Near the bottom of each of my webpages, is a red colored graphic which
is my chop. it is used as my signature and has some history. I have, for many
years, been interested in the Japanese culture. This is, in large part, due
to the way in which the Japanese view not only art, but nearly everything
related to their lives. Art objects are given much more respect in a traditional
Japanese home, rather than being so interested in an object's monetary value
. In our culture, art objects are usually displayed on whatever wall space
or table space is readily available. At any given time, many prints, photographs
or what have you may be displayed at the same time in our homes, covering
every inch of wall space or table. In a traditional Japanese home, a special
niche or alcove exists, the sole purpose of which, is to display in a reverent
manner, a print or vase or flower, which is not only beautiful in it's own
right, but also displayed with thought given to whether the season is appropriate
to the object displayed. Because of this reverential attitude given to objects
of art, I have always been impressed with that culture. A few years ago,
I was very active in woodcarving and used the Japanese Ukieo print as the
basis for my work. These prints are made by separate wood blocks, each carved
with part of the overall scene, and "registered " by means of a small pin
or block. In this manner, each block is printed by itself with the appropriate
color. Then each succeeding block is printed on the same sheet of paper until
the print is complete. As you might guess, this is a labor intensive process,
nothing like the automated process we use to produce a run of several hundred
prints. Because of the almost spiritual effort put into each print, they
are highly valued and thus displayed in a manner befitting their great importance.
My woodcarvings were done by using gouges and a hundred year old rolled leather
mallet. Many hours were thus used to produce a carving, which instead of
being used to make a print, were then painted with the subtle colors used
in Ukieo prints. The overall effect was quite beautiful and they sold well
to the appropriate customer base at woodcarving shows. At about that time,
a friend of mine, who I worked with, became interested in my carvings and
suggested that I use a "chop" as my trademark. Giving respect to the Master
who you were apprenticed to was accomplished by assuming his name for yourself.
This was not considered plagerism, but rather was the highest form of respect
which could be given to one's mentor! I therfore assumed the name of a 12th
century sculptor , Unkei. The Japanese characters for his name appear in
my chop, as do an image of a Japanese Koi, and my signature. This chop has
evloved from the Japanese characters by themselves, to the characters along
with the Koi in separate chops side by side, and finally into what you see
on these pages, and what I hope appears as a balanced and artful use of the
separate parts. This is my way of giving respect to a culture and an artist
to which respect is due. All of this being said, I would like to add that
I am 100 % American, and that our culture has great meaning for me. I now
work solely in the field of photography and the Japanese influence is soley
that of respect for artistic effort, and the hope that my photography would
be thought worthy of tasteful display in one's home.
Unkei