TAKAOKA JAPAN - CHIKUEN KATO, (Chigako Pifer). Born in Japan, she now lives in Angola, IN, and travels to Japan several times a year to participate in calligraphy, ikebana and sumie exhibits. Chikuen Kato began her study of traditional Japanese arts with shodo  at the age of six. In 1975 she began her study of sumie., and from 1978 to 1983 studied with a leading Japanese sumie  master, Gizanjin Minegishi, who was the leader of the National Art’s Association. In 1978 she received the award for Outstanding New Artist. She exhibited at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum on five occasions and won additional awards with the development of her techniques. 

To deepen her understanding of sumie  she studied with a traditional, rice paper expert who makes Japanese scrolls and screens, mounts paintings and repairs pieces of art and historical documents which have been designated national treasures. She also studies with a leading Japanese Kana shodo  master, Keien Sato since 1983 to deepen her calligraphy skills. She has exhibited at the All-Japan Shodo  Exhibition during the past twenty-five years and at two other Tokyo Exhibitions each year receiving numerous awards for her works. She completed a three-year, study-research seminar, held at the National Art Museum and sponsored by the Japan Calligraphers Association, on calligraphy produced between the 6th &16th Centuries which has been designated national treasures. 

The ability of sumie artists to write poems on their pieces was highly appreciated by old masters, but very few artists today have developed the combined skills. This skill is what Chikuen Kato works for the past thirty years. With a B.A. in Philosophy, her art is not only a skill but a metaphysical activity expressing the seriousness of life itself. The combination of poems and sumie represents her attempt to present a message for life. 

The art Chikuen Kato presents embodies the traditional Japanese spirit which depicts beauty, simplicity & peace of the surrounding world of nature. It is her sincere desire that you will find peace in your mind while experiencing the simple harmony of ink on rice paper.

Click here for her schedule.

Click here to see her visit to Oak Farm Montessori

For more information or schedule a workshop  :
Kim Brown, Visiting Artist Director
(260) 481-0545/(260) 436-3857 • Kim@famearts.org 

Kathy Birk, NW Coordinator: 
(219) 464-3159 • birkw@aol.com