Paper Kimonos

Asian mythology is rife with dragons. Unlike Western European dragons, an Asian dragon can be a sign of prosperity and protection. Whether the appearance of a dragon in one's life is a good or a bad omen depends on the character to whom the dragon appears. Dragons might defend the virtues of innocence and honesty if convinced such virtues are real.. They can also be fiercely mortal enemies if offended or taken advantage of. The Red Dragon is both of the sky and of the water, protecting a pearl which holds precious wisdom in its power. 58"H x 64"W ; collaged Paper; $3300

Black Dragon shows how the dragon can be both a fierce protector and a formidable enemy of mankind. Asian dragons are often protectors of the innocent, the good, and those suffering from injustice. The dragons represent natural elements. In Black Dragon Kimono, the dragon on the front is a fire dragon, protecting with its fire and smoke, shedding light and warmth or it is destroying with its breath of fire, creating fear and respect. The back of "Black Dragon Kimono shows a water dragon, which again uses its natural habitat of the sea to help the victims of injustice escape by possibly by sea or other watery environment, or threatens to drown the perpetrator of crime. Both dragons represent the power of the natural elements. 46" H x 52” W; Collaged Paper ; $2200

Cranes are a favorite symbol for Asian cultures, especially the Chinese and Japanese people. This represents the famous courting dance of cranes in Hokkaido, Japan and was inspired by the crane paintings of Ito Jakachu, an 18 C Japanese painter who became a Zen monk.The artist used Japanese Chiyogami, Katazone, Korean handmade papers; 44” x 53”; Price $2700

Pansies and primulas are symbols of remembrance; daisies of faithfulness. With rubbings from plaques commemorating the Brown’s Island Arsenal explosion of 1863 in Richmond, Virginia, this kimono honors all those who faithfully carry on despite their circumstances. 63” H x 53"W ; Collaged paper, collaged rubbings, baking cups; $2700

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Japanese Chiyogami paper, kozo, recycled papers; 47 “ x 60 “; paper collage, mixed media; Falcons were prized pets of the Samurai warrior class because of their strength, swiftness, and elegant instincts for capturing their prey. Inspired by the paintings of Ito Jakachu, 18th C. Japanese painter who became a Zen monk. Price $2900

Paper, collaged rubbings, Ribbon; 54” x 49”. Shichi-go-san is Japanese for "seven-five-three." It is a term that refers to an anuual day of prayer and festivities dedicated to the health and growth of young children. On this day, November 15th, boys and girls aged three, boys aged five, and girls aged seven, all visit Shinto shinrines with their parents. The seven-year-ole girls wear a kimono with a special kind of "obi" or wide ribbon-like belt, that represents their first steps into adulthood. The obi here features white lilacs and a lily of the valley. Lilacs represent modesty, innocence, virgiity, youth, and peace. Lilies of the valley are wishes for the happiness that comes from choosing the right path in life. $2500

Paper, bubble wrap, collaged rubbings; 61” x 56”. Koi fish are much admired by the Japanese for their vigor and strength. They must be carefully bred to sustain their beauty, for if freed into the wild, they will, after a few generations, return to being ordinary carp with an uninspiring gray color. Thus, like the koi, vigor, strength, and beauty need to be nurtured and cared for. Price: $2300

Paper, bubble wrap, ribbon, collaged rubbings and transfer drawings; 56” x 56”. Medusazoa or jellyfish are fluid in nature. They are halfway between plant and animal; they can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Although their movements are admired for their mesmerizing fluidity, they also can be destructive to the livelihoods of fishermen; one’s appreciation of them is therefore tempered with ambivalence. Price: $2200.

