Master Potter Yoshihiko Yoshida will exhibit his work May 20 through June 30 at CCC's Art Center Gallery. Submitted photo.>

ASTORIA – Clatsop Community College (CCC) welcomes Yoshihiko Yoshida, a master potter from Mino, Japan, to the college’s Art Center Gallery for an exhibit of ceramic pottery in the Mino tradition. The show opens May 20 and runs until June 30. There will be an opening reception at 6 p.m. Friday, May 20, in the CCC Art Center Gallery to welcome Yoshida and his work.

“In my responsibilities to find artists who could contribute to my teaching at Clatsop Community College and the professional art and general community, I traveled to Japan to look at traditional ceramics and its thousands of years of history,” said Richard Rowland, CCC ceramics instructor. “I began my study by looking at the ancient work of Joman, Aichi and the traditional six ancient kiln sites. I also investigated through maps and museums the migration routes of peoples into Japan from Korea and China. I visited many well-known potters, but when I was invited to visit potters in Mino and Shigaraki I was lucky enough to meet Yoshihiko Yoshida, and was instantly impressed by his humble and honest demeanor. After meeting with him and his wife, I realized that he could show my community how to hold on to the best of traditional values by using them as a springboard for contemporary reflection. The timing seemed right to ask him if he could come to Astoria.”

In addition to the gallery exhibit, Yoshida will conduct a ceramic workshop the next day for students and professional artists, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Art Center ceramic studio. He will do a pottery throwing demonstration and answer specific question about ceramics in Japan. Cost is $20 for CCC students and $30 for the public. A tea ceremony is included during the day’s event. Contact rrowland@clatsopcc.edu for workshop information and availability. Space is limited.

Saturday evening, Yoshida will finish his visit to CCC with a lecture and slide presentation at the CCC Performing Arts Center, at 16th Street and Franklin Avenue. The presentation, “In the Mino Tradition,” is at 7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Larry Tyrrell will perform shakuhachi – traditional bamboo flute music. Yoshida will lecture about his life and work as a traditional potter in Japan, as well as his apprenticeship with Arakawa Toyozo (1894-1985), one of Japan’s first National Living Treasures.

For more information about the artist, visit www.clatsopcc.edu

For more information about the exhibit and corresponding events, contact Rowland at rrowland@clatsopcc.edu

Clatsop Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. The CCC Art Center Gallery and PAC are ADA accessible.