Everyone knows someone like this. Someone whose presence is magnetic, someone who is always surrounded by people in a circle, listening, watching, inspiring. For me, one such person is Shizuko Kuroha. At every quilt show or festival I have seen her attend, she has such a warm, sharing, knowledgeable presence that it is impossible for me to move my feet. I join the circle of listeners, and admire her quilts, her techniques, her way of teaching, and her beautiful kimono. She always makes appearances in a kimono, usually an understated taupe, or sometimes indigo.
At the age of 38, while living for two years in Maryland, U.S.A., Shizuko Kuroha picked up a needle for the first time. Since then, she has been busy as an artist, author of 23 books, lecturer and teacher. She has an aura. Yes, that was word I was looking for.
On Sunday, I attended a quilt show at the Tokyu department store in Shibuya, Tokyo. Shizuko Kuroha and her students shared their recent work. There was so much beauty, such delicate handwork, and an incredible amount of vintage Japanese fabrics. My head was spinning. But one section of the show made me pause: the “silver section” for quilters in her classes who are in their 70’s and 80’s. Next to each quilt was the usual name and description. But with these quilts, the explanations were longer than usual. I read about an 83-year-old woman whose joy is quilting. She wrote that her eyesight is not as good these days, so her finishing is poor, but she hopes to continue on as long as she can, a stitch at a time.
This was her quilt. I was amazed. When I looked closer at the fabrics, I realized what I was feeling when I put the quilt and the writing together.
This is what wisdom looks like. There are all of these pieces, so many of them dark and subtley shaded and patched together, quilted with care and love, over time. And there are bright spots to find in the middles, glowing, unexpected, but looking like they were there all along. If we just take the time to look, and listen.
16 responses so far ↓
mary // October 23, 2007 at 9:36 am
written words cannot express what I feel reading this post
jude // October 23, 2007 at 2:02 pm
wow, beautiful. perfect
Paula // October 23, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Wonderfull.
bex // October 24, 2007 at 2:01 am
Oh I LOVE Japan…
hoganfe // October 24, 2007 at 5:47 am
LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
rosa // October 24, 2007 at 8:00 am
Wow, thank you so much for sharing this!
Rita // October 24, 2007 at 11:49 am
Great quilts, great woman!
I wish I could meet her :)
Thanks for sharing!
whereishenow // October 24, 2007 at 10:23 pm
popping in to say hello from Nagasaki and will add you to my growing list of places to check out!!!!!!
geek+nerd // October 25, 2007 at 12:57 am
Wow. Read this via a link from weewonderfuls.com - Everything you said about the 83 year old woman pretty much sums up why I love to make things. Beautiful post.
meanmommy // October 25, 2007 at 1:46 am
At 32, I just picked up a needle for the first time, and I haven’t put it down for months. I’m inspired to hear that someone who came later to sewing has become such a respected artist.
The quilts are stunning!
Monica // October 25, 2007 at 10:23 am
amazing. Truly awe inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
kim // October 25, 2007 at 4:11 pm
what an inspirational post. thank you!
lyn // October 25, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I think this is the most inspiring and lovliest post I’ve read. Ever.
Thank you.
michellegiacobello // October 26, 2007 at 10:55 pm
So poignant, and beautifully put. What a lovely insight to share. Thank you!
Alix // October 29, 2007 at 8:52 am
Oh thank you for sharing this inspiration. *
aline // December 6, 2007 at 5:58 pm
unforgettable quilts. Since I saw them here, there hasn’t been a day since I haven’t thought about her work, what an inspiration. Thank you.
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