"Gyotaku" Traditional Fish Printing

This afternoon artist Sheila Klotz will lead a workshop demonstrating Gyotaku.  Gyotaku (pronounced ghee-oh-tahkoo) translates to ‘fish rubbing’ and dates back to the early 1800s. Fisherman in Japan began this tradition to record their catch. Gyotaku enabled them to document the size and type of fish caught while still allowing them to sell or eat the fish. Also, certain fish in Japan are revered, and fishermen would take rubbings of these fish and then place them back in the water. Prints were brought back and displayed in the homes of the fishermen either on walls or in journals. These prints were used as conversation pieces and to relate proud and heroic stories of the catch. Today we have taxidermy and cameras to record our catches. However, gyotaku is still practiced and has developed into a fine art form today. Join use to make your own Gyotaku print on rice paper with sumi ink and experience this Japanese art tradition.