A coachload of avid students of the arts set off to York in the middle of June.  It was hot! The coach was hot! Moreover, most of us were thinking “Will it be too hot for a day in York and, by the way, what are Japanese Woodblock Prints?”

Then we were advised by our driver – there is only one coach park/drop off/pick up point in the city. It was 10 minutes walk to the York Art Gallery but once inside, how cool it was!

Culture commenced. We were exposed to an array of Japanese prints, helpfully supported by most clear and readable explanatory notes. Quickly we began to appreciate the influence of nature, society and the culture which influenced the evolution of an art form within their then closed society. The graphics were outstanding, especially The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Nothing whatsoever like our attempts at school in making lino-prints. Two factors surprised me. The wood prints were devised for multiple copies: art was for all and not only for the rich. Secondly, the exquisite series of courtesans in their intricate kimonos reflected a geisha culture where girls from poor families from the age of four were educated into a world of discrete prostitution. I personally enjoyed the prints of sumo wrestlers developed as promotional material and widely distributed across society. Much more sophisticated than the back pages of our daily papers.

I sensed that all our group found the exhibition truly memorable and impressive. The final phase offered an opportunity for each one of us to create our our piece of original art: we could utilise a woodblock. Carefully following the instructions: press once, again, and again and then for the final time, each of us created our original piece of art.  In fact, on the way back to the coach we found an art framing shop. We now have an original piece of art hanging here at home. We intend to charge for people to view.