organized by the Society for Asian Art. A $5 fee is charged.
In Japan, where organized religion is increasingly viewed with a critical eye, one of the country's most enduring social and religious traditions--commemorating ancestral spirits--is undergoing rapid change. One of the more unexpected factors contributing to this realignment of religion and secular forces is the household altar. Through their products and advertising, innovative companies are creating new paradigms that reflect changing attitudes about religion, the afterlife, ancestors, and individual spirituality. This talk will trace the history of Buddhist household altars in Japan, then spotlight contemporary altars which not only harmonize with modern interiors but also emphasize the power and creativity of the individual in how the altar is conceptualized and used.
Dr. John Nelson is Associate Professor of East Asian Religions in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Francisco. Nelson is the author of two books on Shinto in contemporary Japan: A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine, 1996, and Enduring Identities: the Guise of Shinto in Contemporary Japan, 2000.
Photos
Please check back after October 2 for photos from this event.
MATCHA is made possible by support from Wells Fargo
