FALMOUTH, MASS.- Highfield Hall & Gardens welcomes back the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) Contemporary Japanese Print Show this summer. As the exclusive U.S. venue for this prestigious juried exhibition, Trailblazers: Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Prints will be on view June 21 through October 26 at Highfield Hall & Gardens. Proceeds from the sale of the original prints will support Highfield’s cultural programs and the CWAJ scholarship fund.


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“This marks the third time Highfield Hall & Gardens has hosted the esteemed CWAJ Print Show,” said Lisa Walker, Co-Executive Director and Chief Development Officer. “After pandemic-related interruptions, we are thrilled to welcome back this exceptional program in partnership with the Tokyo-based CWAJ.”


YOSHIDA Chizuko, Butterflies - Together, ed. 56/99, woodcut, 1977.

Trailblazers: Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Prints will feature 140 acclaimed Japanese printmakers, showcasing a range of printmaking techniques from traditional woodblock and intaglio to lithography, etching, aquatint, silkscreen, and contemporary innovations. The exhibition highlights five groundbreaking women artists whose contributions have shaped the evolution of contemporary Japanese printmaking: SHINODA Toko (1913-2021), YOSHIDA Chizuko (1924-2017), IWAMI Reika (1927-2020), YANAGISAWA Noriko (1940- ), and TATSUNO Toeko (1950-2014). These visionaries overcame social and academic barriers to pursue professional careers in the visual arts, paving the way for future generations of artists. Their work reflects bold innovation, resilience, and a dedication to artistic expression.


IWAMI Reika, April Sea, AP (Artist's Proof), woodcut, 1979.

Trailblazers will feature Hands-on Art, a unique installation for blind or
low-vision visitors. Hands‐on Art is inspired by CWAJ’s longstanding commitment to supporting education for the blind. The installation provides a tactile experience of hanga (the Japanese term for print) by producing raised images of selected prints allowing all visitors the rare opportunity to “touch” a piece of art.


NISHIDA Tadashige, Spring Brilliance, 3/17, woodcut, 2024.

Each year, CWAJ produces a juried print show as their principal fundraiser in Tokyo. The jury was comprised of four specialists in the field of printmaking, representing the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, the Kyoto City University of Arts, and the Japan Print Association; their criteria included technical proficiency, originality, and artistic expression. One juror, Yanagisawa Noriko, Director of the Japan Print Association, a practicing artist and one of the Trailblazers, commented how CWAJ is receptive to creative freedom, originality, and inclusive of a range of styles and approaches. This year marks CWAJ's 75th anniversary and their founding mission of supporting Japanese women’s education. After debuting in Tokyo in October 2024, the CWAJ art exhibit continues its international journey to Falmouth, bringing the world of contemporary Japanese hanga to a broader audience in Highfield Hall’s unique presentation, Trailblazers: Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Prints.


TAKAHASHI Satomi, Deep Sea Inside, 2023. 9/33, (9th impression in edition of 33) Mezzotint, dimensions 9.45 x 9.06

In conjunction with the exhibition, Highfield Hall & Gardens will offer a variety of Japanese cultural programs for children and adults, including gardening, printmaking, origami, cooking classes, lectures, and musical performances. These immersive experiences will provide visitors with deeper insight into Japanese traditions and culture. To register or learn more, visit highfieldhall.org.