The Faithful Samurai: Kuniyoshi Woodblock Prints is opening on May 14, 2006 at McClung Museum. This exhibition illustrates one of the most famous stories of revenge in Japanese history, outlining the exploits of the 47 Ronin (masterless samurai) who avenged the death of their lord in the early 18th century. Their story, the Chushingura, or “Treasury of Loyal Hearts,” illustrates and defines the Japanese concept of loyalty, providing a supreme example of the samurai ideals of cool courage and fidelity. The exhibition tells this tale through stunning triptychs, warrior prints, and bust portraits by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861).

The Chushingura struck a deep emotional chord in the very heart of Japanese society, and the result was a steady stream of theatrical performances, books, and woodblock prints about the 47 Ronin. Kuniyoshi, a portrayer of Japanese history and legend, produced more than 1,600 single-sheet prints and 360 triptychs throughout his prolific 45-year career. Of these works, 12 series and 20 triptychs are devoted to the Chushingura.

Visitors to The Faithful Samurai will take in an array of artifacts, swords, and costumes that complement Kuniyoshi’s woodblock prints. In addition, they can view a display that describes the techniques woodblock printing and the Japanese print tradition.

	The Frank H. McClung Museum is open M - S from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 1 - 5 pm. Admission is free. For more information, please call the museum at 865-974-2144.

The works in this exhibition are on loan from the David R. Weinberg collection. A collector of Japanese woodblock prints for over 20 years, Dr. Weinberg is an international educator and scholar. He is an active member of the Michigan Oriental Art Society, which held an exhibition of the prints in fall 2003 at the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery, University of Michigan , Dearborn , to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the events of the 47 Ronin. The guest curator for Faithful Samurai is David Pepper, an independent curator based in Canada who has worked on a number of Japanese exhibitions. He is a specialist in Japanese artifacts.

The Faithful Samurai: Kuniyoshi Woodblock Prints is organized by the Michigan Oriental Art Society and toured by ExhibitsUSA. The purpose of ExhibitsUSA is to create access to an array of arts and humanities exhibitions, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures, and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities. ExhibitsUSA is a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1972.

ExhibitsUSA is generously supported by the Altria Group Inc.; James H. Clement, Jr.; the Cooper Foundation; DST Systems Inc.; Edward Jones; the William Randolph Hearst Foundation; the Helen Jones Foundation; the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, trustee; the Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation Inc.; Land O' Lakes Inc.; Mrs. Tom Lea; Adair Margo Gallery Inc.; the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Endowment for the Humanities; SBC Missouri; the Society of North American Goldsmiths; Sonic, America’s Drive-In; Sterling Vineyards; the Summerlee Foundation; the Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust; Valmont Industries; the Woods Charitable Fund; and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

ExhibitsUSA is a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.