123 On Third presents Kintsugi for beginners taught by artist Mami Takahashi.
Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese lacquer/Urushi art form in which gold mixed with natural lacquer-tree sap 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.
Kintsugi teaches us that our scars and imperfections are not flaws to be hidden, but golden seams that make us uniquely beautiful. By embracing our broken pieces and mending them with care, we transform our struggles into strength, creating a masterpiece of resilience and self-acceptance. This ancient art reminds us that healing is a journey of patience and self-love, where each crack becomes a testament to our ability to overcome and grow.
In this beginner’s workshop, participants will learn the basic technique of Kintsugi on a small porcelain plate or a small ceramic plate, which the instructor will provide, 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 allergic reactions.
Note: This workshop also uses epoxy putty and ceramic glue. Some remnants from these may stay on participants' fingers. Finger covers will be provided but it could make a difficult to work on the details.
This is a BYOB event.
About Mami Takahashi
Mami Takahashi is a Japanese multidisciplinary artist and scholar in Chicago. 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.
With ongoing artistic research, practice, and teaching, Takahashi explores different approaches to actualize Japanese aesthetics to enhance cultural perspectives in many U.S. communities. 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 Japan and Chicago by teaching traditional and modern art-making techniques.
