Next to the Mountains

One of the more beautiful aspects of the area around our home in Black Diamond is the rugged mountain landscape. When we prepared our slideshow for our workshops in Japan we included several shots of the mountains near the Sheep River. These images were a big hit with the students at the workshop at Aichi University, as they looked so different from the landscape surrounding Nagoya. When we arrived in Toyama, a city about 4 hrs north of Nagoya, to do a workshop, we realized that these pictures likely would not seem very special as Toyama is next to the Japanese Alps. Before arriving in this region I was unaware of how high and dramatic this mountain range was. My notion of Japan’s landscape was flat rice fields.

Toyama is not really known as a tourist city, but we lucked out as there was a shrine festival happening the evening we arrived. The streets were packed with booths selling deep fried squid snacks and every other snack imaginable, the air and streets were thick with music and revelers. We had no idea at the time what was going on but just followed the crowd and tried to take it all in. Our next day at Toyama City Institute of Glass Art (T.I.G.A) was great. It is amazing to see what can be created when a city supports the arts. The facilities were top notch and the work of the instructors and students reflected the desire to make Toyama an international centre of glass art. The institute draws many practicing artists with its residency facilities. We were lucky enough to be hosted by well-known glass artists Makiko Nakagami  and Peter Ivy. They welcomed us into their home and studio, without their help our trip to Toyama would not have been possible. During our time at T.I.G.A we noticed some similarities between Japanese and Canadian glass artists such as a reverence for the materiality of glass and nature. This quality is imbued in the work being made in both countries, despite the differences in landscape and culture.

Tyler being assisted by Robert Lewis and a First year student.

Chicako (Chica) Ogawa, Teaching Assistant in the hotshop, who really helped us and was great fun. 

Chalk talk with Makiko and the advanced students.

Makiko’s work.

Fields near Makiko and Peter’s house, Toyama.