Contemporary Salt-Fired Pottery by O'baware

Join us in welcoming O’baware to Firefly Handmade for the very first time! Their salt-fired pottery is truly one-of-a-kind, creating contemporary, sleek and beautiful items. From dishware to jewelry, there is sure to be a piece that speaks to your soul. Check them out at our Holiday Market this November 20 & 21 on Old South Gaylord Street in Denver.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself & how you began your ceramics career?
Kazu and Yuka Oba are the artists of O’baware. O’baware includes three disciplines of work including Kazu’s ceramics and sculpture and Yuka’s jewelry line, épice. They are both originally from Japan. Kazu has worked as a Boulder County artist for over two decades. Yuka created and taught pottery in Japan before joining Kazu in Colorado in 2016. Together they are building their business and their family along the beautiful Front Range.

What is salt-firing? How does it work?
Salt-firing is an innovation from the Middle Age in the area we now know as western Germany. Above a certain temperature, salt volatilizes and forms a natural glaze, just like wood ash can become a glaze in wood kilns. All atmospheric firings such as wood firing and salt firing have effects on pottery that are unpredictable. And that is precisely the reason they can be extra special and humbling at the same time.

Who or what most inspires your work?
Kazu and Yuka are both inspired by:

● the nature of Colorado and Japan
● the work and aesthetic of Isamu Noguchi
● the notion of endless possibilities
● what happens around the dinner table with friends
● conversations about the how and why of how things have come to be
● the affirming process of living one's life with creativity at its center

“Pottery is like calligraphy. There is not a second stroke to be made on top of one another. I aim to make a piece in one stroke, one gesture. The single gesture is the most honest. I hope to make all objects with intention and that have purpose. My more successful work is made with minimal gestures so that the intention is more direct and clearer; its purpose is to serve.” ~ Kazu Oba

How has your style evolved and why?
At the intersection of sculpture, pottery, and jewelry with two artists involved - this could be a very lengthy reply!

Kazu first studied sculpture before he studied ceramics. Working fluidly between these two mediums brings some flexibility in his approach to both. He works out different aspects of exploration in a variety of materials. Working in stone, wood, and metal, one might imagine the shift to wheel throwing to be challenging, but there is a balance between the heavy lifting and the more delicate approach throwing requires. What they carry in common is a very close attention to detail. 

Yuka’s aesthetic naturally developed from her Japanese ceramics training and the strength of that culture. She works with an asymmetrical elegance. Her designs are modern, bringing lightness and levity in relationship to her materials. Yuka designs and throws pots for O’baware as well; yet in this chapter of motherhood, she has taken the opportunity to funnel her creativity into her jewelry line.

Could you tell us about any special projects you are working on for the upcoming market?
Thinking very specifically about the Firefly market has helped us to think about what parts of our collections we wish to share. Yuka is finishing a series of new designs for her jewelry line, épice, that incorporate delicate materials with geometric shapes found in nature. Her designs are powerfully feminine and grounded.

Kazu’s work is food-driven design. As a former chef, his eye is on how his ceramics will present food in the best possible way. Coming into the holiday season at a time when many are finally reconvening, he is creating sets for coffee and sake serving to share in the joy of this moment. Both Kazu and Yuka hope to reach a local audience and build a long and happy relationship.

What is your favorite thing about your workspace?
Our favorite aspect of our studio is the natural Colorado light. We are continually adapting and innovating the space to meet our production needs. We build shelves, storage, and surfaces as needs change. As with our approach to the work, nothing is static; everything evolves over time.

 What are you looking forward to most as a new Firefly Handmade artisan?
Kazu and Yuka think of Firefly as joining a new community of local artists, meeting new collectors, new clients, and new friends.

 Is there anything you'd like us to know that we haven't asked?

Local restaurants using O’baware to serve delicious fare include:

• Sushi Den in Denver, Colorado

• Izakaya Den, Denver, Colorado

• Temaki Den, Denver, Colorado

• Ramen Star in Denver, Colorado

• AOI Sushi and Izakaya in Boulder, Colorado

Connect withO'baware at Firefly Handmade Holiday Market, November 20 & 21, on Old South Gaylord Street, Washington Park, Denver.