A Journey Through Washi: Bridging the Gap Between Traditional, Natural Craft and Modern Life in Kijimadaira, Japan

Authors

Arianna Rustad, Kenyon CollegeFollow
Manami Ishimura, Kenyon CollegeFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Summer 2025

Abstract

The goal of this project was to foster academic, professional, and personal growth through socially engaged art practice. A major process for this project was the art of Uchiyama Gami Washi Papermaking. It is an ancient art that has taken place in the region for years but now those partaking in the process are fewer and fewer. For this project, we worked with master artisan Satoko Ueno to create paper pieces. Professor Manami Ishimura worked as an Artist in Residence within the village of Kijimadaira, Japan with these goals in mind and I worked as her studio assistant. As her assistant, I aided her process by helping to facilitate workshops, creating textured molds for paper, and making and shaping the paper to be displayed.

Recommended Citation

Rustad, Arianna and Ishimura, Manami, "A Journey Through Washi: Bridging the Gap Between Traditional, Natural Craft and Modern Life in Kijimadaira, Japan" (2025). Kenyon Summer Science Scholars Program. Paper 790.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/summerscienceprogram/790