Who was Jane Eileen Rees- Kato?
Jane Rees-Kato was born at Eckville, Alberta on February 23, 1949. Her love of art grew, as she did, in Red Deer. She also lived in Edmonton, Calgary and Saitama-ken, Japan and passed away in Red Deer on October 2, 2017.
Jane was an artist. At the age of 15, she delivered flyers and did other odd jobs to earn enough money to attend a 6-week summer course at the Banff School of Fine Arts. One of the works she created in that class was added to the permanent collection at the School to be shared with students for years to come.
She had a keen interest in fabric arts, textiles, dying fabrics and creating high fashion clothing. Twice she won 3rd place in a Western Canadian New Fashion Designers Competition. Fashion reviewers marvelled over her exceptional creations. And it’s no wonder her work was respected by experts! Over the years she studied textiles and fashion in Vancouver, New York, India, Nepal, Japan, California, England, France, Thailand & China. She held a Bachelor of Education from The University of Alberta, majoring in arts and psychology, as well as a Masters of Linguistics from Daito Bunka University.
Though she yearned for knowledge of art, Jane also criss-crossed the globe to learn from great spiritual and personal development teachers. She studied transcendental meditation, and was particularly keen on Buddhism.
Those who knew her well would tell you that there was something odd, yet unique and interesting about her. Some might have looked at her work and described her as a genius…and yet others might have seen her bright vibrant colors and unusual designs as odd. But despite her peculiarity, she was also endearing, and lovely, and many people considered her a friend for life.
A friend and colleague at Daito Bunka University had this to say of Jane:
“We shared a love of good food, good wine, good music, good jokes, breaking into spontaneous dance in public places, as well as exploring spirituality and healing paths of all stripes.”
Long after she has gone, others will be sharing healing and spiritual guidance using the modalities that she was trained in…and her memories will fade into the past…but there is one thing about her that will remain. Her art…her legacy. Whether it is a kimono, or a painting hanging in the gallery at the Banff Center for the Arts, or the pair of angel wings that have been hanging for some time at the Center for Spiritual Living in Red Deer… her legacy will live on in the physical realm. And now, it will not only live on through Jane’s own art, but also through the art of Red Deer Players, which has benefited greatly from Jane’s generosity.
Jane was an artist. At the age of 15, she delivered flyers and did other odd jobs to earn enough money to attend a 6-week summer course at the Banff School of Fine Arts. One of the works she created in that class was added to the permanent collection at the School to be shared with students for years to come.
She had a keen interest in fabric arts, textiles, dying fabrics and creating high fashion clothing. Twice she won 3rd place in a Western Canadian New Fashion Designers Competition. Fashion reviewers marvelled over her exceptional creations. And it’s no wonder her work was respected by experts! Over the years she studied textiles and fashion in Vancouver, New York, India, Nepal, Japan, California, England, France, Thailand & China. She held a Bachelor of Education from The University of Alberta, majoring in arts and psychology, as well as a Masters of Linguistics from Daito Bunka University.
Though she yearned for knowledge of art, Jane also criss-crossed the globe to learn from great spiritual and personal development teachers. She studied transcendental meditation, and was particularly keen on Buddhism.
Those who knew her well would tell you that there was something odd, yet unique and interesting about her. Some might have looked at her work and described her as a genius…and yet others might have seen her bright vibrant colors and unusual designs as odd. But despite her peculiarity, she was also endearing, and lovely, and many people considered her a friend for life.
A friend and colleague at Daito Bunka University had this to say of Jane:
“We shared a love of good food, good wine, good music, good jokes, breaking into spontaneous dance in public places, as well as exploring spirituality and healing paths of all stripes.”
Long after she has gone, others will be sharing healing and spiritual guidance using the modalities that she was trained in…and her memories will fade into the past…but there is one thing about her that will remain. Her art…her legacy. Whether it is a kimono, or a painting hanging in the gallery at the Banff Center for the Arts, or the pair of angel wings that have been hanging for some time at the Center for Spiritual Living in Red Deer… her legacy will live on in the physical realm. And now, it will not only live on through Jane’s own art, but also through the art of Red Deer Players, which has benefited greatly from Jane’s generosity.
