Norikazu 'Gure' Kogure will be in the San Francisco Bay Area for the ISGB Gathering this August, and is interested in teaching some pre-conference workshops. These would be his first classes ever in America!
Gure is internationally famous. He is featured in the newly published book, "The Masters: Glass Beads". He demo'd core formed vessels at the Glass Art Society (GAS) conferences in 1998 and 2005, and was a featured presenter at the ISGB Gathering in 2001 - remember the guy who started his presentation by making popcorn on a volcano torch?
You can see some of Gure's techniques in his book, 'Tonbo-Dama - Japanese Glass Beads' and the companion DVD. Here is a picture from the book of some of his work:
The workshop will be held at Aanraku Glass Studios in San Mateo, CA - just south of the San Francisco Airport. The workshop will cover Japanese decorative techniques, and is of an Intermediate skill level. We will have a translator.
The workshop is planned for Saturday/Sunday, August 2-3. If there is enough interest, we'll open a second workshop for Monday/Tuesday, August 4-5. Both workshops are pre-conference.
The cost is $500 for two days. The ultra-soft Japanese glass and rental of the Japanese torch are included in the class cost. Additional glass, tools, books, and videos will be available for purchase.
Please reply to Sharon Peters ASAP if you are interested... we can't schedule Gure until we're sure we can fill the classes!
Norikazu Kogure
Japanese Decorative Techniques
Aanraku Glass Studios, San Mateo CA
Sat/Sun, August 2-3, 2008
Mon/Tue, August 4-5, 2008 (pending)
Cost: $500 includes torch & glass; bring your own didymiums and personal tools