FarmArt.org

Our Sierra Foothills–Red clay* and granite. We dig our lives out of this.  But one outstanding artist in Tuolumne County takes that same clay, and give us inspiration, expression and beauty.

Harry Nakamoto creates amazing Raku-fired art pieces.  He uses a wood-fired kiln, an Anagama kiln, a process used in Japan for hundreds of years.  This timeless process brings an unique, earthy quality to each piece of pottery.  Nakamoto, an Emeritus member of the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California,  is widely known for an elegant gesture that is represented in each piece of pottery.  There is mystery in that elegance as if this quiet man is holding a deep, but very powerful, secret. He reveals that secret in clay and fire.

Nakamoto is also well loved for his dedication to students as he strives to carry on this ancient process.  Many of his students live in our area.  Two of them are connected to the Foothill Farmlands ARTS Festival: Kathy Gregg will be an artist vendor at Mt. Brow this year. Her incredible and curious pieces will be for sale. Many of her pieces take on that same powerful mystery that is portrayed in Nakamoto’s work.  And ceramicist Laurie Sylwester, an art instructor at Columbia College, was one of last year’s presenters at Mt. Brow.  Laurie’s work is now available at the Post Gallery in downtown Sonora.  An award-winning photographer, Laurie has photos of potters working together at Harry Nakamoto’s studio with the Anagama kiln. (*About that Red Clay–Our Sierra Foothills are deep with clay.  Local potters are lucky to have Quyle Kilns near Murphy’s, CA, which supplies them with a variety of high quality clays.)

If you “google” Harry Nakamoto, you will see that his work is shown all over the U.S.  Almost every major ceramics exhibit will include the works of Nakamoto. And if you join us for our Gala on Saturday, September 13th, you’ll have a chance to big on a beautiful piece.  Oh, by the way, to take this elegant vessel home you’ll have to outbid ME!

Well, speaking of that Red Clay…I’d better get a little bit of water going in my garden.  I’ve been so busy with Festival details that my poor tomatoes and squash are barely surviving.  See you soon!

bz