DREAMY MAIDENS

Group Exhibition by Potters, Glass and Felt Artists

August 24 – 30, 2012

The exhibition, “Dreamy Maidens” is a group show of Japanese potters, glass and feld artists from Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan. All the artists in this exhibition live and work in Mashiko, Tochigi. Mashiko is known as for its pottery, called “Mashiko-yaki”. It is a traditional kiln site that is unlike some of the other older kiln sites around Japan. The town is open to newcomers whether they are potters or others with professional backgrounds in arts, science and education. In Japan craftsmen were usually born into their profession ,but in Mashiko, anyone could be a potter.

The artists in this exhibition are the member of “Mashiko Maidens’ Kimono Club,” and this is the first official exhibition in abroad. The meaning of “a Maiden” for the name of group is little bit different from virginity or immatureness. They call it “OTOME” in Japanese and it means a girl who has a pure and sensitive feeling. Also, they describe the innocent feeling itself as “OTOME-GOKORO” and anyone could have that kind of feelings not only little girls, but elder ladies, even men could.

They always try to merge those sense into their creation process as they keep the pure and innocent feeling with wearing traditional Japanese costume, Kimono, in their daily life, and the habit helps them understand the origin of a sense of beauty in Japanese culture where their creation ideas came from.

Artists and Works

GOJAworks

Formed in 2006 as a collaborative project by Takako Otsuka, Stained-glass artist, and masa, potter. They have been holding many Exhibitions together.