Sky is cold blue-gray
Clinging white against tree bark
Kimonos of snow
-Gopika
Gopika compared a covering of snow to the traditional garment worn
by both Japanese men and women. A kimono is a long robe with wide sleeves.
Kimonos are tied close at the waist with a sash, which is called an "obi".
Famous haiku poet Basho wore a kimono, as shown above in the small gold painting.
Did you know that some of the finest quality fabric in the world comes from banana trees?
Special little banana trees, called "Ito-basho", thrive only on the island of Okinawa.
Okinawa is the hottest and most southern part of Japan. Fiber from the stalks of these
little trees are worked by hand into a fabric called "basho-fu". The fibers are long and
strong, and the fabric is a lot like fine linen. It's light, airy, and doesn't cling to
skin in hot humid weather. More prized than silk: bashofu kimonas are very expensive
because only a few people still have the special skill and patience for making the
luxurious basho-fu fabric.
ArtHouse provides a focal point for interesting, creativity-inspiring Language Arts
and Social Studies projects at all grade levels. As demonstrated here, ArtHouse
provides a lovely place to display and present short poems in an interesting,
thematically appropriate context. Students envisioned a Japanese garden in winter,
and imagined viewing its weathered trees from the perspective of original haiku poet,
Matsuo Basho, who lived in a humble gardener's hut.
ArtHouse helps teachers do some "heavy lifting"! Crossing curriculum boundaries, they
leverage power. Teachers have found that using ArtHouse and "teaching reading through
social studies" is proving highly effective. Storyboards assembled into
ArtHouse provide a focal point that engages students and motivates them to read, write
and learn. ArtHouse is a uniquely powerful teaching aid!
Visit The Haiku Poetry Page To See The Class Project Assembled
You're invited to submit art to the ArtHouse Children's Art Gallery!
Kids' Art Gallery Submission Instructions
Return To The ArtHouse Children's Art Gallery