Wabi-Sabi/Japanese Tea Bowls Studio Art & Design 1: A Sense of Place Wabi-Sabi/Japanese Tea Bowls By Lori Ann Eshbaugh Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

What is your favorite beverage? Do you have a favorite cup? Why? Describe…

One of my favorite beverages is tea. These are some of the qualities of my favorite tea cup: Interesting inside Wide rim Short size colorful

Challenge: To create multiple vessels to explore and communicate the psychological impact of a place on its inhabitants

Agenda: day one Discuss qualities of favorite beverage vessels Handout Presentation Notes Pages (graded) State challenge: To create multiple vessels to explore and communicate the psychological impact of a place on its inhabitants Introduce aspects of the wabi-sabi aesthetic as a sense of place including: Ceremonies Tea Rooms Historical figures Group Visual Thinking Strategy-Compare & Contrast Discuss aesthetics Wabi-Sabi Cover criteria for ceramic tea bowls *Homework: Research Japanese Tea Bowls, Tea Ceremonies, Tea rooms-add notes to visual journals-complete FLIP Handout

Honemi Koetsu Sen no Rikyu Raku Potter Japanese Tea Master 16th C. Tea master was brought in to teach the fine art of the tea ceremony to the shoguns (military); he is credited with establishing the manners and etiquette for tea ceramonies Raku tea bowls were originated through his collaboration with Koetsu The wabi-sabi aesthetic began with an influence from Zen Buddhism

Wabi-Sabi Chawan (Tea Bowls)

Oriental potters believe one finds the soul in the inside of a tea bowl, while the outside is mainly cosmetic.

Tea bowl made by Yabe Mokoto, Japan 1993 Wabi Sabi aesthetic Black Raku tea bowl 3rd-7th generation of the Raku family, Japan 1800s Tea bowl made by Yabe Mokoto, Japan 1993

Wabi Sabi Wabi – inner nature of human life Sabi – outer, material side of life Aesthetic which appreciates: Rough, ridges (not fine and smooth) Rustic natural Cracks and crevices and element of chance Finds beauty in the fleeting temporary state of nature Simple, delicate, fragile Celebrates marks from time, weather and loving use Embracing imperfection was honored as a healthy reminder to cherish our unpolished selves, here and now, just as we are.

Criteria: Hand build three Japanese tea bowls using a wabi-sabi aesthetic All three bowls must have different shapes Give the inside an element of ‘soul’ Include one ‘summer’ and one ‘winter’ bowl First tea bowl must be pinched Second tea bowl must be coiled Third bowl is your choice

Difference between Summer and Winter Tea Bowls Summer: Wide rim, shallow depth Winter: Average rim, deep depth to allow tea to cool to allow tea to stay warm

Begin Sketches for Pinched Japanese Tea Bowl

Japanese Tea Bowls-Day 2 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day two Share research on Japanese Tea ceremonies, Tea Rooms, Examples of Tea bowls Introduce aspects of the wabi-sabi aesthetic as a sense of place including: Ceremonies Tea Rooms Handout Presentation Notes Pages (graded)-Continue Review Challenge and Criteria Develop sketches of Japanese Tea Bowls Review “What is clay, exactly?” Explore qualities of Soldate clay-learn to measure 1 lb-1.5 lb balls of clay Review Steps of Pinch Method Discuss safety measures *Homework: 1. Read article “What should not go down the drain” -add notes to visual journals 2. Research Pinch Method of making a clay vessel-complete handout

Japanese Tea Ceremonies The Japanese tea ceremony is performed in appreciation of natural beauty. It is a special event traditionally served with a performance aspect. It involves the preparation of tea in a formal setting according to prescribed rules. Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the Japanese Tea Ceremony Moment of quiet exchange and introspection Traveled into Japan from China by Silk Road from a Buddhist monk

Health benefits of drinking tea Tea contains many vitamins and some minerals, such as fluoride. It is a stimulant as it contains caffeine which allows for clear thinking and mental alertness Promotes digestion, dissolves fats, neutralizes poisons inside the digestive tract and lowers fevers Can be used to clean sores and wash out the eyes and mouth.

Katsura Palace, Japan Famous Tea House, 1625

Inside Katsura Palace Rustic-Cottage like tea house Nostalgia for simple life Asymmetrical inside with natural features Niche-where tea is made Object for guest to meditate on: vase with flower, scroll, calligraphy

Refine sketches for Pinched Japanese Tea Bowl

What is clay, exactly? Clay is a special kind of earth which is made by the decomposition of rocks through the action of weathering. What does that mean? Well basically, over time, bits of earth are carried from one place to another by water and deposited in areas where the water slows down to a trickle. (Have you ever gone digging by the water's edge only to grab a handful of muck? Well that muck is clay.) As the bits of earth travel with the water, they pick up all sorts of stuff and by the time we pick up a box of clay from the pottery store, the muck has been collected and prepared for us to use. All of the tiny rocks and lumps have been removed and some additional materials, like sand are sometimes added to create the perfect workable clay.

