Twenty-four ceramic artists from the Hokkaido Pottery Society will bring their work to the Portland Japanese Garden for a special preview exhibition entitled Ceramic Art from the North: An Exhibition of the Hokkaido Pottery Society. This spring exhibition is part of the Garden's 2008 Art in the Garden series and is being held in conjunction with the Oregon Potters Association Ceramics Showcase.

The Hokkaido Pottery Society has a 40 year history as a ceramic art group. Founded in 1968 under the auspices of the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute, Kobushi Toen, and Otaru Kama, the Society's initial purpose was to exchange technical information and friendship among the members.

"The ceramic arts of Hokkaido reflect the creativity, vitality, and youth of this northernmost island of Japan," says Diane Durston, the Garden's Curator of Culture, Art, & Education. "Without the constraints of some of the older ceramic-producing regions of Japan, Hokkaido potters feel free to experiment with new ideas and techniques, building upon the traditional skills and techniques that have evolved throughout the long history of ceramic production in Japan."

The Hokkaido Pottery exhibition runs from April 11-20, 2008 from 10am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday (Noon-4pm on Mondays). All Art in the Garden exhibitions are free with Garden admission.

Join Curator Diane Durston for an informal Gallery Talk on April 13 at 2pm in the Pavilion (free with regular Garden admission). On Saturday, April 19 at 4pm, internationally known ceramic artist Jeff Shapiro will lecture on Contemporary Ceramics in Japan--the lecture will be followed by an artist's reception. The lecture is $10 for Garden and Oregon Potters Association members/$15 for non-members and requires reservations online at www.japanesegarden.com/events or by calling 503-542-0280. On Sunday, April 20, the Garden hosts a demonstration of the Tea Ceremony led by the Kashintei-Kai Tea Society. Green tea will be prepared using tea bowls specially made for this occasion by Hokkaido potters. The Tea Ceremony demonstration and tasting will be held in two seatings: at 2pm and 3pm. Reservations are required, and the fee is $10 for Garden and Oregon Potters Association members/$15 for non-members. Make your reservation online at www.japanesegarden.com/events or by calling 503-542-0280.

Additional seasonal exhibitions in the Art in the Garden series include (Summer) Frozen Music: Glass in the Garden (June 14-30), and (Fall) Dream Weaver: The Bamboo Art of Jiro Yonezawa (November 15-30).

The Portland Japanese Garden has been proclaimed by his Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, former Ambassador of Japan, to be "the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan." The Garden is above Washington Park at 611 SW Kingston Drive in SW Portland, Oregon. The Garden is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.