BILL MARTIN - Mendocino Art Center

the other pieces of the process.
It was during this stay in Japan that Walt began
to discover that he was falling in love – with a place,
with a culture. His connection with Japan was to
continue to grow.
A woman he met during that time showed him
a small book of Hiroshige’s prints of the Tokaido,
made in the 1830’s. This was another significant
hint in his odyssey, which led him further down his
path.
The Tokaido was the Eastern sea route from
what is now Tokyo to Kyoto, dating from the time
of the Emperors. In the 1600’s, 53 stations were
built along its 310-mile route. Many artists over the
centuries have depicted, in their own way, the series
of stations.
Walt now decided that he would return to
Japan the following year to travel this route himself,
and create his own interpretation of the Tokaido
series.
And so he did. Spending two months on his
Mt. Fuji (appropriately enough) mountain bike,
with camping gear and tent (at times enjoying the
hospitality of the local Japanese people he met,
curious and appreciative of this American traveler
who seemed to have such a great respect for their
culture), he traveled the length of the Tokaido and
back, recording the images that would become the
source of inspiration for much of his work for years
and years to come.
At this point, Walt still had no awareness of Bill
Zacha, the founder of the Mendocino Art Center,
and of the similar fascination they shared in visiting
this ancient landscape, and in depicting its beauty.
Though, as we spoke on the phone, Walt commented
that the signed (by Bill and Jennie) copy
of Tokaido Journey was right there by him – pored
over and closely studied through the years. It was
in 1985 that Walt heard about Bill Zacha and his
Tokaido series. Zacha was to give a lecture in San
Francisco; Walt made the trip to attend. There was
just that one contact all those years before, and ever
since, a seed of desire to come and be a part of the
Mendocino Art Center.
Sometimes the pursuit of a goal takes us on a
long and circuitous route, and requires of us much
patience to finally see something come to fruition.
I find I am very touched by this story and its farreaching
connections, and feel happy to welcome
Walt Padgett to the Mendocino Art Center. I only
wish Bill Zacha were still here, so that the two of
them could catch up.
Please join us on Friday evening, Oct. 10th, at
7pm, for a very special hour and a half. As a prelude to
the ‘Second Saturday’ opening of the show, Walt will
be sharing with us a documentary slideshow
presentation on the traditional
process of Japanese woodblock printing:
an educational and inspiring look
at the history of the Tokaido, weaving
photos of its landscape and architecture
with the work of the early printmakers
who depicted its beauty, Sekino and
Hiroshige. His presentation has been
enthusiastically received at the Portland
Art Museum, the Berkeley Art Center,
the Japanese Garden in Portland, and
many other centers for the arts. We are,
indeed, fortunate for this opportunity, so
mark your calendars now!
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