Fiber Futures: Japan%E2%80%99s Textile Pioneers

Fiber Art has evolved from tapestry weaving into a multimedia movement led by a dedicated group of Japanese artists. In September, the Japan Society Gallery in New York celebrated 30 of these modern masters with an exhibition entitled %E2%80%9CFiber Futures.%E2%80%9D This four-color catalogue of the exhibit captures the scope, if not the massiveness, of the works on display composed of materials ranging from thread and yarn to stainless steel, jute, and wood. Japan Society Vice-President and gallery director Earle (Serizawa: Master of Textile Design) co-curated the show with Watanabe, Tama Art University professor emerita. A prize-winning artist and current president of International Textile Network Japan, Watanabe%E2%80%99s weaving %E2%80%9CRed Pulse%E2%80%9D makes a bold statement. Alphabetically presented, from Machiko Agano%E2%80%99s inkjet-printed mirror sheet structures to the wall construction of Atsuko Yoshioka, the book devotes a spread to each piece, including artist biography. While Misao Tsubaki%E2%80%99s wall-hanging %E2%80%9CWork No. 81%E2%80%9D borrows from the quilting tradition, room-size installations by Naoko Serino are more typical of the genre. Jun-ichi Arai, a sixth generation weaver and movement leader, introduces the world of fashion to the mix as a textile maker for designers such as Issey Miyake. Earle and Watanabe include a helpful list of suggested reading at the back of the book. (Oct.)