"Sen-nin-bari" One Thousand stitches for Japan

September 17th - October 9th

Opening reception: Saturday, September 17, 5 - 7pm

Community support from "Artists For Japan" and "Allied Arts Foundation"


10% of proceeds will be donated to the Ashinaga Foundation 

Rumi Koshino is a Seattle based artist who grew up in Japan. She is the curator for an exhibition created  in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Rumi has gathered  a group of Japanese artists and American artists of Japanese descent, with the theme "Sen-nin-bari (千人針), One Thousand Stitches" .）

During World War II, both Japanese women in Japan and Japanese Americans in the U.S. made amulets called Senninbari for the soldiers who left their homes and families to fight in the war.  Women and community members gathered together and for each soldier stitched one thousand stitches using  red thread on a special  cloth.  These stitched amulets were given to the soldiers for their protection and for their safe return home. 

While the devastation in Japan caused by the recent earthquake and Tsunami continues to affect people living in Japan today, we are overwhelmed with the outpouring of compassion and concern from people around the  world.

The “Senninbari” is a symbol of  those thoughts and prayers and becomes a focal point for this exhibition.  As Japan begins their long journey in rebuilding their country, they continue to be in the hearts and prayers of so many.

Koshino grew up in Japan. Her parents are still there (they live in the west and were unhurt), but she lives in Seattle now; in 2010, she earned her master of fine arts degree from the University of Washington.