Please join us at Full Bloom Farm on beautiful Lummi Island, September 7th, 2024 for a hands-on Gyotaku class led by renowned and classical gyotaku artist Dwight Hwang. Dwight will teach students the process of this 18th century Japanese art form of fish printing. This is a special opportunity to learn from a master who rarely offers classes outside his home studio in Mission Viejo, CA. Students will be immersed in the art of Gyotaku and learn about the history, the preparation of the fish, the tools, the processes, and even the philosophies involved. We will be first printing with small fish and then with larger locally-caught salmon. No previous experience with nature printing is required.
What is Gyotaku?
Gyotaku (魚拓)gyo "fish" + taku "stone rubbing” is a traditional Japanese method of printing fish that dates back to the mid-1800s. It is a type of nature printing that was developed by fishermen to record their catches and has since developed into an artform.
The Class
Dwight will start the class off by discussing the history of Gyotaku. Dwight will teach students how to prep fish for printing and familiarize them with the required tools and supplies by leading a demonstration of his craft.
Students will work in pairs helping each other make multiple prints. Dwight will demonstrate how to add interesting elements to your artwork such as filling in the eye, adding seaweed, etc. At the end of the workshop we will filet the fish so students will be able to take home half of their salmon for dinner.
The Setting
The workshop will take place in our newly renovated barn studio space, full of natural light and located right off the flower garden and farm stand. Take time before or after class to explore the farm, the beaches, forests, and wildlife that Lummi Island offers.
Before class we’ll serve our delicious farmhouse pastries, coffee, and tea to get you ready for a creative day ahead.
Bring your own lunch or choose to preorder box lunches from us (we’ll send an email closer to the date for ordering).
Dwight Hwang Biography
Dwight Hwang creates classical Japanese gyotaku art and European nature printing. Whether his subject is a fish, plants, birds, or even a person, he pushes not only the art but himself to bring awe, memories, and quiet contemplation to viewers worldwide. Partnered with institutions like NOAA and Patagonia, his work has been exhibited in museums such as the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, displayed in hospitality settings such as the Four Seasons Resorts, and showcased in publications, including Forbes.
“My many years in Japan have taught me some very important things. However, one that stands out and remains to sculpt how I view the Japanese approach to life and artistry is the cultural love and admiration for simplicity, fleeting moments, and the 'Perfect Imperfection' - take an imperfect subject and emphasize these imperfections to be beautiful. It is my wish to show and convey this mindful philosophy to others.”
To learn more about nature printing, visit the Nature Printing Society website here
Plan Your Trip
September can be a busy time of the year on Lummi Island, so we encourage you to book overnight accommodations as soon as possible. We recommend staying on Lummi in one of the many vacation rentals offered. Take a look at Stay & Sea (20% discount code is FULLBLOOM), RecRetreats, Lummi Island Vacations, Airbnb or VRBO.
The ferry schedule and directions to the farm are found here for your reference