"Forty
years ago, in 1961, I began a journey that would set the course
for the rest of my life. I left the University of Southern California
(USC), where I was working on my Master of Fine Arts degree under
F. Carlton Ball and Susan Peterson, following my undergraduate studies
at Redlands University. I headed for Japan where I would become
the first Westener at the Kyoto City College of Fine Arts (Bidai)
Ceramic Department.
I began
my studies under National Treasure Ceramist, Tomimoto Kenkichi,
studio potter and President of the Bidai, and lived and worked in
Tomimoto's Senniju studio and at the Bidai ceramic department for
three years. Shortly after my arrival, Tomimoto visited the work
room at the Bidai where Yutaka Kondo, Mutsuo Yanagihara, Professor
Fujimoto and I worked. He walked in, looked at my Carlton Ball lamp
base forms, went "Baaaah" three times, and mumbled as
he left, "Westener people just can't throw and shouldn't bother
to come to Japan." The next day Tomimoto directed Professor
Kondo Yuzo (later to become a National Treasure Ceramist himself)
to oversee my throwing and general craftmanship.
My
three year apprenticeship had begun . . . . "
Click
on the links left to see some of my friends and
colleagues I have had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside
during my career, and some picures of my home and studio high in
the desert of California. |