ARTIST FACT SHEET Shoji Hamada ABOUT THE ARTIST (b. 1894, d. 1978) Shoji Hamada was born in Tokyo, Japan in the Kanagawa Prefecture (a district in the country) in 1894. He began studying ceramics at age 16 and graduated from Tokyo Technical College. In 1918, Hamada met British studio potter Bernard Leach. Together they founded the Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall, England in 1920. In 1924, Hamada returned to Japan to open his own studio at Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture. Hamada and Bernard stayed life-long friends and were particularly influential in bringing the mingei aesthetic to contemporary pottery. In 1952 they visited the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana. Hamada mentored numerous potters during his career, at Mashiko and around the world. Regarded as one of the most influential masters of studio pottery, Hamada was designated a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government in 1955. ABOUT THE ARTWORK This work of art is an example of Hamada’s poured glaze technique. The artist created the patterns by pouring the glaze over the plate with a ladle. This plate has a solid, black background called a tenmoku glaze. The poured rust-colored is called a kaki glaze. Hamada’s glazes usually were made from ash, salt, iron and cinder. CONNECTIONS AND FACTS Shoji Hamada Hamada’s studio is now part of the Mashiko Pottery Village. Find Plate with tenmoku glaze and kaki out more at http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/facilities/heart_art/ glaze poured in an angular direction, traditional_tochigi.html circa 1960 Glazed stoneware The word mingei means “art of the people” and was coined by a Collectors Forum Purchase Japanese philosopher named Soetsu Yanagi who found beauty in regional, handmade, utilitarian objects. More information is available at http://kiadocentresources.wikispaces.com/file/view/ Turning+Point-Japanese+Ceramics+section+panels+text.pdf Location of Artwork The Archie Bray Foundation provides a center for potters to explore Permanent Collection of the Boise Art Museum the medium and collaborate with each other. Visit their website for 670 Julia Davis Drive more information http://www.archiebray.org Boise, Idaho 83702 www.boiseartmuseum.org Since 1955 Japan has named influential potters as Living National Treasures. See a list at http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/living-natl- © All images copyright of the artist, treasures.htm Boise Art Museum or the artist estate. 670 Julia Davis Drive Boise, Idaho 83702 (208) 345-8330 www.boiseartmuseum.org .