Tomorrow will be an opening! Mike Weber Exhibition – Rocket Thing – Sep.27th, 28th, 29th

Mike Weber Exhibition
– Rocket Thing –
September 27th Fri.  28th Sat. 29th Sun

Opening reception Tomorrow 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. 

  

Collaborated works with Gen Saratani
Gen Saratani, a lacquerware artist working in the United States, is exceptional in his innovative design and style.
The works collaborated with Gen will be shown in this exhibition.

 

 

Please join us for the Opening Reception tomorrow, September 27th Friday, 6pm-8pm.
The exhibition will be on three days, Mike will be at the store during the show.

Sep. 27th Fri.  10am - 8 pm
Sep. 28th Sat.  12pm - 6 pm
Sep. 29th Sun. 12pm - 6 pm

*His past exhibition at Sara. Click the link below
Exhibition 2011 at Sara -Wood Fired Ceramics -
Exhibition 2010 at Sara - Sculpture and Vesssel -

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?”

Sarahome! Sep. 22nd Sunday 1pm-4pm

Sarahome

Introducing our new place and new concept

Appointment only Gallery in Westchester

 
September 22nd Sunday 1pm-4pm
385 Marbledale Road Tuckahoe NY 10707
 
Please come to see our new place and new concept.
Let's have some tea and talk together!

Sara Japanese Pottery is happy to introduce our new place, Sarahome.
Sarahome is a private gallery space to propose enjoyment in your daily life.
For anyone who lives either in the suburbs or in Manhattan, let's explore the days together surrounded by your favorite pieces.

Tea ceremony, flower arrangement and live music...more events are coming up  in the future at our new place, Sarahome.

Please feel free to contact us at any time with any questions that you might have.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!

E-mail: naoki@saranyc.com
Phone : (917)538-5093
Naoki Uemura

Triangular Natural Ash Bowl
Jack Troy

Orb Jar
Jack Troy

Orb Jar
Mike Weber

Special SALE - Glassware and Porcelain ware

Many of glass items and porcelain ware are available in special price!
Only a limited number of items, please take advantage of our special offer.
It is available to shop on-line too, click HERE to see all sale items.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
*Please note that all the sale items will be final sale.

Frosted Glass Bowl with Gold Leaf
φ8" x H3"
30% OFF

Vidro Glass Mug
φ3"3/4 x H 5"1/4, 300 ml
50% OFF

Fukkoku Glass Mug
φ3"1/4 x H 4"1/4, 300 ml
25% OFF

Blue Swirl Frosted Bowl with Gold Leaf
φ5" x H 2"3/4
30% OFF

Upcoming Exhibitions at Sara Japanese Pottery

 

Mike Weber
September 27th - 29th

Ruri Takeuchi & Eiko Tanaka
October 25th - 27th

Hanako Nakazato
November 15th - 18th
 

 

Mike Weber
- Rocket Thing -
Wood Fire Kiln
September 27^th Fri. – 29^th Sun.
Opening Reception Sep. 27^th Fri. 6pm-8pm

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.

*Click HERE for more info.

 

 

 

Ruri Takeuchi & Eiko Tanaka
-Microscopic Craft from KAGA -

October 25^th Fri. – 27^th Sun.
Opening Reception Oct.  25^th Fri. 6pm-8pm

The show will feature the traditional crafts of KAGA region that have continued from the Edo period. Ruri Takeuchi is the artist of delicate line drawing on porcelain and Eiko Tanaka is the wood-turning artist who uses the technique and the material which are passed down from generation to generation.

 

 

 

 

Hanako Nakazato

November 15^th Fri. – 18^th Mon.
Opening Reception Nov. 15^th Fri. 6pm-8pm

Hanako Nakazato comes from a family of potters in Japan stretching back 14 generations.  Both her technique and philosophy as a studio potter are grounded in the ceramic traditions of her home, Karatsu Japan.  But her designs and surfaces are also highly influenced by years spent traveling and living in the West.  This special blend of origin and influence results in versatile functional tableware that works in a variety of settings from minimal and modern to traditional and rustic.

 

 

Betsy Williams New Arrival

Works arrived from her studio in New Mexico.
The works are based on tradition and her originality, the motifs came from our everyday life.
Her signature series "Birds on the wire" cheer us up.
Please come and take a look, we have so many new items now.

"I always return to objects that relate to one another and that express an idea without losing any of their usefulness. Much of my work consists of components that have some element of repetition, small pieces assembled to present a larger pattern, or single pieces decorated with stripes or very tiny dots, repeated into infinity."

- Betsy Williams

*quoted from enbistudio.com

Tiny Dishes
φ 4"1/4 x H 3/4"

Tumbler Bird on the Wire
φ 3" x H 4"1/2

Tumbler Bird on the Wire
φ 3" x H 4"1/2

Rice Bowl Swatch
φ 5"1/4 x H 2"3/4

Rice Bowl Birds on the Wire
φ 5"1/4 x H 2"3/4

Second Firing of "Jimu-gama" by Shumpei Yamaki

Shumpei Yamaki has been working energetically this summer, this is his second firing of "Jimu-gama".
Two days firing and added the salt at the end of the firing.
He made variety of pieces this time, please stop by and take a look.

"I feel free to use 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."

- Shumpei Yamaki