Fiji — Meke

Edward Armen Stasack

Meke is a broad term in the Fijian language, primarily referring to all traditional style of dance. It is a cognate of the words "maka" (Rotuman) and "mele" (Hawaiian). It is typically performed during celebrations and festivals. Traditionally the dances that comprise the meke art form are performed by groups of men only or women only, however, foreign influences, such as the male/female Tongan ma'ulu'ulu becoming the Fijian vakamalolo, are evident throughout.

The Fijian meke as both song and dance which only a few are given to invent and which those who do, allege that they do so in the spirit world where divine beings teach them the song and the appropriate dance. The ideal of the Fijian poet is poetry with every verse ending with the same vowel of regular measure, which, in practice is often achieved with poetic license through the use of arbitrary abbreviations or lengthenings, and omission of articles, etc.

Edward Stasack was an early experimenter with collagraph and masonite-intaglio plates. He would attach a layer of fine silk to 1/8" tempered masonite and then harden the surface with a white glue mixture. He would then engrave and cut the surface composition, after which he would then "fix" the intaglio lines with the same glue mixture. Stasack used the silk to achieve tonal effects from absolute black to subtle grays. He also began adding dripped glue, string and thread to the surface, allowing the plate to then be printed both intaglio and relief. All of these elements are apparent in this work. This impression, one of around 3 total, is dedicated to California printmaker Elizabeth Ginno Winkler.

Edward Armen Stasack was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 1, 1929 to Clifford and Bette Stasack. He received his BFA (1955) and MFA (1956) at the University of Illinois at Urbana, focusing on painting and printmaking. He then went on to teach at the University of Hawai'i at Honolulu's art department, where he eventually became chairman (1969 - 1973) and the Program Chairman in Printmaking (1973-1986).

Stasack was an early experimentor with the collagraph and is often credited with the invention of the masonite-intaglio process. His method of creating his collagraphs is described on pages 322 and 323 of Fritz Eichenberg's informative book on the history of printmaking, The Art of the Print.<,i> Stasack also worked as a sculptor including working with precast concrete murals.

Edward Armen Stasack died in Prescott, Arizona on January 26, 2023.