Yoko Kano and her daughter Kazuho.

Last night our audience had an opportunity to meet Yoko Kano and her daughter Kazuho. Yoko grew up in the historic Japanese town of Katsuyama. She inherited her family's 250 year old Sake workshop but her passions ran more towards colour, pattern, stitching, and dyeing. And so Yoko converted the sake workshop into a textile studio to make Noren - the traditional cloth dividers that hang in windows and doorways.

The historic building now contains her home, workshop and the Hinoki gallery. She can carry a skein of naturally dyed yarn out the back door to wash it in the river. It is an idyllic location and the audience clearly understood her emotion when she said "I love my town, Katsuyama."

Diana Sanderson introduces the evening.

 The evening was introduced by Diana Sanderson of the Silk Weaving Studio which will be hosting an exhibition of Yoko's work. Tonight (September 14th 6-8 pm) is the artist's reception for that exhibit. It is another chance to meet Yoko and Kazuho and see their work.

Noren hanging in the threshold of the Silk Weaving Studio.

The Art of Noren - Artist reception tonight - September 14th, 6-8pm.