Mikiko Takase

When you have the opportunity to open a door and do something new, what do you do?

Do you enter right away? Do you think carefully about it first?  Do you think carefully and decide not to do it? If I hadn’t decided to jump in right away I wouldn’t have joined CIC. Why? Because it was so different from anything I had ever known.

Japanese quilt makers always sew by hand and rely on a pattern. This pattern often comes from their teacher and straying away from that pattern is not encouraged. Exhibitions are usually set up by each teacher where everyone is comfortable speaking Japanese. I looked at some artists from other countries and wondered if I could  be comfortable moving beyond my comfort zone. What made Jim Hay come to Japan? What Made Karol Kusmaul decide to establish CIC? What will make CIC members decide to go through the next door to CIC Round Three?

With help from many people including Jim Hay I now know that art quilts can be dyed, pasted, and printed freely. People can open their own hearts to express ideas. We can all move beyond a language barrier. We can all work together across the world with internet. New challenges and opportunities await.   

2-12 Door Opening Portals

Mikiko Takase