Rozome Master Classes

ROZOME WORKSHOPS: MASTERS OF THE MEDIUM

These are a few of the amazing artists with whom I have been privileged to study:

Betsy Sterling Benjamin
Keijin Ihaya
Shoukoh Kobayashi
Yusuke Tange

Yusuke and Kiyoe Tange, SDA 2007

Yusuke and Kiyoe Tange show his demonstration piece done with a shikebiki wax brush.

top of page

Tange-san demonstrates dyeing lines etched in wax (scrafitto).

Tange-san demonstrates how to dye lines etched in wax (scrafitto).

THE CONTEMPLATIVE STROKE

Master Class taught by Yusuke Tange and his former student, Betsy Sterling Benjamin.
Post-conference workshop, Surface Design Conference, Kansas City, June 2007.

Tange-san is recognized in his native Japan as a true Rozome Master. His former student, Betsy Sterling Benjamin, has herself become known as a Rozome Master, introducing this amazing medium to many students all over the world. In June, 2007, ten students gathered for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study with these two generous teachers. Kiyoe Tange, a master dyer in her own right, graciously assisted in the class.

YUSUKE TANGE
Kyoto, Japan

Yusuke Tange is a studio artist, kimono designer and executive director of Tange-shin Inc. of Kyoto, Japan. His work has been exhibited in major, annual Japanese exhibitions since 1975, in addition to shows in the United States, Australia and Korea. Tange’s dynamic screens dazzled viewers at The Textile Museum in Washington D.C., during the touring exhibition of Rozome Masters of Japan. He is one of the foremost contemporary kimono designers in Japan, participating in over 20 shows each year across the county.
From the Surface Design Association website.

Kobayashi-san demonstrating han-bosen

Kobayashi-san applying hot wax in the han-bosen technique.

Bunny Bowen and Shoukoh Kobayashi, World Batik Conference 2005

Bunny and Kobayashi-san in front of his work Wind'04 at the opening reception, Rozome Masters Exhibit, Massachusetts Sshool of Art, June 2005.
top of page

Exquisite example of han-bosen (half resist) by Shoukoh Kobayashi.

Above & left: Kobayashi-san demonstrating sekidashi (barrier resist).

ADVANCED JAPANESE ROZOME

Master Class taught by internationally known artist Shoukoh Kobayashi, World Batik Conference, Boston, June 2005.

This workshop covered many basic techniques of Japanese batik or rozome, including wax line and sekidashi (barrier resist) as well as specialized techniques such as maki-ro (sprinkled wax) and han-bosen (shaded wax application), techniques for which Kobayashi-san is famous. We all left inspired by his patience, his extraordinary rozome skill, and his good humor.

SHOUKOH KOBAYASHI
Kyoto, Japan

Shoukoh Kobayashi has been working with the rozome technique for over 30 years. His distinctive style and powerful abstract work have won him more than nine awards in exhibitions in Japan. He has exhibited in the Lausanne Biennial (1992), as well as in Germany, France, Poland, and Denmark. His work is in numerous collections, including Kyoto Prefecture, the Central Museum of Textiles, Lodz, Poland, and UNESCO, Paris, France. Exhibition: Rozome Masters of Japan, Massachusetts College of Art , Boston. From the World Batik Conference website

student work

Student work: indigo dye with wax resist on hemp.

Keijin Ihaya

Ihaya-sensei with ro (wax) brushes

.top of page

NATURE-INSPIRED ROZOME

Master Class taught by Keijin Ihaya, Kyoto, Japan, World Batik Conference, Boston, June 2005.

This workshop provided an opportunity to see how nature studies influence a master’s work and mode of expression in rozome. The class combined drawings from nature with rozome techniques to develop personal creativity and expression. We practiced sekidashi (barrier resist) and sengaki (line drawing with wax). All work was dyed in an indigo vat. Ihaya-san's sharp eye for design, technical expertise, and supportive empathy for his students made this a memorable class. Again, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

KEIJIN IHAYA
Kyoto, Japan

Keijin Ihaya is a former professor of textile design at Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan. An award winning artist and leader in the rozome community, he has been the juror for the Kyoten, Shinkoei and Nitten exhibitions more than 11 times. He has been cited as a supportive teacher with a "philosophy of simplicity, a strong connection with nature as source and a clear vision.” Ihaya has exhibited regularly throughout Japan as well as in Edinburgh, Scotland and Seoul, Korea. He is the Asian Advisor to the World Batik Conference. Exhibition: Rozome Masters of Japan, Massachusetts College of Art , Boston. From the World Batik Conference website

Rozome on the Rio, 2006

Rozome on the Rio, 2006
Bernalillo, NM.

Betsy demonstrating the use of a wax stencil.

Kiranada demonstrating the use of a wax stencil.

Betsy Sterling Benjamin

top of page

ROZOME ON THE RIO: Masters Classes 2002-2006

Kiranada Sterling Benjamin introduced me to rozome in 1999, and I have since taken (and sponsored) a number of masters level classes with her. Author of the only book in English on rozome, she spent 18 years in Kyoto learning and absorbing this highly challenging technique. She has mentored many artists around the world and continues to create and exhibit her work, to lecture and to inspire us all to reach “just that much further” than we thought we could.
To learn more about Kiranada, visit her website, www.KiranadaSterlingBenjamin.com

KIRANADA STERLING BENJAMIN
Kingston, NH

Kiranada Sterling Benjamin is an award-winning international artist, researcher and author. She is the author of The World of Rozome: Wax Resist Textiles of Japan. The recipient of numerous grants and awards, her exhibitions include group and solo shows in Japan, Indonesia, Germany, UK, Costa Rica and the USA. She coordinated the World Batik Conference-Boston 2005. She has taught at several universities in Japan and now teaches at Massachusetts College of Art and NH Institute of Art.
See KiranadaSterlingBenjamin.com