"Boro" is a Japanese term associated with the cycle of use and reuse — of wearing something out and mending it, over and over. In rural communities across Japan, mainly before World War II, boro was a way of life. Everyday textiles such as bed covers and clothing were repeatedly repaired using scraps of fabric, placed over the worn areas and held down with simple running stitches. Over seasons and years, these patches, usually in various shades of indigo blue, would be layered upon each other, creating uneven and mottled surfaces. Today, these textiles are admired for their rough and imperfect beauty, but their roots lay in necessity. As guest exhibition curator Yoshiko Wada writes, “Understanding what boro textiles mean is to learn to read the narrative that each textile tells of the journey through the spheres of domesticity and duty.”

Guest curator: Dr. Yoshiko I. Wada

West Gallery, 2/6/26 – 6/20/26