works by Peter Callas, Joe Campbell, Kristin Muller, Takao Okazaki and Shane Sellers June 12 - Jul 7, 2008 Public Reception: June 13, 6-9pm "Tea Bowls and tea bowls" Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony Bowls have been a "staple" form in the ceramic arts for many centuries. They have gone through a series of changes based on the historic era in which they were made, ceramic materials used to build them, firing techniques used to finish them, and most importantly, the individual "taste" of the Tea Ma... Read more

works by Peter Callas, Joe Campbell, Kristin Muller, Takao Okazaki and Shane Sellers
June 12 – Jul 7, 2008
Public Reception: June 13, 6-9pm
“Tea Bowls and tea bowls”

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony Bowls have been a “staple” form in the ceramic arts for many centuries. They have gone through a series of changes based on the historic era in which they were made, ceramic materials used to build them, firing techniques used to finish them, and most importantly, the individual “taste” of the Tea Master procuring the bowls for use. There are Summer Bowl shapes, Winter Bowl shapes, and those “in between” shapes that Okazaki jokingly claims are for late summer/early winter!

The exhibit consist of a minimum of 30 bowls, at least 6 from each artist, and will explore both the “traditional” styles and techniques, and the “not so traditional”. All 5 of the artists work, at times, within the relatively tight constraints of volume and aesthetics that are mandated by traditional thinking about the Tea Bowl. All 5 artists also choose at times to “color outside the lines” when making a tea bowl. How are these different? Why are these different? Is one “type” by definition more artistic, better suited for use, or more “acceptable”? These are the questions posed by the artists, to be answered by the audience that views the work.

The backgrounds and training of the participating artists represent a wide range, from the traditional American MFA degree on one end, to a 10 year apprenticeship with a “Living National Treasure” in Japan, at the other. These divergent learning paths provide both variety and life to the exhibit, and surprisingly enough, have brought us all to a very similar “place”. Each artist has been encouraged to show, with their bowls, some very traditional pieces that adhere to the rigid constraints of size, surface, method, and aesthetics, established centuries ago by the Japanese Tea community. They have also been encouraged to exhibit some bowls that will perhaps challenge these “rules” in a subtle √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú or not so subtle way.

This exhibit is not a wistful look back into time √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú not a rehash of things once done √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú but a look at how contemporary ceramic artists continue to be inspired by the beautiful bowls of old, and how we see the Tea Bowl/tea bowl as both a part of our world’s aesthetic history, and a very timely object of art for the 21st century.