When we are immersed in one practice, I guess there are some moments of “Paradigm Shift”. We may call it “Turning Points”. During my 40+ years of life with Sashiko, one of the significant moments happened in 2011, when I took part in the “Otsuchi (Recovery) Sashiko Project”. I am NOT the one who started – I am not so brave/strong to jump in evacuation shelters to be someone’s help. It started from one email ordering Sashiko threads addressed to the shelters.
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We end up supporting the Otsuchi Sashiko Project from a technical & material perspective. It is hard to believe that we still had strength to support someone else back then in 2011… well, it will be a long story & non-relevant today.
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Otsuchi Sashiko still exists – with expanding the possibility of Sashiko they started after the Earthquake & Tsunami. In recent news, they started a project as @sashiko_gals . I keep saying that I see the future of Sashiko in Otsuchi – and it is an honor to be part of their evolution. Back then, we challenged Otsuchi Sashiko & other Japanese Sashiko students Atsushi met using “Shippou” – which itself is a pattern of “Continuous Tsunagi (Connection)”. When we share the similar “rhythm” with understanding of some philosophy, even if we collect so many Sashiko stitches from different stitchers, the result becomes very unified. In fact, it follows the “conductor’s vision” like an orchestra. Do you see something emerging from the same patterns? It is what Keiko hoped for to combine dozens of Sashiko. It is my dream to make it happen again regardless of any difference. One day… My goal is to be there on that day.
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2ヶ月先となった日本への一時帰国に合わせて、これまで多くの方と一緒に作る機会を頂いた作品を見返しています。こちらは「七宝で大槌刺し子と運針会を繋ぎたい」という思いから作った七宝のタペストリーです。全体像を紹介する為に一つ一つの柄は小さくなっていますが、一つ一つに刺し手の楽しみと思いが詰まっています。
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刺し子と真剣に向き合い、本気で教えることを考えるようになって7年も経つのですが、まだ「違う人が刺したはずの刺し子なのに、なぜか合わせても違和感がない」ことが不思議でならないのです。刺し子は本来…というか原則一人で完結するものです。昔から混ぜることはあまりしてこなかったはずで、だからこそこの凄さが身にしみてしまうのです。
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今年の刺し子の展示会にも、多くの方のお力を借りて作った作品を持っていきます。是非、一緒に「なんでだろー」と不思議に思って頂けたら嬉しいです。
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2024-09-22 17:37:25
