I first met Pauletta Chanco whilst studying at UC Berkley, where I majored in Fine Arts under Honorary Professor Karl Kasten. Professor Kasten - an expert and renown personality in abstract expressionism, spoke passionately about; Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Hans Hoffman, Franz Kline, and the likes of which gave me a new perspective and understanding of the basis of abstract, contemporary art.
Later, after transferring to UCLA, upon graduation I decided to open up Galerie Sho Contemporary Art. Throughout this time I kept in touch with Professor Kasten, who offered his expertise and guidance. In October of 1999, he introduced me to one of his fellow students: Pauletta Chanco. I was immediately captivated by the magical, almost primitive quality of her work, thanks to her unique approach in using encaustic technique to cover her art; which inspired me to exhibit. Her method is completely different from that of Jasper Johns, who used encaustics for purposes of surface protection; in contrast, it seems to me that Chanco uses this technique in order to impart a more primitive aesthetic.

Pauletta is very active within the art community, which is why it came as a great shock to me to hear her devastating news: “I am in the 4th stage of breast cancer, and my only remaining wish is to have an art show at Sho’s Gallery during the time I have in this world.” I was deeply affected by her sad news, especially having recently heard that another artist friend had accidentally passed away by drowning.
With great clarity, I feel that it is my mission to introduce the artwork of Pauletta Chanco to as many people as possible, at this difficult time in her life. Respecting her wishes and circumstance, I will be introducing her most recent pastel pieces, as well as other works that show her distinctive encaustic and assemblage technique, chine collee, and collage.
In heartfelt reflection, my thoughts are with Pauletta and her family at this difficult time; to cherish each moment they share, surrounded by hope, warmth and love.

Galerie Sho Contemporary Art
Director
Shoichiro Satake

［作家コメント］
The small pastels are a departure from the older works in this show. They were created after a recent visit to Paris with materials purchased in the same art store that Monet and many of the other Impressionists would frequent to make their work.

The small pastels and other work that I am creating this year are made while contemplating my mortality. (I was diagnosed in May 2013 with stage 4 breast cancer).I believe that the theme of rebirth is very appropriate. This exhibition brings together my former self, when I was relatively healthy with no thoughts of dying prematurely and my new self that is confronted with how best to live a life that is shorter than what I expected it to be.

In learning to claim my new identity, from a spiritual and creative standpoint, I am being taught that the gravity of the situation evokes a renewed perspective on life and all that has been relinquished as a result of the illness. What remains present is what truly matters the most － being present and loving for others while continuing to create that which bubbles up from deep inside of a painter when death is closer than it was before.

Pauletta M. Chanco