Bio

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Stumbled into ceramics haphazardly in Mashiko a pottery town north of Tokyo when I was 20.  Originally worked at a large pottery in Tsukamoto where I learned to throw, while working and living in a dormitory with a group of 'apprentices'.  

After gaining some level of skill I moved on and became an itinerant working potter in various potteries throughout Japan mostly doing their functional production.  Generally low-paid but often with accommodation and meals.  Basically a journeyman potter that I worked as for some 5 years but interspersed with life in the bright lights of Tokyo on the periphery of the Jazz and Blues scene.  Work, save money, get tired of mountain living, go to Tokyo, spend money, broke, return to some mountain.

Married when abroad, came to Canada and got onto the early development of the computer industry and worked in software development and large system design for a global multi-national while also doing ceramics.  Now full time working with clay with own studio.

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Artist Statement

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Originally heavily influenced by the Mingei movement that emanated from Mashiko and the Hamada/Leach movement I was also loved the traditional rough ware from the traditional kilns of Japan.  

While appreciating functional ware I was always attracted to large pots and fascinated by form.   Studying the tradition of form in pottery led me to earlier periods and I became more heavily influenced by the art of the Song dynasty in China and concurrent Korean Georyeo  that was its counterpart, as well as the large whiteware jars of the Yi dynasty.

I admire Song for its, elegance, the Korean tradition for its spontaneity and wildness and Mingei for rusticity and asymmetry.  

After having made thousands of sake cups and chawans, I don’t really do anything functional anymore except for my own needs and focus on what I’ve always admired from the past eras, large forms, jars, and bottles in shapes that resonate with me.

 

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