General News
6 June, 2025
SAORI exhibition hits Clunes
Hundreds of moments captured in cloth will be on display in Clunes as a part of the Celebration
Returning for its second year, the showcase of creative Japanese weaving will share the works of over 30 artists from across Australia this month.
The group showcase is curated by their teacher Prue Simmons, one of three accredited SAORI teachers in Australia, who owns and manages Dyeing To Weave Studio in Clunes.
“Traditional weaving is often based around patterns and you try to make something look really perfect, you don’t want to make a mistake,” she said.
“The whole concept behind SAORI weaving is that there’s no such thing as a mistake — it’s a freestyle form of weaving.”
Operating out of her llama farm, whose fibres she uses in her weaving, Ms Simmons encourages her students across the country to experiment with colour, texture, and materials.
“It’s about self expression more than trying to follow a pattern that could be repeated again and again and again,” she said.
SAORI is a practice founded by Misao Jo at the end of the 1960s. It emphasises simple handweaving can help people be present, mindful, and unlock their innate creativity.
“I was a zoologist before I started SAORI weaving. I came across this very accidentally in the mountains of Japan 18-years-ago and it changed my life,” Ms Simmons said.
The diversity of the weavers ages, from eight through to their 80s, and is reflective of their over a hundred works.
Described as “a moving meditation” the exhibition offers garments, home decor, wall hangings and even unexpected expressions like weaving in chainsaw blades and welding gloves.
“Bringing all these pieces together into a collective exhibition is just phenomenal because each piece is so incredibly different and each piece tells its own unique, incredible story,” Ms Simmons said.
Where one student is processing their daughter’s battle with anorexia, another is addressing stresses in their life, while others bring their looms outside to reflect the colours of the landscape.
“We’ve ventured so far away from creating with our hands. So much of our lives are so busy, frantic, and stressful. Being able to sit down and do some mindful creativity is just such a powerful thing,” she said.
The Celebration of SAORI Exhibition will be run from this Saturday, June 7 with a launch party at 2 pm to Sunday, June 22.
Held in the Esmond Gallery at The Warehouse, Ms Simmons will also be holding various free events over the month including a demonstration of the practice.
Further information is available at www.dyeingtoweave.com.au/exhibition