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The Oregon Potters Association (OPA) is honored
to celebrate the Hokkaido Pottery Society’s 40th anniversary
by including the work of twenty-four Hokkaido potters in a
special gallery at Ceramic Showcase, 2008. view
shcedule>>
Please join us in welcoming 15 Hokkaido potters from Sapporo,
Japan to Ceramic Showcase 2008. They bring with them a breadth
and diversity of clay techniques and styles, echoed by the range
of artistic expression in the works of OPA members. Although
we do not share a common verbal language, we look forward to
rich a dialogue through the medium of clay.
Potters lucky enough to visit potteries in
foreign countries discover that we speak the common language
of clay. Between
potters with no common verbal language it is easy to communicate
with hands and clay. As potters, we are blessed to participate
in one of humanities the oldest crafts. Ceramics are some of
the primary objects used by archeologists to “read” civilizations.
The rich and ancient clay history of the Americas and Asia
strongly influence today’s potters. It is with reverence
and gratitude that we extend invitations to potters from the
world’s
clay cultures. An integral part of OPA’s mission
is to provide public educational opportunities in the art of
clay. With
the visit of traditional Mexican potters in 2007 and Japanese
potters this year, we offer windows into other clay worlds.
The connection between our organizations began
in 2004 when Oregon potter, Blaine Dickson, and Ikebana artist,
Mary Dickson, traveled to Sapporo, Japan. At a ceramic exhibition
they met Hiroshi Nakamura and Yuko Maeno, the President of
the Hokkaido Pottery Society. Through this fortuitous meeting
grew a relationship that created the opportunity for exchanges
between the groups. We continue our relationship with a June
2009 exhibition in Sapporo, when fifteen Oregon potters will
travel to the Hokkaido Pottery Society’s annual exhibition.
Through this collaborative effort, we learn from and are inspired
by each other’s traditions and vision. We share a passion
for clay and with these exhibitions hope to stimulate a new
generation of ceramic artists while enhancing and expanding
our relationship with Portland's Sister City, Sapporo.
Hokkaido Pottery Society History (pdf) Japanese Version (pdf)
2008 Events Flyer (pdf)
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