Hot fun in the summertime has slowly segued into the cool cultural events of autumn, which is popularly known as "bunka no kisetsu (the cultural season)." Autumn not only brings delightful weather but also a slew of exhibitions and festivals to keep anyone's schedule topped off. Rest your weary overworked eyes and have a look at some of the following.
In town from the United States is Brother Thomas Bezanson, showing at the Green Gallery in Tokyo in an exhibition titled "Pathways to Simplicity." The very Zen-sounding title of this exhibition leads one to believe that plain, earthy pieces will be the focus of Brother Thomas's work, but quite the contrary. The Nova Scotia-born Benedictine's work consists of luscious Chinese-influenced glazed pots that, when they work, are quite stunning. Possibly the notion of simplicity is in the forms. Most are quite sturdy and flawlessly made and, indeed, simple. They have to be, for any wacky shapes or off-balance forms would clash with the beauty of the glazes.
A Zen attitude also comes into play with Brother Thomas' spiritual approach to creating.