Barbara Schneider
"Autumn Leaves, Sansho Garden "

Statement

Process

(Photos by Beth Wodnick)

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My vest reflects my love for Japanese gardens, especially the dry landscapes known as kare san sui. These gardens use sand, rocks and moss to simulate lakes, streams and waterfalls. They are not only captivating in the way they create an illusion, but also in the quiet repetition of pattern and soft shades of grey. Intrigued by the idea of recreating a fluid, moving entity (water) with individual pieces of stone, I explored ways to create the dry garden in the fluid medium of fabric.

I used many pictures of Japanese gardens and visits to the Sansho Garden as a starting point. Through experimentation, I found that one property of polyester is its ability to hold a shape when heated and used this to create the illusion of stones. I continued to work on the design until it fulfilled by my goal: an interpretation of a kare san sui garden in fabric.

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Stone Garden	Stones wrapped in polyester with rubber bands	Flat Stones
Close up of finished grey polyester fabric	Close-up of leaf print & stitched fabric	Rubber Bands
Sample leaves	Flattened & pressed stone sample	Miao jacket
Vest sketches

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