Biblically themed art created with Japanese methods

The Biblical narrative depicted through traditional Japanese printmaking techniques.

Watanabe

Website: http://www.wheaton.edu/bgcmuseum/Exhibits/Sacred-Arts-Gallery

The Billy Graham Center Museum at Wheaton College presents “Beauty Given by Grace”, a brand new traveling exhibition of Japanese printmaker Sadao Watanabe. Composed of private collections, this exhibition brings together for the first time 50 of the artist’s original stencil prints, calendars, and cards. This special collection of work on biblical themes presents a Japanese artist of critical acclaim, profound originality, and relentless spiritual dedication. The BGC Museum serves proudly as the inaugural venue for this premier exhibit, on display from October 8, 2012 through March 24, 2013.

Sadao Watanabe (1913–1996) converted from Buddhism to Christianity at 17 years old. He expressed stories of his new faith with indigenous Japanese language and style, depicting biblical themes in an East Asian cultural milieu and using a traditional folk art of hand-cut-stencil dyeing, called “katazome”. The luminous works of Sadao Watanabe impart a unique visual legacy to contemporary sacred art. Well regarded in his homeland and in leading art institutions worldwide, Watanabe’s work was created to communicate biblical truth to his culture, be enjoyed by common people, and displayed in ordinary settings.
Reception

Info on planning your visit:

Regular Hours of Operation

Monday-Saturday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Closed Thanksgiving Day and
between Christmas & New Years.

Admission Fee

No admission charge

Suggested donation:
Adults, $4
Senior Citizens/Students $3
Children (12 and under) $1
Families $10