The charmingly simple art of etegami comes to the Library
“Etegami” is hard to pronounce, spell and, without any context, leaves a lot to the imagination. But for all its mystery, this Japanese folk art is a relatively easy concept.
Etegami art consists of simple, watercolor drawings accompanied by an endearing message. Think personal postcards or hand-painted picture messages. The pictures are intentionally trivial, forcing the artist to find the beauty in everyday objects.
The emphasis is not on the extraordinary, but on the artist’s ability to convey emotion through the little things in life that often get taken for granted. Just like the image, the message is also left completely up to you. It could be a heartfelt note, proverb, poem or even a smart wisecrack. This short phrase is inscribed in a traditional Japanese calligraphy style.
On Saturday, May 23, Asami Nakano, the Japanese Outreach Coordinator for UTC, will bring this ancient pastime to Chattanooga. Workshops will allow participants to view, create, and learn about the history of etegami. Attendees need no prior artistic experience, just a special message they’d like to send an extra special someone.
It’s free and takes place at the Downtown Public Library, 1001 Broad St. at 1 p.m.