Kerry Porter, owner of Ohio Kimono, is exhibiting 40 Japanese kimono from her collection in the McAlear Gallery of the Brown Welcome Center at the Schedel Arboretum & Gardens in Elmore.

The exhibit runs through July 10 at the 17-acre garden estate.

Porter, of Toledo, is regarded as one of the area’s leading Japanese textile enthusiasts. Over the years, she has studied and collected Japanese kimono that embody the variety of beautiful textile arts the Japanese have to offer.

The kimono on display are authentic and were produced by hand in Japan using traditional methods that date back hundreds of years. Some are vintage pre-World War II pieces, and others are more modern works of textile art.

In addition to the kimono, Schedel Arboretum & Garden will also be displaying its collection of 36 antique netsuke. Kimono do not have pockets so sagemono, or small pouches, similar to a purse, were used to carry items. Netsuke are small functional works of art that were attached to a cord from which the sagemono was hung. The netsuke acted as a toggle on the end of the cord that slipped under the obi, or wide belt, that kept the kimono closed. Pieces in the Schedel collection are all made from hand carved ivory.

Schedel Gardens is located at 19255 West Portage River South Rd., Elmore. Call 419-862-3182 or visit www.schedel-gardens.org for more information.

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