Awakening features the haunting, surreal work of Ryo Toyonaga, a New York City-based contemporary artist, in his first major museum exhibition. Organized by Lawrence Fong, the JSMA’s former curator of American and Pacific Northwest art, the exhibition surveys twenty years of ceramic and mixed-media sculpture, drawing, and painting. Toyonaga’s imagery is drawn from a wellspring of recurrent dreams, and the result is a surprisingly original world that fuses craft, technology and nature into mysterious hybrid forms and imagery.
The exhibition includes nineteen medium and large-scale paintings and drawings and a companion survey of Toyonaga’s ceramic and papier-mâché sculpture. Accompanying the exhibition is a catalog featuring images of the work, and essays by Fong, art historian Suzanne Ramljak, and distinguished historian, gallerist, and collector Helen Drutt English. The catalog discusses the artist’s early influences and reflections on modern and contemporary art to the evolution of his imaginative and interpretive powers. By sifting surreal notions through a variety of media, the artist discovered:
“When you work with clay, you feel the world. When you draw, the tormented ‘creatures’ can stay; they are happy on canvas. One feels responsible and attached to these creatures. One wants to create a bigger world, and the ability to make large drawings enables me to create a larger world. One cannot extricate the creatures from the paintings; their chaos is frozen by the two-dimensional form.”
Ryo Toyonaga was born in Matsuyama, Japan, in 1960 and earned his BA in psychology from the National University of Shinshu. He moved to New York City in 1986 and began creating works that appeared to emerge from the earth itself, perhaps from the depths of the ocean or recesses deep in forgotten mines. During the 1990s, Toyonaga worked exclusively in clay. As the organic energy flowed and changed within his imagination, Toyonaga expanded his vocabulary of expression and materials, including the introduction of red wax in 2002 and bronze and aluminum casting in 2004.
With an interest in increasing the size and stance of his works, Toyonaga began exploring large-scale papier-mâché in 2005. Following his solo show of sculpture at the Charles Cowles Gallery in 2005, his artistic interest shifted to drawing. At his second solo show at the Charles Cowles Gallery in 2009, he exclusively showed drawings. Since 2010, Toyonaga has concentrated on large-scale acrylic paintings on canvas.
Support for Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening is provided by the Coeta and Donald Barker Special Exhibitions Endowment, The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and JSMA members.
Programs
Exhibition Opening Reception: “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening”
Friday, October 10,
Members' Reception: 5-8 p.m.
Public Reception: 6-8 p.m.
Gallery Talk with artist Ryo Toyonaga, curator Lawrence Fong, and historian, gallerist and collector Helen Drutt English
Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m.
Blue Box Ensemble Concert: “The Grotesque”
Saturday, October 25, 3 p.m.
In a special concert to complement “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening,” the Blue Box Ensemble (formerly the Tardis Ensemble) presents a concert on the theme of the grotesque. The Blue Box Ensemble is a chamber music collective founded in 2011 with the purpose of engaging audiences through thematic programs that explore distinct time periods, countries, or genres. Ensemble members are Sophia Tegart (flute), Catherine Lee (oboe), Helena Kopchick Spencer (bassoon), Casey Bozell (violin), Holland Phillips (violin/viola), Clark Spencer (viola), and Valdine Ritchie Mishkin (cello).
Lecture: “Floating in Her Lemon Juice: The Concept of ‘Infinity’ in Kusama Yayoi's Prints”
Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Though Kusama Yayoi's prints are not as renowned as her other works, she regards print as an essential medium of self-expression. In the context of Ryo Toyonaga’s fantastical compositions, Akiko Walley, assistant professor in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture explores the deeply personal yet curiously universal nature of Kusama's prints.
Lecture: “Encountering the Animal”
Wednesday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.
Alison Hawthorne Deming, professor of Creative Writing, University of Arizona
From the earliest cave art to the work of Ryo Toyonaga, animals inspire wonder, reflection and invention. Alison Hawthorne Deming will respond to the exhibition “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening” and read from her new book “Zoologies: On Animals and the Human Spirit.”
Programs
Exhibition Opening Reception: “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening”
Friday, October 10, 6-8 p.m.
Gallery Talk with artist Ryo Toyonaga, curator Lawrence Fong, and historian, gallerist and collector Helen Drutt English
Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m.
Blue Box Ensemble Concert: “The Grotesque”
Saturday, October 25, 3 p.m.
In a special concert to complement “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening,” the Blue Box Ensemble (formerly the Tardis Ensemble) presents a concert on the theme of the grotesque. The Blue Box Ensemble is a chamber music collective founded in 2011 with the purpose of engaging audiences through thematic programs that explore distinct time periods, countries, or genres. Ensemble members are Sophia Tegart (flute), Catherine Lee (oboe), Helena Kopchick Spencer (bassoon), Casey Bozell (violin), Holland Phillips (violin/viola), Clark Spencer (viola), and Valdine Ritchie Mishkin (cello).
Lecture: “Floating in Her Lemon Juice: The Concept of ‘Infinity’ in Kusama Yayoi's Prints”
Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Though Kusama Yayoi's prints are not as renowned as her other works, she regards print as an essential medium of self-expression. In the context of Ryo Toyonaga’s fantastical compositions, Akiko Walley, assistant professor in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture explores the deeply personal yet curiously universal nature of Kusama's prints.
Lecture: “Encountering the Animal”
Wednesday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.
Alison Hawthorne Deming, professor of Creative Writing, University of Arizona
From the earliest cave art to the work of Ryo Toyonaga, animals inspire wonder, reflection and invention. Alison Hawthorne Deming will respond to the exhibition “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening” and read from her new book “Zoologies: On Animals and the Human Spirit.”
