Here are images from the last glaze firing.

Here are a few pieces from the first firing.

Steve Yuhasz has been given Three Cords to commemorate becoming County Commissioner of Orange County. This piece deals with the themes of community, teamwork, and cooperation. Three Cords is reminiscent of a modern totem pole, promoting harmony and peace among Orange County citizens.

It will be permanently installed in front of Steve's ENT Land Survey & Law Office in downtown Historic Hillsborough on Churton Street.

Making New Work:

My studio is getting full. Work is piling up in anticipation of the spring kiln opening. Here are some images of the work in greenware state. And one of me sitting on the many boxes of clay yet to be opened.

I wanted to share and promote some fun parades.


If you missed the Handmade Parade in Hillsborough here is a link to what you missed:


http://flickr.com/photos/oberazzi/sets/72157607980134441/with/2959751476/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqQ5zuJxQD4

Also there is going to be some good parades in the future:

Hillsborough Holiday Parade - December 6th Downtown, 3:00pm. I think Santa will be there!

And please check out:

Greetings in the cause of peace and social justice,
I am happy to announce four amazing events (listed below) as part of the Human Rights Week in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Please join us in answering the call of these young people to work for social change in our community by attending at least one of the following events. Much of this work is the culmination of a semester long exploration of Human Rights by CHHS, ECHHS, and CHS students who participate in the Scene + Heard Youth Arts Collective workshops every Saturday. I am blessed to lead students in such an honest and open artistic investigation of social issues, and I am hopeful that you will come share the process with us! Also, feel free to forward this far and wide.
PEACE,
michael irwin
CHHS Arts Academy Coordinator
"Happy Birthday Human Rights"

– A Parade
Saturday, December 13th @ 10:00 AM
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the Chapel Hill Holiday Parade. Please feel free to bring signs with your message about Human Rights, Musical Instruments, Funky Dress or any other fun parade gear
Meet at Old Well UNC Campus at 9:30am Directions

Amy Gelber Pottery will be showing Three Cords and Ascension at the First Baptist Church of Hillsborough Artisan Market on Saturday December 13th from 10am-3pm in the Blake Room. She will also show some wood fired anagama vases that were fired in one of the oldest kilns in Japan. Everyone is welcome!

FBCH: 201 West King Street Hillsborough, NC 27278

Ceramic Peace on Display: Amy Gelber's work has been selected to exhibit in the 2008 – 2009 Juried Exhibitions Series. Amy Gelber Pottery is proud to announce that 5 of the remaining original 9 sculptures from Ceramic Peace will be on display at the Chapel Hill Town Hall from November 14th, 2008 through January 4th, 2009. The opening reception will be held at the Town Hall on Friday November 14th from 5:00 - 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this event.

Amy Gelber Pottery joined forces with Cisco Systems, Inc. at the Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation Charity Ball and Auction in Raleigh, NC on October 24th, 2008.Regeneration from Ceramic Peace earned $1,100 for children with diabetes and Amy is proud and honored her sculpture is fulfilling its original purpose.

Ceramic Peace

Amy Gelber, Ceramic Artist

Created at the Shigaraki Ceramic Institute

Ceramic Peace Exhibition:

January 9th - February 2nd 2008

Gallery 86

86 North Main Street

Waynesville, NC 28786
828.452.0593

http://www.haywoodarts.org/Gallery86.html

Please join us at Gallery 86 for the

opening reception on Friday

January 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm

This is the HCC Professional Crafts 30th Anniversary Exhibition at the Folk Art Center . I was glad to be able to exhibit my work, even though I was still in Japan. It looks like it was an incredible show.

I Love Lucie Rie! We got to see her work at the Crafts Gallery in Tokyo.

This is Watarai San's exhibition. He hand dyes, sizes, and cuts porcelain disks, then after firing he welds the structure together to create an enormous ceramic form. When he was a studio artist at Shigaraki, it was amazing just to watch him create a plaster form that he uses as a mold for his welding process.

Michael Wein's Sea and Shore Exhibition in Australia

Here are more images of the Shigaraki Studio Artist's exhibition at Maroni Gallery in Kyoto, Japan.

Yoshi Kawamura, Toshi Kawai, Madoka Ueno, Maru, and Nancy Fuller.

Here we are at Hanami, enjoying the cherry blossoms.

Studio Artist Exhibition in Kyoto

Studio Artists

Studio Artists

Koyama-san and Friends

Koyama-san's Shigarakiyaki

Koyama-san's Movie Poster and her famous Piece

Koyama-san's Son's Luster Bowls

Images of Firings at Shigaraki.

Shigaraki Artist Statement
My experiences in Shigaraki have been rich and rewarding. I am so thankful for the people of the Shigaraki Ceramic Institute and Cultural Park. I am fortunate to have met some of the most talented studio and visiting artists, who have helped to inspire my creativity and to expand my perspective and approach to my work. The studio instructors' constant dedication and knowledgeable advice has proved to be priceless. I am forever grateful to be surrounded by such talented people.

