Advanced Kintsugi: Traditional Method (4-Week Course)

For those who have completed Kintsugi for Beginners and wish to deepen their practice, this small-group, four-session course offers an immersive experience in the traditional Japanese Kintsugi method. Over four weeks (two hours per session), participants will work entirely with all-natural materials used for centuries: Urushi (sap from the Japanese lacquer tree), rice powder, bisque powder, and wood powder.

From the very first step, you will learn to assemble broken ceramics using real Urushi lacquer, experience the use of a moisture box to cure the lacquer, and explore traditional techniques for filling, smoothing, and finishing. Participants are welcome to bring their own broken ceramic pieces or work with plates provided by the instructor.

Please note: Urushi is a natural lacquer that can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have concerns, the JCC office can arrange an alternative lacquer derived from mango sap.

Kintsugi is more than a repair technique—it is a philosophy that honors the story of an object. Rather than hiding damage, we highlight it with gold, celebrating each crack as part of its beauty. As in life, the process of mending can make something stronger, more unique, and more treasured. This course offers not only technical mastery but also a meditative space to engage with this timeless art form in its most authentic form.

Location : Japanese Culture Center. 2940, N. Lincoln Ave, Unit 2.

Time/Dates: 5:30PM - 7:30PM, Thursdays, Nov 13, November 20, December 4, December 11.

Additional cost: Students will need to purchase their material kit at the first class for $70.

About the instructor:

Mami Takahashi is a Japanese multidisciplinary artist and a scholar working at multiple citiesincluding Portland, Chicago and Tokyo. She received her MFA in Contemporary Studio Practice from Portland State University in 2013 and earned a BFA in Japanese Painting from Joshibi University of Art and Design in Japan. For more details, visit https://mamitakahashi.art/

With ongoing artistic research, practice, and teaching, Takahashi explores different approaches to actualize Japanese aesthetics to enhance cultural perspectives to many U.S. communities. At JAF, she is expanding her creativity to incorporate more specific discourses around society, past and present via a lens of Japanese art. Takahashi also aims to connect between Japan and communities in Chicago by teaching traditional and modern art-making techniques.

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