swanceramics.com » Kamakura

“Kamakura-Red” Booklet

swanica — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:52:42 +0000

Ginnosuzu Exhibition “Sakura”

swanica — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:19:44 +0000

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Some new Kamakura-Red Ware

swanica — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:29:23 +0000

I am preparing for a month long trip. First, I will go to the US and help our oldest with his upcoming Music and Technology Conference in San Diego: SDMTC. Please, check out his website and see if you can make it down there. After that, we all go to Holland for the Masters graduation in BioTechnology of our middle son Maarten and the celebration of our 30st anniversary and our little family (5) will be together for a couple of days. After the big graduation party we will all return to our special corner in this world: Roland to San Diego, Maarten to Stockholm, Arjan to Chicago and Adriaan and I to Kamakura.

But first some pictures showing some new work from this nice, warm, hot, humid, with sea breeze and warm, clean sea SUMMER!!!

First, for an order in San Diego: A Kamakura-Red “Japonica” Vase. Size: H24″/60cm x W16″/40cm.

Then I made a big plate with a sculpted wave “nami” on it. The drying was difficult, but the result is beautiful!
The Kamakura-Red “Nami” Plate. Size: H 3,5″/9cm, W 16,5″/42cm.

And I made some small incense boxes.

This is the Kamakura-Red “Marguerite” Box. Size: H 0.75″/2cm x W 1,5″/4cm.

The Kamakura-Red “Line” Box is H 1.5″/4cm x W 3″/7.5cm.

And I made more work, but those pictures you will get later. Hope you enjoyed it!

Kamakura-Red “Nami” Plate

swanica — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:59:14 +0000

The Kamakura-Red “Nami” plate in the Kamakura sea of the Sagami Bay in Kamakura.

Kamakura Red Japonica Vase

swanica — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:41:25 +0000

The Kamakura-Red “Japonica” Vase standing in the Kamakura “Sagami” Bay.

Lecture at Kamakura YMCA

swanica — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:09:24 +0000

On May 21, 2010, I gave a lecture at the Kamakura YMCA . This is an English Seminar. It is a group of people who is interested in continuing their knowledge of the English language. Almost everybody lived abroad for a while in an English speaking country of the world. They invite English speaking people to talk about a special topic. I got invited and made a Powerpoint presentation and brought some of my work: especially the Kamakura Red work of course here in Kamakura.

They were very interested in my work and asked wonderful questions. And I had a great time telling them about my work and life.

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On Japanese Television

swanica — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:24:06 +0000

Tonight, I was on Japanese television at 5.55pm for 5 minutes at Channel 5, TV Kanagawa! Well, it was a little bit later and I was very excited and nervous. Two days before Ishihara-san came to my house and filmed for about 2 hours. He had a very good eye to put things together and for the interview I had practiced really well.

Showing some engraving.

Showing how to throw a bowl.

Taking the bowl from the wheel.

The Special Judges’ Award Horsehair Vase from the Mashiko Competition 2006 and the Cosmos Horsehair Plate from the Mino Competition from 2008.

In the back a Kamakura Bori Plate and in the front my version of the use of the bori technique texture decoration.

AND NOW THE YOU TUBE MOVIE of the BROADCAST!

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“Swan Art Gallery” Opening

swanica — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:24:16 +0000

Two days ago I had the opening of my gallery in my little house in Kamakura. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day.

Some old and new friends came and some interested people who read the news of the opening in the newspaper or had heard it on the Kamakura 82.8FM radio. They all were interested in my work and gallery and liked it a lot. And my “Japanese” explanations went well.

On both paths towards the house I had put banners and in front of the gate of the house I put my clay sign.

This is the gallery in the down- stairs room of the house.

This is my workshop on the second floor in the dining room.
The dining room table is used now as a worktable.

To the right is the shed the landlord built last summer. If he hadn’t, we would have moved. But he wanted us to stay, so, I did get my shed for the kiln and spray booth!

I also gave some demonstrations, which the people liked a lot. Some never saw the throwing of a pot on a wheel, and so, it was very revealing for them. Then when I teach my students, they are amazed how difficult it actually is, compared by watching me doing it, which looks then so very easy.

Thank you all for coming! And please, don’t be shy. Everybody is welcome!

Opening “Swan Art Gallery”

swanica — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:19:40 +0000

This Saturday, January 16, 2010 I will open the ” Swan Art Gallery” in my house in Kamakura, Japan. It will open at 10:00am and I will give pottery demonstrations on the wheel at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00pm.

You are all very welcome!

After that the gallery will be open on Monday thru Friday from 10:00-16:00 o’clock and on weekends by appointment.

Kamakura Radio station 82.8 FM

swanica — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:28:28 +0000

Yesterday, Eiko Yokoyama-san interviewed me for about 2 hours at the Kamakura Radio Station 82.8 FM. It was a direct broadcast.
I went together with Yuki Shibazaki-san from the Ginsuzu Gallery.

We talked about my art, especially the “Kamakura Red” ware. I had brought a teapot with the “take” bamboo design and I explained about the special lip on the lid, so, it will not fall out when you pour; the no-drip spout, the double handle and my “swan” signature. She asked why I thought Holland was so wonderful and how Dutch people celebrate Christmas time. Of course, I had to tell them about “Sinterklaas” and the special present giving with poems and joke presents. Then we conversed about special prepared dishes for the holiday season from Holland, the US, Germany and Brazil. Yuki Shibayaki-san talked about her Ginsuzu Gallery and her upcoming shows and I talked about the opening of my Swan Art Gallery in January and my pottery courses.

Yokoyama-san did a wonderful job with linking and weaving all the news together and with the integration of weather and traffic news, fax reactions from listeners, which she read right away. Some listeners reacted on my “Kamakura Red” ware and that they were very interested in the opening of my gallery on January the 16th, 2010. They also played some music which we had chosen. Kitamura-san was the technical person who directed the whole two hours of broadcasting and he gave us the right cues.

Thank you for this great experience and your help with expressing myself in Japanese. I am proud I could talk some!