Shigeru Miyamoto

Born in California, Shigeru Miyamoto received his M.A. from San Jose State University in Ceramics/Sculpture. He taught in California, Australia and Indonesia before moving to Kauai where he built a ceramic studio, worked on commissions and produced high-fire production work and raku and pit fire sculptures. In 1990, he began teaching ceramics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the Department of Art. Shigeru has conducted workshops on wheel throwing, pit firing and ceramic sculpture for schools and community art centers around the Islands and on the mainland. He is active in the Raku Ho'olaule'a. He has participated as an invited artist in ceramic art symposiums in Lithuania and Latvia. Shigeru has completed three State Foundation on Culture and the Arts commissions, two in conjunction with the Department of Education Artists in the School program. His art expresses the social, political, and cultural climate of the Pacific Rim.

Artist's Statement

Art is like surfing. Once you commit, you take off and you are in the wave - in the moment. Nothing else exists except to get a great ride. You feel so good that no matter what you paddle back out and try again. Then the big wave comes and crashes on you. You struggle for your life. You come up for air but another wave hits you. You keep going because that's all you can do. Finally you make it back out, resting on your board, waiting for another set to come.