Nils Lou on mon 26 oct 98
Who spoke what language, etc.
I remember in 1952 or 53, at the University of Michigan, Leach,
Hamada and Yanagi were to be coming to Ann Arbor for a workshop and
lecture deal. My professor, JT Abernathy, got the idea of making a nice,
electric wheel for Hamada that would turn clockwise in the Japanese
fashion. I had helped him on some kiln projects and other mechanical
things in the studio, so he and I built a wheel with a variable pulley
lever that turned the wheel clockwise and had a small range of speed
control. Very modern in those days. It even had a platform at the height
of the wheelhead so Hamada could sit properly at the wheel (on a pillow).
You will see where this is going in a minute.
A large crowd gathered in the potshop to watch Leach throw some
bottle forms and platters which he decorated with rabbits around the rim.
Actually, some nice brushwork and slip-trailing. I was amazed to watch his
head while he threw; it moved around in circles as he watched his pots
expand and grow. Looked like he had a form of palsy. After awhile it was
Hamadas turn to demonstrate. He examined the special wheel JT had made for
him and promptly distained its use, opting for a square, box-like wheel
with a side-kick lever like the Leach wheel MacKenzie uses. I forget the
name of this particular wheel, but I think it was made in Ohio. This one,
however, had a place to sit up on top, so he asked the interpreter to ask
JT if he wouldnt mind kicking for him while he threw. Poor JT was
mortified that Hamada didnt like his wheel and thinking that Hamada did
not understand English castigated him in some whispered remarks to some of
us students standing nearby.
Later, at the reception for the three visitors, I happened to be
with JT when Hamada came over, and in very correct English (British
accent) thanked JT for his hospitality and for going to the trouble of
making the wheel for him. I could see that JT was pretty embarrassed as he
realized that Hamada had surely overheard his earlier, unkind remarks.
I still treasure Leachs, A Potters Book that he signed for me on
that day and in our short conversation realized we shared the same
birthday. A day on which Hamada died many years later.
reminiscing, Nils
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