Kathy Utts is in her element in her studio, creating and weaving.
A smaller loom can be for those starting.
The Wimberley Valley Art League hosted the annual Studio Tour last weekend. The studio above Cactus Cafe of artist Laura Greene, pictured above, was one of eight on the tour. Here, she makes one of her stapl
Bob Cook, whose studio at his home was on the tour, shows off his oil painting “Jimbo” of a boat. He painted the photo from a picture he took in Hackberry Louisiana.
Sharon LOY Anderson shows off her acrylic painting “Buntings & Monarchs.” She is an artists from Blanco.
Jan Burley works with collages. Her collage pictured here is called “Wind Dancer” and is made from ads in magazines.
Sharon Carter helped man the fort at Art on 12 during the event welcome visitors from all around. She is pictured here with her painting “Lonesome Dove Texas Ranger Gus McCrae.”
Textiles are wearable art
Textile is a Latin word originating from the word “texere” which means “to weave, which is exactly what textiles are, woven. Some kind of thread is put to a loom and carefully woven, thread by thread until a piece of material is fabricated, (pun intended).
During the middle ages, huge tapestries graced royals’ castles, pictured religious scenes or great battles like the famous Bayeux Tapestry depicting the invasion of Great Britain in 1066 by the Normans. Today’s cloth is done by machine for the most part. But textiles are an art, where human creativity can be expressed.
That is where local weaver Kathy Utts’ artistic talents are brought forth in Saori weaving. Saori weaving was started in Japan in 1968 by Misao Jo. She is a woman weaver who lived to be 104. Her son Kenzo worked with her and carried on her tradition. Utts visited Japan twice, even meeting Misao Jo, and learning the individuality and delicateness of Saori.
Japan limits the numbers of “teachers of teachers” that are Saori certified and Utts learned from the son Kenzo at the headquarters. She visited other Saori shops around Japan, learning to express herself in the art.
“I took tours, had typical dinners, meals breakfast was interesting. And the bathhouse, that was a trip,” Utts said. But she learned more and more about Saori weaving.
“I can be creative. I love to grab yarns and threads of bright colors. No rules about texture. You can put sticks in your weaving, there are no rules… Think outside the box. It is okay to have irregular unpredictable elements in weaving.” While working with Kenzo for ten days, he commented on one of her works, saying “predictable, change it up.”
Besides offering classes in Saori, she keeps current by attending and showing merchandise at Fibre Shows across the state, collaborating with friends. Attending shows also takes her time. “The big trade show is the Contemporary Hand Weavers of Texas in Fort Worth.” Type of clothes she prefers?
“I make outer garments, tunic length, what I like to wear. Jackets, vests, plain underneath and an art piece, like a vest or tunic, maybe a scarf.”
The classes she offers are progressive classes building on the last. “Every lady learns from each other’s creativity. I’ve learned so much (such as) An idea from a weaving friend or my original teacher. They showed me a cool thing and I’ve done it, borrowing an idea and added to it.”
Creativity is at the source of Saori, Utts has found her way to express herself. “Everybody can express themselves. They just haven’t found what makes their heart go boom yet.”
Utts Classes are offered on Thursday offering a morning, afternoon and evening classes. For more information, see the website: Wimberleyvalleysaori.com/classes
Why should you try Saori weaving? “It’d fun!” said Utts.
Studio Tour continued...
(From Page 1)