saya my ceramics: April 2013

Saturday, 27 April 2013

My fellow Artists in Residence

Time to introduce you to the other artists I've been working along side.

Anne-Marie SCHOEN

Makiko SUZUKI

Yui SUZUKI

Dai-Rong LEE

Maria MURAYAMA

Tomoi KOWATA

Kasumi UEBA, Derek LARSEN

Saturday, 20 April 2013

Cherry Blossom Viewing

As the sakura (cherry tree) viewing and Hanami season is almost over (boo) i thought i should share some of my photos. I can't explain how happy it made me to be in Japan again in time for the Cherry Blossom season, and its one of my favorite Japanese experiences.

Thursday, 18 April 2013

The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan

I've been at my Artist In Residency for two weeks now! Time to show you around, lets take a walk...

This is the entrance, the dormitories are to the left, the administration building to the right and the kiln building in the middle, straight ahead.

The kiln room, most are gas kilns and lots of artists come to fire work in the kiln the size of a house!

(left in the photo)

Next down the corridor that leads to plaster room and ...

glaze room,...

Guest artist studios,...

and the Artist studios (where I am working)

The whole site is on the side of a mountain so to get to the next level up there are three different paths, windy stairs to the right, straight climb up the middle and a gentle sloped road to the outdoor kilns on my left, hmmm which to choose...

Left? Yep (You know me well)

The Anagam Kiln, the artists are having a communal firing, (more on that later).

Next one up, Nobori Kiln

And another, even larger one. So the road curves to the right and leads to...

The park grounds, all filled with past Artist In Resdencies' artwork, and has taken me several days to explore.

Also dotted with ceramic chairs that are all individually decorated.

The view from the fire hill.

The Exhibition Hall of Industrial Ceramics

Inside exhibition, (there's a hand thrown bath there I really want).

Up to the next level and the stairs are rather steep...

there is even a sign saying how its good for you and how many calories you can lose (somehow men and women lose different amounts)...

and benches up the side if you need a rest.

The Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art

The view from the top

If you thought that is as high as it goes, you would be wrong. Another walk up is The Outdoor Ceramic Sculpture Park and then there's the option of 4 km walk round the Raccoon forest but i think that's enough photos for one blog, another time then.

Monday, 15 April 2013

Tokoname, Pottery Footpath

Takes about a hour to walk round, and I recommend it. There's so much to see and lots of signs so you cant get lost in the narrow windy streets. Favorite part is probably the neko (cat) street.