After a very busy spring and early summer, I’ve finally found some time to slow down and reflect on the past few months. In April, I attended the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) in Phoenix, Arizona, where I met with friends from many places. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the world of ceramics. I returned to California with just enough time to pack my bags and carefully package three ceramic pieces to take with me to the International Society for Ceramic Arts Education and Exchange (ISCAEE) Symposium in South Korea, where I participated in the World Ceramic Art Jamboree. More than 200 artists from 12 countries participated in the symposium. We stayed in Yeoju and made daily trips to Icheon, the main site for the World Ceramic Biennale.
As part of the ISCAEE Symposium, I presented a lecture in Icheon entitled “About Heat and Fire,” since the theme of this year’s Biennale was Adventure of the Fire. In my presentation I talked about fire, ecology and the role we play with our work in ceramics, the impact we have on the environment and the importance of protecting ourselves and nature by firing with care and responsibility, avoiding pollutants and recycling materials as much as possible. Also, I had the opportunity to demonstrate how I hand build my sculptural work during an outdoor session, in Yeoju. It was quite a thrill to work alongside so many other master ceramic artists.
And I guess you could say that a part of me is now permanently in South Korea. The vase to the right, which I made in 2006, is now part of the permanent collection at the Haegang Ceramics Museum in Icheon, South Korea’s largest ceramics museum, after being part of the ISCAEE exhibit. I was humbled and honored when they asked me to donate my piece to their collection. I stayed in Korea for almost three weeks and it was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. I found a country that has a deep appreciation for ceramics as well as respect and reverence for their culture, and this shows in the beauty and quality of craftsmanship in the arts. Also, important to me, I learned about the way they set up altars to honor their ancestors and loved ones in an annual ritual that usually takes place during the month of August.
Finally, did you know that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy? This year commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the skies, and Johannes Kepler’s publication of Astronomia Nova. In honor of this event, I photographed and added several Moon pieces I made between 2000 and 2002 to my Ceramics portfolio. These works reflect my interest in Astronomy, particularly the Moon, and its very important and mysterious presence in our lives and its strong relationship with our planet. And for more information about the 2009 Year of Astronomy, please visit the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO Site.