Festival of Light: the Color Woodblock Prints of Micah Schwaberow - Piper Jaramillo, Mission Gallery

Micah Schwaberow

An in-depth look into the life, creative path, and artistic processes of American printmaker Micah Schwaberow. The works and writings of Schwaberow were compiled by Piper Jaramillo of Mission Gallery in Cambria, CA, who writes a foreward and a biography of the artist but otherwise leaves the narrative almost entirely to Schwaberow himself. Included is an informal catalogue of Schwaberow's editioned moku-hanga color woodcuts, arranged in chronological order, as well as reprinted journal entries, letters, poems, and photos of his paintings and sculptures. Jaramillo has also dedicated an entire chapter to Schwaberow's process for the woodcut "China Cove, Morning Light" which includes his photo references, preparatory drawings and paintings, notes, and step-by-step photos of Schwaberow as he goes through the carving and printing processes.

This book is the first of its kind for the work of Schwaberow, despite his extensive oeouvre and exhibiting career. This is in part due to Micah's wish to focus on his art rather than his marketability, and his desire to share as much as he knew without asking for anything in return. However, it wasn't uncommon for people to ask if there was a catalogue of his extraodrinary work. As luck would have it, he developed a great friendship with the owners of Mission Gallery who took it upon themselves to begin the process, in 2022, of putting together Festival of Light with Micah's permission and collaboration. However, he died before the book could be published. Thus, it has become a memorial of sorts while also honoring Schwaberow's artistry.

Learn more about the artist in our biography, above.