Lili Krakowski on sun 6 apr 08
Sally!
You write:
"My comment to Lee is that I am planning on having the
"advanced" potters each put on a major tea ceremony for
their final project. ....
We are in the middle of rural Wisconsin, not far from
Madison, no one is Japanese- many are of German
descent- but they don't know anything about that
culture either.
Here's what I'm thinking- they will spend a few days
researching tea ceremonies- and choose a culture to do
a short PowerPoint presentation on- covering both the
beginnings of tea ceremonies and current practices.
Japan, China, Ceylon/Sir Lanka, India, Korea, -I
haven't looked into it too deeply yet."
And more in the same vein!
Oh Sally!
The tea ceremony is Japanese just as a Kaffee Klatsch is German,
high tea British, and so on. The dynamic of a Japanese potter making
objects for the tea ceremony is that it is part of a tradition. And, pace
Mr Leach (though mazel tov on the re-opening of your pottery),
tradition becomes so with time. It is not something one learns on a
rainy afternoon.
If you make those children go through a research program into
something totally foreign to them, and then make something
related to this artificiality, you would be teaching them the opposite
of what they should be learning: which is, I respectfully submit,
to look within themselves for something with meaning to them, and embody
that feeling in the creation of a pot.
There are so many things that could truly come from their lives.
Something in the line of their own traditions, something to be
handed down and used by future generations--the way wedding
dresses and baptismal gowns are?
Why not get them to sit down and talk about what has meaning to them
as a group? To them as students in that school? A sundial. Bird feeders
for the different species that come there? Why not create a ceremony of
their own? About their lives?
As I understand it, the tea ceremony was part of upper class, ruling
class Japan. Wisconsin is pioneer, grass roots, aching backs land....
Those pioneers have a right to be remembered as they were....Their
descendants honoring their own ancestor.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Lee on sun 6 apr 08
On Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 5:26 PM, Lili Krakowski wr=
ote:
> The tea ceremony is Japanese
It is not "Un-American" to include world culture into
America. You prefer her do Oktoberfest with the kids? Is it more
'Mercun? ;^) Ah! Provincialism!
There is tea ritual where ever tea became a part of the culture.
Both Korea and China have interesting variations. I recommend John
Blofeld's The Chinese Way Of Tea.
http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Art-Tea-John-Blofeld/dp/1570622795
Here is a nice review of the book:
http://chadao.blogspot.com/2007/05/readers-corner-corax-on-john-blofelds.ht=
ml
The young japanese woman that began her
apprenticeship a month after me studied at the Tochigi Prefectural
pottery shokunin/craftsman school. For her final project, she made
small Chinese influenced teapots, cup sets bowls for infusing and a
large platter with a drain floor in it so utensils could be warmed
with hot water before putting tea in them.
Actually, the codification of tea in the 17th century
was fostered by the burgeoning merchant class.This growing middle
class made tea more wide spread.
In Japan, car mechanics do tea ceremony. So do
farmers and hermit print makers like my woodblock teacher. Don't
believe everything you read.
--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "T=
he
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
Sally Guger on sun 6 apr 08
Hi Lili, Your points are well taken but there's much more to it then I briefly described. We've been "into" tea pots for a long time. "Long" for my students is 3 semesters. The point about tea pots is that there is so much room for creativity, and so many different techniques that can be used. To have the tea pot be their final project works right into using their favorite methods of forming the clay. They have asked to have some sort of ceremony, and their tea pot with cups, plates, tablecloth, some sort of food, will be extremely personal. It will also tie in to all of the elements of design.
For example, one girl went to the state competition for tennis. I know she will want a tennis theme- but we will talk about how to abstract that idea and have her tea pot show the essence or over-all feeling of a tennis match. Some one else uses birds as a theme quite often. I thought about having them choose a favorite food and make vessels to contain and serve that food. But then they won't really expand their horizons.
They've studied modern art from Impressionism through Abstract Expressionism,looked at modern trends, they've also researched architects, etc. To learn a little bit about a culture's tea ceremonies will not be out of context. I think they will see themselves as very special when they share in tea ceremonies with each other.
They've been to the Chicago Art Institute, Milwaukee Art Museum, architectural boat tours of Chicago, etc. Even Madison has two really good art museums.The last thing I would do is expect them to copy a ceremony from another culture that they have no connection to. The historical background will simply add importance to what they are doing.
I'll take photos as we go along in case anyone wants to see them. Telling them this Clayart list will see their work will be exciting to them, I'm sure.
