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A STUDY OF JAPANESE CERAMIC HISTORY AND THE INTENTION OF BRINGING OBJECTS OF UNSURPASSED BEAUTY INTO EVERY DAY USE
As told by Naysan McIlhargey, Miami Valley Pottery:
“Last year a 33 year dream was realized. In 1993, I was introduced to the concept of MINGEI and Japanese Arts at Earlham College. I traveled to Japan for the first time last summer and visited the homes of three of the greatest potters of the 20th Century. I also went to museums, ceramic studios and many of the places considered important to the Mingei movement.
What I came back with was not just 20 pieces of handmade pottery but a burning inspiration that nurtured my creative process and challenged me to make work that is considerably different from what I normally produce.
I decided to make work based on 101 shapes from Japanese ceramic history, with 10 pieces per shape. The 1010 pieces that came out of this Spring firing are but a sliver of what Japan gifted me this past year.”
Join Miami Valley Pottery in celebrating the Japanese arts and tradition of Mingei and learn more about a philosophy that guides us to live, on a daily basis, with the cherished handmade beauty of ceramics.
MINGEI: KILN OPENING POPUP JUNE 1-30, 2026 10AM-5PM
Discover Mingei & meet the ceramicist during the June 2026 downtown pop-up gallery at 254 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
(Corner of Xenia & Short Street – former Hardware Store.)
Which piece will speak to you?
