Kawauso Pottery – the bonsai pots of Roy Minarai

One of the highlights of attending regional bonsai events is the opportunity to meet and get to know artists from around the world. Back in September, I was looking forward to meeting Roy Minarai of Kawauso Pottery at the US National Bonsai Exhibition. I’d seen photos of his work online and was curious to see his pots in person.

Blue glazed rectangle with soft corners and pronounced lip

As luck would have it, I met Roy before the event began and was able to learn a bit about his relationship with pottery.

Roy began growing bonsai in 2013 and started making containers a year later in 2014. Pot making quickly became Roy’s favorite bonsai-related activity, and by fall of 2016, Roy had a table full of his work available at the National. (See Ryan Bell’s “21 Questions for the Talented Roy Minarai” for more about Roy and photos of his work.)

Roy’s chop, the eponymous kawauso (river otter)

When the exhibit opened, I got to see and handle the pots. The shapes and sizes struck me as very usable for bonsai. The clay bodies were well-constructed. The blue glazes were beautiful. I quickly set a couple of pots aside and left Roy to deal with the crowd that had formed.

I stopped by Roy’s table several times throughout the weekend, each time setting aside a pot or two until I had a small box of them. When I got home from New York, I unwrapped the pots and took some time to inspect them closely. I was happy with what I saw.

Glazed oval shown with tomogire, the stamped cloth that comes with every Kawauso pot

Glazed round pot with three feet

Glazed oval – note the great yellowing near the lip

Glazed rectangle with round edges

Glazed round pot with three feet

Glazed rectangle with flared sides and pronounced lip

Same pot from the front left corner – note the variation in drips on each side

One of my favorite pieces is a container designed as a pot for companion plants. The points are sharp and delicate. The glaze, dramatic, flowing blues. Best of all, the feet are drips of glaze.

Kawauso accent pot – one of my favorites

Accent pot

Glaze feet

For more of Roy’s work, check the latest on the Kawauso Pottery Facebook page.