Newsletter (2024/09/14 Munehiko Maruta, Soichi Maruta Gallery, Yu Maruta: Father and Son Exhibition)

Hello everyone.
Even though the equinox is approaching, it's still hot every day.
How are you all doing?

I think many people are having a three-day weekend starting today.
Gallery Ichibankan is holding the "Father and Son Trio Exhibition: Maruta Munehiko, Maruta Soichiro, and Maruta Yu" starting today.
This is the second parent-child trio exhibition in Karatsu, following the one held two years ago.
This time, I would like to talk a little about the connection between Ichibankan and Maruta Masami, the father of Professor Munehiko and grandfather of both Professor Soichiro and Professor Yu.

Masami Maruta grew up in a Kuromuta ware house but studied under Shoji Hamada of Mashiko, a Living National Treasure. He was a ceramic artist who created an era by incorporating elements of folk art into Kuromuta ware.
Around 60 years ago, around the time I was born, before my father started dealing in pottery, he planned an exhibition called "Kuromuta ware - Masami Maruta" in Karatsu.
I still have a few pieces from that time in my home.

His grandson, Masashi, has now revived Masami's kiln under the name Sabitani Kiln and is producing pottery there. The pottery he produces is reminiscent of Old Karatsu, which does not retain much of the folk art of the time.

And his father, Munehiko sensei, made pottery in Kuromuta together with his brother, Takaaki Maruta sensei, who passed away a few years ago.
He is now independent at Uchida Saraya Kiln and is currently making pottery together with his eldest son, Soichiro.

From today until the day after tomorrow, the 16th, Professor Munehiko and Professor Soichiro will be at the venue, so if you are in the area, please come along.
If you can't visit us in person, we will be introducing new products on our online store, so please enjoy them there.

Well, everyone, I hope you have a great weekend this week.

Naoki Sakamoto, Owner of Ichibankan