About the Collection
Witness to Faith:
The Biblical Art of Sadao Watanabe
Japan’s foremost Christian artist, Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996) converted from Buddhism to Christianity at 17 years old. He soon combined his new faith with an interest in preserving the traditional Japanese folk art of stencil dying, or katazome, by creating colorful representation of biblical scenes that he hoped would speak to his people. He said, ‘My task is to stand within the artistic tradition of Japan…Theology will not take deep root in Japanese soil if it is merely an import.”
Within the framework of his Christian faith he was able to translate the biblical narratives into Japanese settings, thereby giving them broad resonance. Each hand cut print has been created using a complicated traditional stencil art form formally used for dying kimonos. He clothed all the biblical characters in the Japanese dress of kimonos. Noah’s Ark looks like a Japanese cricket cage filled with a menagerie of animals. He depicted the Last Supper with a spread of fish and sake, and the Wedding at Cana with a declawed lobster—all familiar traditional foods of his people.
Cost of rental is $800 per month (plus shipping). There is a two-month minimum. With the rental of two months the third month is free.
Image Gallery
Annunciation
Annunciation
Nativity
Nativity
Madonna and Child
Shepherds Visit the Christ Child
Shepherds in the Field
Presentation
Adoration of the Magi
Flight to Egypt
Boat in a Storm
Christ in Boat
Miraculous Draught of Fish
Woman at the Well
Good Shepherd
Healing the Blind
Entry into Jerusalem
Last Supper
Last Supper
Christ Carrying the Cross
Resurrection Morning
17 - 21
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Calendar of Exhibitions
May 15 to August 30, 2024
St Christopher Episcopal Church
625 Main St, Chatham MA 02633
Contact: Bridgette Renaud
BRENAUD@stchristopherschatham.org
(508) 945-2832
February 1 to April 30, 2024
La Jolla Presbyterian Church
7715 Draper Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 Phone: (858) 454-0713
Contact: Karen Sangren karensangren@pointloma.org
May 1 to December 30, 2023
Highland Park Presbyterian Church
3821 University Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 526-7457
Contact person: Lila Marshall lilatcmarshall@gmail.com
Sarah Good, sarah.good@hppres.org
January 15 to April 15, 2023
First Congregational Church
535 Forest Ave, Glen Elyn IL. 60137
Contact person: Deb Giampoli
debgiampoli@gmail.com
April 25 to October 25, 2023
Highland Park Presbyterian Church
3821 University Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 526-7457
Contact person: Lila Marshall
April 1 to August 1, 2022
Orcas Island Community Church
176 Madrona St. PO Box 205
Eastsound, WA 98245
(360) 376-6422
Contact: Brian Moss, brian@orcaschurch.org
August 15 to December 30, 2022
Belmont University
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
Contact: Dr. Todd Lake, todd.lake@belmont.edu
615 460 6628
January 17 to March 3, 2022
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Hwy, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Phone: (706) 820-1560
Contact Person: Elissa Weichbrodt
elissa.weichbrodt@covenant.edu
March 10 to August 30, 2021.
St Luke’s Anglican Church
50 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head, SC 29928
(843)785-4099
Sept 1 to February 28, 2021
All Saints Presbyterian Church
7808 Rialto Blvd. Austin, TX 78735
Sonya Menges 512-732-8383
smenges@allsaintsaustin.org
January 15, to April 15, 2020
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
2128 Barton Hills Drive
Austin, TX 78704
Contact: Fr Zac Koons
zac@stmarkdsaustin.org
November 8, 2019 to January 5, 2020
Price Tower Arts Center
510 South Dewey Ave
Bartlesville, OK 74003
918.336.4949 x113 pricetower.org
Curator: Deshane Atkins-Williams datkins@pricetower.org