My friend Katie and I recently went to check out the Kimono as Art exhibit at the Canton Museum of Art, and I have to say it was magnificent. I would recommend going to see it. The above pictures do not do the works of
Itchiku Kubota justice. The time, patience, and vision displayed in the intricacies of these works is amazing. Just hearing about and seeing the display of how the process of
Tsujigahana is done makes me really appreciate the beauty in the pieces and truly how much vision the artist needs to have to be able to create these works. His masterpiece, Symphony of Light, a series of kimonos picturing the changing of the seasons was simply breathtaking. Just a wonderful use of colors and textures to really give the feel of the seasons as fall blends into winter. Once again, my words really cannot give the work its just due, ones eyes really need to take it in. It was interesting to hear as well how
Itchiku spent years and years refining this process and did not have his first exhibition until he was 60 years old. It reminds me that dreams take time to be reached and that its
ok to continue to dream and to work when many would be looking to retire. It's good to know that his life's work was not over in his 20's or 30's or 40's but carried all the way until is death on April 26, 2003. Makes me want to continue to be a vessel for change into the twilight of my life and not retire to a beach somewhere. (An interesting sidebar, but the exhibit runs through April 26 at the Canton Museum of Art, which I think is kind of cool that it ends on what would be the 6
th anniversary of
Kubota's death.)
Kudos to the Canton
Museum of Art for bringing this exhibit to Canton. It is quite remarkable. I know that there has been a bit of an art renaissance in downtown Canton and its great to see the art museum playing a roll in bringing such a world renown exhibit in as this.
