Noriko Sakanishi
Catch Up, Acrylic and mixed media
I began as a sculptor carving stone and wood. After several years, I developed a shoulder problem which forced me to find a way to pursue my art using lighter materials. My current constructions incorporate my continued interest in sculptural form while also allowing me to include elements of color and texture. The structure of my work is made of archival foamboard. I cover the surface with cheese cloth using black gesso. Acrylic paint and gel mixed with sand additive is applied in multiple layers. Some of my works also include gatorboard. Plywood is cut to fit the back of the work.
My collages are an artistic extension of the mixed media constructions which have been my main form of expression for a number of years. Both are geometric and based on a grid. Although my approach to art is primarily intuitive, it seems clear that my collages reflect on my personal history as well. The materials I use for the collages are things “laying around” my home and studio; pieces of my previous art works that I decided not to keep, scraps of fabric from my own and my mother’s clothing, bits of printed materials which were too good to be thrown away. If I find anything that is interesting to me as collage material, I try to incorporate it in my work.
I also create new elements when appropriate or I feel the need for it. I sometimes paint in or over the existing materials with acrylic paints. Therefore, some of the sections of the collages are partially or entirely new while other parts are not. I like this juxtaposition of elements, although I might put a wash over the surfaces to make them look more unified and harmonious. I use matte acrylic gel for adhesive and apply acrylic varnish to finish the work. Through combining the various materials in my collages, I hope to discover connections which may only be available through art.
~ Noriko Sakanishi
Noriko Sakanishi discovered art while a student at Westbrook Jr. College (now the University of New England) and went on to study at the Portland School of Art (now the Maine College of Art & Design). She majored in sculpture and began her professional career carving wood and stone. After developing a severe shoulder problem which forced her to give up carving, she focused on two-dimensional work before gradually inventing a way of creating wall constructions with lighter materials. She lives and works in Portland, Maine.
