kitty: Kimono: The 20th- Century Masterworks of Itchiku Kubota - Canton, OH: Feb 8 - April 26, 2009 (Canton Museum of Art)

Clip posted on youtube by ArtsinStark.
	In 1995, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum broke a long standing rule to not host exhibitions of living artist to present the works ok Itchiku Kubota. This was a controversial decision at the time, until museum visitors saw the beauty of nature captured in the 20th Century Kimono. I was lucky enough to get to see his works back in 1995. I remember just standing in awe with each step I took. The colours, textures, techniques just came to life with each step you took during the exhibit. On the off chance while looking for someplace to go on a field trip on Saturday to take photos, I discovered that 40 of his kimonos are in the United States again. Kimono: The 20th- Century Masterworks of Itchiku Kubota San Diego, CA: Nov 1, 2008 - Jan 25, 2009. (Timken Museum/San Diego Museum of Art) Canton, OH: Feb 8 - April 26, 2009 (Canton Museum of Art) It is well worth the trip if you find yourself anywhere near Canton, OH to see his works. Itchiku Kubota is a true master. He left school at the age of 14 and started to study the art of dyeing. "When he was 20 years old, he encountered an old silk textile in the Tokyo National Museum. He was fascinated by its extraordinary beauty, design complexity and saturated colors. Frozen in place, Kubota studied it for three hours. "In a sudden moment,” he said, “I encountered a source of boundless creativity which revealed to me my calling." The remnant before him was a rare example of the lost art of Tsujigahana (Tsu-jee-ga-ha-na), which made use of a simple, subtle dye technique that had been lost over the centuries. Kubota promised himself that he would rediscover its secret." ArtsinStark And he did accomplished his goal unlocking the secrete. If you get a chance it is defiantly worth the trip. I hope to go in the next couple of weeks. And if you go before March 1, 2009 you could also stop by the Kent State University Museum for the Japanese Obi Exhibition in the Blum Gallery.
Kimono as Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota (Hardcover) by Dale Carolyn Gluckman (Author), Hollis Goodall (Author)
Itchiku Tsujigahana - Homage to Nature: Landscape Kimonos (June 1995 - April 1996) (Paperback)
Kimono: The 20th- Century Masterworks of Itchiku Kubota - Exhibition Links
Additional Links of Interest: Itchiku Kubota - Wiki Link San Diego Museum - Kimon as Art Slow Painting Blog Post - Click Here Smithsonian Magazine Dec 1995 Smithsonian.com - Itchiku Kubota's fascination with an ancient textile art Photos of his museum - click here
Photo from the collection and cooperation with ArtsinStark.