Our first excursion of the year with PAA Education in LA was to a jewel of an exhibition: Joan Takayama-Ogawa: Ceramic Beacon at Craft in America. It was a feast for the eyes, literally and figuratively, and for the mind, as Takayama-Ogawa tackles many challenging political, social, historical and environmental issues in her gorgeous ceramic work. This Pasadena born and based artist uses clay as commentary, whether it be teetering stacks of teacups as a comment on gender roles, the use of AR-15 candy molds to express her anger over gun violence or the delectable cakes with fruit flies to explore America’s relationship to food. She says she holds “the darkness in the world in check by making beautiful objects”. Exquisitely beautiful objects!

Carol Sauvion, Executive Director, and creator/producer of the PBS Series Craft in America, greeted us and provided background on the center. Emily Zaiden, Center Director and lead curator, guided us through the show and into the mind of the artist. Of course, we exited through the gift shop and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at nearby Joan’s on Third. A very fun start to our PAA Ed in LA year. Thank you Lizzie and Holly.