Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Presentation Topic: The Consulate-General of Japan in Miami presents a series of lectures by renowned Japanese pottery artist Ohi Toshio Chozaemon XI on Wednesday, January 23.
Mr. Ohi will host “The Spirit of Japanese Craftsmanship (Kogei) and Tea Ceremony” at 10 a.m. at Florida International University, located in the College of Business room CBC R233 at 11200 S.W. 8th Street in Miami, and at 3:30 p.m. at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, located at 4000 Morikami Park Road in Delray Beach. Admission to the lecture at FIU is free. The lecture at Morikami is free with paid museum admission.
Born in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Mr. Ohi is the 11th generation in a family of potters known for “Ohi Yaki” pottery, a traditional style of Raku ware dating back more than 350 years. Raku is a type of pottery customarily used in Japanese tea ceremonies. Therefore, most “Ohi Yaki” consists of tea utensils and bowls.
The Ohi method of pottery-making involves using soft clay soil, shaping the piece by hand, coating with a ceramic glaze and firing in a kiln at low temperatures. The pieces are often removed from the kiln while still glowing hot and then allowed to cool in the open air, resulting in fairly porous vessels. The final distinctive glaze is meant to contrast with the powdered green tea used in tea ceremonies.
In conjunction with “The Spirit of Japanese Craftsmanship (Kogei) and Tea Ceremony” at FIU and Morikami, Mr. Ohi will lead two full-day, hands-on pottery workshops at the Ceramic League of Miami on January 21 and 22. Both workshops are sold out.
Mr. Ohi is a proponent of Kogei, a highly-regarded Japanese art form that combines form and function, bringing beauty to everyday objects such as ceramics, lacquer designs, silk fabrics and more. Ohi transcends the physical and cultural boundaries of Kogei by promoting its discourse beyond Japan through his partnerships with universities, cultural organizations and ceramic programs around the world.
Presentation description by the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami
