ARTIST
Shizuko Greenblatt / シズコ・グリーンブラット
http://www.shizukogreenblatt.com
Artist Statement
Japanese Character Series
I attempt to activate and uplift human souls through every transformed element in all my art including the meanings of Japanese Characters and Japanese symbolism. Past and present, East and West meet to create a contemporary dialog conveying my passion for life and eternal good wishes to the people of the world.
About three thousand characters derived from the Chinese are used in the standard Japanese language today. I explore this series in the Western style abstract expressionistic paintings in mixed media. I have chosen characters that have positive and inspiring messages such as “Vitality”, “Go Forward” and “Enthusiasm”. Some characters signify objects such as plum blossoms, pine trees and bamboo as expressions of hope, perseverance and flexibility. Other characters signify various human feelings and philosophy of life. I have modified the shapes of characters to express their meanings as well as to show the beauty inherent in the individual characters. The meanings of the characters coordinate with the titles of the paintings.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Japan to an ancient samurai family, Shizuko Greenblatt was raised in an environment that emphasized and honored the arts. After graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, she came to the United States to continue her education at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles). Later she became a certified interior designer and worked in the field for more than 20 years. Greenblatt studied art and the spirit of art for10 years with a noted late artist, Vicki Dolnick, who was a student of Richard Diebenkorn.
Recognized with multiple awards, many articles and publications from the press, Greenblatt’s art is held in both private and public collections around the world. Her work is continuously exhibited in solo exhibitions at venues including the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, TAG Gallery in Santa Monica and LA Artcore , Union Center in Los Angeles. In Group exhibitions her works were exhibited at the Los Angeles International Airport, Terminal 1 and Gate 2, and the Ontario International Air Port of Los Angeles. Other group exhibitions which were juried by museum curators and art professionals include, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, 2nd City Council Art Gallery, Long Beach, The city of West Hollywood 25th Anniversary Celebration, Play Boy Mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, Korean Cultural Center, in Los Angeles, French Consulate in Los Angeles, Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, Peninsula Fine Art Center Biennial National Juried Exhibition at Newport News, Virginia and Pacific Art Guild exhibitions in Playa Del Rey and many more venues.
She is a USA award winner of Patron Spirits Company’s “Simply Perfect Art Project”. Her work “Rejuvenation” created for this project was featured in the USA national advertisement campaign of Patron Spirits Co. and was printed in the March, 2012 Issue of “Interview Magazine”(founded by Andy Warhol). In October 2012, the Japanese Embassy in Switzerland acquired 2 of her paintings after her exhibition in Basel, Switzerland. She is an active member of the Los Angeles Art Association, affiliated with the LAArtcore and is an instructor of Japanese flower arrangement (Ikebana) of Sogetsu School. Currently she resides and works in Los Angeles.
"Enthusiasm #5"
Japanese Character Series Acrylic on Canvas 48" x 36" 2012
2016.8.16 Up Date