Textile artist from Saltcoats, Hanna Yokozawa Farquharson, has had her art featured in Canadian Quilter Magazine. Her work was selected to be featured in the magazine after an Instagram Live that she did with a quilter friend of hers from Halifax last summer. A few days later, she received an email from the president of the Canadian Quilters’ Association asking if she wanted to do a feature in the magazine.
Hanna’s work has been steadily increasing in popularity and is highly acclaimed by everyone it reaches. She is very pleased at the wonderful reception she and her art have been getting. “Honestly, I’m very happy. My goal is to send a light into the world through my art, I hope it will spread wider and farther. This is a start, so I’ll continue to do whatever I can,” Hanna said.
As her art continues to reach a wider audience, Hanna hopes that it can have a positive impact on everyone who sees it. She said, “Recently, many people have been suffering from anxiety, frustration and being surrounded by negative emotions. I hope that my work will be the trigger to find a light in their hearts.”
Hanna is originally from Japan and lived there until moving to Canada in 2011. Her experiences with both places and the imprints they have made on her as a person are strongly reflected in her artwork. She is currently busy with the creation of a new project that celebrates both cultures and the way they are intertwined in her own life. “I am working on the production to express the beauty of the Earth using traditional Japanese kimonos. I am using kimonos that are mine, my mother’s, my great-grand auntie’s and other antique kimonos in some new pieces – blending Japan and Canada. I also hope to blend in other cultures as well into some of my pieces.”
Hanna says that she can see herself holding workshops and teaching her techniques in the future, but for now she is just continuing to create and is “enjoying the journey.”
“Right now, I am thrilled people are enjoying my work and that they are able to feel some kind of connection to it,” she mentioned.
One of Hanna’s pieces has also been selected for “The Grand National Fibre Art Exhibition 2021 – Crossroads” and will be shown at various displays across Canada throughout this year.
The Canadian Quilter Magazine edition with Hanna’s feature is available at the Saltcoats Library until the spring for anyone who wishes to look at it. In order to see and purchase Hanna Yokozawa Farquharson’s art visit her website at www.hannafarquharson.com or see her Instagram and Facebook pages.