Artist in Residency

Look at these great work!!

Last week, I was fortunate to have been invited to do SAORI sessions with students with disabilities at their school.

One of my SAORI student goes there and in September, her parents asked me to do a weaving birthday party for her with her classmates.

It was a HIT!

Everyone who tried SAORI seemed enjoyed it and her teacher loved it, too.

The teacher started organizing a residency so that all 40 students at the school were able to try SAORI weaving.

I went there last Mon-Wed. with all my 8 looms!!

The first day, one of my student/friend even came to assist me.

Thank you!!

Each student had one hour to weave.

Students who tried weaving a month ago remembered how to weave! That was so nice to see.

For many of them, it was their first time weaving.

For some of them, all the weaving steps were too much, but their teachers were their great help.

They were working together as a team!

Some were able to talk and weave at the same time. It was nice to see them socializing.

The teacher who organized showed me three woven pieces from September.

They were nicely framed.

She said, "I already got permission from the school. One of them will be mine as my retirement present."

They will be hanged at the school entrance soon.

I am sure they will be a nice addition to the white plain wall and will be noticable by many people.

The ones they wove this time will be shown next summer's Art Walk organized by Ordway Theater.

One boy kept saying "NO" to me whatever I asked him.

I thought, "How can I show him how to weave?"

I tried many ways to let me show him how to start weaving, but he still said, "NO".

At last, I asked, "Do you like saying "NO", don't you?"

I felt like playing a game with him. I wanted to make him say "YES"!!

He said nothing to what I asked. He was good...

He just needed some time to get to know me.

One teacher showed him how to weave.

Later, he listened my offer.

He actually really loved weaving.

He was able to figure out by himself.

I didn't need to show him much!

A teacher told me that he wanted to weave more after I left the second day.

He came back the third day and wove a lot!!

Yes, he was able to talk to me. He knows me now! Yeah!

Thank you for having me and for helping me!

Many teachers help me assiting their students.

Without their help, I couldn't have done it.

Many teachers enjoyed SAORI.

Many stundets enjoyed SAORI.

I decided to let them use a couple of my looms for a while so students who wanted to weave more can do it!

I will see you soon!

Thank you!!