Welcome! Like many other businesses, the pandemic and lockdown led us to utilize our website in a way we had not anticipated -- as a gallery space. The Virtual Art Space started in April 2020, and featured artists and artisans we've had in our brick and mortar stores for years, as well as some new-to-KOBO artists too. This page is an archive of the show as it originally exhibited. Moving forward, art shows will still be featured on online, but as mandates go away and we are all feeling safer, we will be inviting the public to come see the show in-person at one or both of our locations. Thanks for stopping by and please contact us if you have other questions.
August 2020 in the Virtual Art Space featured calligraphy by Seattle's Tommer Peterson. Here's what Tommer has to say about this body of work: "Most of the work in this exhibition was done during the first months of the Covid 19 quarantine. It began with the Buddhist poem いろは (iroha). This poem is unique, in that it uses all of the phonetic Hiragana characters, but uses each one only once. From there, I expanded, looking to other texts and ideas from the cannon of historic Zen Buddhist writing that seemed to offer some promise or deliverance in these unprecedented times."
Read more about Tommer, including more information about the paper he uses as his canvas, here. Tommer's pieces are available for purchase. Local Pickup is currently the only option at checkout. Please contact us for artwork shipping options and if you have any questions. Please enjoy the show. ~KOBO~
Watch Tommer's interview with Mayumi Tsutakawa [link]
Please check the Art & Craft department for currently available pieces.
如是 Nyoze, “like this” or “as it is”
いろは Iroha 2
いろは Iroha 3
いろは Iroha 4
いろは Iroha 7
いろは Iroha 8
いろは Iroha 9 (framed)
一期一 会 Ichi Go Ichi E, “One lifetime, One Meeting” 1
一期一 会 Ichi Go Ichi E, “One lifetime, One Meeting” 2
一期一 会 Ichi Go Ichi E, “One lifetime, One Meeting” 3
一期一 会 Ichi Go Ichi E, “One lifetime, One Meeting” 4
一期一 会 Ichi Go Ichi E, “One lifetime, One Meeting” 5
一期一 会 Ichi Go Ichi E, “One lifetime, One Meeting” 6 (framed)
不滅 Fumetsu, “immortal” or “indestructible” 1
不滅 Fumetsu, “immortal” or “indestructible” 2
了了知 Ryo ryo chi 1
了了知 Ryo ryo chi 2
了了知 Ryo ryo chi 3
了了知 Ryo ryo chi 4
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 1
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 2
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 3
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 4
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 5 (framed)
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 6 (framed)
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 7
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 8
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 9
円 相 Ensō ,“Circle Painting” 10
夢 Yume, “dream” 1 (framed)
夢 Yume, “dream” 2
夢 Yume, “dream” 3 (framed)
夢 Yume, “dream” 4
大道無門 Dai Do Mu Mon, “Great Path, No Gate” 1
大道無門 Dai Do Mu Mon, “Great Path, No Gate” 2
忍 Nin, “patience” or “conceal” 1
忍 Nin, “patience” or “conceal” 2
放 Hanatsu, “release” 1
放 Hanatsu, “release” 2
永 Ei - “eternity” 1
永 Ei - “eternity” 2
無 Mu, “nothing, or emptiness” 1
無 Mu, “nothing, or emptiness” 2
無 Mu, “nothing, or emptiness” 3
無 Mu, “nothing, or emptiness” 4
無 一 物 Mu ichi motsu, Not one thing (exists) . . .
無心 Mushin, “without mind” or “without heart” 1 (framed)
無心 Mushin, “without mind” or “without heart” 2
無心 Mushin, “without mind” or “without heart” 3
"無心 Mushin, “without mind” or “without heart” 4"
間雲 Aida Kumo, “Leisurely Cloud” 1 (framed)
間雲 Aida Kumo, “Leisurely Cloud” 2
間雲 Aida Kumo, “Leisurely Cloud” 3
