Japanese Textile Workshop

Bryan Whitehead doesn’t advertise his schedule of workshops. If you’re interested in shibori, katazome, silk production, weaving and Indigo, you will find him one day, when you fall into the internet while searching for such things. You might also find blog postings from former students. What you see and read will draw you in. If you are lucky you will find yourself in Japan, in Fujino, in an old farmhouse with some other people like yourself, for 10 days.

I was happy to secure a place for myself and a friend, at the last workshop of the season one November. The first day will be a gentle introduction of all that lies ahead. After that you will work very hard, see and learn things that will inspire and delight the senses. You will eat wonderful food (most of which is made by Hiro), meet an interesting group of like minded people and the experience will end too soon.

Bryan doesn’t just show you resist techniques and indigo vat essentials, he takes you on an adventure. There are lectures and lessons about the history of Japanese textiles, examples of all the different types of patterns that are possible. There are field trips to Tokyo museums, supply stores, shops and coffee houses. He will even show you great places to take really cool photos. We visited the pottery atelier of Ryutaro Yamada in Sagamihara, spent a day learning katazome with a master, Mr. Noguchi and his family. Of course we fell in love with Japan, and with Bryan and his crew too. There was so much care taken in making this an amazing experience. I came home with an abundance of inspiration, and look forward to visiting Japan again and popping by to say hello to Bryan and whomever else will be there.