Tsumami-zaiku might be a traditional Japanese handicraft, but like all art forms it moves with the times. Over the years, kanzashi have evolved to encompass more modern techniques, new materials and motifs – including western flora and fauna. As a American expat living in Canada, I’ve always sought to expand my influences, allowing them to co-mingle and reflect in my work.

For this piece, I wanted to create an arrangement that reflected the local Saskatchewan plants, notably the prairie lily – which is the provincial flower for Saskatchewan. I also included wheat, since it’s pretty much the symbol of my adopted Canadian province, and Saskatoon berries because they are my husband’s favorite fruit.

The impermanence of life, and the passing of the seasons, is a popular concept in Japanese art and literature, and in a way this piece – like all tsumami-zaiku pieces – pushes back at that concept from the other direction.

Tsumami-zaiku work present an everlasting vision of something that usually fades away with the changing of the seasons. In Saskatchewan, winter in Saskatchewan is notably long and harsh, while summers are short and sweet. So this piece, to me, really digs in to that idea of capturing the essence of something which generally passes by us in brief, but beautiful, moments.

This piece, like many of the pieces I’m going to be creating this year, was made possible by a production grant from Creative Saskatchewan – who were kind enough to support the production of over 500 new works of tsumami craft made by me. If you’ve ever wanted to support an arts organization, I can’t recommend Creative Saskatchewan enough.

Anyhoo, that is all I’ve got for today. I have a lot more projects coming around, including more summery themed items for this lovely month of June. I definitely want to capture the beauty and warmth of summer before winter is upon us again!

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