I love what Lee wrote which is the approach I was planning on taking.
"Tea is nothing but this: First you make the water boil, Then infuse
the tea. Then you drink it properly. That is all you need to know."
--Rikyu
"The essential aspect to remember is that the host is
totally there for the guest and the guest is totally there for the
host. Your conversation should leave mundane things behind and only
talk about beauty or as you say in your signature:
Live, Give,Love..... Beyond all Expectations."
So, we are on the same page basically, Lili. There should be a personal tie in to everything in art education. Most of my students had me for 3D art in 8th grade when we carved terra cotta wall reliefs that symbolized something from their hopes, fears, or dreams. They are close to me, and I think the world of them- our tea ceremony will bring us ever closer-
"it is all about dignity,
honor of the clay, honor of the love in the camp."
This I just read from Mel. It's what I'm looking for- to create a special moment in time before the class ends and those who are seniors leave us. It sure beats another pizza party with a lot of Mountain Dew and Pepsi!! Cheers! Sally
Live, Give, Love
Beyond All Expectation.
Sally Guger
Lakespur Blue Pottery & Sculpture
Lodi, Wisconsin, USA
http://www.saukpr.k12.wi.us/~gugersa/the_art_teachers.htm
---------------------------------
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.
Sally Guger on mon 7 apr 08
Hi Lee and all,
I meant to say this yesterday-now I just noticed this post. Thank you so much Lee for giving me your input! I felt totally confident in what I was doing without mentioning it on this list-but I'm glad I did. I wanted the added pearls of info. from someone who really knows about tea ceremonies!! I will get a copy of the book.
I thought about matcha- and I'll tell them about it-but I'm thinking that loose tea will be a new experience for most of them- each person will have a tea ensemble-maybe we'll do both. I enjoyed seeing the photos on your blog.
Thanks again! Sally in Wisconsin where it isn't just cheese and beer!
Lee wrote:
On Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 5:26 PM, Lili Krakowski wrote:
> The tea ceremony is Japanese
It is not "Un-American" to include world culture into
America. You prefer her do Oktoberfest with the kids? Is it more
'Mercun? ;^) Ah! Provincialism!
There is tea ritual where ever tea became a part of the culture.
Both Korea and China have interesting variations. I recommend John
Blofeld's The Chinese Way Of Tea.
http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Art-Tea-John-Blofeld/dp/1570622795
Here is a nice review of the book:
http://chadao.blogspot.com/2007/05/readers-corner-corax-on-john-blofelds.html
The young japanese woman that began her
apprenticeship a month after me studied at the Tochigi Prefectural
pottery shokunin/craftsman school. For her final project, she made
small Chinese influenced teapots, cup sets bowls for infusing and a
large platter with a drain floor in it so utensils could be warmed
with hot water before putting tea in them.
Actually, the codification of tea in the 17th century
was fostered by the burgeoning merchant class.This growing middle
class made tea more wide spread.
In Japan, car mechanics do tea ceremony. So do
farmers and hermit print makers like my woodblock teacher. Don't
believe everything you read.
--
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-óg ar chul an tI-tIr dlainn trina chéile"-that is, "The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
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Live, Give, Love
Beyond All Expectation.
Sally Guger
Lakespur Blue Pottery & Sculpture
Lodi, Wisconsin, USA
http://www.saukpr.k12.wi.us/~gugersa/the_art_teachers.htm
---------------------------------
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.
Lee on mon 7 apr 08
On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 7:28 AM, Sally Guger wro=
te:
> Thanks again! Sally in Wisconsin where it isn't just cheese and beer!
Thanks to you Sally! I believe you are on the right track and will
create a situation your students will enjoy.
I am 1/4th Wisconsinite. My grandfather Love is from Wolf Creek Wiscons=
in.
I heard from folks in Wolf Creek who built a kiln like I
have in Mashiko, if I recall correctly, from the plans of Euan Craig's
design I put online. When I travel up over the U.P. to go see my
sister, daughter and grandkids in Michigan, I will try to make a
pilgrimage to Wolf Creek. I understand it is a tiny village.
The name Wolf Creek is interesting to me. I have been
doing some genealogy and name searching and found that my name Love it
is Celtic/Norman and originally Norman for wolf, Louf or Loufa. The
Norman are Viking people who settled in Northern France (maybe I have
license to make latte bowls too? ;^) My grandfather's nickname
was Red and I got my freckles from him. So, I guess I belong in
Viking country too. Call me a wolf in sheep's clothing! ;^)
--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "T=
he
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
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