Falmouth, Massachusetts - Highfield Hall & Gardens is proud to welcome 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.

“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.”

Trailblazers: Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Prints will feature 137 acclaimed Japanese printmakers, showcasing a range of printmaking techniques from traditional woodblock and intaglio to lithography, etching, aquatint, silkscreen, and contemporary digital innovations. The exhibition highlights five groundbreaking women artists whose contributions have shaped the evolution of contemporary Japanese printmaking: Toko Shinoda (1913-2021), Chizuko Yoshida (1924-2017), Reika Iwami (1927-2020), Noriko Yanagisawa (1940- ) and Toeko Tatsuno (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.

Trailblazers will feature Hands-On Art, a unique installation for low or no 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.  

Each year, CWAJ assembles 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.

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.
  
About the College Women’s Association of Japan
Founded in 1949, the College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ) is a nonprofit volunteer organization, comprised of nearly 500 women dedicated to promoting education, cross?cultural exchange, and friendship. CWAJ began when the alumnae clubs of Mount Holyoke and Wellesley colleges joined forces to provide travel grants for Japanese students to attend U.S. universities. CWAJ’s services have steadily expanded to include a wide range of academic and research scholarships, courses for the blind and those with low vision, English language learning programs, Fukushima disaster relief, public lectures and social events, and artist grants supporting innovation in the world of hanga. As the organization has grown, it has remained steadfast to its mission to enrich lives, encourage cross?cultural dialogue, and provide educational opportunities. www.cwaj.org