Artist: Julia Lowther
Materials: nickel silver, brass, stainless steel (pin stem), Yukata fabric
Dimensions: 2.5" x 2.5"
Artist Statement: The characters on this piece of Yukata fabric are the names of two famous sumo wrestlers. Sumo robes (yukata) are worn by sumo wrestlers when they are not training in the ring. The sumo belt (mawashi) is the only piece of clothing worn by sumo wrestlers during a match and it is tied in a specific and distinctive manner to give support and protection to the wrestler. The mawashi is a strip of heavy fabric about 2 feet by 30 feet in size and folded in fourths lengthwise for most of its length. The strip of yukata fabric used in this brooch has roughly the same ratio in its dimensions (1" x 12") as a traditional mawashi and is folded and tied as exactly as possible (given the constraints of the size!) like a proper mawashi worn by a lower division rikishi (sumo wrestler)
Artist Bio: Julia was raised in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and has been teaching jewelry making nationally and internationally since the turn of the millennium - and exclusively online for the past four years through her business LittleMetalFoxes.com! An active member of the vibrant Pacific Northwest metals community, Julia took her first metals class in 1997 shortly after moving to the region. Since then, she has studied and worked with many internationally recognized jewelry artists, and has had work published in numerous books, including _500 Gemstone Jewels_; _Chain Mail Jewelry_; _Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet_; _Art Jewelry Today 4_, and _New Bracelets_. She lives and works in Seattle, WA.
Fabric Motif: The Edo Stripe - stripes were a symbol of the Edo era's sophisticated fashion aesthetic. At the time, stripes were created in the weaving process.
This piece was part of the Yukata Inspired 2024, a collaborative exhibition between Okan Arts & Danaca Design featuring metalwork and collage. Learn more and view the entire collection .