Sashiko no Donza

Sashiko no Donza references two Japanese textile traditions: sashiko, the running-stitch reinforcement embroidery developed in rural Japan, and the donza, a padded fisherman's work coat stitched with geometric sashiko patterns for durability and warmth. McLaughlin, whose practice integrates papermaking with textile processes, translates these structural textile logics into a mixed-media work on kozo paper. The composition likely incorporates linear or grid-based patterning that echoes the repetitive geometry of sashiko stitch — diamond, wave, or tortoiseshell motifs — rendered through mark-making, stitching directly into the sheet, or layered printing. The work acknowledges the historical connection between Japanese fiber arts and the mulberry-fiber paper at the heart of McLaughlin's material practice.