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  • POP UP CRAFT SHOW at the Den on Laurel Street Dec. 3rd & 4th November 23, 2022
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Category: Events, Workshops and Webinars

POP UP CRAFT SHOW at the Den on Laurel Street Dec. 3rd & 4th

By:
Ai Kanazawa
November 23, 2022Events, Workshops and Webinars

Our final pop-up event for 2022 will take place at

The Den on Laurel Street
December 3rd & 4th from 11am – 5pm.
205 Laurel St. #104 San Diego 92101 (Click for Google Maps)

There will be glasswork, ceramics, woodwork, textile and tea utensils for your holiday table.

Please join us to browse thoughtfully made craft, and for some Japanese tea and conversations.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Photos from our pop-up in September 2022 at the Den on Laurel Street

GLASS SHOW with Naru from Taketa Oita

 

Photos from our pop-up in September 2022

Revitalizing Taketa with Craftsmanship: Glassblower Naru

By:
Ai Kanazawa
August 15, 2022Naru (Inoue Naruhito) Events, Workshops and Webinars Glass

Glasswork by Naru in our shop ->

GLASS SHOW with Naru <Inoue Naruhito>
September 3 & 4, 2022
11 am – 5 pm
At The Den on Laurel Street
205 Laurel Street, #104
San Diego CA 92101

For more than two decades, Japanese glassblower Inoue Naruhito, known as Naru, has been fascinated by glass, the raw material of his work. “When I create work, I pay special attention to how light occurs in the work I make,” he says. “I think about how my work refracts and reflects light, and the unique lens effects.”

Large KAGUYA vase by Naru. Its appearance changes subtly with light
KAGUYA Lidded jar by Naru
KAGUYA teabowl by Naru
KAGUYA pourer and glasses by Naru.
In his smaller utilitarian work, Naru seeks pleasant plumpness of the glass surface

Naru’s work is sinuous and colorful, carrying unique meditative qualities, like an enchanting sea jelly bursting with life. “I want to make work that seems to have sprung out of the earth, or suggest a ripening fruit,” he explains. “Even though they’re manmade, I want to evoke the notion of natural objects that has existed on earth from the ancient past.”

Naru first became interested in glass while traveling alone in Morocco over 20 years ago. Seeing that he had brought a camera, a local friend asked him to document the “Festival of Sacrifice.” “When they brought out a sheep, I assumed that they were going to shear it,” he said. “I was so startled when they started slaughtering it. I wanted to cover my eyes, but somehow, I could maintain my calm through my camera lens.”  It was this emboldening effect of seeing the world through glass that stuck with him.

After returning to Japan, Naru visited a local glass studio to learn more about glass. He also discovered that his name “Naru” means “fire” in Arabic. “I felt a sense of destiny because the shape of the glass is changed by melting it with fire,” he says. Eventually Naru signed up for his first glassblowing class at Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, Washington. “I boldly signed up for their summer session with almost no experience,” he says. But this fearless act allowed him to build friendships with fellow artists at Pilchuck and drove him to seriously pursue the craft.

In 2002, Naru joined the Toyama Institute of Glass Art. After graduating from the institute, he continued to hone his skills by working for various glass artists until 2011.

Nature is the source of inspiration for Naru, and he is immersed in it in Taketa, where he set up his glass studio in 2015. A small country town of less than 20,000 people in Oita prefecture in Kyushu, Taketa is an ancient castle town famous for its soda hot springs and magnificent panoramic plateau on sediment from the Mount Aso volcano.

Magma Glass, a studio founded and operated by Naru in Kuju plateau, Taketa, Oita
Photo courtesy of Naru
The surrounding Kuju Plateau, Taketa, Oita
Photo courtesy of Naru
Central Taketa Town, Oita
Photo courtesy of Naru

Like other small Japanese towns in the countryside, Taketa’s population is aging and shrinking. But what is special about this town is its unique program to promote settlement by young and motivated craft artisans through subsidies. “In 2012, I built my own studio in Yokohama, my hometown, but Taketa invited me, so I decided to move here with my family three years later,” Naru said.