"X" stands for the aerophyte Xylobium, xenophobic, and Xerox. The front and back of this kimono depict scenes where a fictional character called "Flowerhead" , an aerophyte, confronts a mushroom, a.k.a. Toadstool. Toadstool grows at the bottom of trees. Flowerhead grows up in the tree's branches. Both have developed xenophobia, not wanting any foreign element to intrude on their territory. A circular door opens to reveal the conflict between Flowerhead and Toadstool. It looks bleak. But the back of the kimono reveals a resolution. Flowerhead and Toadstool realize there is room enough for both, one at the top and the other at the bottom of a tree. They dance together while two cacti imitate their dance as copy-cacti, thus portraying the essence of "dry copying", ie: Xerox. 40"H x 51" W ; Collated paper; $2900

The "S" kimono illustrates an adventure involving ships, sails, shoes, shamrocks, and strawberries. The shamrocks and strawberries were vying over the same territory, when the shamrocks won control of the shoe-shaped ships. Their shoe-shaped ships splashed water all over the land, which helped the strawberries grow. The strawberries were happier on land, as fate would have it, so long as they had enough water. The shamrocks preferred living aboard their ships which allowed them to sail back and forth across the high seas. 58" H x 55" W; Collaged paper; $3100

The Samurai warrior class of Japan proudly sported special attire for their many matsuri or festivals. Today many of these matsuri kimonos can be seen in parade warehouses, where they are displayed on mannequins marching in a mock parade. Shoe, hats, swords , vests are on view. 63" H x 36" W ; Collaged paper, paper maché, ribbon; $2100

At the ages of seven, five and three Japanese children are dressed in traditional kimonos and taken to a Shinto shrine where they receive blessings for a long, prosperous life. this kimono is the dress of a young boy. 26" H x 36" W ; Collaged paper; $1100

Created with rubbings from Cusco and Lima in Peru, using handmade papers from Nepal, Thailand, and Mexico, with jaguar symbols printed from linoleum blocks. Pachacuti reigned from 1438-1471 and was considered the founder of the Inca empire. 62" H x 33" W; Collaged Paper $1900

Created from handmade papers from Mexico and Nepal with rubbings from monuments in Oaxaca and Mexico City, with a theme of yucca plants, an indigenous plant that is an important part of the Mexican economy and way of life. 44" H x 18" W; Collaged paper; $1200

Collaged papers and paper flag semaphores; 52” x 60”; semaphore flags spell “Come Together”, words from a Beatles song. The large semaphore flags on the sleeves spell “USA.” On the backside the words “Got to be Free” are from a song by the Rascals, an expression of a universal desire and democratic principle. The two ideas can result potentially in chaos if not tempered by a desire to “come together.” The message is a plea for the country to work together with respect for each other’s desires. Price: $1990.

The first few lines from the US Naval hymn are spelled out in semaphore. Semaphore is a visual signaling system known to and used by sailors over the centuries. This kimono was a tribute to the artist's brother who was a Naval Academy graduate, a nuclear submariner, and life-long sailor. Her brother lived a full life despite his fourteen year battle with throat cancer. Sailing the seas was his solace, his place of great joy, his communion with nature. The Naval hymn's "Eternal Father Strong to Save" will ever apply to him. 48" H x 64" W; Collaged paper; $2200

Dragonflies may flit through the air, but they always appear near a body of water. As tiny eggs in the nymph stage, they live under water; during warmer weather and sunshine, they crawl up the stem of a plant and become larvae. As they bask in sunshine, they mature and become dragonlifes, repeating the cycle of life over and over. Dragonflies are therefore associated with both water and air. Estimates are that they have been on earth for over 180 million years! Fossilized imprints of dragonflies help confirm this. The dragonfly is a symbol of transformation, of balancing the elements, and of light and delight. Collaged paper; SOLD

Daisy Dress is a departure from the traditional "kimono" syle. It is a style of dress for young girls in southern USA , 19th century. this dress commemorated the innocence of girls who were sent to work to help pay their family's expenses before child labor laws took effect. Collaged rubbings, ribbons; “Do not leave your child behind” is a rubbing from a MacDonald’s women’s bathroom. 48” x 22” x 24” (girth) ; Recycled NFS