Monday, August 06, 2007
Beyond Bamboo
Japanese Artists Live an Ancient Art
Approximately 600 varieties of bamboo grow in Japan but bamboo artists use only a few select types. TAI Gallery/Textile Arts in Santa Fe exhibits these unique bamboo baskets and sculpture. More locally, the gallery participates in art fairs in San Francisco.
There are now less than 100 working bamboo artists in Japan. Artists in training spend their first 10 years learning the basic techniques of cutting, dyeing, and plaiting bamboo. Another one or two decades are spent developing as an artist. Artists begin to gain full recognition as they come into their fifties and sixties. A number of basket makers are still working in their eighties.
Posted by editor at 10:18 AM under furniture & accessories
