Artist Talk: Robert Seward on his Samurai Baseball Artworks

Name: Artist Talk: Robert Seward on his Samurai Baseball Artworks
Start: 2025-08-14T17:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-08-14T18:00:00-04:00
Location: 689 Beaver Meadow Rd, Cooperstown, NY, United States, New York 13326

Schedule

Thu Aug 14 2025 at 05:00 pm to 06:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

689 Beaver Meadow Rd, Cooperstown, NY, United States, New York 13326 | Cooperstown, NY

Cooperstown NY- Scholar-artist Robert Seward, Cooperstown, who formerly lived in Japan, will discuss his ‘samurai baseball’ artwork at the Art Garage, Thursday August 14 at 5PM. The gallery will open at 4:30 with light refreshments.
The current 15-artist exhibition, Samurai Baseball and More: a fine arts look at baseball, features a dazzling line-up of Seward’s artistry, inspired by Japanese woodcuts and manga. His 14 individual artworks cleverly integrate baseball with a wide range of Japanese cultural signifers and aesthetics – including Japanese animation. Reservations recommended as seating is limited. Contact: [email protected], text/call 315-941-9607. Parking on lawns is requested, for public safety.
Robert Seward lived in Japan for 24 years. He taught at Meiji Gakuin University, where he introduced the work of Robert Whiting, the American authority on Japanese baseball and author of The Samurai Way of Baseball. It is Whiting’s thesis that baseball, as played in Japan, draws on the samurai spirit (bushidō/武士道), the way of the warrior, is deeply intertwined with Japanese culture and societal values, and prizes harmony of the group. It is distinct, Seward says, from the emphasis on individual heroics and power prevalent in the U.S., more focused on strategy and increment. But the passion for the game is shared—and wild.
Free programs will continue through end of show Sept 13. Sat. August 16, 1-3, Steph Marcus will present an interactive modeling clay activity for all ages based on her hilarious 'baseball cards' that present Hall of Famers as...cats! Sat. August 23, 11-12:30, Marcie Schwartzman will demonstrate Japanese embroidery stitching-- sashiko--used in her Ichiro Suzuki piece on display. Two artists' panel discussions to follow August 28 and Sept 3, at 5PM. Details to follow.