Portland Japanese Garden

Dream Weaver:
The Bamboo Art of Jiro Yonezawa

November 15–30, 2008

Past event information:

The Portland Japanese Garden celebrated the fall season with an exhibition of bamboo basketry and sculpture by one of Japan's finest bamboo artists, Jiro Yonezawa. His mastery of traditional forms as well as contemporary shapes was demonstrated in exquisitely woven bamboo, one of the world's most sustainable materials. Traditionally trained in Beppu, Japan (famous as a center for the production of fine bamboo basketry), Jiro weaves vibrant intricate sculptures which explore form, contrast and balance, and the interplay of texture.

Mr. Yonezawa is one of ten bamboo artists in Japan to receive the prestigious Lloyd Cotsen award in 2006. His work was among that of artists featured in the 2007 exhibition of the Cotsen Bamboo Basket Collection at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

According to Mr. Yonezawa, "These baskets represent a search for the beauty and precision in nature and a way to balance the chaos evident in our times. Using traditional Japanese bamboo basketry techniques in combination with local materials, these pieces reflect the traditions of Japan and the unrestrained style of this country."

This exhibition was made possible by a generous grant from The Blakemore Foundation.

Lecture: Bamboo in Japan

by Nancy Moore Bess

Sunday, November 16, 2008

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Nancy Moore Bess, author of Bamboo in Japan, provided a context for understanding the long traditions of bamboo weaving in Japan. Ms. Bess is not only an internationally recognized authority on bamboo craftsmanship, but also a celebrated bamboo artist in her own right. She speaks with a deep understanding of the special qualities of bamboo as an artist's material, as well as of the important role of bamboo in the cultures of Japan and other parts of Asia. She currently resides in Amherst, Massachusetts.

This lecture was made possible in part by a generous grant from The Blakemore Foundation.