If you go out in the woods today...

...be sure of seeing a great big effing praying mantis - what a beauty!! g.

 

Birthday Parcel!

It's Klara's birthday today, her host family gave her a small parcel to share with the rest of us at lunchtime.  The beautiful 'art work' was full of small packets; these contained a sweet gooey substance, mixed together with a small bottle of thin treacle...oishi!! delicious.  

Wish me luck, a birthday party tonight and I am tired from making paper.  I have no doubt, Dutch courage will take a part in tonight's proceedings;-)
gx

 

 

Precious Paper

So, day 2 of Washi Paper making;  and once again, I have to remind myself, the reason I am here.  It's really hard to communicate the value of this paper to the people of Mino and Japan I think.  It's highly prized for it's lightness and strength.  It is used for print making as well as making Akari lamp shades.  It's also used in the construction of room dividing screens, it's just amazing stuff.  We've been given the chance to learn how to make the paper in a four day course.  We're given the basics and have been allowed to run amok in the workshop, testing new and unsusual ways of working; our approach is un-hindred by years of repeated making, so some of the results have been really interesting, both for us and the local people.  

 Mino Paper Museum and Workshop Facility

The method for making Mino, (the town) Washi, (paper) is called a 'discharge' method.  The fibres of wood are extracted form plants such as Kozo(Mulberry), Mitsumata and Gampi.  The wood goes through a lengthy process of soaking, stripping, boiling and parting, before being mixed in a large, deep sink with  a gloopy substance, (also extracted from the roots of plants).  The whole mixture is churned by hand and this suspends the fibres evenly in the water.  The next stage, is called 'scopping'.  A wooden frame, (the 'Suketa') is dipped into the liquid mixture and swing backwards and forwards; and from side to side.  These actions disperse and discharge paper fibre, evenly over the bamboo mesh at the base of the frame.  The video below shows how it should be done.  The woman performing the process is a highly respected local crafts person whom we just happened to witness today. Check out her skill and the way she sways from side to side and back and forth....I bet shes a great ballroom dancer!

 

You know, I really didn't think I would get the hang of it, but by the end of yesterday, I was producing basic sheets of paper....really.  I'm hooked too, the repetitive process, the atmosphere in the workshop, it's all so calming, meditational almost. 

 Newspaper, sandwiched between layers of washi.

We made this!!

I'll leave it there as my dinner is almost ready - can't be late:-/, will post more details and examples of work at some point soon.
gx

Being Received by the Mayor of Mino.....

Here we are, the second day of the residency, jet lagged to hell, meeting the Mayor of Gifu.  It was very formal, but genial, as I said before, I liked him, I think he liked us too.  Check out my cheesy grin, it hasn't left my face since I arrived.

Talking of paper, we've been paper making today, it deserves more than a quick mention here, especially as its the reason I'm here.  It was a great experience, really hard work.  The hard work came from disciplining oneself in the process, repeating the same mechanical movements and not deviating, in order to produce the same, finished product, over and over again. The results, even for us as beginners, were astounding, the material is beautiful, pure and humble?

Anyway, two more days of learning paper making, to come, will update you soon. Love to all of you following this, it's great to know you're there:-)
g.

Let me introduce to the Watanbe Family!

The man with the cheeky smile is Mr Watanabe; he and his wife Akemi, have very kindly accepted me into their home, (and very kindly allowed me to publish these pictures).  I feel so lucky to be staying with them. They have done everything to make me feel at ease with the situation.  Mrs Watanabe is a very modest but brilliant cook, she likes hiking, Ikebana, (she also teaches this, as well as needlecraft and baking!).  Mr Watanabe is a sign maker and exhibition stand constructor; he is also a talented artist, using thermo-formed acrylic and Mino Washi to beautiful effect - I feel right at home!  The two of them seem to be well respected members of the Mino community and everyone speaks highly of them - bless! 
I'll attempt to share more of the goings on at the Watanabe household in the coming weeks.
gx

Mr Watanabe & Mrs Watanabe preparing & cooking Yaki Soba :-P

Kampai, Cheers, Chin Chin.

GOOD LUCK CHRIS BOURKE!!

Wish I could be there.  Knock em' dead Chris!
g.

And so to Work!!

First experiments with Mino Washi paper.  I cannot believe this material, it feels so high tech, but it's produced in the most traditional way you can imagine, (see video link on a previous post).  It glistens in the light and is so incredibly strong, it really resists all efforts to damage it.  I initially, used my own forms to shape it; the results were fairly predictable.  I began to degrade the surface and even put it out under the warm Japanese rain.  Things started to happen, I have been enamoured by the results, photographing the paper in front of an electric lamp really helped bring out the inner qualities.  We are all entering an 'Akari' lamp competition in October, the pressure is on to make a good piece of work, (over 500 people will be displaying their work in the streets of Mino).
 gx