When I wrote recently about my longtime admiration for Keiko Goke and her work, little did I think that it would start a chain of events that led to being her guest at the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival! When she heard that Molly & I would be attending, she sent a pair of tickets and asked us to stop by and see her at the show. We headed to her vendor's booth first thing. And so it was that Keiko was reunited with her biggest fan.
Together again
It was a wonderful visit, with Molly helping out on some fine points of translation. Keiko laughingly admitted she had no memory of our first meeting but we found other things to talk about. What a great start to an already much anticipated day!
As usual, the show was a mob scene early in the day. We spent most of the morning in the vendors' booths, having learned from experience that in-demand fabric & books often sell out early at the show and crowds thin out appreciably after lunch, making for much easier quilt viewing. This was our view from our lunch break. No chili dogs or hot pretzels here. And yes, it was just as delicious as it was pretty.
Refreshed and fortified, we headed back into the fray for some serious viewing before Molly joined a friend in another area.
Mid-afternoon, I ran into Jennifer in the show's themed exhibit. We had originally planned to meet later in the day, to show each other what we considered *must-see quilts* which the other may have missed. Instead, together we browsed this exhibit of invited quilters' pieces. Truly, each quilt was worthy of intensive study and it was great to have Jennifer there to interpret some of the artists' statements, written in Japanese. The detail on these artists' work was often mind-boggling and it was fun to view them with someone who's about as obsessive as I am about these quilts.
Nagi (Calm), Keiko Minato
Here's a quilt I was casually viewing until Jennifer invited me closer to observe something incredible. The large piece is comprised of small (around 1") squares of old indigo fabrics which are arranged by hue to form the image. What I didn't realize until it was pointed out to me is that none of the little squares are pieced.
Those sharp diagonal edges in the large graphic design are made by small squares that have been cut from two-toned fabrics. Minato has carefully laid her square template on patterned fabric at the appropriate angles so that together, they form the overall image. Again, none of the little squares is pieced within its outline! A masterwork, which appears to be hand-pieced, as well as hand-quilted.
Toward the end of the day, I drifted back to that dangerous vendors' area (really, it's like a MAGNET) where I bumped into Jennifer again and was caught in the act by Macey, from Singapore, who came up to me and quietly said, 'I read your blog!' Wow, what a moment! Molly came by as we were talking and we all had a laugh about what a small world it is here online.
I have several more posts to write about the show (I did return for a second day) and am still uploading quilt photos to my 2010 Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival Flickr set. If you can't get enough, head over to Jennifer's Moving Hands for more coverage as well as her Flickr set, which includes some translations of charming artists' statements. Keiko Goke has also written several posts about the show, including some wonderful quilt shots.
That is so exciting. Mentally jumping up and down in excitement for you to meet with Keiko again and to see all those wonderful quilts.
Posted by: Lazy Gal Tonya R | January 28, 2010 at 08:56 PM
I clicked over to Keiko's post and I understood every word! (Ok, not really, but I understood the pictures.) Looks like you had a fabulous time. I can't believe the workmanship on some of the quilts you've shown -- just fantastic!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | January 28, 2010 at 09:06 PM
...All those lovely things to look at and do you know what I like best? Seeing a picture of YOU.
Posted by: blackbird | January 28, 2010 at 10:31 PM
I love how it sounds totally normal in your story that I just "came by"... when the place is huge AND a mob scene!
Posted by: molly | January 29, 2010 at 01:47 AM
As someone who is completely new to quilting, I was so pleased to come across your blog - and I never imagined to see such amazing quilts!! Not just from Tokyo, but from looking back at yours too - absolutely fantastic and totally inspiring. I have so far only done the 'bog standard' patchwork quilt so far (which you can see on my blog!) but I can quite understand how you can get hooked on quilting - I found it a really fun process, with lots and lots of sewing and with fabulous results (hopefully!).
Posted by: Bridget | January 29, 2010 at 06:07 AM
What a great day! Thanks for sharing the pictures of the quilts. I think the best thing, though, is that lunch!
Posted by: Carole | January 29, 2010 at 07:24 AM
I'm so jealous! What a wonderful experience to have had. Maybe next year...
Posted by: PippaPatchwork | January 29, 2010 at 07:37 AM
So amazing and inspiring, thanks for sharing. I am wondering if it is just your taste in the quilts you photographed, or if most of these quilts are hand quilted? It seems that here in the US most quilts are now machine quilted, but what I see from your photos is all hand quilting. I got out my hand quilting project which has been gathering dust, thinking about it in a new perspective.
Thanks!
Posted by: Pam Cope | January 29, 2010 at 08:10 AM
How wonderful for you!
Everything there is so beautiful, even the food!
See you soon...
Posted by: barb | January 29, 2010 at 09:18 AM
Thank you for sharing your images from the International Quilt Festival again.
It must have been such a treat to meet Keiko Goke. I admire her work too and have her first book.
That Nagi quilt is amazing when you think of al the painstaking fussy cutting that has gone into it to create the image, and I must say that your lunch is one of the prettiest nine-patches I have seen in a long time ;-)
Posted by: mathea | January 29, 2010 at 12:20 PM
I have heard much about the Tokyo quilt exhibition but have not had a chance to attend. Am planning on coming in 2011. can i get in contact with some quilters to advise me on how to join a tour after the exhibition to see yur quilt museums and shops/factories where your fabrics are dyed.
i have never visited Japan but would dearly like to, am from Australia.
Cheers
Hong
Posted by: HongYing Chang | February 07, 2010 at 03:22 AM
Thanks for all the fantastic photos you have posted. Just inspiring. But I think I will challenge you as Keiko Goke's No 1 fan. I did a workshop with her in New Zealand a few years ago. Quilting has never been the same.
Posted by: Carolyn Foley | February 09, 2010 at 06:09 AM
I think that the Quilt Exhibition will be from January 13-22 in 2011. Can someone confirm this? I would also like to find out whether there are any other places such as factories/shops/studios that I can visit during that time. I am from Perth, Western Australia.
Posted by: Dorothy | March 28, 2010 at 05:57 AM
I am also looking for the dates for the 2011 exhibition, the Tokyo Dome site only gives dates about 6 months in advance. Your post is very interesting! I am from the Netherlands
Posted by: Henriette Bhowmick | April 22, 2010 at 05:17 AM
I see the dates of Jan 13 - 22 posted above for the 2011 dates, but I think that is wrong. I think the dates are Jan. 21 - 29, 2011. Can anyone verify that?
Posted by: NKKF | August 30, 2010 at 09:13 PM