Taketa attracted enough artisans over the years to be known as a town of crafts and beautiful nature among Japanese tourists. Naru’s well-established glass studio –called Magma Glass, in homage to the adjacent Mount Aso— is a great success story providing local employment and attracting craft tourism.

“After I arrived here, I wanted to create work using local materials,” Naru explains. “And because it is Taketa, I wanted to use bamboo.” “Taketa” literally means “bamboo fields.”

Through trial and error, Naru devised a method to cure bamboo to use as molds for glassblowing. Now, his main line of work is made using these bound bamboo molds that create beautiful soft curved lines. He named the series “Kaguya”, after the bamboo princess Kaguya, who was born from a segment of bamboo in the old Japanese folklore, “The Tale of The Bamboo Cutter” (竹取物語).

WATCH VIDEO FOOTAGE OF GLASS ARTIST NARU BY JETRO

Cured bamboo glass molds
Photo courtesy of Naru
KAGUYA wind bell by Naru. These bells have bamboo clappers that create soothing sounds. There will be over 30 of these bells shown in San Diego in September 2022
Naru working at his studio at Magma Glass
Photo courtesy of Naru

The other line of work that Naru passionately pursues include lamps and candle holders that he began making after the destructive earthquake in Japan in 2011. “Soon after the earthquake, there were widespread power outages and electricity conservation requests,” he recalls. He also added that since the pandemic, there has been renewed interest in lanterns in Japan. He says that it is probably because more people spent time outdoors or went camping, and they needed a reliable light source without electricity. “I thought that maybe it is also because fire is a source of comfort during this time of crisis.”

Blownglass candle stand by Naru

For the Labor Day weekend pop-up at the Den on Laurel Street, Naru will bring over 130 pieces of his work from Japan that will be shown in the U.S. for the first time. He will be at the Den throughout the two-day event. Join us to meet this prolific artist, who is also playing a big part in revitalizing a beautiful town in Kyushu through creativity.

POP UP GLASS SHOW at the Den on Laurel Street Sept 3rd & 4th

By:
Ai Kanazawa
July 21, 2022Events, Workshops and Webinars

We have exciting news San Diego and the World!
Mark your calendar for the Labor Day weekend when Entoten will welcome Japanese glassblower Inoue Naruhito from Taketa in Oita prefecture, Kyushu.

GLASS SHOW with Inoue Naruhito
September 3 & 4, 2022
11 am – 5 pm
At The Den on Laurel Street
205 Laurel Street, #104
San Diego CA 92101

The city of Taketa is famous for bamboo and, appropriately, Inoue-san casts his “Kaguya” glass series in cured bamboo molds. The series is named after the bamboo princess Kaguya, who was born from a segment of bamboo in the old Japanese folklore, “The Tale of The Bamboo Cutter (竹取物語).”

These stunning bamboo cast plates resemble huge morning glory blossoms. We look forward to sharing plenty of stunning glasswork by Inoue-san this September at The Den.

Thank You for Coming to The Den to Meet Potter Kazu Oba

By:
Ai Kanazawa
September 7, 2021Events, Workshops and Webinars Ceramics Kazu Oba

Entoten’s craft pop-up at The Den on Laurel Street over Labor Day weekend was a huge success! Thank you for taking the time to come and meet Kazu and to support his work. For those of you who couldn’t make it, here are some photos of the event, taken by our friend Tomoko Matsubayashi.

I hope to organize another pop-up event at the Den this December, so look forward to seeing you then.

 

 


Thank You for Participating in Our Fundraiser for Mingei Museum

By:
Ai Kanazawa
September 1, 2021Events, Workshops and Webinars Mingei

Thank you for participating in our Mingei Museum fundraiser by purchasing our special edition tea whisk by Tanimura Tango, and also by visiting, liking, and sharing my post.
Today, Entoten was able to donate $1150 to the museum.

Here are some beautiful photos taken by photographer Tomoko Matsubayashi at the pre-opening event of the museum, which I hope you’ll enjoy browsing.
If you ever have the opportunity, please come to San Diego!

Mingei International Museum reopens September 3, 2021.
Admission will be free September 3-6.

