A
s I sit at my desk, a Shi Shi face staring back at me, I can’t help but actually feel
very proud of what I created. I’ve said (written) it many times – I love working with
my hands, I love being creative, but the jury is still out on whether or not those
things I create with my creative hands are actually mantle-worthy. There’s something
so extremely gratifying about building something from nothing, especially when the
finished product is what you had originally envisioned. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had
my fair share of projects gone awry. I could fill a refrigerator door with side by side
comparisons of what Pinterest told me I was making and my carefully thought out
rebuttals. But this Shi Shi face staring back at me is different. The thing that Pinterest
(or any website, for that matter) can’t provide is a real, live human being to walk you
through the process - a credible individual to guide you through each step, correcting
and encouraging you as you go. But do you know where you can find that? Why, at
Kadena Arts & Crafts, of course! They have instructors, professionals and a staff who
know exactly what they’re doing when you feel you don’t.
Perhaps you’re wondering why there is a Shi Shi face staring at me as I sit at my desk.
Well friends, the aforementioned instructors of sentences passed are a good starting
point for my explanation. I had the opportunity to take the Shi Shi face class with Jorge
Itokazu, one of the many talented instructors at Arts & Crafts. Jorge Itokazu provides
a unique experience and perspective to students in his class. He’s been teaching
classes on Kadena for over 20 years and his passion for his craft is made evident in
the enthusiasm he has for teaching others. If you haven’t taken a class with Mr. Itokazu,
I highly recommend it. His sense of humor breaks the ice and helps ease your nerves.
Oh, you don’t get nervous for stuff like this? Okay, well it helped ease my nerves. There
is a lot of self-inflicted anxiety that goes into crafting for me. The what ifs are sometimes
insurmountable deal breakers that keep me from reaching my true crafting potential,
leaving me with a Pinterest full of pins and a house full of would-be
wreaths, holiday center pieces and homemade dog treats. All of
those fears are cast to the wayside, though, when you’ve got
someone walking you through your project.
One of the beautiful things about taking a class like this is
the fact that you can get your feet wet, as it were. You can
try new things without having to fully commit to a new hobby.
Some may say this is very noncommittal of you, and while they
may be right, it’s also allows you to try new things that you may
not have otherwise attempted. More than likely, I would never just
pick up pottery or ceramics on a whim – but I’d take a class on a
whim. That’s kind of what I did, actually, and it really paid off!
Jorge began by giving a brief introduction of himself. He was born in
South America to Okinawan parents who eventually, as many of us are,
were called back to this tiny Pacific island. He began working at Tsuboya
as an apprentice, learning the techniques, history and style of traditional
Okinawan pottery. Many of the craftsmen at Tsuboya had pottery in their
blood; the lifestyle was passed down from generation to generation making
it difficult for outsiders to get in the door. Jorge’s teacher saw his potential and
began to give Jorge more and more responsibilities, teaching and mentoring him
along the way.
VENTURE 13