Press Releases

Portland Japanese Garden Brings Indigo Textile Artist Exhibition to Portland

November 9th, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Melissa Wilmot
Portland Japanese Garden
mwilmot@japanesegarden.com, (503) 542-0288

Shihoko Fukumoto’s “Indigo is the Color of My Dreams” Opens This Month

Portland, Ore. — October 15, 2010 — The Portland Japanese Garden will present original works from internationally acclaimed Kyoto textile artist, Shihoko Fukumoto, during the fall Art in the Garden exhibition. Beginning October 30 and continuing through November 28, the exhibition will feature wall hangings, an ethereal “indigo cube tea room” installation and other pieces from Fukumoto’s repertoire of beautiful indigo fiber art.

Blue is the color of Japan. Not just any blue, but the deepest shade of hon-ai, the true natural indigo dye that Japanese craftsmen have been using since the ninth century. Achieving a color as deep as what is referred to as “eggplant blue” is no easy task, and neither is re-interpreting traditional Japanese dye techniques for the 21st century audience. “Ms. Fukumoto is one of the rare artists whose commitment to the most stringent standards of traditional indigo dyeing parallels her success as an innovative contemporary artist of first rank,” said Diane Durston, Culture, Arts and Education Curator at the Portland Japanese Garden. “We are pleased to bring Ms. Fukumoto and her work to Portland.”

Now at the height of her career, Fukumoto is known for her mastery of shibori, a complex traditional technique of bind-resist dyeing which she has taken to new limits of invention and creativity by tie-dyeing with soft bokashi techniques of tonal graduation. The results are works of luminous, transcendent beauty. Through the use of folding, pleating, and tie- and dip-dyeing of natural materials that include ramie, linen, cotton, pineapple fibers, and handmade washi paper, Fukumoto has brought new life to the folk custom of indigo dyeing.

Fukumoto’s work has been shown for more than 30 years in major textile exhibitions in museums and galleries throughout the world—including the United States, Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, England, Korea, and China. Those interested in fabric art, handweaving and Japanese textile arts should make sure to see this exhibition. Presentations of The Way of Tea will be performed inside the “indigo cube tea room” from 1-3pm on the opening day of the exhibition, Saturday, October 30. Visiting from Kyoto, Japan, the artist will also be present in the gallery from 1-3pm on the opening day. The exhibition will be held in the Garden’s Pavilion. Entrance is included with Garden admission and the exhibition will be open during Garden hours.

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Art in the Garden is sponsored by The Japan Foundation and Wessinger Foundation. The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Situated on more than 5 acres nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, the Garden features five traditional garden styles. The Garden is located above Washington Park at 611 SW Kingston Drive in SW Portland, Oregon and is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.