Stages of Clay Wet Soft Leather-hard Medium Leather-hard Hard Leather-hard Bone dry-Green ware *1st fire Bisque ware-very breakable Glaze *2nd fire Glazed-Finished piece

Pinch Method Review: 2. Roll the clay into a large ball and make sure it is moist. Wedge 1 lb. of clay to get rid of all of the air pockets. 3. Use your thumb and push down, creating hole in the center of the ball. 4. Make sure that the hole is at least one and a half inch deep. 5. Using your thumb and index finger, pinch and press the clay upward. 6. Flatten the bottom by carefully pressing it against a table, then indent with thumb. 7. Smooth out the pot with a rib or use tools to create a textured surface-add colored slip. 8. Let it dry. 9. Underglaze then 1st fire as Bisque ware. Glaze and 2nd fire as finished piece.

Give special attention to the following: rim: where your lips will touch sides: where your hands will touch foot: where bowl will sit inside and/or bottom: an unexpected element for surprise! surface techniques: decorative and wabi-sabi in nature gauging: ¼” thickness throughout function: no cracks; must hold water size: design to fit into the palm or YOUR left hand while holding on side with your right hand

WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW CLAY TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN! If clay gets into the sink, we will have a major problem. Always rinse your hands in a bucket of water ... the clay will settle to the bottom and you will be able to pour the water off the top (outside) and you will be able to use the slurry clay at a later time. DO NOT SWEEP CLAY PARTICLES INTO THE AIR! Use wet sponges to remove clay from working areas and floor so that we do not breath in the clay dust which can be harmful to our lungs. REMEMBER TO COVER BOWLS WITH PLASTIC ON A BOARD! If not, the tea bowl will dry to quickly and crack.

Begin Sketches for Coiled Japanese Tea Bowl

Japanese Tea Bowls-Day 3 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day three Share more examples of Japanese Tea bowls Handout Presentation Notes Pages (graded)-Continue Review Challenge and Criteria Refine sketches for Pinched method of Japanese Tea Bowl Pinch Method Share information researched Demonstrate Create 1st Japanese Tea Bowl Review safety measures *Homework: 1. Work on sketches for coiled Japanese Tea Bowl 2. Research Coil Method of making a clay vessel-complete handout

Refine sketches for Coiled Japanese Tea Bowl

Japanese Tea Bowls-Day 4 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day four Share more examples of Japanese Tea bowls Handout Presentation Notes Pages (graded)-Continue Review Challenge and Criteria Refine sketches for Coiled method of Japanese Tea Bowl Demonstration of Coil Method Create 2nd Japanese Tea Bowl Review safety measures *Homework: 1. Work on sketches for ‘other- Japanese Tea Bowl 2. Research various Surface Treatments for Japanese Tea Bowls -complete handout

Coil Method Review: 1. Make coils 2. Assemble them by stacking the coils on top of each other. *You can use a flat, rolled circle as the base of the pot. Then lay the coil on top of the circle and stack more coils on top of the base coil. This will produce a vertical wall. *To widen the wall of the pot, place the clay coils slightly to the outside of each coil layer. To have the wall come inwards, place the coils slightly inside of each coil layer. When making a pot, coils can be smooth as each layer is added or you can leave the coil shape on the outside and smooth just the inside of the pot. 4. Add a coil of clay to form a foot ring on the pot by turning the pot upside down and adding the coil clay to the base of the pot.

WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW CLAY TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN! If clay gets into the sink, we will have a major problem. Always rinse your hands in a bucket of water ... the clay will settle to the bottom and you will be able to pour the water off the top (outside) and you will be able to use the slurry clay at a later time. DO NOT SWEEP CLAY PARTICLES INTO THE AIR! Use wet sponges to remove clay from working areas and floor so that we do not breath in the clay dust which can be harmful to our lungs. REMEMBER TO COVER BOWLS WITH PLASTIC ON A BOARD! If not, the tea bowl will dry to quickly and crack.

Begin Sketches for ‘other’ Japanese Tea Bowl

Japanese Tea Bowls-Day 5 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day five Share more examples of Japanese Tea bowls Review Challenge and Criteria Refine sketches for ‘other’ method of Japanese Tea Bowl Gallery walk for sketches and notes Surface Techniques Share Research Found Demonstrate Various Techniques Create 3rd Japanese Tea Bowl Add surface decorations Review safety measures

Surface Decorations Carving Incising Stamping Impressing Slip Trailing Sgraffito Slip Inlay Colored slip Piercing Sprigs Stencils Incising Carving Sgraffito Slip Inlay Colored Slip Stencils Piercing Sprigs

Japanese Tea Bowls-Day 6 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day six Critique-Peer Review Write and Discuss-turn in Students present their Sketches and Notes Assess additional time needed Surface Techniques Continue to share research on techniques Demonstrate more techniques Complete all three bowls with surface techniques-Greenware Stage Review Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic

Japanese Tea Bowls- Day 7 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day seven Discuss Kiln-cone 6 Review Stages of Clay-We are in Greenware Stage going into first firing Refine and complete all sketches and notes Complete all three bowls with all surface decorations

Japanese Tea Bowls- Day 8 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day eight Demonstrate glazing process Students take notes on glazes used Complete glazing for all three vessels Discuss Final Firing-no pieces can tough

Japanese Tea Bowls- Day 9 By Lori Ann Eshbaugh ”Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”-Chinese Proverb

Agenda: day nine Critique-all three Japanese Tea Bowls and Notes Review Feldman Method Self-Assessment Artist Statement

Cheers!!