Lecture: Sashiko Today by Atsushi Futatsuya

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | Bennington College and the Robert Frost Stone House Museum are thrilled to welcome Sashiko artisan Atsushi "Azu" Futatsuya to Bennington. On Thursday April 11, Futatsuya will give a lecture, “Sashiko Today,” at 7:00 pm in Tishman Auditorium. Free to the public.

As a Sashiko artist from a surviving traditional family in Japan, he will introduce the traditional and basics of Sashiko.

We now mainly enjoy Sashiko as a decorative form of needlework. The simple stitching with the traditional combination, which is indigo dye fabric and white thread, attracts many people. We can find its unique stitchings in tablewares, clothes like jackets or shirts, handbags, and tapestries. The purpose of stitching originated from repairing, mending, patching and reinforcing the fabric. Also, in some regions, the Japanese performed Sashiko for decorative purposes. In the current society, we enjoy Sashiko to decorate the fabric like embroidery. We also use Sashiko techniques to repair the damaged fabric to recycle (upcycle) and repurpose the fabric to something unique.

Born into the third generation of a surviving Sashiko family in Gifu prefecture, Futatsuya grew up with Sashiko, surrounded by thread, needles, and lots of fabric. He launched the “Sashi.Co” project with his mother, Keiko, who has over forty years of experience with Sashiko stitching, to introduce their masterful works. Starting in 2017, he introduced the beauty and concept of Sashiko to the world through his storytelling and workshops.