Echoes of Edo: BTS with Julia Walker

In this episode of CleveCast: Voices of the CCMA, we take you behind the scenes with Assistant Curator Julia Walker to explore one of the many layers of Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World.

Our focus? The Historical Ukiyo-e and Edo exhibition in the Atrium of the McAninch Arts Center—a comprehensive contextual installation offering visitors insight into the social and cultural world surrounding the artworks on view in the museum galleries. Julia and Justin discuss how the exhibition came together, from initial research and layout planning to storytelling and design decisions, offering a candid glimpse into the curatorial process of expanding Edo-period Japan beyond the gallery walls.

This installation is just one facet of a much larger exhibition—but as you’ll hear, it plays a vital role in helping visitors understand the "floating world" these artists depicted.

Note: Due to a technical mishap, this episode was recorded using backup laptop audio. The sound quality may differ slightly from our usual standard, but the conversation remains just as engaging.