Yukako Satone, a designer from Japan, brought SAORI to NYC in 2001. In 2016, knowing how valuable SAORI could be to people facing life challenges, Yukako founded SAORI Arts NYC, a 501(c)3 organization, in collaboration with two other SAORI artists, Ria Hawks, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and Brandy Godsil, a fiber artist and fashion designer.
During SAORI weaving sessions, participants explore their own aesthetic, choosing for themselves what to create and how to express their thoughts and feelings. Through these experiences, participants gain confidence in their abilities and feel pride in their accomplishments.
In 2021, we held 125 virtual workshops with 5 different organizations in New York City. The enrollment for the workshops totaled 662, of which 90 were unique participants. The age range was 6 years to over 80 years of age
● The majority of our workshops were with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally
o Two workshops were held to teach staff at an organization the steps of circle weaving so they could work directly with their clients.
o Two workshops were held for children with autism.
o We had 27 one-on-one sessions with two teenage girls with brain tumors. These bimonthly zooms offered weaving and sewing.
o 15 sessions at summer day camp for children with cancer or blood disorders.