Kintsugi for Beginners

Kintsugi for Beginners 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturday, 7/19

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather than erasing it and emphasizes that the break, or trauma, is what makes the ceramics more valuable.

Here is a quote about Kintsugi from Linda Muller, a certified life coach:

“Kintsugi is based on the philosophy that breakage and repair are something to celebrate – embracing flaws and imperfections creates a stronger and more beautiful piece of art. Using this as a metaphor for healing ourselves teaches us an important lesson: Sometimes in the process of repairing what feels broken, we become moreunique, beautiful and resilient. Kintsugi can be a way to reframe personal challenges. Reminding us that we’re not a victim of our circumstances. Showing us that we can come out on the other side stronger.”

In this beginner’s workshop, participants will learn the basic technique of Kintsugi on a small porcelain plate or a small ceramic plate to understand the fundamentals of this process. All materials including adhesives in the workshop will be food-safe. We will also use an artificial Urushi (the natural resin/glue collected from the lacquer tree) sap for this beginner’s class, which is safe to touch without allergy reactions.

In the “Kintsugi for Beginners” workshop, epoxy putty will be used in addition to the ceramic glue. These materials may make the students’ fingers sticky, and some remnants of epoxy might also stay on their fingers for a few days. There will be finger covers for students to use, but often, that makes working with these materials a bit difficult.

Please note that this class has a minimum of 4 participants. If the minimum is not met, students will be transferred to the next offered class.

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.

Host or Publisher Japanese Culture Center