This fall older adults at West Michigan Center for the Arts and Technology learned shibori, a traditional Japanese fiber art, through Catalyzing Creative Aging, Lifetime Arts’ partnership with the National Guild for Community Arts Education.
Teaching Artist John Cox led participants through a 12-week beginner level workshop. Shibori is a resist dyeing method that creates patterns by binding, stitching, folding, tying and twisting fabric during the dyeing process. In addition to the artistic techniques, participants also learned the cultural context of this traditional Japanese art form
Participants got to show off their wearable art — yukata with obi, a Japanese-style kimono with belt — as they strutted the across a stage during culminating event fashion show held on November 16.
Location: West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Workshop Title: Fashion and Fiber: A Creative Aging Experience
Contact Person: Trudy Ngo-Brown, Director of Creative Programs
Teaching Artist: John Cox, Fashion Design Teaching Artist
Website: https://artstech.wmcat.org
Photo credits: Emma Begeman, Samaritas; Joan Hawkins, participant, and West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology. Reporting by Abigail Jefferson and Shannon McDonough of Lifetime Arts.
Interview with Joan Hawkins, Participant
Lifetime Arts: What were your expectations of the shibori workshop?
Joan Hawkins: I had little in the way of expectation. Shibori was a new word for me, and when I found out it was Japanese tie-dying, I thought of the things we do in the USA. I thought, oh, a t-shirt. Ok. As an artist, I thought it might be fun, not thinking two classes a week for six weeks might be a little more than t-shirts.
LA: What were your hopes for yourself going into this experience?
JH: hoped to enjoy myself and have a good time. It always brings me pleasure to learn a new art form. Once in the studio at WMCAT (West Michigan Center for Art and Technology), it was very apparent we were in for a treat.
LA: What can you share about the other participants in the classroom?
JH: Samaritas is a facility that includes living accommodations for Independent Living for Seniors, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing Care. There were six of us who wanted to participate: three from Memory Care, two from Independent Living and one from Assisted Living… We all went into it as something of interest and came out thoroughly pleased with our participation and the results of our efforts.
LA: Can you talk about how the teaching artist’s course design and teaching style has impacted the experience?
JH: John Cox was our instructor. His positive personality and experience of the Japanese lifestyle enhanced every moment of the course. We generally worked with a background of Japanese music playing, and he brewed several pots of lovely green teas. John designed the perfect studio for the class. It was well organized and efficient. The entire WMCAT space was slick and modern, very ergo-dynamic. John’s teaching style was relaxed, positive and very encouraging.
After learning three of the main tie techniques as well as clamping techniques, we made four small squares (napkins), a scarf and the final project, a yukata (mid-thigh length kimono.) He took some of the squares we made and put them together as a quilt. It is to hang in the lobby of our building, the Terraces.
John quickly accessed the needs of all of us and determined that all would leave with a garment they had designed, knotted, and dyed. We actually brought some volunteers with us, so no one lacked for help when it was needed.
LA: What else would you like to share?
JH: I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. The facility, professionalism of the WMCAT people, John’s endearing personality, the course content and the quality of the materials were a joy…I would love to participate in future art classes of this caliber.
Thank you for realizing how giving a senior a chance to tap into his/her creativity brings an opportunity to once again explore a side of themselves they may have thought was lost.
