Volcano Art Center announces the third annual A Taste of Tea & Pottery event slated for noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at VAC’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.
New to this year’s fundraiser is the addition of a pre-event workshop series focusing on the role of the arts in tea culture and community. The Arts & Tea Culture workshops are designed to be attended as a series, providing participants a glimpse into the long history and cultural significance of a handmade tea bowl while highlighting locally produced teas that have become a unique agricultural product for Hawaii.
The series is open to anyone interested in learning about the relationship between tea, arts and agriculture. No experience is necessary.
The three afternoon workshops are scheduled for noon-5 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, June 29 and July 27 at the Niaulani Campus.
• Workshop 1: Participants will have the opportunity to hand build porcelain ceramic tea bowls with Volcano artist and tea farmer Chiu Leong. The session will introduce the history of tea bowl culture, a brief overview by Eva Lee of local tea farming and a focused cupping, tasting and education on Hawaii-grown white teas.
• Workshop 2: Students will receive their bisque fired tea bowls from the previous session to glaze for high fire completion. In addition, a focused cupping and tasting of locally produced black teas with a brief discussion and demonstration on tea cultivar propagation for attendees to start a few tea plants on their own.
• Workshop 3: Participants will collect their previously glazed bowls for the enjoyment of participating in a Japanese tea ceremony. It will be performed by artist and Chado practitioner Philippe Nault, along with an introduction to its origin, evolution and philosophical development as a “transformative practice.” A discussion about green tea, a brief review of Hawaii green tea cultivation and production will follow.
The series can be attended for $60 for VAC members or $75 for non-members. Individual workshops can be can be attended for $25 each. The first 20 members to register for all three workshops receive A Taste of Tea & Pottery ticket for half price.
Registration is limited. Call 967-8222 to register.
To purchase tickets, enroll for the workshops or get more information about this year’s A Taste of Tea & Pottery event, call Volcano Art Center at 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.
Proceeds from these special events will be used to help support the “Fire Arts” program at VAC, which includes ongoing ceramics and glass classes and workshops. The Volcano Art Center is dedicated to offering these programs that are now expanding and include high-fire pottery, flame-worked glass and stained glass, and ceramic classes for students of the nearby Volcano School of Arts and Sciences.
The Niaulani Campus is located at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road in Volcano Village.