Starting March 4, the Ferguson Art Gallery located in the Ferguson Student Center will be displaying a collection of James Michener’s prints along with various other Ukiyo-e prints entitled Hanga: 200 Years of Japanese Woodblock Prints.

Ukiyo-e, also known as “pictures of the floating world,” is a traditional and widely celebrated Japanese art genre. The prints displayed in the Ferguson Gallery are the works of well-known Japanese Ukiyo-e printmakers from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Ten prints from James Michener’s 1962 folio “The Modern Japanese Print: An Appreciation” are on loan to the University from the Birmingham Museum of Art. The opening reception for the collection will be today at 6 p.m. at the Ferguson Gallery. UA students will be able to view the exhibit daily from March 4 until March 31 on a limited time schedule. Students can also make appointments to visit the exhibit when it is not available to the public by contacting Dr. Catherine Pagani chairwoman of the department of art and art history.

“The exhibit is designed to be educational,” Pagani said. By visiting the exhibit, students can enjoy the artwork while learning about the unique ways the prints are made. The gallery has antique examples of actual woodblocks and tools used by printmakers. The artwork featured is traditionally and historically rich in Japanese culture. “It’s a good way to look back at an unfamiliar past,” art student Theresa Torres, (music administration major, third year senior) said.

The exhibit is part of the University of Alabama Capstone International Center’s 24th annual Sakura Festival. The festival includes a series of events and activities that allow visitors to observe many aspects of the Japanese culture.