Dojima Fordham Abbey event

As one of the Pre-Launch events of the Contemporary Chadogu Association we are inviting a small group of potters to join us in Cambridgeshire for a unique day of learning, contemplation and connection through participation in a Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chado) and ceramics event.

We are deeply honoured to have been invited by Fordham Abbey, the home of Dojima Sake Distillery, to spend the day on their estate. As an attendee you will experience the gorgeous Japanese Garden with its Teahouse and Shinto shrine, and see the purpose-built pottery and its adjacent Tearoom space. fordhamabbey.co.uk

The day will be hosted by the distinguished and revered Tea Master Peter Sōrin Cavaciuti, and the acclaimed author and ceramic artist Dr Bonnie Kemske. Together they will lead a day that emphasises participation. Through an immersive experience of Chado, and open-ended discussions where all questions are welcome, we know that you will gain valuable insight into the beautiful, inspiring artform of Chado and the utensils used within it.

For this event, we are looking for twelve open-minded, experienced potters who are keen to learn more about Chado, with the aim of integrating that knowledge into their ongoing practice. We ask that the attendees bring three pieces for possible use in Tea Ceremony and for practical critique. Potters will receive feedback from Sōrin Sensei, Dr Bonnie Kemske, and other Tea practitioners on the works’ functional and aesthetic suitability for use within Chado. Participants will take part in two different types of Tea Ceremony. As well as the thin tea presentation, which people may have experienced in Japan, the Chajin (Tea practitioners) will also be making thick tea, which is less common outside of Tea study, and which carries with it a nuanced ceramic aesthetic and different functional requirements. Tea will be served in two different Chado settings, one on tatami mats in a traditional setting and the other within the Japanese Garden, using a late 19^th-century table presentation. You will be given guidance in being a guest, and offered the Chajin’s insights into the Tea experience.

Your £175 fee for the day gives you access to a context-based experience of Japanese Tea Ceremony. This gathering is unique to the Contemporary Chadogu Association. Even in Japan, events such as this are not, to our knowledge, undertaken.

If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch. We also welcome your general interest in the Contemporary Chadogu Association. Please also contact us if you would like to receive information about future events, or join our WhatsApp group where potters and Chajin discuss specific aspects of Chadogu.

Please contact tea@contemporarychadogou.com to register your interest.