Nagashizuki

Donald Farnsworth

This impression was exhibited in the exhibition World Print Four - An International Survey, organized by the World Print Council in San Francisco, California in 1983. Nagashizuki was awarded a Special Edition Purchase Award and is illustrated in color on page 10 of the catalog (ISBN: 0-9780962496-2-6).

Donald Farnsworth, who founded Magnolia Editions in Oakland, California has a background with papermaking and restoration as well as printmaking and science. His own work has always been experimental, a combination of all his interests. The work from the 1980s and 1990s combined precise architectural renderings of classical Greek and Roman columns and archways with "the addition of unusual textures and designs" such as abstract patterns or fragments of antique Japanese papers and script.

The paper for Nagashizuki is hand made by the artist, in fact the title refers to a Japanese method of washi making and includes siver leaf and other paper elements. The image is printed on the surface of the sheet from a lithographic stone and then hand worked with added elements. Each print is unique and is really a series of monoprints with the same image and title.