HEATHER MIDORI YAMADAIs a Montreal and Victoria based visual artist and teacher who works with Japanese `washi`papers in paintings, collage and installations. Having begun in Toronto`s Open Studio during the 1980`s Heather primarily used washi in monotypes which explored natural plants as imagery as well as actual plants in embossing. These washi, etched & embossed monotype- print-constructions were often marouflaged onto western paper supports and evolved into mixed media and collage paintings.
In recent years Heather worked with very large pieces of washi in hanging installations such as the 63`hanging piece shown at La Maison de la Culture de Mont Royal during Montreal`s Asian Heritage month in 2004, and, `La Foret` installation in 2005 at Stewart Hall,” Landscape East- West”. Also in 2005 Heather collaborated with Sogetsu Ikebana Master Seibi Watanabe in an art show “Washi and Ikebana” installed at The Montreal Shambahla Meditation Centre celebrating Watanabe`s 50 year teaching career. 2012 in ‘Intermingling Appearances”, Heather suspended large washi pieces, one wall piece and two banners occupying the street view window of Galerie Espace in Montreal’s Mile End. Heather continues to teach art and creativity at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, including Contemplative Approaches to Spontaneous Brush ( October 2015) and Contemplative drawing in 2014-2015; all manner of workshops exploring the wonders of “washi”, Japanese paper with Au Papier Japonais in Montreal and The Warehouse, Japanese Paper Place in Toronto. In her recent move to Victoria BC, Heather will continue her research of new plant life in ikebana, in shodo, ( Japanese brush) watercolour and acrylics on washi papers and mixed media canvas. Heather continues to offer Creativity Retreats in Nature which combine fine arts techniques, Japanese brush and washi papers, watercolour and acrylics with exercises in hatha yoga and guided meditation. |
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