Message from Richard Milgrim with Intro by the Kyoto Takashimaya Art Department Written in 2005 for Milgrim's exhibition catalog. INTRO BY KYOTO TAKASHIMAYA ART DEPARTMENT The great philosopher Confucius once said: "A man's destiny will be revealed when he reaches the age of 50." From this saying the word "Chimei" (literally "to understand or know one's life") is used in Japan as another way to express the age 50. This fall, Richard will be celebrating this auspicious occasion and has therefore chosen to name this show the Chimei Commemorative Exhibition. For this event Richard will be showing 50 pieces each from his two kilns, "Konko -Gama," located in Concord, Massachusetts near Boston, and so-named last year by Hounsai Daisosho (15th Generation Grand Master of the Urasenke Tea Tradition), and "Richado-Gama," built 20 years ago in Northern Kyoto Prefecture and also named by Hounsai Daisosho. In these cool days of autumn, we humbly invite you to enjoy the uniquely original world of Milgrim's tea ceramics. MESSAGE FROM RICHARD MILGRIM (2005) Fifty years old, half a century, not a very long time in a country as old as Japan. Here, birthday celebrations don't get much attention until you're 60. Yet in my native country, America, a 50th birthday is considered a major event. Perhaps we see it as a sort of peak in one's life. It is a time of reflection on the past as well as anticipation for the future. In my case, this 50th year has great significance for many reasons. It represents 30 years since I began working with clay, 25 years living in Japan, 20 years since I built my own kiln "Richado-Gama," and now five years since my part-time return to America. It has been possible to reach all these milestones because I followed my heart and have been guided by the people I've met along the way. Each day has led me to the next stage and knowing that the journey is far from over gives me the strength to keep pushing ahead. Perhaps this lifestyle of living and working in both Japan and America is meant to be my destiny, only time will tell. Either way, I am extremely grateful for all the opportunities I have been given on my journey so far. For this exhibition, 50% of the work was made in my studio in northern Kyoto Prefecture, Richado-Gama. The other half were created at my U.S. studio in Concord, Massachusetts outside Boston. These pieces are labeled "Konko-Gama," the name bestowed upon me at this time last year by Hounsai Daisosho, the 15th Generation Grand Master of the Urasenke Tea Tradition. The name in kanji means "Now and Then Kiln" or "Present and Past Kiln." His use of characters which sound just like Concord, not to mention having meanings which can be directly associated with my situation of being right in between the old and new on so many different levels, seems to be an uncanny coincidence similar to that with my name, Richado, where the phonetics and the meanings of the names seem to perfectly overlap. These names I have received from Hounsai Daisosho are much more that just coincidences -- they are a significant part of my destiny. The new works done at Konko-Gama have a distinct freshness about them. I believe they will particularly appeal to those of you who are looking for something new to compliment the wide repertoire of traditional Tea utensils you are already so familiar with. I sincerely hope you will enjoy seeing and using these new works as well as my unique interpretations of the more traditional styles that I've been creating at Richado-Gama. <Fall 2005>    Richard Milgrim

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Last Update
Nov. 9, 2005

Message from
Richard Milgrim
2005 Exhibit

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