David Kuraoka

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Hanakapi`ai 3, cast, patinated bronze sculpture by David Kuraoka, 2003, Hawaii State Art Museum David Kuraoka - 'Hanakapi'ai 3', cast, patinated bronze sculpture, 2003, Hawaii State Art Museum.JPG
Hanakapiʻai 3, cast, patinated bronze sculpture by David Kuraoka, 2003, Hawaii State Art Museum

David Kuraoka (born 1946) is an American ceramic artist. He was born in Lihue, Hawaii, grew up on the island of Kauai, Hawaii in Hanamaulu and Lihue, and graduated from Kauai High School in 1964. Kuraoka spent his formative years in Hanamaulu where he lived with his parents in his paternal grandmother's home in a plantation labor camp. His father, one of seven children and the only son, became a journalist, writing a weekly column published on Wednesdays, and the Kauai campaign manager for local politician Hiram Fong and Richard Nixon. His mother, Emiko Kuraoka, was a school teacher. He is married to Carol Kuraoka. Kuraoka moved to California in 1964 to study architecture at San Jose City College, eventually transferring to San José State University (San Jose, California) where he received his BA in 1970 and MA 1971. After completing graduate work that focused on ceramics, Kuraoka joined the faculty at San Francisco State University, eventually rising to head its ceramics department. [1] [2] [3]

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At the age of 35 he was named a Living Treasures of Hawai'i.

Now retired as professor of art and head of the ceramics department of San Francisco State University, Kuraoka maintains studios in both San Francisco and Kauai, Hawaii. [4] [5]

David Kuraoka said in an artist's statement, "My work is abstract, and my style is simple, clean and crisp." [6] He is best known for large ceramic pieces that are first thrown on a wheel, then further shaped by hand, burnished, covered with rock salt and copper carbonate, and fired in an open pit. He also makes more traditionally shaped ceramics with grayish-green celadon glaze and has begun having some of his organically shaped ceramic pieces cast in bronze, which are patinated to resemble his ceramics. [7] Hanakapi'ai 3, in the collection of the Hawaii State Art Museum, is an example of his bronze sculptures. Kuraoka has also created wall murals. [1]

Works

Known Collections [4] [9]

Exhibitions

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Lihue, Hawaii Census-designated place in Hawaii, United States

Lihue or Līhuʻe is an unincorporated community, census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. Lihue is the second largest town on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi after Kapaʻa. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 6,455, up from 5,694 at the 2000 census.

Kauaʻi Community College

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References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 Saville, Jennifer (March 2006). "Island Shadows: Recent Work in Clay and Bronze by David Kuraoka". Calendar news. Vol. 78 no. 2. Honolulu Academy of Arts. p. 8. hdl:10524/58096.
  2. ↑ "David Kuraoka". LONG STORY SHORT WITH LESLIE WILCOX. Sep 25, 2018. PBS Hawaii. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Openings". Calendar news. Vol. 78 no. 4. Honolulu Academy of Arts. Jul 2006. p. 10 – via eVols.
  4. 1 2 "David Kuraoka - Artist Biography for David Kuraoka". www.askart.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Oppegaard, Brett, "Exhibit showcases art as a way of life: Ceramist David Kuraoka finds self-discovery through clay", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Jan. 31, 2016, p. F7
  6. ↑ Wu, Nina, "California Slick, Natural Qualities of Ceramicist's Work are Revealed in His Clean, Crisp Lines", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Aug. 11, 2017, tgif pages14-15
  7. ↑ Praag, Judith van, Living Treasure: David Kuraoka, International Examiner, November 17, 2004
  8. ↑ Hawaii Convention Center, wall plaque
  9. ↑ Chang, Gordon H., Mark Dean Johnson, Paul J. Karlstrom & Sharon Spain, Asian American Art, a History, 1850-1970, Stanford University Press, p. 364
  10. ↑ "Progressions: Recent Ceramics by Jennifer Owen and David Kuraoka, October 4, 2012–January 11, 2013". Members' magazine. Honolulu Academy of Arts. Sep 2012. p. 7 – via eVols.
  11. ↑ "Industrial Scale/Artistic Precision: David Kuraoka". Members' magazine. Honolulu Academy of Arts. Jun 2016. p. 2 – via eVols.
  12. ↑ "Beyond Craft: Modern Ceramics of Hawaii". Calendar News. Vol. 74 no. 5. Honolulu Academy of Arts. Sep 2002. p. 9 – via eVols.
  13. ↑ "Island Shadows: Recent Work in Clay and Bronze by David Kuraoka". Calendar news. Vol. 78 no. 3. Honolulu Academy of Arts. May 2006. p. 2 – via eVols.
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