Clay Kimono by 5th Grade

You may remember the kimono weavings created by my LS art club earlier this year. Here I am, using the traditional wraparound garments I saw on my trip to Japan last summer as inspiration once again. I can't help it- I am obsessed! In this project, fifth grade girls used the slab method of clay hand building to create their own kimono. After rolling a large, even slab, they traced an oval template, made a hole for the collar and draped the slab over a cone to make it stand. They adorned their kimono with patterns, designs and added pieces. Customarily, young, single Japanese women wear informal kimono with colorful woven patters and dyed repeat patterns, so the fifth graders glazed them accordingly!