ABOVE: Dana Cassara, founder and owner of Danaca Design — a jewelry-making studio offering classes, a tool shop, and gallery in Seattle.
By Patricia Belyea
Exhibition Dates: September 19 – November 2, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 21, 1–4 PM
Location: Danaca Design Gallery, 5625 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
SEATTLE WA Now in its fourth edition, Yukata Inspired brings together Japanese textiles, contemporary jewelry, metalwork, and haiku in a dynamic cross-cultural exchange. This special exhibition celebrates tradition while sparking new creative expression.
The starting point is vintage yukata cotton — hand-dyed fabrics sourced across Japan by Okan Arts from antique shops, kimono dealers, and textile pickers.
Artists affiliated with Danaca Design responded by transforming the patterns on the fabrics into jewelry and metalwork — each piece a conversation between past and present.
Adding another layer, poets from Haiku Northwest wrote original verses inspired by the motifs and meanings within the textiles. Their words, presented alongside the artwork, echo the spirit of the fabric in distilled poetic form.
Yukata Inspired honors the artistry of Japanese textiles while reimagining it through the hands of contemporary makers. Danaca Design serves as host and catalyst, offering a platform where craft, poetry, and cultural traditions meet in unexpected ways.
SHOP
All jewelry and metalwork is available to view and purchase online +here
To shop in person, visit the Danaca Design Gallery — address listed above.
LEARN MORE
Visit the Danaca Design website +here
Metal/Jewelry Artists
Daniel Adams, Carolina Andersson, Darci Bogdan, Nancy Bonnema, Dana Cassara, Virginia Causey, Nancy Mēgan Corwin, Bill Dawson, Karen Earl, Molly Epstein, Ryan Gardner, Marcia Geving, Lynn Latta, Erica Moody, Laurel Nathanson, Jeanie Pratt, Deanna Puls, Juan Reyes, Yuko Tanaka, Cynthia Toops, Ursula Vourvoulis, Vicky Zomenou
Haiku Poets
Angela Terry, Angie Quantrell, Brasswax, Dianne, Forest Meadow, Kathleen Tice, Leslie Umans, Michelle M. Ballou, Michelle Schaefer, Paula Sears, petro c. k., Samantha Pardo Irigoyen, Sheila Sondik, Susan Lee Roberts, Suzanne Bailie, Timothy Olmstead
floating world —
more than poppies and tiny fish
in how she ties her robe
- Leslie
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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 import vintage Japanese textiles, host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
