Robert Yellin's Japanese Pottery Blog

Greetings from Kyoto, We've just moved our gallery into a magnificent old Sukiya style home located very near the Silver Pavilion; a stunning area and setting for the inspired ceramic art we share with the world. Please visit us if ever in Kyoto or online at www.japanesepottery.com and www.e-yakimono.net

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Dorothy Feibleman on NHK

Taken from the NHK web site in the following link: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/japanology/index.html

Jul. 28, Thu. 0:30 - 1:00 (UTC) etc.

"Japanophiles - Dorothy Feibleman"

'This month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan.

American potter Dorothy Feibleman lives and works in Japan where she creates her works using a traditional Japanese technique called nerikomi. Many of her works are so delicate that light can pass through them, transporting the mind to a world of fantasy.

Feibleman first came to Japan in 1993, when she submitted work to a competition in Aichi Prefecture. In 1997, one of her pieces was added to the collection of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, she lives and works in Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture.

Feibleman's translucent porcelain is blazing new trails in the world of ceramics. Adding layers of Western technique to Eastern tradition, Dorothy Feibleman produces a constant stream of unique creations.'

Friday, July 01, 2011

Tea For Peace--Charity Auction at the Silver Pavilion--Additional Photos






Please visit our gallery for Tea anytime......

Tea For Peace--Charity Auction at the Silver Pavilion






On Thursday June 23rd a large--very large--Tea Ceremony was held at the Silver Pavilion; one of the main reasons for this large gathering--about 600 people attended--was to raise money for relief efforts in the northern region of Japan after the devasting quake and tsunami of March 11th. The cost of attending was not cheap, a 'ticket' cost 30,000 yen and entitled one to a thin tea setting, a thick tea setting (each 'ceremony' was for about 50 people at a time), a simple yet delicious kaiseki bento (stood in line for about an hour, yet met some very nice folks) entrance into the National Treasure--and usually off-limits--Tea house named Tōgudō, which was the room where the 4.5 tatami Tea style was founded by Ashikaga Yoshima (1435-1490). This was before hanging scrolls, before sushi, when imported Chinese vessels were held supreme. In this small room were Yoshimasa's writing utensils and a framed shoji window that when opened framed the garden, just like a hanging scroll. After viewing this important and very shibui structure I went to have a look at the contemporary works being auctioned off; many famous names were represented including Kakurezaki, Akiyama Yo, Suzuki Osamu, Kaneshige Yuho and Makoto and Kawase Shinobu. People came from all over Japan for the event, and I was most likely the person who lived closest to it all; after all my address here in Kyoto is 'In-Front-Of-The Silver Pavilion' district.