Main Street Studio Hosting Japanese Craft & Art Exhibition

CHARLTON — The Main Street Studio in Charlton will be hosting an exhibition and sale of work by regional artists and makers who are dedicated to practicing and preserving a variety of traditional Japanese craft and artistic styles.

Nature, spirituality, and precision craftsmanship are themes connecting the works selected for the exhibit across many different types of materials and techniques–ceramics, wood joinery and carving, paper, fabric dyeing and folding, watercolors, gardening and even ceremonial tea practices.

The exhibit, “From Far East,” will be on display from Oct. 2 through Nov. 16 with regular gallery hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The opening reception is on Friday, Oct. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature craft demonstrations, matcha tea samples, and light refreshments. Both the gallery exhibit and opening reception are free and open to the public. 

In addition to the exhibit, throughout the month there will be free demonstrations and hands-on workshops. 

• Rie Maywar, Japan-certified tea practitioner, will be giving a free artist talk about the tools and traditions of the Japanese Tea Ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 2. 

• Renee Johnson will host both a free introduction and a 4-week-long deep dive into the Japanese mending technique called “Sashiko,” as well as several other workshops relating to indigo dyeing and fabric folding. 

• Johnny Tromboukis will be teaching a two-day Japanese lantern workshop during which students will learn traditional Kumiko joinery techniques while making a lantern for their home.

For more information and the full schedule of events, visit www.mainstreetcharlton.com.