TECHstlye SoftWEAR Blurb Book

A blurb book,  TECHstyle SoftWEAR , by Rasteriods Design is now available for purchase. This collaborative project was conducted with Colleen Quen and Rick Lee in 2010. Both artists were a joy to work with and it was an inspiring project to be a part of. I only wish that the project could be a traveling installation. Colleen's gowns are now part of the permanent collection of the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.

Reflecting on Hawaiian Textile History

I am starting to distill ideas for a grant application letter of intent. The collaboration I hope to fund would examine Hawaiian Aloha textiles and garments designed by a Alfred Shaheen. It would explore the divergence and threads of commonality between the exported image of Hawaii and the actual Hawaii lived by Japanese Hawaiians.

Here is a digital sketch of one component of the project. This hanging curtain of pattern pieces would be composed of sample work in progress pattern shapes. The pattern pieces will be digitally printed with images of my textile designs. The installation would also include pattern pieces in the shape of objects from Hawaii plantation era and perhaps silhouettes echoing the diverse cultures of Silicon Valley today. Already some of the pattern shapes remind me of Hawaiian objects...such as poi pounders.

The above is just a rough concept. I really need to iron out the whole project and make it tightly fit. I visualize working with Colleen Quen, an amazing San Francisco fashion designer. The partnering nonprofit would be The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

I am really excited about the possibility of creating my own textile prints that reflect a fading visual vocabulary of the Japanese Hawaiian experiences. This grant would enable me to explore that direction and to bridge my digital skills with my fine art mixed media skills.

Here is a company that will print digital textiles. I have read great things about it and look forward to testing them out: Spoonflower.

This production service in Scotland looks amazing. Centre For Advanced Textiles at The Glasglow School of Art.

Ginko Hats

Here is one of the hats for the Ginko Tapestry. I am making three of these in varying sizes.
This is one of the smaller Ginko hats worn by one of my friend's daughter. These hats are made of Chinese preserved plum wrappers, Japanese candy wrappers, silks from Colleen Quen and Chinese knots which I am learning to tie. The hat has an elastic band that slips under the hair to hold in place.

Ginko Leaf Tapestry

I have been working two tapestries at once for the de Young Museum residency. I plan on making eight tapestries in total.
Here is the Ginko Leaf tapestry in progress. The leaves will come off and become hats. The green silk is from Colleen Quen. The wrappers on the ginko leaves are Chinese preserved plum wrappers and Japanese Milky Candy wrappers. I will be finishing off the hats with green silk on the underside and am making decorative Chinese knots to add to the hats at the base of the stem.
The leaves here are not in their final position.

Cocktail Hats

I have started creating some new over the top cocktail hats. Here is one that I will incorporate into my Artist in Residence exhibit at the de Young Museum in December as well as use in the fashion show I will be having there with Colleen Quen in January 2009 for the opening of their Friday Night events. This butterfly hat was created with wire, Chinese Chan Pui Mui wrappers, silk remnants from Colleen Quen, crystals, pearls, and mini shoyu bottles.



















Detail of Butterfly Cocktail hat















Emily wanted to get into the pictures, too! Next time maybe I'll let her wear one, but I was in a rush to get this piece documented and move onto my tapestry pieces.

December de Young Museum Residency!

Last week I learned that I was selected to be the Artist in Residence at the de Young Museum for the month of December 2008. I am very excited and a bit anxious. There is a lot to do to get ready! My residency's tentative title is "Rhythms and Space" and will feature my mixed media tapestries created from recycled materials from the grounds of the de Young Museum as well as from my collection of wrappers. The visitor participatory activity will engage the visitor in creating wire and paper tapestry tiles to add to a visitor created tapestry. Below are studies for some of the tapestries of wire, fabric, wrappers and paper.

My reception will be December 13th from 3-5 pm.
It will feature live music as well as original scores by Scott Perry http://jspguitarsoundstudio.com/index.html
and a fashion show with Colleen Quen http://www.colleenquencouture.com/
The fashion show will highlight the hat elements that come off of the tapestries. My son will also be performing a few pieces on his guitar. Details to come!
See samples of my hats at:
http://www.okadadesign.com/hats.html
and at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corinne_o/sets/72157605547855980/

(If you are a visual artist and are interested in applying to this residency, click on the title of this blog entry and it will take you to their residency information page.)

Study of tapestry 1



















Inspirations for tapestry 1 (English silk textile from de Young collection)














Study of Tapestry 2




















Inspirations for tapestry 2 (Japanese textile from de Young collection, chairs of cafe, flowers on grounds and round sky viewing structure)

Study of Tapestry 3


























Inspirations for tapestry 3 (Japanese textile from de Young collection, de Young Museum lights and Ginko leave of grounds)










Below is my original proposal submitted to the residency in 2006:

The project I propose to make is a large airy three dimensional mixed media tapestry sculpture made of found objects from Golden Gate Park. Squares made of twisted enameled wire are covered in fragmented paper skins and sheer silks. The papers are pressed of recycled materials found in the park (i.e.: ticket stubs, newspapers and food wrappers) as well as from mulberry pulp and shredded maps and postcards of Golden Gate Park. Colorful wax impressions of found objects from the park are then suspended inside these tiles. Each square incorporates debris found in a particular region of Golden Gate Park. This way, each tile is a sort of snapshot in discards of a certain section. A conceptual sketch of this tapestry is attached. Abstract floral elements, interpretations of flowers and plants from the park, will overlay the geometric grid of the tapestry. Dark background shapes will echo the contours of paths in the park.

The process of making such a tapestry involves the creation of the individual wire squares using electrician wire twisters, needle nose pliers and enameled wire. Each square is formed against a cardboard template. It is removed from the template and then wire is added to give it dimension and pattern. Hand made paper pulled from fragments of maps and wrappers are glued and stitched to each square. Some squares are then filled with produce netting or stitched over with sheer silks. Found objects or their wax impressions are suspended inside some squares by fishing line. The squares attach to each other with wire hooks and the resulting mixed media tapestry suspends from the ceiling from a bamboo pole.

The interactive project I propose to accompany my residency project invites the visitor to create a three dimensional tapestry square of floral wire, paper, produce netting and other recycled materials. This square is then linked with those made by other visitors forming an ongoing work on progress. These tiles would be similar in construction to the more complex tapestry tiles that build my tapestry sculptures. Several templates for the design will be provided for the viewer to follow. The project illustrates to the viewer how a modular element can be incorporated into a more complex pattern. It also invites the viewer to look at the detritus of everyday life a little closer, find the beauty in the texture and form and reflect on what our trash says about us.

Final Touches to Neuron Kimono

Yesterday and today I am working on final touches to the kimono for pediatric neurological center in Boston. I added the large yellow neurons which really help the composition, I think. They are covered in wrappers and then with yellow cotton fabric. They are attached to the sculpture with fishing line and wire.




















The piece is starting to look like the original sketch. I did make some modifications such as enlarging the blue neurons in the center sweep and I reduced the size of the orange right hand curved area.

















I attached the yellow fabric with YES glue. Below are the different glues and glazes I use.















Next, I am adding the "Bling" of bits of recycled jewelry donated to me by my son's school's principal, Vivian Franklin. Last year she gave me a plastic tub filled with her mothers jewelery. I love using objects that have had a past life.














Here is a detail of the jewelry added.




















I have added sushi grass to the green trim area along with scraps of beautiful sheer silk from Colleen Quen Couture. She graciously gave me some of her remnant fabrics.
















Emily is enjoying experimenting with the materials in my studio. She has also been helping me tear and cut up the wrappers and manga that I add to the sculpture.