About Mike

I've loved pottery ever since I was a child growing up in New Mexico surrounded by the pottery of the Pueblo Indians. My fascination with pots originated there, but was then mostly forgotten until I moved to Japan in my early 20s, and was exposed to the rich ceramic culture of western Kyushu.

I came to making pottery somewhat late in life, after a formal education in music and anthropology, and a subsequent career in the IT industry, an industry in which I later became disenchanted. One real attraction of ceramics for me is the relative permanence of one's effort (sometimes embarrassingly so). After working in an industry in which the product is outdated in a matter of months, and in which my only reward was a paycheck, the longevity of ceramics is refreshing. Being able to see, hear, and feel the concrete results of my research and work is supremely satisfying for me.

I didn't actually start making my own pots seriously until meeting one potter in particular: Yoshihisa Tsuruta. In 2003, Mr. Tsuruta introduced me to the traditional techniques and tools of Karatsu, and openly shared his 30+ years of pottery knowledge with me. He has been and continues to be an inspiration and fountain of knowledge for clay, glazes, tools, techniques, history, the context of tradition, and our place within it.

The pottery of Karatsu is simple, quiet, utilitarian ware. It is at the same time profoundly and powerfully beautiful, and this is what first struck me about it. My goal as a potter is to make work that exhibits these traits; work with a strong foundation in the Karatsu tradition, and relevant to our culture and times.

Shows, Etc.

-2008 Glenn Richards 10th Annual Mingei Show, Seattle, Washington
-2009 Atelier Ai, Two man show with Kurihara Ryuseki, Karatsu
-2009 Tenth Annual Clay Invitational, The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art
-2010 Atelier Ai, Two man show with Nakayama Tomosuke, Karatsu
-2010 Nisennen Hasu Sakka Ten, Taku Koushinosato
-2010 International Guest Artist at 38th Annual Gangjin Celadon Festival, Gangjin, Korea
-2011 Nisennen Hasu Sakka Ten, Taku Koushinosato
-2011 Atelier Ai, Two man show with Nakayama Tomosuke, Karatsu
-2011 International Guest Artist at 39th Annual Gangjin Celadon Festival, Gangjin, Korea

Collections

MAK Art Museum, Vienna, Austria: Teabowl Collection