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ABOVE: Field mice from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz feature project
PART THREE: Special Exhibits, Historic Textiles
By Patricia Belyea
TOKYO JP Japanese quilt artist Reiko Washizawa and her school produced this year’s feature project: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and Toto landed in a magical place filled with fields of poppies, flying monkeys, and a wizard in a hot-air balloon. The exhibited quilts looked charming country-casual, like they were truly made in Kansas.
The World of Leo Lionni presented lively picture quilts reproducing favorite characters from Lionni’s philosophical children’s books. A mega-version of Frederick, the daydreaming mouse, danced a jig to everyone's delight.
Smaller Special Exhibits by top Japanese quilt artists garnered lots of attention, especially the one with beloved Shizuko Kuroha (first photo below).
IQSCM, International Quilt Study Center & Museum from Lincoln, Nebraska brought precious American quilts from the 1800s. The exhibit, with a gorgeous crazy quilt and pristine traditional flower quilts, was mobbed with interested Japanese quilters. (No photography was allowed.)
About one-third of the Festival space at the Tokyo Dome is filled with vendors. The furthest reaches of the show floor is dedicated to booths laden with historic goods.
Check out Katsuhiko Degai from Amori Prefecture who specializes in antique textiles and clothing finished with sashiko stitching. The thick cotton threads do more than decorate the fabrics. The dense stitches adds bulk and warmth for the northern climate.
To see PART ONE: Traditional Category, Original Design Category, Wa Category +click here
To see PART TWO: Invitational Flower Story Exhibit, Bag Category, Partnership Quilts +click here
To see PART FOUR: Yoko Saito Retrospective, Grand Prix Winners +click here
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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