“Matsudaira” 

Pine Tree Painting

When I was first contacted by Rod to create this piece based on my great-great-grandfather and the Matsudaira legacy, I had many ideas. Some of my original sketches involved scenes depicting Kinjiro next to the levees with a background of Edmonston. After drawing a few versions of this, I realized that these were images of things that existed, not a painting of what Matsudaira means. I took a pause to think on that idea. What does Matsudaira mean? Literally, Matsudaira translates to “lone pine on a plain”. Well, that was a place to start. A pine tree, but more than that, Matsudaira is a family. One filled with stories and c characters that have been growing and branching out over generations, starting with the seeds planted by my ancestors; our ancestors.

The use of Prussian blue and negative space evokes traditional Japanese block prints that surround the evergreen pine tree. Its bark combines patterns from both cultures, starting with Japanese black pine branches that slowly transition into a style of growth that firmly plants this tree and the family it represents as American.

I would like to thank Rod and the Town of Edmonston for the opportunity to create and present this piece, as well as my family. Many of those present are responsible for the stories that inspired me and much of this piece.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my wife, Kat, without whom these words would not have been transcribed more legibly than my own handwriting.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that although this painting represents the Matsudaira family, we all have a family tree to be fascinated, inspired, and moved by.

Thank you,

Bobby Matsudaira IV