Robert Fornell Ceramics

[putibungsu]

Wow...That's fantastic. CONGRATULATIONS, Rob!!!
Sounded like you're having a fruitful trip. Glad to hear that.

Safe travels,
Dina

[ginkgo]

I am very happy for you !! I join also my congratulations !! great, great news !
I hope it will bring you a lot of wonderfull experiences !

[Robert Fornell]

Thanks for the well wishes Cory, John, Dina, and Ginkgo......

I think I'm still trying to digest a lot of what I've seen and heard since arriving last week as it seems as whenever I'm in Japan time gets compressed due to the number of meetings, travel, and just pure sensory overload and then as I step back a bit it tends to unfold/expand back into a more manageable experience. After running on 5 hours of sleep a night since arriving I finally cocooned a bit at my hotel and caught up on my sleep. Sorry Cory I didn't call you....

John, after reading what you wrote about Geidai it started to sink in a bit.... I thought そうだね。。。。。You seemed to have summerized it quite well...

Interesting as well was the trip out to Moriyama which is a town quite similar in size and feel to where I spent 5 years here working. Previous to coming I thought that if I were to live/work in Japan again I'd like to be in a rural small town or Kyoto where I lived before as well. Now after spending time in Tokyo and Kyoto both of those feel pretty comfortable while the small town type of environment carries less appeal. Of course setting up a studio within the confines of either is impractical/unafforable, but to call either one base isn't. Tokyo is attractive due to the range of creative expression/forward looking energy found there while Kyoto carries a depth of culture which differs from Tokyo plus it's smaller scale and it being the center of "tea" makes it attractive too.

Kuroda Toen in Shibuya is the first stop today......

Best to all,
R

[bonjiri]

robert

when u flying out of tokyo ?

cheers .
see u on your next trip to tokyo !
maybe we meet up in kyoto !

thanks for a wonderful time !
the osampo was amazing !

cheers
cory

[Victoria]

Many thanks to Chip, JB, Jean Ann, Victoria, and Ginkgo for your generous comments. Kind words of encouragement always keep the solitary studio work moving forward.

Attached are two Oribe chawan with one done with a more western style Oribe while the other one a more traditional ash based Oribe. The Tengu chawan surprised me with it's totally different tonalities..... twice fired where the second firing was done in a different atmoshpere from the first. It gives me something to ponder....

Best,
R

Oribe chawan 1a.jpg

A few different shots of this fabulous chawan:
(The first 2 by Robert)









I'm loving it, forgive me for not posting sooner!

[Robert Fornell]

robert

when u flying out of tokyo ?

cheers .
see u on your next trip to tokyo !
maybe we meet up in kyoto !

thanks for a wonderful time !
the osampo was amazing !

cheers
cory

Cory, I enjoyed the time too!

Thank you Victoria for posting the pics of the Oribe piece..... you did justice to the foot much better than I with my "bakachon" or idiot proof, point and shoot camera!

Best,
R

[bonjiri]

yo robert !

where for art thou ?

just cruised thru madame kikuchi tomo's amazing musee d'tomo

k and i didn't have time to visit the gallery downstairs, we had a wonderful lunch at the museum. whoa !

kakurezaki, raku kichizaemon to name a few are on display.
as usual, it must be amazing !

cheers
cory

ps pls post your latest japanese inspired works.
for me, i'm making some specialized carving tools, just short of forging the blades. haha !

[Robert Fornell]

yo robert !

where for art thou ?

just cruised thru madame kikuchi tomo's amazing musee d'tomo

k and i didn't have time to visit the gallery downstairs, we had a wonderful lunch at the museum. whoa !

kakurezaki, raku kichizaemon to name a few are on display.
as usual, it must be amazing !

cheers
cory

ps pls post your latest japanese inspired works.
for me, i'm making some specialized carving tools, just short of forging the blades. haha !

Hi Cory,

Too bad you didn't decend into the lower level to see the show as it sounds awesome!

http://e-yakimono.blogspot.com/2010/08/ ... amics.html

I've been busy teaching a summer intensive at a local college as well as trying to get the Kisetsu Chawan summer chawan off.... my apologies to those here who subscribe however you will find a little something extra included with you chawan as a small token of appreciation for your patience.

While teaching, the class explored raku a bit and I came up with a few interesting chawan in which I used a cone 10 black matt glaze over the regular raku glaze........ interesting color as well as texture. Will post pics as time permits.

Best,
R

[debunix]

While teaching, the class explored raku a bit and I came up with a few interesting chawan in which I used a cone 10 black matt glaze over the regular raku glaze........ interesting color as well as texture. Will post pics as time permits.

Bet they're gorgeous.

[JBaymore]

Too bad you didn't decend into the lower level to see the show as it sounds awesome!

http://e-yakimono.blogspot.com/2010/08/ ... amics.html

Robert,

I just got the catalog for that show from Robert over in Mishima. Yup... the show is OUTSTANDING! I'd LOVE to get to see it in person. 生姜ない。

Let's see that chawan.........

best,

.............john

[bonjiri]

Too bad you didn't decend into the lower level to see the show as it sounds awesome!

http://e-yakimono.blogspot.com/2010/08/ ... amics.html

Robert,

I just got the catalog for that show from Robert over in Mishima. Yup... the show is OUTSTANDING! I'd LOVE to get to see it in person. 生姜ない。

Let's see that chawan.........

best,

.............john

john...
hehe. i will probably swing back to check it out. its up until 11.7
the wild part. raku kichizaemon is speaking today (sat)
with lectures etc w/ takahiro kato , suzuki etc.
kakurezaki is due to speak on 10.2 ! i'm trying to fly back for that...

hayashiya seizo, the chairman is also doing otemae w/ the actual chadogu from various artists' on display. wild...

the raku lecture was filled up...

there are also catalogs from past shows and even raku kichizaemon's previous show catalog for ¥2000 and other catalogs marked down.

cheers
cory

[Robert Fornell]

For those in the area or coming within the next 6 months or so, the Bellevue Art Musuem's "Clay Throwdown!" exhibition opens this Friday 8/27, and runs through 1/16/2011.

http://www.bellevuearts.org/exhibitions ... l-2010.htm

Best,
R

[Chip]

Best of luck at the BAM Clay Throwdown, Robert! What is your piece? Or is that a secret yet?

[Robert Fornell]

Best of luck at the BAM Clay Throwdown, Robert! What is your piece? Or is that a secret yet?

Many thanks Chip!

I'm showing a total of 8 pieces..... 3 mizusashi and 5 chawan. Hopefully I can snap a few pics tomorrow night at the opening.....

Best,
R

[JBaymore]

May the red dots blossom.

best,

............john