New Arrivals from Hanako Nakazato

New arrivals from Hanako Nakazato.
Her works always have a playful touch and excite our curiosity.
Come and take a look, we got many kinds of pieces from her!

We are also happy to help you by e-mail or phone if you have any questions.


"Every day is different. Just like you change what you wear based on different seasons, occasions and your mood, I hope you enjoy the changes in everyday life through how you use pottery."

-Hanako Nakazato

*quoted from "Monohanako"

 

Shell Mug Cup

Lemon shaped mug cups from our one of the best selling dinner-ware "Shell line", Hakusan Studio.
Waisted body makes nice space to hold.
Made of porcelain with "Tenmoku"(Black and Brown Glaze) glaze.

W 4"1/2 x D 3"1/4 x H 4", 10 oz

Desgined by Masahiro Mori
"My pleasure as a designer is to conceive of forms for daily use, and to create pieces for production in the factory so that many people can appreciate and enjoy them"
He received many awards all over the world before his death in 2005 . Including "Good Design Awards" in Japan for more than 100 items.

Pentagon Cup by Tim Rowan

 
Hand-pinched, twisting pentagon cup by Tim Rowan.
It shows the different view from each side and from each angle.
Please come and see, we have more his works.

Tim Rowan was born in 1967 in New York City and grew up in Connecticut along the shore of Long Island Sound.  His art education began during college, receiving a BFA from The State University of New York at New Paltz before journeying to Japan for 2 years to apprentice with ceramic artist Ryuichi Kakurezaki. Upon his return he worked briefly in studios in Massachusetts and New York before receiving his MFA from The Pennsylvania State University.
He established his kiln and studio deep in the woods of the Hudson Valley in 2000 where he lives with his wife and son. His work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions internationally most recently having solo shows at Cavin-Morris Gallery in New York and Yufuku Gallery in Tokyo, Japan.

 quoted from Tim Rowan's website

Mike Weber Exhibition – Rocket Thing – Sep.27th, 28th, 29th

Mike Weber Exhibition

– Rocket Thing –
September 27th Fri.  28th Sat. 29th Sun. 2013
Opening reception on September 27th Fri. 6-8 pm
at Sara Japanese Pottery

We are happy to announce that Sara Japanese Pottery will host Mike Weber’s third solo exhibition presenting new pieces fired in Rocket Thing, his fifth kiln, built in 2012.
The kiln, Rocket Thing, can produce the heat and power of a rocket engine. The work will represent the culmination of his artistry and where he is today. It will encompass his essence, his ability to be open to all people and things, the spirit of Zen, and the spiritual world of Japan that influenced Mike.

First kiln Salty, 1971

In the mornings of 1971, at the age of 30, Mike Weber would go to the river to get water.
He lead his life without gas or electricity deep in the forests of Northern Wisconsin, and built a small cabin and his first kiln Salty ; this was the beginning of his life as a wood fire ceramicist.  At night, he would use the light of a lantern, and a wood-fired stove to cook, to take a bath, and to keep warm.

In becoming a wood-fire ceramicist, he cultivated the earth to grow vegetables and to live a life of self-sufficiency.  Similar to a monk living in a temple on a mountain, Mike’s daily rituals brought his physical and spiritual worlds closer together.

Mike Weber and Joan Artigas at Gallifa, Spain (1984)

 
In 1984, Mike met the Spanish artist Joan Gardy Artigas, in Madison, Wisconsin, where he assisted Joan with a firing.  This was a precursor to Mike’s trip to Spain, where he and Joan worked together on 1100 tiles that would become a mural installation in Atlanta, Georgia.   Mike traveled again to Spain, in 1987 and 1994, to work on his sculptures.
Joan Gardy Artigas was a student of Joan Miro.  These two artists would have a strong influence on Mike’s works – a world of color and curves.

During this time, in 1990, while researching at a library Mike happened upon a book with a picture of a Momoyama era Shino tea bowl.  He was enchanted by the warmth and beauty of the Shino tea bowl, and he began making his own using his second kiln, Big Boy, built in 1989.

His third kiln Shino was built in three years later in 1992.  By this time, Mike’s work had undoubtedly embraced the world of traditional Japanese pottery.

Second kiln Big Boy, 1989

Third Kiln Shino, 1992

Without any formal training, drawing from his six years of experience living without gas and electricity, he taught himself the wood-fire technique.  Through this process and his connection with Japanese culture, Zen teachings, and the spiritual world, certainly, this would evolve into the philosophical core behind his work.

Rocket Man, 1995

In 1995, Mike traveled to Japan to seek out a style of his own.  He visited many potter’s studios, whereupon he met Shiro Tsujimura.  At this time, Shiro Tsujimura gave Mike what would become the most valuable piece of knowledge: “Make a kiln that is even smaller.”  When he returned from this trip, Mike built Rocket Man.
This kiln achieved what Mike had been unable to accomplish up until that point; it created pieces that had a wide-range of surface color, texture and expression.
 
That same year when Mike came to New York to establish his name as a ceramicist, he heard about Sara Japanese Pottery.  He came to the store and became one of the artists represented by Sara.


In 1997, Mike participated in a group show in Mashiko, Japan.  In 2000, he had a solo show in Tokyo, Japan.  In 2007, he had a show with Malcolm Wright and Jack Troy titled, “The Three Great American Potters,” at Sara Japanese Pottery, in New York City.  In 2010, he had his first solo show at Sara, “Sculpture and Vessel.”  In 2011, he had his second solo show at Sara, “Wood Fire Ceramic.”
 

Rocket Thing, 2012

This year, Sara Japanese Pottery will host his third solo show presenting new pieces fired in Rocket Thing, his fifth kiln, built in 2012.  The kiln, Rocket Thing, can produce the heat and power of a rocket engine.  The work will represent the culmination of his artistry and where he is today.  It will encompass his essence, his ability to be open to all people and things, the spirit of Zen, and the spiritual world of Japan that influenced Mike.

The show will illustrate his personal experience and understanding of the spiritual world in a three-day exhibition. It beckons the question to the artist, “How has this process taken you here?”

First Firing of "Jimu-Gama" by Shumpei Yamaki

New arrivals from Shumpei Yamaki, the works are from his new wood fired kiln "Jimu-gama" which he built in this summer.

His original back loading system prompts a strong reduction, the result of this firing is beautifully success.
Please come and look his pieces from the first firing of "Jimu-gama".

自無窯-Jimu-Gama
His new kiln cause the strong reduction firing due to the back loading system.

Tall cups
φ3"1/2 - 3"3/4 x H 5"1/4 - 6"

 

Unglazed Bowl
φ 5"1/2  x H 2"3/4

Unglazed Bottle w/ears φ 4"1/2 x H 6"

Unglazed Bottle φ 4"1/2 x H 5"1/4

Mug Cup φ 4"1/4 x H3"

Mug Cup φ 4"1/4 x H3"1/2

Mug Cup φ 4"1/4 x H3"1/2

Noodle Bowl from Kazu Oba

We received the most simple noodle bowls from Kazu Oba.
Nicely round bottom holds generous amount of tasty soup and the flared rim makes a beautiful shape.
Great for Udon noodle, Soba noodle and Ramen noodle.
Add your favorite vegetables, eggs, pork berry...etc, and enjoy the dish!

 

Great for Ramen noodle
Available from Matte Black and Matte White

 Matte Black
φ 8"-8"1/2  x H 3"

 Matte White
φ 8"-8"1/2  x H 3"