God's right hand.

I was over the moon last night at the Collector’s Opening of the Rochester Potter’s Invitational. I saw this Japanese man with red round glasses picking up my pots. He resembled Hamada.  Like an idiot I went over and said “ Those pots are glazed in a shino glaze. He said “ I know!”. He then said you make very good handles. Not many potters can make good handles.  I then said “ Oh, are you a potter?” Yes,  he said I have been told I am one of  the best handle makers in England but that is not true “I am the best handle maker from Britain! My jaw then dropped to the floor and I said “Are you Takeshi Yasuda????” It was God himself in my presence shaking my right hand. Takeshi is doing a residency at Alfred University. He can make 500 completely different handles in a morning. I have loved his work forever it seems. My favoutie work was his San Cai series.

He was back today sitting in on demos and taking notes. He is one of the best potters in the world in my opinion. So I shoke hands with greatness this weekend. I hope it rubs off. I am humbled by the beautiful work in this show and my being in the presence of a pottery God

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