A sculptural object made of twigs, strings and colored papers stands in a glass vitrine, almost like an insect or small creature set for study in a natural history museum. — “Small Sculpture 14”, by Jane Balsgaard. Photo by Ruth Wolf

Seeking serenity in a world gone nuts, all around everyone is tense and on a short fuse. Art answers, there are quiet voices, can we listen.

At the Wayne Art Center, the Japandi Revisited exhibition unites aesthetic contemplation with process, and invites quietude. On exhibit is a body of work that transforms materials into mantras. Natural materials such as grasses, bark and branches, cotton, linen and wool, as well as repurposed paper and plastics are interlaced and folded into patterns and layers forming baskets, vessels and tapestries. Inter-spaced into these tight rhythmical patterns are the imperfections of nature. Every woven stitch is a breath, with the meditative quality of repetition engendering peace and unity with process. With each piece I had the joy to witness a meditative ideal that begins with observing and selecting materials, considering shape, color and texture in order to transcend materiality. Contemplation is the goal rather than producing just another object for mass consumption. I found myself being taken on a journey through the “slow process of hand craftsmanship” stitch by stitch, fold by fold, layer by layer, breath by breath.

A multicolored sculpture made of tightly entwined strings of polyester depicts a circle with nothing on the inside. — “Flowers” by Keiji Nio. Photo by Ruth Wolf

During my visit to the gallery, I returned many times to “Flowers” by Keiji Nio, a circular shape constructed of multicolored braided polyester. A Mandela filled with the enlightenment of a quiet mind, an enclosure for the silence of nothingness. I also enjoyed, very much, “Willow Cat” by basketweaver Markku Kosonen. This spiraling container is woven with branches of pussy willow buds protruding and springing out as a harbinger of the season to come, and “Small Sculpture 14”, by Jane Balsgaard (top image), where branches, plant paper, and cotton thread is formed into a winged insect emerging from an unseen chrysalis.

A hand-woven basket in dark brown, with tan pussy willow nubs on the exterior sits on a pedestal in a gallery. — “Willow Cat” by Markku Kosonen. Photo by Ruth Wolf

Japandi Revisited: shared aesthetics and influences (the full title of this show) emphasizes the artistic unity that developed between Scandinavian and Japanese cultures since the 1850’s when Japan lifted its closed border policy. We are all familiar with the influence of Japanese prints on French painting. In Scandinavia, Japanese influence presented itself by the integration of nature, craftsmanship and clean design.

A fiber work shows what might be a linear roadmap design in orange and yellow on a dark gray background. — “Dobbel Domino” (detail) by Ase Ljones. Photo by Ruth Wolf

The Wayne Art Center will be hosting a closing reception and gallery talk with curators Rhonda Brown and Tom Grotta of browngrotta arts on Saturday, January 25, at 1:00 pm. Gallery director Nancy Campbell positioned the exhibition to coincide with Wayne Art Center’s Annual Crafts juried exhibition “to enhance the public’s awareness of contemporary craft”.

Japandi Revisited and Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Crafts, open through January 25, 2025. Wayne Art Center (wayneart.org) 413 Maplewood Ave., Wayne, PA 19087 M-F 10:00 – 5:00, Saturday 10:00 to 4:00

Clean lines, exquisite crafting in ‘Japandi Revisited’ at Wayne Art Center

By Ruth Wolf January 17, 2025

Ruth Wolf sees the exhibition 'Japandi Revisited' at Wayne Art Center and talks about the works, which convey quietude and invite contemplation at a time when we all need some of that. The works show the influence of Japan's aesthetic with its clean lines and focus on nature and natural materials and point to Japan's influence on artists in Scandinavia and elsewhere in the west. The exhibition is up through Jan. 25, with a closing reception and curator's talk that day at 1pm. About the Japandi show, Ruth says, "I found myself being taken on a journey through the “slow process of hand craftsmanship” stitch by stitch, fold by fold, layer by layer, breath by breath." Also on view at Wayne is the Annual Juried Craft Exhibition.