Works of Shumpei Yamaki from the exhibition : from Sara Japanese Pottery

A great thank you to all of you who came to our exhibition, Shumpei Yamaki 2013 -Dance with Shape-.
It was great seeing everyone and we are so happy to have an opportunity to work with Shumpei.
Even though this exhibition is over, his works are here at our store.
Pleas stop by, take a look and feel his beautiful pottery.


Many many thanks from all of our staff at Sara Japanese Pottery.

 Tim Rowan & Shumpei

 Shumpei & his friends

 Naoki & Shumpei

Shumpei Yamaki Exhibition 4/27, 28, 29

Shumpei Yamaki 2013
– Dance with Shape -

Apr. 27th, 28th and 29th

Artist Reception & Sake Tasting

Apr. 27th Sat. 6pm -8 pm

Shumpei just sent pictures of his works which will be on the exhibition.
On this show, we will introduce his works with his dramatic and dynamic background.
Please join us for the Artist Reception on April 27th Saturday, featuring a Sake Tasting presented by NAGAI SHUZO featuring their sake MIZUBASHO.
And don't forget, the exhibition will be on Apr. 27th, 28th and 29th.

Here is his artist statement, it's like a poetry.

“I feel free to communicate with my own language through art. Direct action in the process of creating art is the key to communicating effectively. Results of my action reflect my inner perception.
Learning street dance has taught me how to communicate with others visually and emotionally. My former experience in Hip-Hop culture and Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art) still exists in my body and soul, blending with and influencing my wheel throwing techniques. When I dance, I dance with flow and force. I dance to express my primitive spirit, and my intuition is exactly what I feel at that moment, completely removed from myself.
I view clay on the pottery wheel as a sort of stage for myself as a dancer. When water flows on the surface of clay on a pottery wheel, my hands dance to rhythm and my mind stretches into meditation. Imagination and feelings about clay and water take me to a state of mind as "second nature". As street dance and clay combine through me, the true primitive concepts of these two art forms communicate themselves to the audience; one is ephemeral, the other is permanent. “ –Shumpei Yamaki

その一瞬の感覚を映し出す
轆轤に踊る土の塊。
その一瞬の祈りを映し出す
窯に踊る炎の悟り。

陶芸家としての僕の役割は
人生の軌跡を、自然が秘める美に投影すること

ヒップホップと古着に魅せられ渡米した若者が
思いもよらず陶芸の道に惹きこまれたのは
ある一つの試練がきっかけでした。

２０代後半での大きな交通事故…　
右腕を失いかけ、リハビリの一環として始めた陶芸。
その頃、まさか陶芸が自分の天職になるとは知るよしもありませんでした。
踊りと陶芸というと　まったくかけ離れた別のモノに思われるかも知れませんが、
実は、二つには共通点があります。
音に乗って身体が踊るように
轆轤台の土が、僕の指の感触の上で踊り、形をつくっていく。
踊りも轆轤も練習を重ねることで　自分自身が無意識で楽しみ表現できる自由を得られる。　
そこに　『セカンドネイチャー』とよばれる精神と肉体の融合感覚があります。
脳の中で無意識が空間を伝って僕の体を動かすとき、
その瞬間の自分の内にある感覚そのものが器となって具現化する。

窯の中で熱と炎がその器と交わった時
その土の塊から　人間と自然の感覚を持ち合わせた「真の美」が生まれる。

八巻駿平


* Open Hours *
April 27th Sat.    12pm - 8 pm *Artist Reception & Sake Tasting 6pm - 8pm
April 28th Sun.  12pm - 6pm
April 29th Mon.   10am - 7pm


MIZUBASHO Ginjo : & Junmai Daiginjo
Supported by Nagai Shuzo
*Pure water filtered though the terrain of the Oze calley, and premium Yamada-Nishiki rice, considered the finest rice for making, are brought together at the Mizubasho Kura, to create the Nagai family sake.

Colorful Linen Panel Curtain

It is our new items, beautiful colorful linen panel curtain.
From BAN linen studio in Nara prefecture, Japan, as you may remember our standard linen coasters and place mats. 
They continue with traditional coloration, quality and technique to keep creating the beauty of natural texture.

You can play with 25 different colors with 2 kinds of texture.
Not only as door-way or tapestry, but also as room-divider that can curtain off the space in beautiful way.
Available to customize the length and the width for your place.

Come and take a look, we are happy to help you to find your size and color combination.


*Here it shows all 150cm x 58cm ( 59inch x 22.80inch)

Navy Blue & Natural White

Fine woven texture

Light Blue & Ash Gray & Yellow

Fine woven texture

Ash Gray & Yellow & Dark Brown

Fine woven texture

Purple & Natural White & Rust Orange

Fine woven texture

Chestnut & Natural White

Raw woven texture

Yellow & Green

Raw woven texture

 Navy Blue & Natural White & Purple

Fine woven texture

Green & Natural White

Raw woven texture

Raw woven texture

Top with the bar

Bottom

New Works from Mike Weber

New works from Mike Weber have just arrived.

This time we got some platters, hanging vases, and tea bowls from him.
Each piece has really beautiful and individualistic glaze.

Please stop by and take a look of those pieces in your hands. 

Large rectangular slab platter

a Shino glaze turned into several different colors, 

"Nezumi-Shino"gray and "black-Shino" by carbon trapped.

Black rim as a great result of wood firing

Emerald green natural ash glaze

His sign and shrunk hand print on the back side

The sign comes from a Kanji character "mountain".

To send us a message...

