Suda Seika II (1892-1971), Water jar with kutani polychrome glazing, 1950s. Glazed porcelain with lacquer cover, 5 x 7 in. 

NEW YORK, NY.- With ninety-five percent of the exhibited works sold at Asia Week’s end and nearly a month before the exhibition’s close, Joan B Mirviss LTD could not be more pleased with the fervent reception of A Palette for Genius: Japanese Water Jars for the Tea Ceremony. This is the first-ever exhibition purely dedicated to showcasing the mizusashi, or water jar- even in Japan. Historically, more popular tea utensils such as the teabowl or tea caddy have overshadowed the water jar as a work of art to be collected. The exhibition reexamines this under-appreciated implement and its limitless potential as a stand-alone work of art. 

As the largest utensil involved in the tea ceremony, the water jar plays a significant role in dictating the atmosphere of the tearoom. In such a way, the remarkable presence of over fifty water jars in the gallery space has led to stimulating conversations between the artworks. The water jars continue to change positions throughout the space as new aesthetic groupings spur new inspiration for design. It is a rare creative opportunity to have such a range of brilliant artists’ works in close proximity and, as such, the exhibition keeps with the mantra of the tea ceremony ichi-go ichi-e, “for this time only” . 

With the immense success and popularity of Asia Week, visitors to the gallery have become increasingly interested in our upcoming exhibition beginning April 26th, Collapse/Rebirth: Sculpture by Fujino Sachiko and Futamura Yoshimi. For this show the artists have created two different bodies work that, while aesthetically different, compliment each other in theme. Fujino’s smooth, layered forms evoke the beauty of a flower on the verge of blossoming, while the rough, cracked surfaces of Futamura’s sculptures suggest the hidden, mysterious side of nature. 

Joan B. Mirviss is the leading western dealer in the field of modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics, and from her NY gallery on Madison Ave., Joan B. Mirviss LTD exclusively represents the top Japanese clay artists. As a widely published and highly respected specialist in her field for over thirty-five years, Mirviss has advised and built collections for many museums, major private collectors, and corporations. 

Joan B. Mirviss LTD is located at 39 East 78th Street in New York and is open Monday through Friday 11am-6pm and by appointment.

Kaneta Masanao, Hagi-glazed water jar with extensive pink tones and ridge lines, 2012. Glazed stoneware, 8 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 8 1/2 in.