DARUMA WORKSHOP: The Arts Council of Princeton and Miya Table & Home will present the Princeton Daruma Workshop on Tuesday, December 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 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 on a community project to refresh, restart, and recommit to our goals, hopes, and dreams. After a sold out debut in 2021, the Princeton Daruma Workshop is back.

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 27, the community is invited to design their own Daruma during the Princeton Daruma Workshop from 1-2:30 p.m. During this workshop, local artist Minako Ota will lead attendees to gather ideas and encouragement to customize their Daruma with paint, decoupage, Sharpie, etc. All are encouraged to flex their imagination as Ota demonstrates 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 Miya’s Palmer Square window to kick off the new year.

The $30 registration fee includes the Daruma, materials, and instruction.

For more information and to register, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org. Children under the age of 7 should register with an adult.