Lifestyle
Corners of Our Home: Kitchen Shelf
In our kitchen we have all kinds of shelves. Open shelves, closed cabinets, and a wire wall system with thin rails and small movable racks. The latter shelf gets used more than any other. Between the four of us, we probably reach for something on it a couple dozen times a day. Cups, bibs, cloths, spoons, plates, teapots. It was never meant to be anything special…
At Home with Ryuji Mitani – Containers for Daily Life
For our Contained Vessels exhibition, we asked Ryuji Mitani to share his thoughts on the containers that accompany everyday life. His reflections remind us that daily rituals are shaped not by grand objects, but by small gestures such as pouring tea, serving breakfast, storing letters, keeping tools close at hand. Below, in his own words, are the intentions behind a selection of pieces…
Contained Vessels – Crafting Daily Rituals | Exhibition Opening Remarks
In museums, the crafts most often celebrated have been grand pieces: imposing jars, large plates, matcha bowls, lacquer boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl. They astonish with their technique and carry the weight of history. Of course, they deserve to be admired and spoken about. Yet when I looked around my own life, I realized how far away…
Ten Years
Ten years ago, we opened our doors on 2 Extra Place with a handful of pieces we loved and the hope that a gallery could also be a space for connection. Since then, we’ve grown slowly and steadily. Not chasing momentum, just following what felt right and…
Earth and Ember | Exhibition Recap
Earth and Ember was a rare opportunity to experience Keisuke Iwata’s work in person, marking his first solo exhibition in America. The show brought together his anagama pieces alongside a broad collection of daily tableware, each reflecting the quiet depth of his craftsmanship…
Earth and Ember | Exhibition Opening Remarks
As a child, I followed Popeye’s example and ate plenty of spinach. In the town where I grew up, there were no telephone booths, so I would hide in the storeroom, imagining myself soaring…
Casting Light | Exhibition Recap
Setting up Casting Light was a thrilling challenge for us, as it involved showcasing over 35 pendant lights in a minimalist yet striking arrangement. Tobimatsu Toki joined us from Tokyo, personally assisting with the installation and attending…
Afterlife | Personal Reflections on Ryuji Mitani’s Tableware
Apart from our new temporary Annex location and the opportunity to showcase yet another beautiful collection of works by Ryuji Mitani, one of the most exciting parts of our latest exhibition, ‘Crafts, and Then’ was a special exhibit…
Crafts, and Then | Annex and Exhibition Recap
Our latest exhibition, ‘Crafts, and Then’ – An Exhibition of Art Works and Wood Tableware by Ryuji Mitani, was held at our temporary Annex Gallery at 24 2nd Avenue just a few weeks ago. It was a completely new space…
Crafts, and Then – A Ryuji Mitani Book
For quite some time, handcrafting has existed as a form of self-expression. Utsuwa, however, was never an art form that could exist on its own, as a vessel cannot fulfill its role without both someone to cook and another to eat. Its final form emerges through connection, not just a one-way interaction.I’ve taken this text as an opportunity to reflect on and reconsider these vessels that exist…