Photo courtesy The Legacy Press
As part of the current Washitales exhibition, renowned visual artist Kyoko Ibe joins in conversation with Lecturer in Visual Arts Daniel Heyman about her work along with the celebratory launch of a new book, The Way of Washi Tales, which documents Ibe’s collaborations with director and dramaturg Elise Thoron.
Washitales presents the work of Ibe in conjunction with the Lewis Center’s theatrical presentation of Felon: An American Washi Tale by Reginald Dwayne Betts. The set for Felon has been designed and created by Ibe and includes kites constructed of paper (washi) made from the clothes of men who Betts met in prison. “Washi” is traditional Japanese handmade paper. The exhibition includes work related to the theatrical set and other works by Ibe using handmade paper.
The exhibition and conversation are cosponsored by Princeton’s Department of Art & Archaeology. Other collaborators on campus include the Office of the Vice President for Campus Life, the Center for Human Values, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University Library, Campus Conversations on Identities, the Humanities Council, Students for Prison Education, Abolition and Reform; the faculty and staff of The Prison Teaching Initiative, Trenton Arts at Princeton, and McCarter Theatre.
Tickets and Details
The conversation is free and open to the public; no tickets or advance registration required. The exhibition is free and open to the public, open daily through March 5 in the Hurley Gallery from 10 AM – 8 PM.
Directions
Get directions and venue information for the Hurley Gallery, located on the mezzanine level of the Lewis Arts complex.
COVID-19 Guidance + Updates
Per Princeton University policy, all visitors are expected to be either fully vaccinated, have recently received and prepared to show proof of a negative COVID test (via PCR within 72 hours or via rapid antigen within 8 hours of the scheduled visit), or agree to wear a face covering when indoors and around others.
Accessibility
The Hurley Gallery is an accessible venue on the mezzanine level of the Lewis Arts complex, reachable via the Arts Tower elevator. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.
About The Way of Washi Tales
by Ibe Kyoko and Elise Thoron
The Way of Washi Tales tells the story of a collaboration across cultures, including how washi and the rich history of the craft informed the performances of the theater artists, while their ongoing work together as a company resulted in deep personal bonds and experiences. Through backstage scenes and over two hundred photographs, the book explores the fascinating process of long-term cultural exchange, including the complex challenges of bilingual performance and the rewards of building a “washi family.” In personal essays, Ibe and Thoron reflect on how profoundly a simple natural material – washi – has shaped Japanese culture and influenced the trajectory of their lives. Recently, the authors embarked on a new washi adventure with Dwayne Betts, author of Felon: Poems (2019) and a 2021 MacArthur Fellow. Betts’ new solo performance, Felon: An American Washi Tale is a compelling story about the role that books and papermaking played in his life during and after incarceration.
Published by The Legacy Press, 2023.
