Lee Love on fri 29 jun 01
Hi Julie,
Last week, we were in the big shop in Kyohan Center in Mashiko,
during my lunch break. There was a large jar sitting amoungst some pots made
by Kamia Shoichi (he was a Shokunin at Shimaoka's that left to open his own
pottery about 10 years ago.) It was faceted and had a matt gold/green glaze,
that you don't see in Japan. I immediately recognzied it as a MacKenzie
without touching it. I teased my wife Jean saying to her, "Hey, doesn't that
look like a MacKenzie?" She came over and read the name card next to the pot
(written in katakana) and said, "It is a MacKenzie!" I picked it up and
noticed the price sticker, 8 Mon or about $700.00 I think, back at in
Minneapolis, it would have sold for $80.00 or $90.00
I know MacKenzie's work without having to look for a stamp. Today, at
second tea break, I went to the second floor of our workshop and browsed in the
new storage room where I saw three unmarked MacKenzies and one marked Randy
Johnston. I think they may have came from Sensei's visit in the spring.
Jean serves tea to the students she teaches English conversation to in
our home. She uses our collection of yunomi, many of which we brought to
Mashiko from Minnesota. Some of them are MacKenzies, though we've given many
MacKenzies away to friends here as gifts (I gave all my old stamped MacKenzie's
away.) The Mashiko ladies say that Mac's yunomi feel very Japanese. But
when I use them, I can definitely feel the strong sense of Minnesota in them.
--
Lee Love
Mashiko JAPAN Ikiru@kami.com
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