December 1, 2003
The Spurlock Museum hosted a Discovery Day, “Kimonos for Kids” on November 15, 2003. Led by Museum Learning Center Coordinator Julia Robinson and docent Emily Holm, participants from grades K-4 learned about this fascinating national costume of Japan. In the Museum’s Workman Gallery of Asian Cultures, students viewed a wedding kimono, focusing on the family crests (or mon) depicted on the kimono. A matching game highlighted a variety of mon designs inspired by nature.
The group then traveled back in time to explore the kimonos of medieval Japan in the focus gallery exhibit, Luxurious Layers: Kimonos of the Heian Court. Students learned that a kimono is always cut from one long rectangle of cloth. They examined fabric patterns and colors, which reflect the seasons. Wearing and walking in the many layers and the heavy weight of the Heian outfit was very complicated-as one participant, who tried on multiple layers of fabric, found out through first-hand experience.
Finally, the group moved to the Rowe Learning Center for a hands-on project. Each participant chose a selection of colored papers to reflect a particular season and then created a multi-layered kimono.
