Northern Lights: Ceramic Art from Hokkaido  At The Portland Japanese Garden

Location: Japanese Garden
611 S.W. Kingston Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
Event Day(s):April 11–20, 2008
Time:Tues-Sun 10am-4pm
Mon-Noon-4pm
Admission/Tickets:
Adults; $8,Seniors 62+ and College students; $6.25,Youth;$5.25
Phone Number:  (503) 542-0280  

Kazunao Azuma
The fascinating history of ceramics in Japan spans more than 10,000 years. Arguably, there is no culture on earth with a greater appreciation for the potter's art than that of Japan—from the coil-built, earthenware Jomon pots and the hollow-eyed, cylindrical Haniwa tomb figures to the rustic beauty of ash-glazed Shigaraki and Bizen tea wares and the elaborately decorated porcelains of Arita and Kutani.

With a wealth of good quality clay available throughout the Japanese archipelago, numerous regions around the country became known for the production of a remarkably diverse array of ceramic styles and techniques. Early kiln sites such as Bizen, Shigaraki, Iga, Tokoname, Echizen, and Tamba have flourished for centuries on the island of Honshu, as have the porcelain centers of Arita, Nabeshima, and Imari on the southern island of Kyushu.

Hiroshi Nakamura
The Portland Japanese Garden welcomes the work of 24 ceramic artists from the Hokkaido Pottery Society for this special 40th-anniversary exhibition in conjunction with the Oregon Potters Association's 2008 Ceramics Showcase. The Hokkaido Pottery Society was established in Portland's sister city of Sapporo in 1968 (not long after the Portland Japanese Garden first opened its own gates) to foster the exchange of technical information and friendship among the potters working in Hokkaido.

The ceramic arts of Hokkaido reflect the vitality and youth of this northernmost island of Japan. Relatively new to the world of Japanese ceramics, Hokkaido has long been admired for its pristine lakes, virgin forests and unspoiled scenic beauty. It was not until the late 19th century that settlers from all over Japan began moving to Hokkaido, bringing with them a wealth of new trades, including the production of fine ceramics from many of the different kilns around the country.

Much like the artists of the American West, Hokkaido potters enjoy the freedom to break new ground in their work, building upon the great traditions of the past while exploring new ideas and directions with creativity clearly visible in the works on display in this exhibition.