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Finding your center at Saori Worcester
May 2004 - Aside from the Smiley Face and “the pill,” Worcester isn’t too well known as the home for many firsts. Well, thanks to Mihoko Wakabayashi and her husband Nathaniel Needle, the city has a new first to boast about. Recently, the couple opened their Japanese-style Saori weaving gallery and studio at 131 Highland Street — the first ever in the entire United States. Saori (very loosely translated as “Weave Thyself”) is a weaving technique developed in Japan in the late ‘60s as a very easy method of creating with fibers on a simple loom. Today there are over 10,000 people in Japan who practice this free style of weaving and some 1,000 schools and institutions that offer classes. Why Worcester? Nat attributes this to medatsu, a Japanese word that means to stand out — something frowned upon in Japan. Nat was familiar with New England and wanted a city big enough to offer a variety of clientele and small enough to make connections, in other words a place where Mihoko, and her weaving, could stand out. A little over three years ago Mihoko and Nat returned to the States from Japan and set up classes in their small apartment here in town. The response was such that they decided to find a larger space — one that was handicapped accessible as well — and make this style of creativity available to all. 
Mihoko Wakabayashi weaving at a Saori Worcester loom with some Saori pieces. To promote their efforts, Mihoko participated in stART on the Street and Earth Day festivals, showing just how simple it is to work the portable looms and get into the activity wholeheartedly. The difference between the Saori technique and traditional weaving is in the equipment — and in the attitude. Saori looms have only two pedals, instead of the usual 4 to 8, and the reeds and harnesses are easily removable, so that one person can set up and use the machine without having to wait until another’s work is completed. As far as attitude is concerned, Mihoko and Nat tell their students to simply loosen up and enjoy. It’s a way of relaxing, meditating, and even healing, within a centering, Zen-like experience. In fact, Saori is often used to help people with various mental and physical disabilities become more productive members of society in general. Not only does it provide peace of mind to the practitioner, but in most cases the work they create is eminently saleable as well. 
Nat Needle and Mihoko Wakabayashi in their Highland Street studio-gallery. The walls of Saori Worcester are covered with objects that Mihoko, her friends in Japan, and local students have produced. And the work is as varied as the people who made it. One large brightly-colored diamond-shaped piece is made up of smaller sections woven on five different looms by individual students at the Elm Park Community School. An abstract construction of roughly woven segments of fabric sent from Japan extends from the wall on bent and lashed tree branches. And Nat sports a vibrant multi-colored pullover shirt he just recently completed weaving. Saori is so simple and so relaxing that anyone can do it —even without any artistic experience or inclination. In fact as Nat and Mihoko put it, “Everyone is an artist. Nature has put an artistic spark in every person, no matter what age or medical condition or whatever they think of themselves. Saori brings the artist out.” So whether you’re 7 or 107, stop by Saori Worcester and sign up for a course, take a trial lesson, or simply look around – you might just find “your unique self.” Who: Mihoko Wakabayashi |
Studio and gallery
first in the country to showcase unusual and therapeutic Japanese weaving
technique