Office Space: Kimberly Kode Sutton (Chair, Department of Education; Director, Special Education Programs)
Office Space: Kimberly Kode Sutton (Chair, Department of Education; Director, Special Education Programs)
January 31, 2022The way a person decorates can say a lot about them. In the Office Space series, we go beyond the résumé and get to know York College faculty and staff members through the objects they like to keep close.
In addition to her experience as a classroom teacher, Dr. Kimberly Kode Sutton often talks about her time as the spouse of an active-duty USMC officer as the most formative of her life. Dr. Kode Sutton lived in a number of places across the United States and in Okinawa, Japan. Both her home and office reflect the family's time in Japan and their travel throughout Asia.
1. Kokeshi Dolls
According to Dr. Kode Sutton, Kokeshi dolls are traditional Japanese folk art, originally made as an extra source of income for woodworkers in northern Japan. Some believe Kokeshi contain the spiritual essence of the dead and were originally made in honorary remembrance. “I have collected about 20 Kokeshi dolls, including some very old ones such as a Samurai, elderly husband and wife, fisherman, the four seasons, and one whose head spins to show faces with different moods.”
2. Shisa Dogs or Lion Dogs
Dr. Kode Sutton has a tiny pair of Lion dogs in her office. Lion dogs can be seen guarding entrances and on rooftops in Okinawa and are believed to have been brought from China in the 15th century. She says they’re usually found in a male-fem ale pair; the male with an open mouth scares away evil spirits while the female has a closed mouth to keep in good spirits. When she lived in Okinawa, Dr. Kode Sutton made her own pair from clay, about a foot high. Luckily, they survived the journey to the United States and now sit in her home office.
3. Hello Kitty
“I also have a small Hello Kitty, because of course!” Dr. Kode Sutton laughs. “You can’t talk about Japan without also referencing Hello Kitty (and Pokémon and anime, and…). Hello Kitty was everywhere for a period of time, and women had their entire cars decorated with it