The traditional costumes gives an insight to culture

The Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill in Salem is an amazing fabric museum with events, programs and exhibits.  We visited their current exhibit The Art And Tradition of Kimono which began September 21st and will be available until December 24th.

The Kimono is the national costume of Japan.  The exhibit features kimonos created during the early 20th century.  The geometric simplicity of the silk fabric's cut contrasts with the elegant floral designs or regular bright patterns.  The kimono seems to reflect the Japanese culture which values simple form intertwined with equally simple but dramatic designs.

Liz looking at Kimono underware

In a calm, quiet space the exhibit has several kimonos and pictures and information about how they were created.  We had the kimonos to ourselves to study and admire at our leisure.  There is a nice slide show of the kimono exhibit at the Heritage website.  But nothing like seeing the kimonos' vibrancy in person.

The Art and Tradition of Kimono exhibit is housed on the second floor of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.  The Mill is close to a living museum, where you can walk among the machinery which skill works.  On the second floor landing the Mill is evident through windows.  Behind a discrete door the kimonos wait, floating on their stands, emblems of another time another culture.  Stepping into the exhibit from the big 19th century American style woolen mill is also an interesting contrast of cultures.