Artifact full service restaurant opening in October 2021
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
Mingei International Museum Chandelier by Dale Chihuly
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
ART OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE installation at The Commons Level (main floor) of the Museum
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
liquid2solid by Christina Kim– hand-sewn temporary curtain made from off-cut waste of Dyneema®
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
Art Library on Gallery Level
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
GLOBAL SPIRIT Exhibition on Gallery Level
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
GLOBAL SPIRIT Exhibition on Gallery Level
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
Higomari in GLOBAL SPIRIT Exhibition on Gallery Level
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
Acoustic curtain “Sessions” by Petra Blaisse
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi
View of California Tower from the new terrace on gallery level
Photo by Tomoko Matsubayashi

EN -Circle-
Kazu Oba in San Diego September 4 & 5, 2021

By:
Ai Kanazawa
July 18, 2021Events, Workshops and Webinars Ceramics Kazu Oba

Ceramics by Kazu Oba in our shop ->

How does September in sun-drenched San Diego sound? If you love the beaches, nature, and craft, this coming Labor Day weekend might be the perfect time to come and enjoy our laid back city when Entoten will host potter Kazu Oba from Colorado for an outdoor pop-up event at The Den on Laurel Street.

For the past 17 years, Kazu has dedicated his work to making functional, everyday ware used for food at home and at restaurants. Come and meet Kazu during the event, when he will share with you his passion for creating handmade ceramics for your table.

Kazu Oba throwing pots on a portable kick-wheel in La Jolla, San Diego, in November 2017

Saturday & Sunday, September 4 & 5, 2021
11am-5pm
at The Den on Laurel Street
(Click to launch Google Maps)
205 Laurel St. #104
San Diego CA 92101

Other work featured during the pop-up event includes:-
– Bamboo Baskets by Takami Yasuhiro
– Glasswork by Floresta Fabrica
– Tenugui by Harada Fumiko
– Chasen tea whisks by Tanimura Tango

In addition, a short stroll from the Den is the Mingei International Museum, the only Mingei museum outside of Japan, located inside the world famous Balboa Park. The Mingei will complete an ambitious three-year renovation and reopen to the public on September 3rd, and entry into the Museum will be free for all during the Labor Day Weekend. So come to San Diego and join our weekend celebration of craft!

 

 

Brighter Days: A Pop-up Event at The Den on Laurel Street, May 29-30, 2021

By:
Ai Kanazawa
May 10, 2021Events, Workshops and Webinars Sakai Mika

Summer is almost here and having now joined the vaccinated herd, I am happy to announce that I will be organizing an outdoor pop-up craft show over Memorial Day Weekend at a brand-new Japanese cultural space called “The Den on Laurel Street” that will be opening in Banker’s Hill, San Diego. The space is operated by the Takachiho Foundation to promote cultural understanding and exchange between the US and Japan.

Saturday & Sunday, May 29-30, 2021
11am-5pm
at The Den on Laurel Street
(Click to launch Google Maps)
205 Laurel St. #104
San Diego CA 92101

For the pop-up, I will have the work of many makers. This includes a large group of new nerikomi ceramics by Sakai Mika, a talented Japanese ceramic artist based in Shizuoka, Japan who creates patterned ceramics out of colored clay slabs. Colored clay is combined to create a pattern, and cut cross-wise to reveal the design, just like in the making of icebox cookies. The idea is simple but it takes a great amount of care and attention to detail to create these intricate patterns.

Building of a checkerboard pattern in nerikomi ceramics by Sakai Mika
Photos courtesy of Sakai Mika
Nerikomi Ceramics by Sakai Mika

Mika’s cheerful works are among the most sought after items that I’ve carried in my shop over the last 9 years and they are also perfect for the brighter days ahead. Please join me if you can at the Den!

Entoten Tea Whisk Zoom Webinar with Tanimura Tango: Everything About Bamboo Tea Whisks

By:
Ai Kanazawa
July 20, 2020Events, Workshops and Webinars Tanimura Tango

Entoten will be hosting a fun evening webinar with Tanimura Tango, 20th generation master tea whisk maker based in Nara, Japan.

In this 90 minute webinar that will be conducted in Japanese with English translation, participants will learn about the history of bamboo tea whisks, its material, types, and how they are made. There will be a Q&A session with Tanimura-san after the presentation.

Please register by purchasing a spot online.

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