The Rakutogama 2024 Calendar includes 12 monthly cards with original art by Chikako Nishimura and hand crafted wood stand by Steve Faiks. Each month is an original illustration of a seasonal and/or cultural food tradition with the mingei pottery made by her husband, Masaaki, founder of Rakutogama Gallery and Cafe on Awaji Island.
Chikako Nishimura is a multi-talented artist based on Awaji Island, Japan. She skillfully captures the essence of life, the changing seasons, cultural tradition, each month inviting you on a cultural journey to explore the richness of Awaji Island.
Masaaki Nishimura learned Tamba-yaki, with master potter Mr. Toshihiko Shimizu, then later established his own studio. Masaaki holds several ceramic exhibitions throughout Japan.
The wooden stand is designed and handcrafted by Seattle-based wood artist Steve Faiks, known for his skill in creating wood kokeshi-style dolls and custom-made wooden plates and bowls. Due to the natural wood pattern, there are variations in appearance, adding a unique touch to each piece. These stands can also be saved to be used for future calendars.
CALENDAR Dimension: 5” x 7.87” (130mm x 200mm) Weight: approx. 2.40 oz Material: Takehada Japanese Quality Paper Printed in Japan HANDCRAFTED WOOD STAND Material:Padauk Wood Weight: 3.3 oz Dimension:approx. 4.75” x 2.75” x 1” Handcrafted in Seattle, WA
