ON EXHIBIT
COURTESY HAWAII CRAFTSMEN
Jim Kurzeka's "The New African Bush" (an honorable mention, contemporary).
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Raku Ho‘olaulea
The annual Japanese-style ceramics festival by Hawaii Craftsmen concludes with an exhibit
Now in its 31st year, Hawaii Craftsmen's "Raku Ho'olaulea" garnered the interest of some 130 art fans, who took part in its beachside ceramics firing at Waimanalo Beach Park on June 1 to 3.
Participants entered nearly 300 pieces from that weekend for consideration for the "R aku Ho'olaulea Juried Exhibition," with Rob Drexel doing the honors in the contemporary category and Hiroyuki Ishikawa jurying traditional Japanese tea ceremony vessels. Drexel hails from New Mexico, while Ishikawa lend his expertise from the Urasenke Foundation of Hawaii, an organization dedicated to the Japanese tea ceremony. Their selections are now on display at The ARTS at Marks Garage through Saturday.
COURTESY HAWAII CRAFTSMEN
Jeff Chang's "The Garden."
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Raku, a tradtional ceramic art form with roots in 16th-century Japan, has ties to the tea ceremony and Zen philosophy. The raku process begins with a wheel-thrown piece made from sandy clay. After an initial bisque firing, the piece is glazed and fired in a kiln heated to 1,600 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, then placed in an airtight container with materials such as leaves, paper or sawdust. The materials are set afire by the heat of the piece, which then produce various effects and colors that adorn the work. At the popular Waimanalo event, pieces are pit fired on the beach.
The Hawaii Craftsmen event began this year with tea ceremonies, lectures and workshops, followed by the ho'olaulea and exhibit.
The ARTS at Marks Garage is located at 1159 Nuuanu Ave. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays. Call 521-2904.
COURTESY HAWAII CRAFTSMEN
"True Spots" by Karen Thrasher
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COURTESY HAWAII CRAFTSMEN
Mark White won first place in the contemporary category with his "Quetzalquatal Bottle."
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