DARUMA PROJECT: The Arts Council of Princeton and Miya Table & Home will present the Princeton Daruma Project and Community Workshop on Tuesday, December 28. Led by local artist Minako Ota, attendees will decorate this symbol of perseverance, achievement, and good fortune in anticipation of the new year.

With the new year approaching, the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) has partnered with Miya Table & Home to present a community project as a refresh, restart, and recommitment to goals, hopes, and dreams.

The Daruma is a traditional symbol of perseverance, achievement, and good fortune — an iconic symbol found all over Japan in businesses, schools, and homes. The Daruma is most popular around the new year, made with two white circles for eyes. Once a goal is set or a wish is made, the owner colors in one eye. The other eye is colored in only after the goal is achieved or the wish comes true.

On Tuesday, December 28, the community is invited to design their own during the Princeton Daruma Workshop from 1-2 p.m. During this workshop, local artist Minako Ota will lead attendees to gather ideas and offer encouragement to customize your Daruma any way you like — paint, decoupage, Sharpie, etc. Use your imagination as Minako shows you fun variations to consider and provides the materials to make it all come together.

To celebrate this community effort, the completed Daruma will be on view in a collective display in downtown Princeton to kick off the new year.

“We were so thrilled with the response to the Princeton Paper Crane Project that we exhibited at the Arts Council last year,” said Miya Table & Home owner Heidi Moon, referring to the 2020 community project that prompted 18,000 paper cranes to be folded and donated to the installation by members of the public. “The only logical step was to follow it up with another meaningful project for all our friends and neighbors for the new year. Collaborating with the team at the Arts Council of Princeton and Minako Ota has been our idea of a ‘dream team’ and we are excited to bring another message of hope and renewal for 2022.”   

Registrants should arrive with a Daruma, available for purchase at Miya Table & Home at 27 Palmer Square West. Artist instruction and all additional materials are provided; $10. For more information and to register, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org. Children under the age of 7 should register with an adult.