Staff Feature: Hanami Morris
A look into the life of Hanami Morris! Hanami started in March and is a wonderful Studio Tech and Teacher at Hand / Thrown.
He teaches Give it a shot! Wheel Throwing, Let’s Make A Mug! and more at the studio.
We asked Hanami a few questions about his life and practice so you can get to know the amazing people who make Hand / Thrown what it is.
HAND / THROWN: Tell us a little about you!
HANAMI MORRIS: Heyo! My name is Hanami and I’m a Black and Japanese, queer and trans artist who works with metal and ceramic. I graduated VCU December 2021 with a major in psychology and minors in chemistry and Craft & Materials. I’ve decided to stay in Richmond because of the community I’ve found and I have so much to learn from those around me.
HT: Tell us a little bit about the style of work you enjoy making most!
HM: I believe living as an artist is to always seek knowledge, experiment/challenge the self, and transform - whether that be technically or conceptually. I’ve dabbled in the exploration of the body and definitely want to dive deeper as someone who is black, fat, and visibly queer. I think it’d be interesting to also express the differences in cultural contexts among the different communities I engage with. Building concepts around my body allows me to reflect how my relationship with it has changed over time. While this means I have to revisit trauma and experience some emotional turmoil, I think it’s a healthy process (therapy also helps) that helps ground my sense of self. As of recent, I’ve been handbuilding some functional work that replicate items or characters from video games. I think it’s pretty fun and opens more ideas about worldbuilding that I plan on working with in the future.
HT: What originally drew you to working with clay?
HM: After hanging out in STEM for a bit, I found myself in a metalsmithing class and wanted to indulge more in the arts. I continued to take more classes like glass, wood, and eventually ceramics. Glass was just too damn hot, my ancestors were in the fields for too long for me to be by a 2000 F furnace for 3 hours at a time (my first session outside class I’m pretty sure I almost had a heat stroke teehee). Wood I have a complicated connection with because while I’m interested in the relationship between fatness and furniture, I have a lot of practice I need to do in regards to craftmanship. So then I was taking a ceramics class, and as much as I enjoyed making work out of clay I craved for more. The following semester I took a class where you basically experiment with glazes and that’s when I knew I could do whole lot in ceramics.
HT: Where have you studied ceramics, if you have. Or who have you studied with that left a lasting impression?
HM: So far I’ve really only studied at VCU with Blair Clemo, who’s a pretty neat guy.
HT: What techniques do you use to create your work?
HM: In regards to producing artwork I tend to handbuild because I feel like I have more freedom especially with nonsymmetrical forms. I also wheel throw functional ware mostly for practice and it’s a neat way to test glazes on different forms.
HT: What is your favorite tool, why?
HM: I love a good rib! Out of all of the different types I probably prefer wooden rib for wheel throwing because I love the rigidity of the wood, and for handbuilding I prefer the serrated rib. While I mostly use it for redistributing clay across the surface area to smooth out, I really enjoy the visual texture it provides.
HT: Who are some artists you admire, why?
HM: I admire Carren Clarke and I love the way she’s able to transform vessels into such gorgeous sculpted pieces.
HT: Describe your favorite piece of pottery (currently).
HM: I have a speckled mug covered in owls that’s grey on the inside and handle and white on the outside.
HT: What is your favorite thing to do at Hand / Thrown during a shift?
HM: Unloading a glaze kiln! I also enjoy loading a bisque and cramming as much greenware in the kiln as possible.
Carren Clarke
HT: What’s your sign?
HM: I’m an Aries sun and rising, and an Aquarius moon. ;)
HT: Are there aliens out there?
HM: I mean…there’s gotta be
HT: What’s your go to winter weather thing to do in Richmond?
HM: Cookin up some hot cocoa and sit on the porch.