swanceramics.com

On Japanese Television

swanica — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:24:06 +0000

Tonight, I was on Japanese television at 5.55pm for 5 minutes at Channel 5, TV Kanagawa! Well, it was a little bit later and I was very excited and nervous. Two days before Ishihara-san came to my house and filmed for about 2 hours. He had a very good eye to put things together and for the interview I had practiced really well.

Showing some engraving.

Showing how to throw a bowl.

Taking the bowl from the wheel.

The Special Judges’ Award Horsehair Vase from the Mashiko Competition 2006 and the Cosmos Horsehair Plate from the Mino Competition from 2008.

In the back a Kamakura Bori Plate and in the front my version of the use of the bori technique texture decoration.

AND NOW THE YOU TUBE MOVIE of the BROADCAST!

.

Gallery First Light

swanica — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:18:40 +0000

Today, I went to the Gallery First Light in Tokyo, where they now have some of my ceramic art works. I met the owner, Keiko Mizukoshi, when I had my show in the Ginsuzu Gallery in Kamakura. After talking, Keiko-san chose some of my work for her gallery.

The front of the Gallery First Light.

Looking through the small window into the gallery.

The URL of the gallery is: http://firstlight.web.infoseek.co.jp/

Also, I put a movie on YOU TUBE!!! Please, watch. Thank you.

Kamakura Red Bamboo Teapot accepted in Shanghai

swanica — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:15:40 +0000

My Kamakura Red “Bamboo” Teapot is accepted in the competition of China 2010 2nd Shanghai International Modern Pot Art Biennial Exhibition. The opening will be on April the 28th, 2010. Now I will go to China for the first time!

Rediscovery of my heritage: my grandfather Rudolph Arens

swanica — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:48:58 +0000

I celebrated Christmas 2009 and the New Years in the Netherlands with some of my family. While there I visited an aunt, sister of my Mom, I had never met before. Family quarrels happen in a lot of families and we are one of them. I have no idea what all happened. My grandfather (born in 1877), who was a gold- and silversmith died in 1957. My Mom’s oldest sister took care of my grandmother, but because of the unfortunate events I never knew her. I was 13 years old when she died. My aunt has a lot of my grandfather’s work in her house. My uncle (also a Rudolph,) her brother and son of my grandfather who is the goldsmith now ( he is 92 years old), got again in contact with her (she is 98 years old) and so, I visited her on an afternoon.

This is my grandfather Rudolphus Arens playing his cello, painted by his brother Albert Arens.

It was great to see so many beautiful works of art of my grandfather, hanging on the wall or standing. One thing had a special appeal to me and that was a teapot set. He made it around 1920 and you can see the influence of the Art Deco movement. He made it with a special hammer technique. It is made from silver tin.

My grandfather made a lot of art for churches and luckily in Nijmegen, a city in Holland, there is still one church who has his work. A lot of his work was destroyed during World War II. Also, my grandparents home burnt down with a lot of treasures.

In this church he crafted the pulpit. Incredible!

This Art Deco style beautiful owl is standing on the corner of the pulpit.

Kind of interesting how I come back to my family via the research of Kamakura Bori all the way in Japan: life makes a full circle!

.

Swan Art Gallery Open

swanica — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:15:00 +0000

Swan Art Gallery is open from Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 – 16:00. Only Mondays closed.
Please, feel free to come in and look and enjoy my “Kamakura Red” and “Horsehair” Ceramics.
WELCOME!!!

.

“Swan Art Gallery” Opening

swanica — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:24:16 +0000

Two days ago I had the opening of my gallery in my little house in Kamakura. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day.

Some old and new friends came and some interested people who read the news of the opening in the newspaper or had heard it on the Kamakura 82.8FM radio. They all were interested in my work and gallery and liked it a lot. And my “Japanese” explanations went well.

On both paths towards the house I had put banners and in front of the gate of the house I put my clay sign.

This is the gallery in the down- stairs room of the house.

This is my workshop on the second floor in the dining room.
The dining room table is used now as a worktable.

To the right is the shed the landlord built last summer. If he hadn’t, we would have moved. But he wanted us to stay, so, I did get my shed for the kiln and spray booth!

I also gave some demonstrations, which the people liked a lot. Some never saw the throwing of a pot on a wheel, and so, it was very revealing for them. Then when I teach my students, they are amazed how difficult it actually is, compared by watching me doing it, which looks then so very easy.

Thank you all for coming! And please, don’t be shy. Everybody is welcome!

“Swan Art Gallery” clay sign

swanica — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:41:06 +0000

Tomorrow, I’m opening the “Swan Art Gallery” in my little house here in Kamakura, Japan. I made this clay sign at Fujiwara-san’s studio in Mashiko ( the ceramic mural artist of Japan). He filled the engraved parts with recycled glass!

-

Opening “Swan Art Gallery”

swanica — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:19:40 +0000

This Saturday, January 16, 2010 I will open the ” Swan Art Gallery” in my house in Kamakura, Japan. It will open at 10:00am and I will give pottery demonstrations on the wheel at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00pm.

You are all very welcome!

After that the gallery will be open on Monday thru Friday from 10:00-16:00 o’clock and on weekends by appointment.

To Stockholm with my son Maarten

swanica — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:04:07 +0000

After New Years I went to Stockholm with my son Maarten to see where he lives. He does cancer research at the Karolinska Institutet for his Masters for 8 months. He lives again in one room after living in a bigger apartment, but it is still quite big.
It also snowed in Stockholm and it was quite cold. Stockholm is a great city with a wonderful architecture.

We had breakfast in this restaurant, a typical old style house.

We had a nice time together for one day and then I returned to Holland to return the next day to Japan.

New Years Celebration in The Netherlands

swanica — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:48:13 +0000

New Years Eve celebrations in Holland are as divers as the people, but with the recent economical situation a lot of people go back to old traditions like having the party at home, watching TV or playing boardgames together.

My sister-in-law Inge, my son Roland and niece Esmee.

We played a board game from about a hundred years ago, which our grandfather played from my husband’s family side. It is played once a year on New Year’s Eve. It is about farmers being afraid of having to pay too much taxes. We play with old Dutch pennies not being used anymore because of the Euro.

Then at 12 midnight after wishing everybody a Happy New Year and drinking champagne, everybody rushes outside to light fireworks with a big bang starting the New Year! It is not organized. Anybody can light fireworks. It is everywhere around you! Watch this YOU TUBE VIDEO!!