An opening night reception for a photographic exhibition showing how Americans and the Japanese perceive each other will be held at Method Art Gallery, 4142 N. Marshall Way in Scottsdale, June 2 beginning at 6 p.m.
The exhibit, featuring the works of Valley photographers Jason Grubb and Michael Matlach and the images of Himeji, Japan, photographers Matsushita Toshikazu and Shindo Naotaka will remain in the Scottsdale gallery through the end of June.
Sponsored by the Valley non-profit organization Through Each Others Eyes™, the exhibit is the 17th involving photographers from Phoenix and its sister city of Himeji, Japan. In addition to the Japan exhibitions, Through Each Others Eyes™ has sponsored exhibits between photographers in China, the Philippines, Mexico, Cuba, Scotland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, and Italy (Sicily) since the organization began in 1988.
The current exhibition is the result of photographs taken by Grubb and Matlach when they visited Himeji in October, 2010, and images taken by Matsushita and Shindo when they traveled to Arizona in January. Through the exchange images, photographers document a culture from perspectives far different than the way a culture perceives itself.
“Our exhibitions are artistic and educational experiences for all of us,” according to TEOE President Errol Zimmerman. “We learn about ourselves from the images they take of us, and they learn as well when the exhibit travels to Japan.” The exhibit will open in Himeji, Japan, at the Egret Art Center in the fall.
Each exhibit is displayed multiple times in both countries, and efforts are underway to have traveling exhibitions which visit all nine countries. After June’s display at Method Art, the show will move to the main Phoenix branch of Wells Fargo Bank at 100 West Washington.
In addition to photographic exhibitions, Through Each Others Eyes™ sponsors community service and educational projects, including photographing the students and classes at Children First Academy and providing pictures free of charge. For additional information, contact the website at www.teoe.org.