Lecture: Becky Reece: “The Story of Manga: Tracing the Evolution of Manga from Hokusai to Today

The Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) and the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) on the College of DuPage (COD) campus present a variety of programming in conjunction with the “Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection” exhibition now through Sept. 21. From lectures and workshops to social events, festivals and films, these programs add an exciting dimension to this summer’s must-see experience of Japanese art and culture.

Lectures include COD Reference and Instruction Librarian Becky Reece talking on “The Story of Manga: Tracing the Evolution of Manga from Hokusai to Today” (Thursday, July 31, 7 p.m.). From its early artistic roots to its present-day global influence, this lecture tells the captivating story of manga. Reece will trace the origins of the word “manga” to Japanese artists Santo Kyoden and Katsushika Hokusai, whose popular “Hokusai Manga” sketchbooks played a significant role in the term’s early usage. The lecture will also explore how Western comics played a pivotal role in manga's evolution, inspiring Japanese cartoonists and sparking the development of a distinct style of manga.

Additional lectures include Yayoi Shinoda, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Assistant Curator, Japanese Art, East Asian Art explorig the worlds of both Kabuki theater and the Yoshiwara district in her talk, “Popular Edo Entertainment” (Saturday, Aug. 2, 2 p.m.). And CCMA Curator Justin Witte sharing the intricate process and compelling backstory behind bringing the U.S. premiere of the collection and this unique exhibition to the Chicago area in his talk “Hokusai and the Art of Edo” (Saturday, Aug. 23, 2 p.m.). Admission to these lectures is free with presentation of an exhibition ticket stub. For more information visit Hokusai2025.org.

The Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) and McAninch Arts Center (MAC), located on the College of DuPage campus (425 Fawell Blvd.), present “Hokusai & Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection,” now through Sept. 21. The all-encompassing exhibition takes guests on a fascinating journey into the world of shoguns, samurai and kabuki actors during a vibrant time of Japanese cultural renaissance.

The exhibition’s featured art collection, on loan from the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, Italy, features more than 60 woodblock prints and original paintings by the masters of ukiyo-e, including original works by Hokusai, Hiroshige and 15 of their contemporaries, and a selection of objects such as games, instruments and hair ornaments.

The exhibition is organized by the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, with works from the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art of Genoa, Italy that was originally collected by Edoardo Chiossone (1833-1898), whose collection is known worldwide for the quality of art and its remarkable state of conservation. For more information visit Hokusai2025.org.