# Passion for the potter's wheel August 09, 2018 \[\[{"fid":"990207","view\_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"135","width":"129","style":"float: left;","alt":"vase","class":"media-element file-default"}}\]\]When formal academic studies began to get in the way of a ceramics artist's vision for his creativity, he hit the road for a year's apprenticeship with a 15th generation potter in Japan. Guest interview by the Ceramics Program Before [Koji Everard](http://www.harvardstudentartcollective.com/content-archive/2017/11/20/koji-everards-pottery-the-boundary-between-functional-craft-and-aesthetic-beauty) ’20 left for Japan to begin his year-long apprenticeship with a master potter, we sat down with him to ask why making time for his artistic ceramic practice is so important. **When and where did you begin your practice with clay?** My practice with clay began informally during my freshman year of high school. I went to a private high school in Los Anegles that had a fantastic arts program. I took an “Intro to\[\[{"fid":"990208","view\_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"219","width":"340","style":"float: left;","alt":"vase","class":"media-element file-default"}}\]\] Potter’s Wheel” course to fulfill an art requirement, and I found the wheel quite intriguing. But I wasn’t that into pottery then— my lack of control made the process very annoying and I was also an athlete and had very little free time. But I liked the break ceramics provided from my academic schedule so I kept taking the next ceramics course. I quit being athlete right before my junior year which suddenly gave me a lot of free time. Gradually I started spending it more at the studio, and really began to improve my basic throwing skills. I like to think that my practice with clay really began my senior year of High School. I had two fantastic teachers who saw my love for the wheel and really gave me a lot of freedom in the studio. I also owe my interest in clay to my Japanese grandfather. He collects East Asian traditional pottery, and I saw a lot of Korean and Japanese ware growing up that I really liked. I think I deviated towards clay because of this early exposure. **How do you combine/balance your ceramic practice with your life as a Harvard student?** I think of my ceramics as an informal part of my course schedule. Ceramics works in stages and thus requires you to come back to your work periodically and monitor it. \[\[{"fid":"990209","view\_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"227","width":"160","style":"float: right;","alt":"Koji","class":"media-element file-default"}}\]\]This forces me to have discipline in my work habits. I also don’t think of my ceramics as antagonistic to my academic studies. Going to the studio allows me to get away from the stress of school and decompress, a meditative activity that allows me to work more efficiently and do better in school. It certainly does require a time commitment, but it’s something I really look forward to and try and actively manage. **What is coming up in the future for you?** I’m taking next year off from school to apprentice under a potter in southern Japan. His name is Nakazato Taki and he’s a 15th generation potter in Karatsu, Saga prefecture. He works with a traditional kick-wheel and makes a very subtle, elegant style of work. While at school I really disliked how I had to compromise my approach to my work because of other obligations. I decided I wanted to look into taking another year off to apprentice during the second semester of my first year. It’s only in that kind of social isolation that I can reach the level of engagement and focus necessary to really pursue my work and hone my skills as a potter. I do have my reservations about leaving for another year – I’ll be 24 when I graduate college – but there’s no time like the present, and I was lucky enough to find a wonderful opportunity. **Special feature**: [Watch a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw1lrdrBdfg) of Koji Everard '20 and cellist Kartik Papatla '18 perform at 10th Annual Harvard Student Art Show Opening Reception.