Finding Beauty in Imperfection with AKIRA SATAKE April 9-22, 2017





FINDING the BEAUTY in IMPERFECTION
with Akira Satake
April 9-22, 2017

Sharing the secrets employed in many of his most well-known and admired works Japanese potter/artist/musician Akira Satake will lead a hands on workshop involving both the hand-building and throwing techniques he uses in the making of his tea ceremony bowls, tea pots, water jars, ikebana vases and sculptural objects. Participants will learn to create rich surfaces inspired by the natural world and will experience brushing kohiki slip on clay slabs and stretching the slabs to crack and distort the surfaces, applying a coating of clay mixed with sand onto the surface of wheel thrown pieces and then altering them, and mixing air and other materials into the clay body and then tearing off the clay and/or cutting with a wire to create shapes-- among a myriad of other techniques.
Akira will likewise share his deep experience and knowledge in an on-going discussion of the Japanese aesthetic throughout the two weeks together. Participants will gain insight in finding the beauty in imperfection, the meaning of "wabi-sabi", and the importance of "ma" -- the space in between.

9 April: Sunday                     Welcome Dinner                                 MOKSA Restaurant
6-9pm: While enjoying an exquisite meal set upon anagama-fired wares at the restaurant of director Hillary Kane’s husband, participants will share a relaxed evening in which we can get to know one another and share our stories and intentions for being here. 

Dessert will be served with a slideshow given by Akira Satake, presenting his works, his story, and his journey in all things creative, followed by a review of the workshop schedule and a general fanning of the fires of enthusiasm! 




10 April: Monday                   Slip and Wire                                    Gaya CAC   
Morning: A welcome and introduction to GCAC studio, and then immediately jumping into action! 
Demonstration 1 - Make slabs and mix and apply kohiki slip for Satake-style stretched kohiki. Make mortar for Satake style sandy soft clay surface.
Demonstration 2 - Wire cutting, stretching and tearing chunks of clay to build sculptural pieces.
12:30 Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: Open studio time, with plenty of personal tutorial and support from Akira.

11 April: Tuesday                 Slabs and Wheel                               Gaya CAC
Demonstration 1 - Stretch kohiki slabs and shape the pieces (hand build Satake-style stretched kohiki). 
Demonstration 2 - Make yunomi, guinomi and chawan on wheel or hand building, using the technique of applying a soft clay and sand mixture to the surfaces of the pieces. Also make yunomi and bowls for traditional kohiki style glazing.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Open studio time.

12 April: Wednesday             Dipping and Pouring, ++                               Gaya CAC 
Demonstration 1 - Using kohiki slip, dipping and pouring on leather hard pots (traditional kohiki style).
Demonstration 2 - Make more stretched kohiki pieces, such as tea pots and sculptural works.

Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Open studio time.
13 April: Thursday                More Kohiki, More Magic                             Gaya CAC   

Demonstration - More with stretched kohiki, mortar surface and wire cutting sculptural pieces.

Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine

Open studio time.

14 April: Friday                                                                                 Gaya CAC
Open studio time.  Making forms
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: continue making

15 April: Saturday                            Finishing Forms                                  Gaya CAC
Open studio time.  Final day of making forms that will be fired during the workshop
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Afternoon: Loading bisque kiln –all works (load by participants) 

16 April: Sunday                                           FREE DAY             Gaya CAC
Bisque firing. *


17 April: Monday                               Staining and Glazing                        Gaya CAC
Unload bisque firing. 
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Glazing, staining /preparation for loading
Tour Gaya CAD
7.00 pm Pizza Party – Banjo – at Hillary’s House
18 April: Tuesday                             Loading                                              Gaya CAC
Loading for both Soda and Hikidashi / Kohiki firing
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Continue loading
19 April: Wednesday                         Firing                                      Gaya CAC
Firing soda kiln and Hikidashi
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Finish firing by late afternoon


20 April: Thursday                            EXCURSION DAY        
A day of exploration while the pots are cooling. 

21 April: Friday                     Results and Ikebana                          Gaya CAC
Unload gas firing and discuss the results in detail. Participants will collate and share all test clay body results.  
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Demonstration - Ikebana (Ikenobo school style)

22 April: Saturday                Concluding Thoughts                       Gaya CAC  
In-house “exhibition” and final group discussion of the entire two-week experience.
Packing works (bubble wrap and boxes will be provided
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC mezzanine
Departure by 2pm.


*Our staff will be responsible on these tasks.

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