Purdue to give artist's talk Jan. 25 in Anacortes

Seiko Purdue, an associate professor in the Department of Art at Western Washington University, will talk about her "Casting: Labor of love" multimedia exhibition from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Anchor Art Space at 216 Commercial Ave. in Anacortes.

Purdue's large-scale hanging installations and delicate paper casts combine traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary applications; the work explores themes of childhood and motherhood by casting the forms of plastic toys and clothes with paper in a blending of Japanese and American cultures.

The work is being exhibited through Feb. 2; the gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Seiko Atsuta Purdue received her bachelor of fine arts degree from Kyoto Seika University in 1992. She came to the United States and received an MA at Montclair State University and a master of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Most of her work is installation-based using fiber materials (handmade paper, polyester), or ideas of fiber exploring ways to connect East and West. In addition to her ongoing Wish Project and Bullet Cloth series, she has integrated her experience of being the mother of a Nisei (second generation Japanese) daughter.