Tuesday, September 15, 2009

They Are Calling Me...


VINTAGE SILK KIMONO CIRCA 1950

The kimonos!... hanging there in all their timeless glory... holding the story of the life they once lived... some of them came to life before WWII... but most were constructed during and after the war... everyone meticulously hand sewn (yes! every last little stitch... by hand) for or by its' owner... I must admit feeling a bit of guilt when beginning to unravel those tiny, perfectly spaced stitches... maybe this wondrous piece of history should be left in tact?... but... and here's my thinking on this subject... the kimonos that I deconstruct and re-purpose are of the "everyday" type... they were worn by ordinary women and men (like you and me) in going about their day-in day-out lives... sort of like your mom's house-dress (if you are over 40) or your mom's jeans and t-shirt (if you are under 40)... of course each kimono has it's own story... the story of the life of its' owner... and for me that is an important part of the process... these beauties did not live lives of privilege... far from it... even in "post-war" Japan (US occupied from 1945 to 1952) life was very difficult for all but the most affluent citizen... if I can take this lovely silk fabric and bring it back to life as a "new" handbag, dress, skirt, headband or flower... and perhaps its' life story will be extended to include happier memories... it's the least I can do... please, if you are interested in the post-WWII US/Japan story (we are not necessarily the good-guys in this story though) you might start here: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080905f1.html... it's a jumping off place if you don't know much about this part of US history... this link to The Japan Times online is the story of found letters written by Elizabeth Ryan from Milwaukee. At age 31, she began working for the Inspector General of the Occupation in Kobe as a reporter for a provost court... she wrote many letters home about her life in contrast to the lives of the Japanese people during the occupation... now off my "soap-box" and back to work... the kimonos are calling...

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