Category: Kimono Series

The kimono has become a symbol for me of the love, generosity, and creativity of my older sister Mary Jean. Seven years my senior, MJ was my best friend growing up and taught me early basics about drawing and painting. When she went to college to study art, she brought home lessons that she in turn taught me and gave me a hunger to do art as well. Mary Jean became an art teacher and was just about ready to launch some full time serious efforts at her own painting after retirement when she lost her life in a tragic scuba diving accident in Puerto Rico. It is in her honor and with her inspiration, that I began this series. The challenge I put to myself was to use the kimono image and incorporate techniques used normally with textiles or fibers; techniques such as weaving or lace making or trapunto or quilting or chenille. Along the way, I would incorporate little things that are part of her accumulated memory as well as concepts that are currently of interest to me. Some hidden gems will remain known only to me.