Finally: Blogging Toshiko

On the way back from NYC we took a side trip to the farmlands of upstate NJ to visit one of our mutual artistic heroes, Toshiko Takaezu. (bio here).

Toshiko is a legend in American ceramics and well known as an artist and teacher. We've admired her work for years, and have studied her via video and any articles we could find, as well as online. Through the kindness of a gallery owner some years ago, and by virtue of our day jobs recently, we have handled some of her small pots, but have never seen more than 2 or three in a place. And never any of her larger works. So when we determined we'd be in the area, we called and asked if we could come visit and look at pots. A plan was made, directions given, the date determined.

As things are apt to happen, somehow communications got fouled up. We called from the road on the appointed day, and she was a bit frazzled and aggravated but told us to come anyway since we were so close. I think she cut us a break because of our connection with the school, where she taught in the late 60's and early 70's. We arrived to the snowy yard, got up to the house and were immediately instructed to remove shoes before entering. Toshiko is a wizened elderly woman in her early 80's but runs her home and studio with a firm grip. I liked her immediately- she was playing the role of Sensei, but with a twinkle in her eye. She gave us a little grief for the communication breakdown, we took it (even though I'm pretty sure it wasn't on our end!) then told us we came at a bad time. So not wanting to be an inconvenience, we said we'd leave immediately. "NO!" she said, you will stay for lunch. Others are coming. Go to the studio until they arrive." So we obeyed like any good lowly apprentice to a master would.

Of course her studio was fabulous! Work in progress (in her 80's and still makes stuff daily) and what must have been years of works on shelves, like a Toshiko encyclopedia. We were in awe, and clay heaven. We handled, fondled and caressed pots she had made over the years. All of these were table sized. And then we grabbed our shoes and went out into the snowy yard to look at big pieces.

All the large outside pieces are bronze castings of clay work. The tall ones are 10-12 feet high, and stand watch over her property. The bells are all cast bronze from the tops of some of her larger pieces, and hung on heavy wood torii-like sculptures. Her apprentice brought out a wooden striking hammer and we struck each one. They reminded me of the temple bells I had seen in Shinto temples in Japan years ago, and the tones of several rang thru you, a very physical experience. As we were in the yard, the other guests arrived in a big van: NJ Public TV. They were there to do a documentary interview with Toshiko. The day was becoming delightfully surreal.

Toshiko called us all in, and ordered us to the table, where she proceded to feed us to we about burst. She sat at the head of the table and held court...I wish I had recorded it. The Public TV folks were great, and by mid afternoon, we were all good friends, bonded by the common experience of lunching with the master. Never doubt the humor ability of an 80 year old woman, she has the life experience that can out joke and out-storytell the best of us. And all with an edge. I loved it!

The crew set up, and we readied to leave but not before a "tour" of the house and her collection of her own work. She had her apprentice take us to the front of the house and upstairs, where there were pots everywhere, big and small, a complete timeline of her work from the 50's to present day. It was incredible.

We came back down, K served as a sit-in for the crew to get lighting, sound and video adjusted (in HDTV, no less! her 10 minutes of fame.) Then we made a last trip down to the studio, where Toshiko loaded us up with donations for the school auctions for the next 2 years and a gift to the permanent collection, a beautiful large golden glazed piece that everyone drooled over. And finally, so graciously, she presented K and I each with a small teabowl, a very generous and unexpected gift indeed. We then hit the road for our long trip south, but full of stories to tell about the day we met, and ate, with Toshiko Takaezu.

(lots of photos, no order and no labels...its late and I'm slack!)