Kumihimo-The Art of Japanese Braiding

On September 14, 2022, in partnership with the Homer Township Public Library (14320 W. 151st Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491), the Lemont Artists Guild is pleased to present, at the library Betty Burian Kirk, who will talk about Kumihimo Braiding : Japanese Braiding. Betty will give a historic overview of how Kumihimo was brought to Japan and the connection to the Japanese Samurai Warriors. Various braiding techniques will be covered by Betty and an abundance of samples will be displayed. Betty will give a demonstration of how the braiding is done on a Marudai (prounounced mar-oo-dye) which is a round-top braiding stand used to make a wide variety of Kumihimo braids such as round, square, rectangular, flat, triangular, and other polygonal shapes. (To learn more about the Marudai visit: https://amksoc.org/glossary/marudai/) Attendees present will be given a cardboard disk in which Betty will guide them on a form of the Kumihimo braiding. To attend this free event, please register at: https://www.homerlibrary.org/kumihimo

Betty studied art at Northern Illinois University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. She taught 13 years as an elementary school art teacher and three semesters as a college weaving instructor. She now teaches at regional and national fiber conferences and sells her handmade wearable fiber art at art shows in Illinois. Her website is www.bbkirk.com and she is a long-time member and the Publicity/Newsletter Editor for the Lemont Artists Guild. For more information please visit: www.lemontartistsguild.org.

We hope you can attend this program which is free and open to the public!