From the Highfield Hall & Gardens website (1 and 2) and their Press Release:

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.

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 also 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.

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 highfieldhallandgardens.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.

cwaj.org

About Highfield Hall & Gardens

Highfield Hall & Gardens, a five‐star rated destination, is a magnificent Victorian mansion with beautiful gardens located in the heart of Falmouth, Massachusetts. Built in 1878 as the summer home for Boston’s Beebe family, the mansion sits on 5.5 pristine acres surrounded by nearly 400 acres of conservation land and trails. The mansion serves as a cultural center, offering concerts, festivals, international art exhibitions, culinary classes, family programs, and educational opportunities. This family friendly estate is a “must see” for those visiting Cape Cod.

Highfield Hall is open May 20-October 26: Tuesday-Friday: 10am- 4pm; Saturday & Sunday: 10am-2pm

Admission is $12, Senior Citizens $8, and children 17 and under are free.

highfieldhallandgardens.org

Image: Reika Iwami, Fuji Looks Good in Water, AP (Artist's Proof), woodcut, 1995. Courtesy of CWAJ.