Ohayo Ohio is a 10-day Japanese symposium and cultural event taking place in Yellow Springs from April 30 through May 9. A variety of workshops, presentations and exhibits on traditional and contemporary Japanese art, culture and language will be offered. “There is something for everyone to enjoy” said Beth Bridgeman, instructor of cooperative education at Antioch College and symposium organizer. For artist bios, the schedule, and workshop registration, go to http://www.yellow-springs-experience.org.

There are events for families as well as experienced artists and seasoned Japanophiles. Free events include a haiku slam; lectures on contemporary Japanese environmentalism, history, papermaking and other arts; a cosplay parade; storytelling; four art exhibits featuring photography by James Luckett, Sarah Strong’s participatory installation “The Power of Story”, photography of the Antioch College teahouse, Kyoto-based kusakizome artist Mami Adachi’s Kimono exhibit (part of the larger “Threads Bared” exhibit currently showing in the Herndon Gallery on Antioch campus) and more.

Paid workshops will include arts such as raku pottery; washi papermaking with MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow Timothy Barrett, an alumnus of Antioch College; calligraphy; sushi-making; sashiko (Japanese embroidery); gyotaku (fish printing); kusaki-zome and shibori, (cloth-dyeing techniques); a tea ceremony; a Japanese anime film; suminagashi (paper marbling) for kids and more! These workshops have limited space and require pre-registration and pre-payment.

The Village of Yellow Springs shares a long and storied history with Japan, from the days of welcoming and sponsoring families from internment camps, to Antioch College Professor Earle Reynolds’ assignment to the U.S. Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Hiroshima after the war, (leading to the founding of the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima), to Antioch College Professor Harold Wright’s establishment of the College’s exchange program with Kyoto Seika University. Reflecting this strong connection, Japanese is one of the three languages offered at Antioch College.

Ohayo Ohayo and The Kimono Project are generously supported by the Yellow Springs Community Foundation, the Lloyd Family Fellowship and Antioch College alumnus Timothy Barrett.

About Antioch College Cooperative Educations Program and the Yellow Springs Arts Council

The Antioch College Cooperative Educations Program has been providing experiential learning opportunities for students since 1921. It is the second oldest cooperative education program in the United States. For over 60 years, the Yellow Springs Arts Council has been supporting arts and cultural offerings in Yellow Springs. They currently offer monthly gallery shows, art classes, performances, the Art House-Hop tour of private art collections in the Village, and more.