Itchiko Kubota (1917 – 2003)
I had the opportunity to see the Landscape Kimono Exhibit by Itchiku Kubota in Washington, D.C. in 1996, at the Museum of Natural History, and at the Canton Museum of Art in 2009. In 1996, I chaperoned an eighth grade class on a trip to D.C. We noticed a large banner outside of the Museum of Natural History advertising this kimono exhibit. My eighth graders were totally mesmerized by the beauty of thirty landscape kimonos that transitioned from autumn to winter and were hung side by side. In addition, there were fifteen other kimonos that were inspired by the artist’s reverence for nature.
This was an once in a lifetime opportunity…Then the exhibit came to the Canton Museum of Art in 2009. I was given another gift to see this again.
Enjoy this short video depicting this lost art of tsujigahana dye. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUlnKReKFA
You might also enjoy the setup of the historic Itchiku Kabota exhibit at the Museum of Natural History at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trt5LQMez7U.
Paintings by Sandra Yocum 