Block Print Designed To Aid Relief Effort in Japan

Well-known block print artist Yoshiko Yamamoto and the Arts & Crafts Press have just announced that she has created a new block print and is donating all of the proceeds to the Japanese relief effort. The print, 500 of which have been made, is entitled "Matsushima Bay." Here is Yoshiko's announcement:

"As you are all aware, the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and partial meltdown of the nuclear power plant have been devastating to those who live in the northeastern part of Japan. I am from Tokyo originally and my immediate family still lives there. I thank all of you who have sent me your kind thoughts and concerns for them. So far, they are all fine.

"My concern right now is with the more immediate victims - both young and old - who don't have homes, food, clothing, medical care, and whatever else they need simply to live. To raise funds needed for sending urgent medical care and other supplies to the Japanese victims, this week I've decided to donate a new block print for the relief effort. This new block print, which I just finished, is of a seascape of "Matsushima Bay," just northeast of Sendai along the coastline hit by the tsunami.

"ALL of the proceeds from this Matsushima print ($30/print) will go towards a volunteer organization called Empact Northwest (www.empactnorthwest.org) that is at this moment in Japan working to provide medical relief in the Sendai area.

"As a matter of pride, I'd like to mention that my stepdaughter, Tamara, has been one of the volunteers working on the Japanese relief work. Last Monday she flew to Tokyo for this non-profit organization, Empact Northwest. On Thursday with her group, and accompanied by my stepson, Sosha, who is acting as a translator, they made their way north to Sendai circling around the nuclear power plants in Fukushima. They are there to assess the situation in Tohoku region and set up places for more volunteer nurses and doctors to follow. Tamara is an emergency room nurse by profession and Sosha is completely bilingual in Japanese and English, skills that are much needed in this emergency. Even with the danger of radiation and continuing aftershocks, they are working day and night because, as Tamara put it "this is when we can do something bigger than ourselves for the rest of the world."

"My hope is that you can pass on this message to as many of your friends and families as possible so we can all together offer help for those who are suffering. And let us all hope that the Tohoku region will again become safe, vibrant and beautiful, as it used to be, as I tried to convey in this small print.

"To order your print, please go to the website below, then click on the image of the print. You'll be directed to a Paypal site that will directly transfer your donation to them. Empact Northwest is a non-profit medical relief organization who has previously sent many skilled volunteers to regions like Haiti and Sierra Leone. Your donation will go directly to the Japan Relief effort.

Sincerely,

Yoshiko, Bruce & all of us at

The Arts & Crafts Press

3085 Buckingham Drive

Port Orchard, WA 98366

Telephone: (360) 871-7707

Facsimile: (360) 871-7718

Email: info@artsandcraftspress.com

Website: www.artsandcraftspress.com