SUNLIT SUBTLETIES

Illustrated is a simple, subtle mizusashi made by Furutani Michio back in the late 80s to early 90s. The exterior of this classic Shigaraki pot is a puzzle like blend of hi-iro fire color and sandy, drift like patches of ash that made its way past other pots in front of this mizusashi to land haphazardly on the surface presenting a distant and solemn landscape that evokes emotion and a certain amount of pathos. Made using the coil and throw method, this form is a standard for Furutani Michio with casual lid to accompany the form and a functional and not overly thought out knob. As with most of his pots, there is a looseness, rhythm and honesty to this piece that is only decorated with sparingly applied marks of the potter and the eloquent serendipity of where the pot was placed during the firing making each piece even in series rather unique and as individual as possible. Now I realize that this sun and shadow portrait doesn't quite tell the full picture but what it does do is focus one's attention to the surface and truthfully to the atmosphere that this mizusashi presents with or without the lighting effects. I'll be sure to put another, differently lite overall shot of this Furutani Michio Shigaraki mizusashi up at some point in the future that coupled with this photo should give a fuller understanding of the piece or at least the best that a static secretive image can convey.  

"A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know."  Diane Arbus