I have always enjoyed creating utilitarian ceramic work. Being inspired here at Shigaraki has led me to explore sculptural techniques as a means to express myself. Ironically it took the trip to Japan to be led from function into sculpture by the California funk artists from America. Tony Natsoulas, Peter VandenBerge, and Camille VandenBerge took me under their wing and gave me a crash course in sculpture. Their encouragement and tutelage sparked the body of work called Ceramic Peace.

This body of work is both for the public and yet very personal, in that it deals with the human spirit as it aspires for peace. Self Realization, Personal Accountability, Vision, Fellowship, Faith, Service, Respect, Wisdom, Home, Rest, Growth, Unity, Grace, Freedom, and Love are themes that connect one piece to the next in an attempt to understand the character of Peace.

I also attempt to explore the restructuring of the cosmos as we are enlightened, transformed, assured, regenerated and given gifts of life towards a real and true peace among humanity. God's work in my life has touched my heart, my character and my conduct in this personal journey though this work. I hope that this work also touches your spirit and creates a conversation and a space for Peace.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to experience this outstanding residency program, and I know that its effects on me and my creative work will be deep and lasting.

Thank you,

Amy Gelber

Ceramic Peace
Rebirth
Wake Up, O Sleeper
Transfiguration
Three Cords
Fisher
Adoption
Bearing Fruit
Regeneration
Ascension

Ceramic Peace

Created at the Shigaraki Ceramic Institute

Rebirth
height 58 cm
2006

Glaze Detail


Wake Up O Sleeper
height 142 cm
2006

Transfiguration
height 67 cm
2006

Three Cords
height 90 cm
2006

Fisher
height 38cm
2006

Adoption
height 40 cm
2006

Bearing Fruit
height 58cm
2006

Regeneration
height 80 cm
2006

Ascension
height 68cm
2006


Glaze detail

My town, Nakano-ku, Tokyo also wants Peace:

PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN AND OUR NUCLEAR-FREE CITY
Last Update　March 26, 2005-->
In 1982, in response to residents' calls for peace, Nakano City made a "Proclamation in Support of the Constitution of Japan and Our Nuclear-free City Declaration".Then, in 1990, enacted the "Ordinance on Basic Stance for Peace Administration in Nakano City," which calls for the realization of the elimination of all nuclear weapons and everlasting peace, joining with residents in promoting this through the grass roots level.
PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN AND OUR NUCLEAR-FREE CITY
Smiles of children fill every corner of our town, Songs of youth enliven every square. Here develop the lives of our own. Beyond the oceans and seas We perceive the lives of the same humankind.
The nuclear weapons all around the globe, today, Threaten to take from us the act of living and this happiness away.
Our Constitution is there to secure our daily lives, to protect liberty, Pledging lasting peace.
Valuing this Constitution,We join hands with people all around the world, And appeal to all nations possessing nuclear threats To dismantle their arms.
We announce this voice of our citizens, As The Proclamation of Nakano in Support of the Constitution of Japan and Our Nuclear-free City.

August 15, l982

Zen Garden in Kyoto

Eli and Amy in Kyoto during the Gion Matsuri.

Tanuki

Amy, Nancy & Michael

Nancy and Amy firing Anagama

Fellow Studio Artists: Tomoko, Yoshi, Cha, Amy, and Toshi preparing for the fire festival BBQ.

List of Galleries Exhibiting and Selling my Work

Blue Moon Gallery, Seagrove NC
Carolina Creations, New Bern
Grovewood Gallery, Asheville NC
Midland Crafters, Southern Pines NC
NC Crafts Gallery, Carrboro NC
Seven Sisters Fine Arts and Crafts Gallery, Black Mountian
Southern Pottery, Columbia SC
Winterfire Gallery, Greensboro and Winston Salem NC

Amy Gelber

Here are some images of my functional work that I made in America before living in Japan. Sushi Tray, Large Wave Bowl, Soup Terrine and ladle, Teapot, Large Oval Boat. Handmade high fire ^10 Reduction Stoneware. Food Safe and lead free. Please see my list of Galleries in America to check for the availability of my functional work.

Ayano and Amy at the Shigaraki Fire Festival . We climbed up and down a moutain with our torches and at the top was a shrine. The entire town participated (since all potters were invited to carry a torch) and even the kids dressed as Tanuki and carried lanterns. At the end of the parade we threw our tourch into a huge bon fire and they gave everyone the ceramic 2006 medalions. They lit the entire town up with white lights and as you climbed the moutain the view from the top was incredible.

Eli and Amy on Pa'ia Bay, Hawaii.

Rainbow over Paia Bay

Kyoto



Madoka and Amy in Kyoto.