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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For Immediate Release
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">[Media Preview information below release]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe career print retrospective opens in Kelowna<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe: Printmaker
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July 1 to October 1, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">June 28, 2023 – Kelowna, BC:
</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Artist Takao Tanabe is among Canada’s most celebrated painters and printmakers. He is recognized for his beautifully rendered landscapes that bridge the gap between abstraction and
realism. Beginning this weekend, Okanagan audiences will be able to see a career-spanning retrospective of Tanabe’s prints in
<i>Takao Tanabe: Printmaker</i> at the Kelowna Art Gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Takao Tanabe’s work contains so much raw physical and emotional power within them,” says
<b>Nataley Nagy</b>, Executive Director at the Gallery. “We are very honoured to present this first within Canada, a 75-year-survey of Tanabe’s accomplished printmaking, with work borrowed from the Vancouver Art Gallery and Winnipeg Art Gallery.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Visitors will have the chance to view some of the artist’s earliest prints, like two linocut
<i>Christmas Cards</i> from 1948, up to his most recent West Coast landscape titled
<i>Cormorant Island</i>, completed in 2023 (at the youthful age of 96). Other featured works include
<i>Prairie Storm</i> (1979), a landscape that breaks broader conventions in printmaking by incorporating ink hand brushing techniques, and
<i>Malacca Strait: Dawn</i> (2004), a woodcut/intaglio print that utilizes form and colour to depict a stillness between ocean and land.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> says of his approach, “...the views I favour are the grey mists, the rain-obscured
islands and the clouds that hide the details. However much we desire order and clarity in all the details of our lives, there are always unexpected events that cloud and change our course. Life is ragged. The typical weather of the coast is like that, just
enough detail to make it interesting but not so clear as to be banal or overwhelming. It can be a metaphor for life."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Behind the selection of work on view is Guest Curator
<b>Ian M. Thom</b>, who has included prints that have never been exhibited until now. The exhibition is accompanied by a 72-page catalogue with essays by Curator Ian M. Thom and Curator Christine May.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe: Printmaker</span></i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> runs from July 1 to October 1, 2023. It is presented with support
from the Audain Foundation, Equinox Gallery, and the Mira Godard Gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (Canadian, b. 1926) was born in Seal Cove (now Prince Rupert, BC.) He was
the son of a commercial fisherman, and summered in fishing camps on the Skeena River, BC during his early years. He studied at the Winnipeg School of Art from 1946 to 1949. He then studied at the Brooklyn Museum Art School. >From 1953 to 1955, he travelled
in Europe, then came back to Vancouver to build his career as a painter. He moved to Parksville, on Vancouver Island, in 1980. In 2000, the Kelowna Art Gallery organized and circulated a solo exhibition entitled Takao Tanabe: Wet Coasts and Dry Lands, guest
curated by Roger Boulet. In addition to a Governor General’s Award (2003), Tanabe has been a recipient of two honorary degrees, the Order of British Columbia (1993), and the Order of Canada (1999). Tanabe’s work is included in many prestigious public and private
collections, including over 120 corporate collections.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Kelowna Art Gallery is located at 1315 Water Street, in downtown Kelowna, BC.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">- 30 –<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">MEDIA PREVIEW:</span></u><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
</span></b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Receive early access to
<i>Takao Tanabe: Printmaker</i> on Thursday, June 29, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Guest Curator Ian M. Thom will be available for interviews. Please RSVP to
<a href="mailto:josh@kelownaartgallery.com">josh@kelownaartgallery.com</a> to confirm your attendance and arrival time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Image Credits<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe at the UBC Okanagan Print Studio in 2010. Photo: Maureen Lisle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe,
<i>Bright Sky</i>, 2010, block print, embossing, 57 x 58 cm. Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Gift of the artist, VAG 2011.33.4. Printer: Larua Widmer, UBC Okanagan. Edition size: 4.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe,
<i>Cormorant Island</i>, 2023, 2 plate photgravure, 5 colours applied a la poupee, 68 x 112 cm. Collection of the Kelowna Art Gallery. Purchased with funds from the Kelowna Art Gallery Permanent Collection Reserve, 2023. Printer: Peter Braune, New Leaf Editions,
Vancouver. Publisher: West Vancouver Art Museum. Edition size: 25, PP.3, AP 10<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe,
<i>Prairie Storm</i>, 1976/2003, lithograph, acrylic wash, 58.6 x 43.4 cm. Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Gift of the artist and Anona Thorne, VAG 2022.5.1. Printer: Arched Press, Montreal. Edition size: 30. from lithograph
<i>Foothills</i>, 1976: sky plate was unusable; sky was painted with acrylic wash in 2003.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe,
<i>Malacca Dawn</i>, 2004, 4 colour mixed media: woodcut, etching, aquatint, 71.5 x 172.5 cm. Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Gift of the artist and Anona Thorne, VAG 2005.31.1. Printer: Peter Braune, New Leaf Editions, Vancouver. Edition size: 20,
AP: 4, PP 2, TP: 2, State I:2.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Takao Tanabe,
<i>Nootka Afternoon</i>, 1993, woodblock, 6 blocks, 20 colours, kozo paper, 62 x 85 cm. Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery, Gift of the Artist, VAG 95.10.1.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Printer: Masato Arikushi. Edition size: 50, AP: 5, PP: 1, BAT: 1.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Resources</span></u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Exhibition Webpage:
<a href="https://kelownaartgallery.com/takao-tanabe-printmaker">https://kelownaartgallery.com/takao-tanabe-printmaker</a><span style="color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Mira Godard Gallery:
<span style="color:#666666"><a href="https://godardgallery.com/artists/16-takao-tanabe/">https://godardgallery.com/artists/16-takao-tanabe/</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Equinox Gallery:<span style="color:#666666">
<a href="https://www.equinoxgallery.com/our-artists/takao-tanabe/">https://www.equinoxgallery.com/our-artists/takao-tanabe/</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><u><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To arrange for interviews, filming within the exhibition, or for additional high-res images, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Joshua Desnoyers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Marketing and Events Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Kelowna Art Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">1315 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">250-762-2226 ext. 305<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:josh@kelownaartgallery.com">josh@kelownaartgallery.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.kelownaartgallery.com">www.kelownaartgallery.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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