Community Cup: Tea & Pottery, a fundraiser for the “fire arts” (ceramics and glass programs) at Volcano Art Center, is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. Oct. 8 at the center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Community Cup: Tea & Pottery, a fundraiser for the “fire arts” (ceramics and glass programs) at Volcano Art Center, is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. Oct. 8 at the center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
The admission price of $25 in advance (or $30 at the door) includes a choice of one handmade teacup or bowl and samples of freshly brewed Hawaii-grown teas.
Throughout the afternoon there will be demonstrations and talks featuring local tea growers and aficionados, including Eva Lee and members of the Urasenke Hilo Association. The Urasenke Hilo Association is the Hilo chapter of the Urasenke School of Tea of Kyoto, Japan. It is dedicated to the transmission and practice of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
The day also offers ongoing demonstrations of wheel-thrown pottery, flame-working glass and stained glass techniques by VAC instructors and students.
In 2016, after years of planning, the Volcano Art Center realized the long-standing goal of offering ongoing ceramics and glass programs. These programs are now expanding and include high-fire pottery, flame-worked glass, stained glass and ceramic classes for students of the Volcano School of Arts and Sciences.
Many local artisans have contributed their time, expertise and equipment to get these programs up and running, including potters Chiu Leong, Erik Wold, Lisa Louise Adams and Emily Herb, stained glass artists Claudia McCall and Lois Pollock, and flame-worker Nash Adams-Pruitt.
VAC program manager Alyssa Johnasen said the programs have basic infrastructure needs such as improved plumbing (clay trap for the sinks), wedging tables, correctly adjusted stools for wheel throwing, improved lighting and storage. Response from students has been very positive and to continue to grow these programs, ongoing fundraising is critical, she said.
To purchase tickets to Community Cup benefit, call Volcano Art Center at 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.
Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus is located at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road in Volcano Village.