The Pottery of Takashi Yamada at Peninsula School Of Art

Takashi (Kash) Yamada.

More than 40 pieces of art pottery by Takashi (Kash) Yamada, dating back to the 1960s, are featured in the 10th annual art exhibit at the Madeline Tourtelot Archives & Study Center of Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, from May 24 to Oct. 18.

Kash Yamada’s dinner plates, soup bowls, cups, pitchers, tea set and flower vases on display are fully functional items meant for daily use. Since they are hand-made, finely crafted, and aesthetically pleasing one-of-a-kind pieces of art pottery, they are meant to bring beauty into everyday life. Some of the pots in the exhibit are simply decorated with abstract patterns, contrasting and complementary colors, and textures, while others are embellished with enchanting interpretations of the Door Peninsula.

Born in Los Angeles, Kash received a degree in sculpture from the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. He came to Door County to apprentice with Abe Cohn at the Potters Wheel in Fish Creek. He taught ceramics at the Peninsula School of Arts in 1965 and 1966, and remained an artist-in-residence at PenArt for many years.

Classical and traditional Japanese design is the basis for Kash’s pottery. While working on a ceramic film “Portrait of a Sensei” in Japan with film producer Madeline Tourtelot in 1970, Kash was influenced by the use of regional and natural imagery in native pottery. The 30-minute film is available for viewing during the exhibit.

Exhibition hours are 10 am – 2 pm Wednesdays, or by appointment. For more information visit PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org.