WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., January 9, 2024– “Experience Japan” opens Wednesday, January 10th in the Nutting Gallery from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The exhibition opening includes a question-and-answer session with the curator at 6 p.m. The exhibition runs from January 10th to January 24th. The Nutting Gallery is in WLU’s Fine Arts Building. The regular hours of the Nutting Gallery are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Fridays, weekends, and other times are by arrangement only. Gallery events are open to the public and free to attend.
The exhibition is curated by Manami Kawazoe. She joined WLU through the Rollie Williams International Center and has been on campus since the fall of 2022. She arrived from Kyoto, Japan and her stay wraps up after the spring 2024 semester. While in West Liberty, her mission is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan through activities and events for cultural exchange. Items in the show are on loan from the Japanese Outreach Initiative (J.O.I), the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania, the American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor Museum, and work from the Paul N. Elbin Library. A suit of samurai armor will be on display through January 16th.
Dr. Mitch Greco is an Assistant Professor of Music and the Director of Percussion and World Music at WLU. Using his expertise he curated a Japanese-themed soundscape for the show. The 30-minute soundscape reflects the objects and themes in the show and will add to the overall sensory experience. On Wednesday, January 24th at noon, Dr. Greco’s percussion ensemble will conduct a Japanese taiko drumming performance in the gallery.
“An exhibition focusing on a culture is a unique event for the Nutting Gallery. The show pulls from multiple resources on campus as well as disciplines. The opportunity to show these objects, and work with our Japanese Outreach coordinator and Dr. Mitch Greco from the Department of Music and Theater has been wonderful. A thank you is in order to President Borcher for funding the exhibition opening” said Professor of Art and Interim Chair of the Department of Media and Visual Arts, Brian Fencl. He added, “This is the type of activity that makes working at a university so interesting.”
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