- See more at: http://jsma.uoregon.edu/lectures-films-and-concert-accompany-contemporar...
Programs
Exhibition Opening Reception: “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening”
Friday, October 10, 6-8 p.m.
Gallery Talk with artist Ryo Toyonaga, curator Lawrence Fong, and historian, gallerist and collector Helen Drutt English
Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m.
Blue Box Ensemble Concert: “The Grotesque”
Saturday, October 25, 3 p.m.
In a special concert to complement “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening,” the Blue Box Ensemble (formerly the Tardis Ensemble) presents a concert on the theme of the grotesque. The Blue Box Ensemble is a chamber music collective founded in 2011 with the purpose of engaging audiences through thematic programs that explore distinct time periods, countries, or genres. Ensemble members are Sophia Tegart (flute), Catherine Lee (oboe), Helena Kopchick Spencer (bassoon), Casey Bozell (violin), Holland Phillips (violin/viola), Clark Spencer (viola), and Valdine Ritchie Mishkin (cello).
Lecture: “Floating in Her Lemon Juice: The Concept of ‘Infinity’ in Kusama Yayoi's Prints”
Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Though Kusama Yayoi's prints are not as renowned as her other works, she regards print as an essential medium of self-expression. In the context of Ryo Toyonaga’s fantastical compositions, Akiko Walley, assistant professor in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture explores the deeply personal yet curiously universal nature of Kusama's prints.
Lecture: “Encountering the Animal”
Wednesday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.
Alison Hawthorne Deming, professor of Creative Writing, University of Arizona
From the earliest cave art to the work of Ryo Toyonaga, animals inspire wonder, reflection and invention. Alison Hawthorne Deming will respond to the exhibition “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening” and read from her new book “Zoologies: On Animals and the Human Spirit.”
- See more at: http://jsma.uoregon.edu/lectures-films-and-concert-accompany-contemporar...
Programs
Exhibition Opening Reception: “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening”
Friday, October 10, 6-8 p.m.
Gallery Talk with artist Ryo Toyonaga, curator Lawrence Fong, and historian, gallerist and collector Helen Drutt English
Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m.
Blue Box Ensemble Concert: “The Grotesque”
Saturday, October 25, 3 p.m.
In a special concert to complement “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening,” the Blue Box Ensemble (formerly the Tardis Ensemble) presents a concert on the theme of the grotesque. The Blue Box Ensemble is a chamber music collective founded in 2011 with the purpose of engaging audiences through thematic programs that explore distinct time periods, countries, or genres. Ensemble members are Sophia Tegart (flute), Catherine Lee (oboe), Helena Kopchick Spencer (bassoon), Casey Bozell (violin), Holland Phillips (violin/viola), Clark Spencer (viola), and Valdine Ritchie Mishkin (cello).
Lecture: “Floating in Her Lemon Juice: The Concept of ‘Infinity’ in Kusama Yayoi's Prints”
Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Though Kusama Yayoi's prints are not as renowned as her other works, she regards print as an essential medium of self-expression. In the context of Ryo Toyonaga’s fantastical compositions, Akiko Walley, assistant professor in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture explores the deeply personal yet curiously universal nature of Kusama's prints.
Lecture: “Encountering the Animal”
Wednesday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.
Alison Hawthorne Deming, professor of Creative Writing, University of Arizona
From the earliest cave art to the work of Ryo Toyonaga, animals inspire wonder, reflection and invention. Alison Hawthorne Deming will respond to the exhibition “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening” and read from her new book “Zoologies: On Animals and the Human Spirit.”
- See more at: http://jsma.uoregon.edu/lectures-films-and-concert-accompany-contemporar...
Programs
Exhibition Opening Reception: “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening”
Friday, October 10, 6-8 p.m.
Gallery Talk with artist Ryo Toyonaga, curator Lawrence Fong, and historian, gallerist and collector Helen Drutt English
Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m.
Blue Box Ensemble Concert: “The Grotesque”
Saturday, October 25, 3 p.m.
In a special concert to complement “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening,” the Blue Box Ensemble (formerly the Tardis Ensemble) presents a concert on the theme of the grotesque. The Blue Box Ensemble is a chamber music collective founded in 2011 with the purpose of engaging audiences through thematic programs that explore distinct time periods, countries, or genres. Ensemble members are Sophia Tegart (flute), Catherine Lee (oboe), Helena Kopchick Spencer (bassoon), Casey Bozell (violin), Holland Phillips (violin/viola), Clark Spencer (viola), and Valdine Ritchie Mishkin (cello).
Lecture: “Floating in Her Lemon Juice: The Concept of ‘Infinity’ in Kusama Yayoi's Prints”
Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Though Kusama Yayoi's prints are not as renowned as her other works, she regards print as an essential medium of self-expression. In the context of Ryo Toyonaga’s fantastical compositions, Akiko Walley, assistant professor in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture explores the deeply personal yet curiously universal nature of Kusama's prints.
Lecture: “Encountering the Animal”
Wednesday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.
Alison Hawthorne Deming, professor of Creative Writing, University of Arizona
From the earliest cave art to the work of Ryo Toyonaga, animals inspire wonder, reflection and invention. Alison Hawthorne Deming will respond to the exhibition “Ryo Toyonaga: Awakening” and read from her new book “Zoologies: On Animals and the Human Spirit.”
- See more at: http://jsma.uoregon.edu/lectures-films-and-concert-accompany-contemporar...