We are experiencing technical difficulties and are unable to receive e-mails.
If you have any questions, please call us at 212-772-3243 or send us a message through facebook.
We apologize for any inconvenience.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Exploration of Ceramics - Shumpei Yamaki 2013

*Photographed by Dawn Frary, Little Village

Shumpei Yamaki was born and raised in Kamakura, Japan. He moved to the United States in 1996 to study a passion of his: Hip-Hop culture, specifically "House" dance and music. He lived in Philadelphia and danced with the troupe Rennie Harris: Pure Movement.
  
 Shumpei then decided to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Archaeology at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. In 1999, while a student at UW La Crosse, Shumpei was involved in an automobile accident. His left knee and right arm were both seriously injured.
     When he was able to return to school, Shumpei enrolled in a ceramics class as a form of rehabilitation for his arm. Under the tutelage of Karen Terpstra, he discovered his passion for Ceramics, and decided to continue his education and exploration of Ceramics upon his graduation from UW La Crosse.
     In January of 2001, Shumpei began an apprenticeship with Richard Bresnahan, artist in Residence at St. John's University, in Collegeville, Minnesota. From Richard, Shumpei was able to learn traditional Japanese pottery techniques. Richard's interests lie in use of local resources, conservation of resources, and wood-firing.
     In the fall of 2002, Shumpei began his graduate studies at the University of Iowa. His professors there included Chuck Hindes and Bunny McBride. He was also mentored by Reagan Yoder, and grew tremendously as an artist through his interactions with his peers. While at Iowa, Shumpei took full advantage of the strong wood-fire program and his interest in wood-firing only increased.

 In August of 2005, Shumpei moved to Brooklyn, NY, where he worked as the Ceramics Studio Manager for the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University. Having primarily used wood-firing for his surface decoration in the past, he enjoyed the challenge of finding his own electric-firing style while experimenting with cone-six oxidation glazes. While living in New York, Shumpei participated in wood-firings in upstate New York with Tim Rowan and Roger Baumann.
  In May of 2009 Shumpei returned to Iowa five miles south of West Branch. He has been experimenting with the use of local clay and has been pleased with the results thus far.
Shumpei is currently working at Scattergood Friends School and Farm as residence artist. He is building a wood kiln for the school and continues to pursue his endeavor as wood fired potter.  

Shumpei Yamaki 2013
- Dance with Shape -

at Sara Japanese Pottery
April 27th Sat.    12pm - 8 pm *Artist Reception & Sake Tasting 6pm - 8pm
April 28th Sun.  12pm - 6pm
April 29th Mon.   10am - 7pm

Please join us for the Artist Reception on April 27th Saturday, featuring a Sake Tasting presented by NAGAI SHUZO featuring their sake MIZUBASHO.

Bizen Platter fom Jack Troy

Bizen Platter from Jack Troy.
Five spotted firing marks bring out the movement of the flame.
It has a little ring on the back, it can be nicely placed on the wall.
Beautiful on the table with serving food as well.
Enjoy the piece with your own way.

 

Shumpei Yamaki Exhibition 4/27-4/29 at Sara Japanese Pottery

Shumpei Yamaki 2013 

– Dance with Shape -

Apr. 27th Sat. - Apr. 29th Mon.

We have known him for a long time already.

Shumpei Yamaki had been in Brooklyn until 4 years ago.

Before he left, we started to carry his work at Sara Japanese Pottery.

Shumpei moved to Iowa, as his home.

Now, we are happy to announce that Sara Japanese Pottery will present an exhibition of works by Shumpei Yamaki.

As a hip-hop dancer in Philadelphia and an archaeology student in Wisconsin, Yamaki arrived at The University of Iowa to pursue an MFA in ceramics. He discovered a passion for the craft almost serendipitously through a class taken for rehabilitation after a car accident, and decided to continue his exploration of ceramics

“Learning Street Dance has taught me how to share my voice with others visually and emotionally.  My experience in Hip Hop culture exists in my body and soul, blending with and influencing my wheel throwing techniques.

 I dance to express my primitive spirit, and intuition is exactly what I feel at that moment, completely removed from my self.  I view clay on the pottery wheel as a sort of stage for myself as a dancer. When water flows on the surface of clay on a pottery wheel, my hands dance to rhythm and my mind stretches into meditation.  As street dance and clay combine through me, the true primitive concepts of these two part forms communicate themselves to the audience; one is ephemeral, the other is permanent.“

–Shumpei Yamaki

The exhibition will feature his recent works, including wood-fired pieces.  

 It will take place from Saturday, April 27^th, until Monday, April 29^th, at Sara Japanese Pottery, 950 Lexington Avenue.

Let’s celebrate his first solo exhibition at the opening reception on Apr. 27^th 6pm-8pm.   

Shumpei will be happy to share the time with you.

 

James Garvey Exhibition 4/6 - 6/2 : at Elizabeth V. Sullivan Gallery

Elizabeth V. Sullivan Gallery
at the Art Students League's Vytlacil Campus Presents
James Garvey Exhibition
Visual Forensics
Drawing and Forgings
Apr. 6 Sat. - Jun. 2 Sun.

Opening Reception
Saturday, April 6, 2013 2:00 - 5:00 pm

We got a news from James Garvey, who is one of the artists at Sara.
He makes beautiful and vigorous metal works, for instance iron triangle table, fire place tools and public works in the city.
James will be exhibited at Elizabeth V. Sullivan Gallery at the Art Student League's Vytlacil Campus in Sparkill, NY.
Please come and take a look, tomorrow will be an opening reception.

*For the opening reception, a free shuttle from 57th street is available. To get more information, please call 212-247-4510.
*Direction to the gallery, please click here and see "Vytlacil Campus".

Black Sake Cups by Tim Rowan

Black sake cups by Tim Rowan.
Twisted shape by his finger pinch.
You can enjoy "screw driver sake" with this cup...?