Gayle Ortiz: Japanese Boro Class

I took a Japanese Boro class last weekend from Jody Alexander, a local book, textile and installation artist. I've been an admirer of her work for many years and have recently begun taking classes with her.

Jody is an excellent teacher. I like her classes because she is thorough, brings tons of books and materials to share and paces her classes so that you don't feel rushed.

Just so I don't get it wrong, here is the Wikipedia definition of Boro. There has been a lot of discussion lately about whether someone can make new Boro since the very nature of it is something that is old and had to be made that way because of a lack fabric available to make whole cloth garments. I don't think Jody or anyone in the class was trying to say they are making true Boro; just honoring the tradition by creating new pieces that are in the spirit of Boro.

I won't go into a long description of Boro here, it is a very complicated subject and one I am not qualified to describe accurately. If your interest is piqued here you will find lots of information about it on the internet. You might start with a site I found here.

And, if your interest is piqued, Jody is giving the same class in September (which I am taking!) Here's the info on it. Cabrillo College Extension Fall Textile Classes. You won't be sorry you took it. And act fast, there aren't very many places left.

This blog post is photo laden because it's hard to describe what we saw and made without showing you examples.

Here is a beautiful example of original Boro that either Jody or another student, Tracy, brought in for us to study. These old pieces are in various states of perfection...and by that I mean that the older, more worn pieces seem to be more perfect to me!

Another beautiful old piece.

These are old Zokin which means dust cloth.

On the left is a dress Jody purchased on her trip to Japan two years ago. It is newly constructed of old Boro pieces and fabrics. Jody was granted a Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship and chose to use her funds to study Japanese textiles in Japan. Her fellowship show Keep Modern Library was mesmerizing and so complete in it's interpretation of Boro.

On the right is a dress she created and wore to the opening. The colorful pieces are from old book covers.

Detail of the Japanese dress.

Here's Jody instructing about one of the several bags she taught. The class was full of really interesting and talented people.

The first day of class we studied how to make the various components of Boro by making pages that were sewn into a fabric book. These are books that Jody has made over the last few years.

An example of the (pardon my using a culinary term here) groaning table that Jody provides as a visual prompt for the class. She is so generous with sharing materials. New and old, they are so inspiring!

Another example...and I can't tell you if it's new or old. I think it's new. There was just so much to take in I'm glad I'm going to the class again!

The second day we made a bag using the techniques we learned the first day. This is mine. I used a pair of thrift store white levi's and bits of other fabrics I had on hand. The round/square stamps are ones I just carved last week. Carving stamps is a new one for me and I loved it.

I'm sorry this piece is so dark. It is the start of a vest. More on this in another post as I progress. I have promised myself I will take photos along the way.

Here's the cover of my little book.

And one of the inside pages.

A sewing pal, Lynn, came down from Oakland to take the class and stayed with us. Here is her bag. She chose to make it oversized and it's just gorgeous. It's made from a beautiful hemp canvas she got at Stone Mountain and Daughter in Berkeley.

I regret that I don't have the name of the person who was making this bag. I got around to see everyone's work and check in with them during the workshop but names always escape me.