Lee Love on sat 26 nov 05
Tony,
Well, I was thinking of winters in Minnesota, because Turkey Day to
Xmas is when a large part of a potter's income occurs. And I miss
snow. Ideally, I would do Spring to late Summer in Mashiko.
I have no idea how we will do it. Jean and I decided when I
graduated from the apprenticeship, that we would work here for a set
number of years, and if the "Two Places" scenario didn't pan out, we'd
move back home. It would be easier financially in Minnesota. Like I
told Mason, we are both living in Japan to study & learn. Even if we
move back home, Jean would probably stay here for a time and keep
working while we were in transition. That's an important thing: A
second non-pottery related income.
The online business helps, because it can be done
anywhere. I have also thought of swapping spaces with someone back
home, for several months of the year. That would be a simple way.
But you have to find someone you could live with and someone who likes
dogs. That is why I spring Taiko on all my potter visitors. :^)
I was going to apply for a residency at Northern Clay Center
in 2006, but my friends who I was going to stay with are spending 2006
in Cornwall, not far from St. Ives and they are having the neighbor's
daughter house sit. Maybe I will do it in 2007?
I think you need to pick a place like the Twin Cities as
one of the places, where you have a large community of people educated
about quality pottery, to help it happen. And people in that area are
predisposed to Japanese influenced work because of all the education
Warren MacKenzie has done there.
I forgot to mention. Jean and I have work near Seattle
Washington right now in a show called "Found in Translation:
Contemporary Works Inspired by Asian Traditions" at TORA Gallery. Hank
Murrow has work there too. My good friend Tatsuo Tomeoka put it
together. If you want to know stuff about Mashiko, he can tell you
many things I don't know because he is fluent in Japanese and charmed
many interesting locals here. He helped Jean meet our moku hanga
teacher Itoi Sensei, and translated for me when I interviewed with
Shimaoka to apprentice with him. Please read more about the show here:
http://foundintrans.blogspot.com
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
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