UNM’s Arita Porcelain Studio honors process and history
Students at the Arita Porcelain Studio, located in the Art Annex at the University of New Mexico, are unique in their study of the traditional 400-year-old Japanese art of Arita porcelain; UNM is the only university in the United States with faculty authorized to instruct in this artform outside of Japan. Arita porcelain is moreso about the practice and tradition that goes into the process rather than the final product, according to Kathy Cyman, the professor of practice who leads the program.
Arita porcelain is a practice out of Arita, Japan, a town in the Saga prefecture, where Izumiyama Kaolin Quarry was founded, the first source in Japan for the raw material that goes into making porcelain clay.
The program has existed at the University of New Mexico for 43 years, thanks to Manji Inoue, a sensei in Arita porcelain who first taught Kenneth Beittel, a professor from Penn State, the art of Arita porcelain. Beittel’s student Jim Subrek, who also studied under Inoue, taught the art at UNM, where Cyman was introduced to it in 1988. This legacy denotes the tradition of Arita porcelain, which, according to Cyman, is passed down because people are called to the art.
An Engaging Talk with Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist Larry Madrigal: Upcoming Workshops and More!
On February 20, 2025, painter Larry Madrigal gave an inspiring artist talk at the Albuquerque Museum as part of the Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist program. After the presentation, Madrigal held a Q&A session with the audience, offering insights into his creative process and artistic journey.
Announcing Tamarind Institute’s Felsen/Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Tamarind Institute at The University of New Mexico has partnered with Chris Fox to establish a new endowed scholarship for its students, The Felsen/Johnson Memorial Scholarship.
UNM Theatre and Dance Hosts Dance Historian and Scholar Clare Croft March 7th
The UNM Dance Program welcomes dance scholar and historian Clare Croft to Albuquerque. Croft, in addition to being a dance theorist, curator, dramaturg, and dancer, has written on the role dance plays in cultural exchange and diplomacy as well as a focus on Jill...