Amy is a ceramic artist from Australia. She has a seemingly very mathematical approach to working with clay and glazes with amazingly creative, beautiful results.

Amy is an artist in residence at Shigaraki.  She (as have all of the artists) has been generous in giving information about the studio, their processes, the town, Kyoto, or wherever we need help in going about our daily lives. Below are some of her results from tests.

Amy has been here for two months and her tenacity with working with the local materials is admirable in constructing one piece of work by the time she leaves the residency the end of this month.  Check her out at amykennedyceramics.com

one of Amy’s works on her website amykennedyceramics.com

And…. the visit to the Feldspar Mines

If you don’t know, feldspar is a material ceramacists use in making clay and glazes.  There is a local mine west of Shigaraki, Hata feldspar.  The chunks of feldspar in the clay are what give the local clay the rough characteristics in the wood fired kiln, but the feldspar is also used to a greater extent in making concrete and paper and as resources go,  this mine is becoming depleted.  We really appreciated the opportunity to visit first hand, bring back some samples for hammering and sifting and just feeling this wonderful material.

beginning of our trek to the hill behind (there is a road around)

clambering about getting our samples

And  something extra!  Debra and I on an outing met this ‘dog’ we can’t identify, but it was a happy encounter.

do you know the breed?

Our hosts took us to the Shigaraki Ceramics Research Centre downtown – soon to be located across from the Shigaraki Cultural Park.  The range of clays and glazes they develop is phenomenal and what is impressive to me, is they make their research results available to anyone who is interested – nothing secretive here, but you need an interpreter or you need to read Japanese to get the recipes.

As an extra bonus, there is a small exhibit of master potters, including National Treasure Hamada whose plates I feature below.

Beautiful plates by Hamada – an artist who has influenced many Vancouver ceramacists work through the years..

Akira and Amy examining an innovative way of processing clay

one of the many ways of testing glazes

a chemistry lab that most of us would love to have at hand, but we can benefit by their results!

there are rows and rows of glaze archives

And to top the week off.... on Saturday, David Helmers, an Australian ceramic artist at the residency had a well attended opening of his work at Fukuji Gallery in Shigaraki.

detail of one of David’s pieces – quite the feat in clay!

‘Animal Matter in Enchanted Space’ –  by David Helmers

Surrounded by a moat…we sleep in the upper building

the local Shigaraki train –

Debra hard at work – a model for us all

We are now into what seems like a working routine, but it never really is.  How can it be a routine when we are in Japan?  I’ve attached a photo of the exterior of one section of where we are staying- it is that drab brown and grey, no green but at the end of next month it is hanami season and you (and we) will see the contrast.  It is already getting warmer – the other artists say we are just getting used to the cold and damp and warmth is an illusion.  No matter, it makes me feel warmer and that’s what matters!  We added another two working artists to our group today, both from Japan – all is well. We are a good mix of people and ideas – lots to learn.

The smallest anagama kiln on site – it takes 80 small bundles of wood to reach temp!

view outside my door – the studio is behind the trees

Cafeteria and museum up the hill from the studio

My first throwing with the very plastic Shigaraki clay

My studio space – note the space heater! There is also a heated floor in most of the studio.

Yes, Debra and I have arrived in Shigaraki! We have been here for six days after a thrilling week in Tokyo. We stayed in an area I’ve not been to in Tokyo before – Hiroo – between Shibuya and Roppongi – a combination of very small hole in the wall restaurants and shops and hotels, skyscrapers, etc…they use every inch of space.  It was cold while there – big wet flakes of snow when we went to the Tokyo National Museum that became a bit magical as we walked along the famed Ueno Park path and saw one lone cherry tree in bloom covered in snow with the pink petals peeking out!  We momentarily forgot how cold we were!

Snowy February day in Ueno Park, Tokyo

Locals are as polite and friendly as ever and I’m getting my feet wet trying to speak Japanese and after studying so hard, but in situ, it is more challenging. I blame it on the jet lag but I think I lost my brain for a bit! But, I will keep studying and practicing and hopefully, it will become easier. Google translate is great!  Deb and I have had a good start to our trip – so many things familiar yet so foreign. A few different social codes – no talking (reading is fine) on cell phones on public transportation or in restaurants, talking softly (if at all) in galleries, etc.  I guess  the large population makes this necessary and I don’t mind and appreciate  it for the most part.

Flower shop in Roppongi

14th c. Tokoname ware, Tokyo National Museum

Shigaraki is a small pottery town that has the ‘Tanuki” figure as mascot – see the photo! We arrived last Wednesday in this lovely rural town where  few people (except at the residency) speak any English.  There are other artists with us, mainly from Australia but one from Hong Kong who now lives in England; a Swedish couple who just finished a 3 month residency at Jingdezen, China; and a Swiss – that makes 9 guest artists including Debra and me.  There are also 4 (I think) invited Japanese artists who are doing very large scale work – their kilns and facilities are fantastic, as are their technicians and we have received a warm welcome by all.

Our welcome committee -Tanuki abound

My room is very similar to my Hungarian residency – single bed, but with the addition of a fridge and toaster oven to get me through the night as well as a private bathroom with a lovely little ofuru tub which is my private onsen at the end of the day.

I am using a local white stoneware clay and will try my hand at throwing with their black stoneware. It is very plastic and responsive and while I was working in the studio today, my white porcelain slip arrived from Tajimi, so I will begin casting work with that tomorrow! Enjoy the few photos I have attached and hope to say less and send more pics, even though as always, I have lots to say but I will try to resist!