Learning Something New
I have always loved arts and crafts, as a child I created all sorts of items, in various mediums, I remember digging up clay from our backyard and making clay pots! It’s part of who I am to be always searching for something new and interesting to do creatively.
When I’m in Melbourne to visit family and friends , I like to try and fit in a workshop. This year I was excited to find a class run by a Japanese couple, Hitome and Jun, who live in Sydney but teach Kintsugi techniques all over Australia.
A bit of background on my interest here - for a group show run by the Silver Street Artists in Houston, our theme was Wabi Sabi and the art of imperfection. This theme spoke to me and I create a number of pieces with yarn and mixed media, which became part of my popular “Straight Line” series. I also had a coiled pottery vase that I had created called “Body Image”, and on one of my studio moves it had broken. I decided to repair it myself “Kintsugi” style but with no experience and lots of experimentation and much frustration. The end piece is beautiful as I adapted and changed the idea as I worked out my own way of joining it, but I wish I had known more!
Fast forward to this year and Melbourne, and I was delighted to find there was one spot left in the beginners Kintsugi class using modern methods, held by Master Jun and Hitomi! Attached are photos with where I started and the finished plate- the steps are quite complex but is taught in an understandable and organized manner so I am confident I can repeat this in future works. If you are in Australia and want more information about this beautiful art, or to take one of their classes here’s the link to their website - Kintsugi Australia
With this new knowledge, I am developing some ideas for new artworks in my Straight Line series, and if I break a precious plate or vase I can do a beautiful repair!
