Arts 5490 Workshop-
“Steel making using the Traditional Japanese Tatara”
May Intersession- 2 credits [additional credit available through Independent
Study] May 24- June 7, 2004 $230/ credit; $460 workshop w/o credit
Professor Wayne E. Potratz, Instructor
Keith Kaziak, undergraduate Research Assistant
Visiting Artists:
Mr. Akira Kihara, Tatara Master and Muragi of the Nittho Tatara, Yakota,
Shimane, Japan and President of Japanese Swordsmithing Association. Mr.
Kihara is designated as an “Intangible Cultural Asset” by the Japanese
government. Mr. Kihara is the world’s expert in the production of “Tama-hagane”.
Alex Wilds, PhD, sculptor from Takicho, Shimane, Japan
An intense 11 day workshop; Participants will [under Mr. Kihara’s direction]
build and fire 2 Kodai [Ancient-style] tataras to make “tama-hagane”, the steel
used in the production of the traditional Japanese sword. The workshop is 11
working days plus an opportunity to forge the steel made after the workshop
[June 8- 11, 2004]. This workshop is of interest to artists, blacksmiths,
metallurgists, scientists, and scholars of Japanese culture.
The workshop is co-sponsored by the Department of Art and the Graduate School,
University of Minnesota [through a Grant in Aid of Research].
Call the Summer Session office at (612)624-4000
after March 1, 2004 for registration.