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hamada. leach and yanagi

updated thu 26 jul 12

 

Bill Merrill on wed 25 jul 12


There has been numerous posts about Hamada. One of the books about =3D
Hamada and Bernard Leach, is one written by Bernard Leach in the early =3D
70's. The book "Hamada" is a collection of letters between Leach and =3D
Hamada, with pictures,drawings, etc. The book is expensive now , but is =
=3D
one the shows the insight of Hamada. The ISBN number is: =3D
0-87011-252-x.
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Hamada and Bernard Leach were in the United States in 1952, Potters =3D
Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, along with philosopher Soetsu Yanagi, =3D
travel across the U.S., giving demonstrations, workshops, and talks, and =
=3D
spreading enthusiasm for Asian aesthetics and pottery. Rosanjin (real =3D
name: Fusajiro Kitaoji) was in the United States in 1954, but was not =3D
at The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana. I have been at the =3D
Bray from then (1966) until now on a regular basis. There has never =3D
been anything recorded in the history of the Bray that mentions =3D
Rosanjin, Possibly Rosanjin has been confused with Soetso Yanagi, who =3D
was at the Bray at the time Pete Voulkos, Rudy Autio, Bernard Leach,and =3D
Hamada were there in 1952. Dave Shaner published a hand made booklet =3D
that had writings by Yanagi. There were 366 copies printed and I am =3D
fortunate to have several of them. =3D20
=3D20
John Nickerson ( a friend since 1955) was a Montana potter, studied =3D
with Francis Senska, went to Alfred and wrote his thesis on The Bray. =3D
He wrote his thesis when Dave Shaner was the Director of The Bray. He =3D
also told me in a recent conversation, that he never found any =3D
documentation of Rosanjin being at the Bray. =3D20
=3D20
Bill Merrill
=3D20
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