Bingata and the Okinawa Rail

The Yanbaru Kuina, or the Okinawa Rail (Gallirallus okinawae), is a beautiful bird endemic to Okinawa Island. It is an unusual bird in that it is almost flightless. Since the Yanbaru Kuina is an endangered species, i have worked to incorporate it into my bingata artwork as a reminder for us to cherish our natural environment Lets take a peek at Yanbaru Kuina in its natural environment: Yanbaru Kuina Video. Isnt Yanbaru Kuina lovely? I recently incorporated my own interpretation of Yanbaru Kuina in a Bingata style textile. How about if i provide a brief introduction to my Bingata dye work process with you? First, i cut a reverse design stencil, then lay the stencil atop my handwoven cotton bag and applied a Nori resist paste

Yanbaru Kuina Bingata Nori Resist Paste Note that I added color to the ordinarily white Nori resist paste so that im able to view the outline of my artwork atop the white cotton fabric. Next, i painted my artwork with Bingata natural dyes

Yanbaru Kuina Bingata Natural Dye Pigments After the Bingata natural dyes dried, i removed the Nori resist paste with running water. Thereafter, the entire Bingata image was revealed

How do you like my Yanbaru Kuina Bingata bag?

Yanbaru Kuina Bingata

June 30, 2011 | Categories: Bingata | Tags: Bingata, Heritage Textiles, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Natural Dyeing,Ryukyu Textiles, Ryukyu Views | 2 Comments

Awamori
Awamori is an ancient alcoholic beverage indigenous to Okinawa. It is distilled from rice. The awamori distillation process originates from Thailand. It is different from sake, mainland Japans indigenous drink.

Sake is brewed, and not distilled. In addition, Sake is made from short-grain Japonica rice. Awamori, on the other hand, is made from long-grain indica rice imported from Thailand.

I frequently see clusters of aging awamori pots in and around the Tsuboya Pottery District in Naha on Okinawa Island. When i see the aging awamori pots, it makes me want to dye. Why? Well, awamori is a key ingredient in fermented Ryukyu Ai (indigo dye)!

Awamori...a key ingredient in fermented Ryukyu Ai (indigo dye)

May 23, 2011 | Categories: Ryukyu Natural Dyeing | Tags: Ai Zomme, Awamori, Naha, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Natural Dyeing, Ryukyu Textiles, Tsuboya Pottery District | Leave A Comment

Ryukyu ViewsMotobu Shore View

I went to the Motobu shore on Okinawa Honto (Island) with my family. I enjoyed the viewdo you like the view too?

Motobu Shore

May 17, 2011 | Categories: Ryukyu Views | Tags: Motobu, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Views | 1 Comment

I Met a Weaver
As i wandered through the Shintoshin district in Naha, i met a weaver of natural fibershow do you do? I am a weaver of natural fibers too!

April 6, 2011 | Categories: Ryukyu Views | Tags: Naha, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Views | 2 Comments

Weave Your Soul into the Fabric

My 104 year old Obaa-san is an Ito Basho weavermy Sousobo was an Ito Basho weaver toothey are both from Izumi Village on Okinawa Island

Grandmother

Great-grandmother Uchinanchu weavers believe that, as you weave, you weave your soul into the fabric

April 3, 2011 | Categories: Okinawa Family | Tags: Heritage Textiles, Okinawa Family, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Textiles | 2 Comments

Those Sounds around Me

When i was a little girl, i sometimes stayed with my Obaa-san (grandmother). She had a house in the Tsuboya Pottery District in Naha.

During my visit, i could hear Obaa-sans tom-tom (beater) on her weaving loom. She had a small convenience store adjoining her house, so I often heard the voices of small children too. They came by to purchase candy and ice cream from her. The tom-tom and happy young voices surrounded me during the day

In the evening, the sounds changed. Instead, i heard the voices of those visiting the local Okinawa Soba house for dinnerlaughing, chatting, and slurpinglaughing and slurping Late at night, i fell asleep to the sound of the bells and drums emanating from a nearby Buddhist temple My Oji (Uncle) has drawn a picture of Obaa-sans old house so that my Okinawan family can cherish our good memories therei have such good memories of those sounds around me

April 2, 2011 | Categories: Okinawa Family | Tags: Heritage Textiles, Naha, Okinawa Family, Okinawa Island,Tsuboya Pottery District | Leave A Comment

Ryukyu ViewsCoral and Sea

I am a weaver born near Naha on Okinawa Island. Sometimes i like to walk along the Island coastline with my family and friends. I so enjoy the views of the coral and sea

March 30, 2011 | Categories: Ryukyu Views | Tags: Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Views | Leave A Comment