[Nfb-krafters-korner] Akiko Kotani fiber arts show - WAS: RE: Where is everyone?

[River Woman]

Akiko Kotani was a professor at Slippery Rock University of PA, and was my 
teacher when I was working on the BFA degree there. Her fibers exhibitions 
span the globe. She is a Japanese American who was born in Hawaii, in 1940. 
This exhibition that opened on Friday night at the Pittsburgh Center for the 
Arts features work that she has created over the past two years - all 
imagery is from nature, such as grass, wind, rain, etc.  The show's theme is 
based on the German word, sheinen, and she creates a show that reflects the 
"shining of space." The pieces are ethereal, some done in many layers of 
silk, each with embroidered patterns - they are overlaid so that there is a 
layering of imagery. The entire show is white silks,  with black  threads 
that are french knots - forming imagery. Other pieces are very delicate 
drawings that have been etched on slabs of clear glass - mounted on the 
walls.  One room is completely filled with two walls, created by crocheting 
strips of white plastic from garbage bags. She used thousands of bags, cut 
into strips, to create these "soft walls."  It is an installation, and the 
view of humans walking around and interacting with the soft white walls is 
pure magic.

Other works are very small, perhaps about 5 inches square - the embroidered 
dots on white paper - then the piece is mounted on special made wooden 
brackets that are also painted white - and they form very deep shadows on 
the walls - the light is cast down upon them from the ceiling - 
breathtaking!

She is the Pittsburgh Artist of the Year, and her show received the largest 
grants ever given to an artist for this exhibition - it is very spare- and 
absolutely stunning to stand in the galleries and be a part of it all. You 
as a viewer are transported to infinity, it seems.

This is how a craft technique is translated into fine art in the hands of a 
master - when what is created in conceptual, an idea, rather than anyting 
copied from nature.

We had the most wonderful night at the opening. It was just a joyous 
experience to be there.

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Annette Carr" <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2013 4:05 PM
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Akiko Kotani fiber arts show - WAS: RE: Where 
is everyone?


> Lynda,
>
> Tell us more about the Akiko Kotani fiber arts show.  How are you 
> connected
> to it?
>
> Annette
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On
> Behalf Of River Woman
> Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2013 2:58 PM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Where is everyone?
>
> Well, I am accounted for. I am in the studio making three strand 
> necklaces -
>
> for the Christmas Market at my friend's studio the first weekend in
> November.
> Now, it is a bit too hot up there - and I am expecting guests from
> out-of-state, so I am back in the house waiting for them to arrive. 
> Shortly
> after that, we will all drive to Pittsburgh to see the opening reception 
> of
> the Akiko Kotani fiber arts show...awesome day, huh?
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Annette Carr" <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
> To: <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2013 2:36 PM
> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Where is everyone?
>
>
>> Wow, the list is very quiet lately.  Hopefully that means that everyone 
>> is
>> crafting or doing something enjoyable.
>>
>>
>>
>> I finished crocheting my 4 squares, 4 circles and 4 hexagons for the
>> upcoming class I am taking.  Now I am back to knitting the baby blanket.
>> I
>> have exactly 2 weeks to finish it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Annette
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
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