Working with book and textile artist Jody Alexander at a studio in the French countryside, she made work inspired the Japanese Boro Aesthetic, worn textiles that are patched repeatedly and reused many times.  As Ms. Hanauer explains, "even the tiniest scraps are repurposed." The Boro textiles reflect the Japanese concept of wabi sabi, the beauty in transience and imperfection.  Studio assignments included making a sampler of the various Boro mending techniques (see list below) and then transforming the sampler into a Japanese horn bag, known as Tsuno Bukura.

Hanauer also studied with French master dyer, Denise Lambert. She learned to use woad, a plant from the cabbage family that turns fabric blue, to dye vintage French linens purchased at local French flea markets.

 

What is the most important insight you gained from your experience? Or highlight that you would like to share? 

In NY, I combined my woad-dyed fabrics with vintage Japanese fabrics to make two bags and a fabric sample book of the mending techniques. I also plan to make more pieces inspired by my experience in France. By integrating French woad dyeing with Japanese mending, I am aesthetically aligning elements of two cultures.

 

I may enrich my fourth-grade art assignment inspired by the quilts of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, by showing students Japanese Boro and Sashiko stitching. They can make a textile in the style of the Gee’s Bend quilts, or they can piece together indigo fabric with a Sashiko running stitch to enhance the patchwork. Depending on the group's patience with sewing, I may try this assignment with a different grade. This assignment celebrates the work of different cultures that find beauty in handmade work. I also plan to show my High School Book Arts students my Japanese Boro work as inspiration for a book of mending. I enjoy learning techniques from various cultures and teaching them to my students as a way of preserving cultural craft and art traditions.

 

Jody Alexander provided this vocabulary list:

The Dalton PA supports classroom enrichment by awarding special project and travel grants to faculty members each winter and spring. The application process for 2018-2019 grants is currently underway. Please contact Dee Mingey for further information about the grant process. Parents may reach out to PA Faculty & Staff Grants Contact Representative Janette Lieu (janettelieu1@gmail.com) with questions or for further information. 

Story provided by Bianca Calabresi