Woodfired Stoneware from Shigaraki
Woodfired Stoneware
from Shigaraki, by Shiho Kanzaki opens with a beautiful
image of the Shigaraki Pottery Rice Field, helping to put the screen
text into the context of the 'real world'. This is a well made,
matured site, with a consistent design which is relatively easy
to wander through using the navigation bar at the bottom of each
page.
Stoneware pottery in the Shigaraki area began during the Middle
Ages, with a close association to the medieval 'Sueki' style and tradition
- work which was fired in Anagama kilns and had natural ash glazes.
As the 'way of tea' ('michi' - see also web site review of Japanese
Culture Seen in Kanazawa, Ceramics
Art & Perception issue 27) and the Zen philosophy gained popularity
between the 14th & 16th centuries, Shigaraki was selected for the
production of tea utensils. The qualities of the ensuing pottery may
be named "wabi and sabi", meaning asymmetric, simple, subtle and refined,
restrained and lustered. Thanks to "michi" crude medieval farmhouse
utensils made way for revered objects of contemplation.
In the history section of the site, we can also look up the "Nihon
Rokkoyo" or "Chose Rokkoyo" - the "six
oldest pottery centers in Japan" and view their locations
on a map, or read about Ancient
Shigaraki or Tamba
Pottery.
But history and ancient pottery is not all this site has to offer.
On a more contemporary note, we can visit the 'Virtual Exhibition'
which features work not only by Shiho
Kanzaki (Japan), the author of the site, but also woodfired
or Anagama ceramics from Dick
Lehman (USA), Peter
Voulkos (USA), Karl
Beamer (USA), Jeff
Shapiro (USA), Chester
Nealie (Australia), Toshiko
Takaezu (USA) and others. Each page features an image of
the artist (again putting the computer screen into the context of
the 'real' world), a CV and statement and a number of images of
each persons works.
A further section of the site deals with the Anagama
kiln construction - here Shiho Kanzaki offers us his experience
and even a kiln plan or two, with images of different stages of
construction.
Shiho Kanzaki is not only an accomplished potter, but has also
created a wonderful site devoted to woodfiring and the tradition
of Anagama.
Related Links:
Anagama
Ceramics Pioneer Peter Voulkos
Japanese Culture seen in Kanazawa
Japanese Ceramics
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