Kamishibai storytelling is focus of new Arts of Kenmore Gallery exhibit

Japanese Kamishibai street storyteller
Photo by Aki Saito

An exhibit celebrating the Kamishibai Literacy program at Moorlands Elementary, will open Friday, February 5th at the Arts of Kenmore Gallery in Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Ave NE.

The public is invited to an opening-day reception for “The Art of Kamishibai,” from 6:30 to 8pm that will include a special presentation by Jennifer Schroeder, Moorlands librarian. Refreshments served.

Kamishibai means paper story, the Japanese art of storytelling. Before the invention of television, it was the neighborhood cartoon for children. Kamishibai artists would clap blocks together and children would gather to hear folklore stories and give pennies for sweets.

The Kamishibai stories are used at Moorlands elementary to meet Washington State Standards for 3rd Grade Literacy, fulfilling Pacific Rim and Asian culture requirements. Moorlands is a recipient of the AOK Grants for Schools, providing funding to Kenmore public schools for all disciplines in Arts education.

“The Art of Kamishibai” is the latest in a series of five exhibitions mounted throughout the year by Arts of Kenmore, a nonprofit organization that also produces the annual Kenmore Art Show at Bastyr University in June. AOK Gallery exhibits are made possible by sustaining support from the City of Kenmore, 4Culture, and membership. The exhibit will remain on display through February 25.

The mission of the Arts of Kenmore, a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, is to promote the Arts in the Kenmore community through the annual art show and other programs, including AOK Grants to six public schools and regular exhibits at the AOK Gallery at Kenmore City Hall.

For more information see the webpage, or email.