So excited! So when it rains, it pours. After visiting the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art and viewing the Japanese Pottery Exhibit currently on display I made a few connections and found out that Ohi Toshio not only will be giving a lecture at the end of the exhibit on Jan 22nd at 5pm but also teaching a class on the 21st during the day of the 22nd as well. The first day will be working the clay and the second day will be some firings.
https://www.facebook.com/events/354204131447021/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
Promo Flyer – Toshio Ohi Workshop
Just got into a class with Jay Benzel to help me get my skills up to level! I went in and bought a tumbler (the southern term for yunomi haha) and recognized his Asian influences. I emailed him last night. He gave me a ring this morning and we chatted for a while. He started throwing out the names that have influenced me and sort of feeling me out: Phil Rogers, Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach and mentioned his preference to local materials. I was just thinking the same things about being true to your local materials and letting the beauty of your direct geographical influences come through.
One of Jay’s works
FireCrown Pottery 