In my art practice, the kimono, a simple shape when reduced to its simplest form, is a “T”. In this use, it acts as a blank canvas. In its three – dimensional form, it has outer and inner aspects as well as back and front. In this use, for me it stands in for a human being, genderless, ageless, and without persona until meaning is added through visual applications.
Kimono from tea bags
The Book of TEA was a gift from my mom many years ago. The tea ceremony ritual is as beautiful as it is meaningful, and it prompted both my appreciation for tea bowls as well as tea leaves, whether loose or contained. Ruby Silvious wrote 363 Days of Tea, a worthy read and see, which prompted me to save tea bags and tea envelopes from the landfill. These opened tea bags, folded into kimono shapes are used as canvas for pattern paintings.
Kimono from tea envelopes
This is a long-term project and the first kimono is underway. The finished size is unknown due to the borders for sleeves and bottom are still on the loom. Tea envelopes are opened and sliced into narrow strips on my mom’s Bliss rug hooking tool, something I saved without knowing when it would come in handy. Due to the size of tea envelopes, panels are limited in width. However, “panels” suit the simple kimono pattern.
