Joi Rae

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Gourd Runner I table center/tatami series, natural color and vegetable-dyed wool, flax, kudzu fiber, skeletal leaves. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
Surrounded by lots of lovely Japanese ceramics I wanted a new way to initiate conversations between the clay objects, textiles and the room interior.  In order to protect the table top, tray surfaces or tatami from rough ceramic bottoms I designed a group of felt textiles to solve the problem.  Also, the clay, grass fibers, trees and sheep all exist in the same environment so I found that the combination of materials was very simpatico and coordinated naturally together in almost any interior setting. Nice with clay pots, glass vessels and wood.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Confetti Shawls detail, 2008, hand-woven silk fabric, wool. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): My Rising Sun With In: Dark Green carpet series 2011, 106 x 170cm, natural color and acid-dyed wool; Landscape Fragments cushion series 2011, wool felt cover, cotton cushion, suede. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
After the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami/reactor explosion I realized that we all look at Japan in a different way. So in reference to the name Land of the Rising Sun, I was working through current queries about my life here in Japan.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Square Mats: Beige 2009, natural color and vegetable-dyed wool, flax, skeletal leaves. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Sumi Silk Vest & Jacket 2009, wool, Sumi ink on silk fabric. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
The Sumi ink painting on silk was a collaboration with Christine Flint Sato (Nara, Japan/UK)
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Jorie Johnson Spring Collection 2011 (beret, vest, skirt, neck wraps), wool, novelty yarn, silk fabric, linen lace fabric, silk cord. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Ceramic Pendants with felted cord variations 2010, variegated dyed wool; Ceramic Pendants by Yoko Takao (Fuucho, Tokyo) Scarf, wool, silk organza, mohair yarn. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Confetti Shawls 2008, hand-woven silk fabric, wool. Photo by Toyoda Yuzo.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists

Jorie Johnson (Joi Rae): Olympia Series Jacket 2006, wool, leather. Photo by Kobayashi You.
I love making asymmetrical collars and also working the edge of a piece to produce a soft “washi” paper effect rather than a hard cut edge. Here also, the bits of color were laid between the black wool base and the white top layer before the felting process began to help emphasize the collars and jacket edges. My influence came from the Central Asian nomadic herders coats but with a little Joi Rae Textiles twist. Stitched pocket flap and felt rope closure.
/ Keiko Gallery - Japanese artists