Parent/Grandparent-Child Workshop with Mikio Toki
Seattle, Washington
August 25, 2005
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On August 25th, twenty-some parents, grandparents, and friends brought their favorite children and grandchildren to the Drachen Foundation Activity Room to make kites with Mikio Toki. A renowned maker and painter of traditional Edo-style kites, Toki-san was visiting Seattle for a few days before returning to Japan from the Washington State International Kite Festival. On display around the room were a large Edo kite he had flown in Long Beach and the smaller kites, with images of Kabuki actors, he painted for the Drachen traveling exhibit, Theatre of the Sky.
Because painting a kite takes longer than the limited time in a workshop for young children, Mr. Toki introduced all the participants to orizome, a dyeing process in which folding lengthwise, then in squares, triangles, or random patterns rather than tying (as in shibori) determines the dye pattern. He demonstrated how to start with light colors, move to dark hues, and finish, if desired, with a little bit of black.
Everyone practiced folding and dipping one or two sheets of paper towel before designing their Kaku Dako kite sails. Amazingly, no dye migrated to anyone's clothes, and sails dried quickly in the sun on Drachen's balcony. Mr. Toki then showed everyone the pattern and sequence for pasting spars and helped the novices bow their horizontal spars and bridle their kites. Within 90 minutes all participants had kites in hand, ready to fly, indoors or out.
Thanks to Hyogo Business & Cultural Center, co-sponsor of the event, Project Coordinator Erin Erickson, and her four gracious and helpful interns, visiting from Japan. Please enjoy these images and plan to attend a Drachen community workshop in future.
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