Friday, February 18, 2011

Local potters tour Japan in January

In January, several Pennsylvania potters were part of a two week tour of some of Japan.  Holly Van Dine and Dennis Bergevin joined a group of sociology and ceramics students which was organized at Washington and Jefferson College.  


Harada Shuroku, respected Bizen potter.

Japantrac, a tour firm from State College, organized and expertly led the trip for W & J College ceramics and sociology students.  (A few local ceramists also went along.) 

Japantrac has led Japan tours for the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and The Japan Society and many others.  Their guides provide a depth of cross-cultural understanding and a view of Japan tailored to the interests of the travelers. 

On this trip, the group stayed in several Japanese-style hotels featuring tatami floors and guest kimonos and Japanese baths.  Ceramics visitors went to the Robert Yellin gallery in Mishima and made a trip to Bizen with Yellin as a guide.  

Robert Yellin
Robert Yellin is a leading interpreter of contemporary Japanese ceramics and runs a gallery, the Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery in Mishima (and also available online).


Pottery from the Yellin Gallery by
Uetake Satoshi

Pottery from the Yellin Gallery by
Tim Rowan of the US.

 Pottery from the Yellin Gallery.

Pottery from the Yellin Gallery by
Takeuchi Shingo.


Pottery from the Yellin Gallery. 

Shigaraki Jar by Furutani Kazuya.

 Pottery from the Yellin Gallery by
Takeuchi Shingo.

 Pottery from the Yellin Gallery.  Ono Kotaro, white porcelain tea cups.

Bizen is considered Japan’s most popular unglazed pottery, made continuously for over 1000 years.  The clay comes from local rice paddies (high iron content) or local mountains (low iron content) and is wood fired for long periods, anywhere from 10 days to three months, since the clay will crack if the kiln temperature rises too fast.  

Japanese refer to keshiki, or the landscape of the work.  Keshiki are different effects caused by the positioning of the pot in the fire flow and fly ash.  

 Four of these effects are called:  yohen, or highly prized firing mutations; goma, a sesame seed tone from the ash; hidasuki, a fire cord pattern; and sangiri, a charcoal tone. 


 Bizen pottery.

 Bizen pottery.

 Bizen pottery.

 Bizen pottery.

 Bizen pottery.

Robert Yellin offered us this Sixth century BC poem as very much in the spirit of Zen and a yakishime (woodfire) pot: 

Pots are made out of clay
But the hollow space in them makes the essence of the pot
And the essence comes from an intangible something
In the spirit of the potter
Which he is able to blend into all his knowledge of the throwing,
The glazing, and the firing
So that every piece from his hand is as much his own signature and his heartbeat
Only then will the pot be good, that is, alive
And the more  highly developed a potter is as a human being, the better his pot
For there is no real beauty without character.

 Most potters love food so Holly has provided us with a visual sampling.

 The Reverend's noodles.

Eel Dinner.

Baby Sardine Dinner.

 Prawn Dinner.

At the Sushi-go-round. Holly and Dennis on left.

 At the Sushi-go-round.

 Dressing up for dinner.

 From the Noodle Shop.

Japanese Bakery.

Yogi Dennis.

Calligrapher.

 Calligrapher.

Dennis meets the wall.

  Holly's room at the Buddhist Complex.

For more information on future tours, you can reach Japantrac at Jonathan Phillippi  

John Britt video of making a pho bowl.


John Britt video of making a pho bowl.  John is the blog master of the NC Clay Club blog at:

John Britt video of making a v-shaped bowl.


John Britt shows how to make a v-shaped bowl.

John is the blog master for the NC Clay Club blog

John Britt video of making a pour over coffee funnel.


John shows how to make a pour over coffee funnel.

  John is the blog master for the NC Clay Club.

John Britt video of throwing tumblers.


John Britt, potter who does the NC Clay Club blog, demonstrates throwing a tumbler in a unique way.

This is a 10 minute video showing Alex adding a coil at a demo he did for the Clay Club in Western NC. Recorded on February 16, 2011 using a Flip Video camera.


Alex Matisse showing how to add coils to throw a larger pot.  Courtesy of Alex Matisse and John Britt of the NC Clay Club Blog.

http://ncclayclub.blogspot.com/

Studio Rental Space - BrickPitt Ceramic Studio

Studio Rental Space - BrickPitt Ceramic Studio

Heather Connolly in her studio.

http://www.brickpittceramicstudio.com


Heather has established a clay studio in the Penn Hills section of Pittsburgh and is offering rental space to potters, along with classes and open studio time.

To discuss rental, contact Heather at:
brickpittstudio@gmail.com
 or call
412-727-1329

 Studio is located at
102 Purity Road. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15235

Heather has a group of potter's wheels, kiln, shelving, ect.

 

BrickPitt Ceramic Studio is outfitted with two large work tables, a large wedging table and glaze table as well as built-in shelving for ample storage space and 24 hour access for renters.

Future plans include acquiring a slab roller, extruder, spray booth and additional electric kiln.



Additional information is at the website:
http://www.brickpittceramicstudio.com 

If you are a potter in the area, make yourself known to her.

Welcome and good luck.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

For sale - recrystallized silicon carbide shelves

Jerry Wagner has for sale 150 recrystallized silicon carbide shelves that measure 19" x 22" x 5/8" thick and weigh approximately 6 lbs. each.  Jerry is asking $150.00 each.  

These are brand new shelves and are excellent for reduction firing.  One note of caution:  In cooling, starting at 500 degrees Centigrade, they need a cooling rate of 25 degrees per half hour to prevent cracking.

You can contact Jerry on his cell at 724 317-9105.