Our Summer Ephemera Show

Swing by and see our 3rd Annual, Summer Ephemera Show, now on view in the east window through September 4, 2010.  This year I've found a group of 1950s matchbox labels chock-full of juicy graphic designs of the time.  We also have a small stash of vintage black & white and sepia tone photos, some titled and dated in the negative as images taken on a world cruise in 1928, and others from the 1930s and 50s.  And I found another copy of the pro-wrestling poster from last year, from a match-up between Japanese hero, Rikidozan, and various international strong men in masks and tights.

Taisho-era woman, with blown-glass fish bowls, $45. framed

1950s matchbox label, $30. framed

(left) 1930s matchbox label with Nagoya Carp and biplane $35. framed
(right) 1950s photo of new train line to Ningyocho $55. framed

1950s matchbox label advertising Kogabo Cameras $30. framed

Another beautiful 1950s matchbox label  $30. in the frame

1930s postcard advertising medical thermometers $45. framed

Praise for Ryohei Tanaka

Lots to report today.  I was psyched that The Stranger's Jen Graves highlighted Ryohei Tanka's paper cuts on The Slog this week.  If you haven't seen the show in person yet, swing by the gallery next Thursday for the monthly First Thursday Gallery Walk, from 6 to 9 pm.  I am also putting up a good selection of matchbox labels, vintage postcards, black & white photos of Japan in the 1920s, old commercial goods and hotel luggage labels, and one cool Pro Wrestling poster, all part of Cullom Gallery's Third Annual Summer Ephemera Show, which will run only through Saturday, August 14.  The International District is also hosting JamFest this summer on every first Thursday of the month through September.  The music lineup and ticket info can be found here.

First Thursday Gallery Walk

August 5th, 6 - 9 pm

Cullom Gallery

603 S Main Street

Seattle, WA  98104

Map

On View:

Cuttin' It Up: Paper Cuts by Ryohei Tanka

Third Annual Summer Ephemera Show

Both through Saturday, August 14, 2010

 

Ryohei Tanka Exhibit Online

It's up!  A selection of 36 of the nearly 70 amazing hand-folded and cut kirigami, featured in our current exhibit, Cuttin' It Up: Paper Cuts by Ryohei Tanaka continuing through August 14, 2010.  Stop by on the First Thursday in August, 8/5, for the monthly Gallery Walk, to also see our 3rd Annual Summer Ephemera Show, a short run from 8/5 - 8/14, so don't miss it!

Breath In Breath Out.

Praying Angry Man.

Summer Ephemera Show

One of the reasons that Japanese prints intrigue me so much is that they, and really fine prints in general, always tell a story: a story about a moment in history, or popular culture, or civic debate, or industrial invention, or fashion trends, or even technical developments in printing itself. And in many ways ephemera: paper stuff and collectibles not generally considered fine art, like postcards, menus, posters, product labels, boxes, and travel guides, contain even more more potential for an interesting back story.


When I started my gallery almost two years ago, I had in mind that I would like eventually to have an ephemera show. I was interested in ephemera though I didn't have much knowledge of it as a collecting field. But planning an exhibit, I thought, would give me a chance to learn more and to be a collector, albeit short-term, of all the weird paper stuff that I often saw while searching for Japanese prints, at least until it was ready for sale.

So here it is, the first annual, Summer Ephemera Show (over at cullomgallery.com.) Included are old matchbox labels from the late Meiji period, paper fans from the Taisho period, a pro wrestling poster and a Japanese horror movie poster, some Japanese baseball menko (children's playing cards), and many many postcards from the late 19th century to the 1940s.

In the coming days, I will try to highlight a few pieces from the show along with bits of related unearthed history.