Canton Museum of Art hosts kimono exhibit

CANTON (AP) — An exhibit of kimonos considered to be artistic masterworks opens today at the Canton Museum of Art.

The exhibit, “Kimono as Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota,” includes 40 oversized kimono featuring patterns inspired by nature.

The show, which also includes a video presentation of the artist’s life and work, runs until April 26.

Kubota spent a year creating each kimono. He had hoped to make 75 to form a tapestry of the garments, but he died in 2003 after completing 30 pieces. His family carries on his work.

The kimonos are coming to Canton because of a personal connection to W.R. Timken, a former ambassador to Germany and member of the founding family of the Timken Company, a Canton-based manufacturer of industrial products and steel. Timken visited Kubota’s museum in Japan in 2004 and met the artist’s son. Their acquaintance paved the way for the show in Canton.

Some of the kimonos were on display at the Smithsonian in 1995. This exhibit opened in San Diego, where the Timken family has ties to museums, and will return to Japan when it closes in Ohio.

Admission to the exhibit is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and children 5-12.

Canton will also host KIMONOFest during the exhibit’s run, including Japanese tea ceremonies, calligraphy and martial arts demonstrations, a March 22 sumo wrestling demonstration and a children’s kite-flying festival.

XFor more information about the exhibit, visit www.kimonoexhibit.com/exhibit.htm. A video about the event can be accessed at www.kimonoexhibit.com/video.htm.