offerings at the shrine
whereabouts unknown

700 x 1000
Itajime and Arashi shibori, dip-dyeing, stitching;
cotton, cord, card, shade cloth, wood support, fiber-reactive dyes

(photographed against grey wall)

In 1987 I spent some months in Japan on an NZJEP Grant furthering my studies of shibori and ai-zome dyeing techniques, as well as other timeless Japanese crafts such as pottery, weaving and papermaking. I was fascinated to see that all the artisans I worked with or visited had a tiny shrine placed over or near their work. They explained that on New Year's Day and other propitious occasions, they would always make an offering at the shrine to ensure the success of their work. The three small triangular packages in this piece contain my similarly motivated offerings . . .

©miriam louisa simons