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

[River Woman]

I am able to see high contrasts and since the show is all in black and 
white, if I stand very very close to the work, I can see the black dots on 
the white surfaces. Also, I am very familiar with her work since long before 
I lost my sight, so my mind can fill in the details I cannot see - just from 
habit. There will be "gallery walks" and "talks" where visitors can attend 
and listen to discussions on the work, and go through it with docents which 
is even better than a listening device since you can ask questions and 
interact with the person giving the walks/talks.
Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Blindhands at aol.com>
To: <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 12:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Akiko Kotani fiber arts show - WAS: 
RE:Where is ev...


> You give such detailed descriptions of this exhibition.  Did it  have
> descriptive  audio for it or was it the people you went with who  describe 
> it to
> you? Or do you have a tool or magnifying  device that you  use?
>
> Joyce  Kane
> _www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/)
> Blindhands at AOL.com
>
>
> In a message dated 9/9/2013 9:36:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> riverwoman at zoominternet.net writes:
>
> 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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>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/riverwoman%
>>  40zoominternet.net
>>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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