Japanese American National Museum And Fisher Gallery, USC Present "Asian Traditions/Modern Expressions: Asian American Artists And Abstractions, 1945-1970"

The Japanese American National Museum in partnership with the Fisher Gallery, University of Southern California present Asian Traditions/Modern Expressions: Asian American Artists and Abstraction, 1945–1970, Wednesday, December, 10, 1997 through Saturday, February 14, 1998 at the Fisher Gallery and Sunday, February 15, 1998 at the Japanese American National Museum.

The exhibition presents artworks from a generation of American artists from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean descent who employ traditional Asian art techniques and philosophies in the exploration of abstract art.

Organized by the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and curated by Jeffrey Wechsler, Senior Curator at the Zimmerli Art Museum, this exhibition offers an in-depth historical and stylistic overview of Asian American artists within a broader context of American art history.

Being co-presented by the Japanese American National Museum and the Fisher Gallery at the University of Southern California, the partnership marks an on-going effort by both institutions to share resources, expertise, and networking sources.

“We are very pleased with the joint presentation of Asian Traditions/Modern Expressions with the Fisher Gallery,” said Japanese American National Museum executive director and president Irene Hirano, “because we believe that build ing bridges is an important aspect of our mission. The Museum often partners with other museums and art and cultural institutions to strengthen relationships and understanding across communities.

“We know that both the Museum and the Fisher Gallery will gain from the co-presentation of Asian Traditions/Modern Expressions and in the end both institutions will be enriched from the process.”

This major traveling exhibition of over 150 paintings, sculpture and works on paper by 57 artists, demonstrates how abstract qualities found in many traditional forms of East Asian art were merged into a successful synthesis with modern, abstract styles employed in the United States. It also shows how the bicultural expressions of the artists comprise an important and neglected aspect of the American Abstract Expressionist movement.

The Los Angeles presentation of this exhibition is sponsored by AT&T and Sanwa Bank California.

The following government agencies and corporations have also provided support for the exhibition, catalogue, and brochure: The National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, D.C., a federal agency and Council for Cultural Affairs, Executive Yuan, Republic of China.

USC’s Fisher Gallery is located at 823 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Gallery is closed Sunday and Monday. Holiday hours may vary, call to confirm. Admission to the exhibition and all programs are free. Fisher Gallery will be closed December 24, 1997 through January 5, 1998.

The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 E. First Street in the historic Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, Christmas, and New Yea r’s Day. Free every Thursday from 5 p.m.–8 p.m. and every third Thursday of the month. Call 213.625.0414 for holiday hours. Admission is $4 or adults; seniors, students (with ID) and children (6–17), $3.