For our English speaking audience, one of our colleagues/associates/artisans was featured again in the (Link for the original article ->) Komachi magazine which is distributed throughout Japan. Below is the article. The original text was penned by Editor Kouno from Komachi MAG. All we have done is supply a rough translation of the Japanese text. Many of Izumi’s glass art pieces are available on Japan Dreamscapes, and she is frequently adding new pieces to her body of work. If you'd like, you can even commission a custom made piece of glass art that is completely styled to your preference.
For those customers who would like to join a Niigata tour with camera in hand, it’s always possible to add in a private workshop experience with Izumi so you can learn from the master artisan.
【新潟 器 歳時記】新潟市 izumi glass studio
新潟の地で作られる器を季節の料理とともにめぐる連載。第5回目は新潟市西蒲区にある「izumi glass studio」です。
A continuation of Komachi’s coverage of tableware and handicrafts made in Niigata paired with seasonal food. The 5th entry into this series is from Ms. Izumi Hoshina and "izumi glass studio" in Nishikan Ward, Niigata City.
冷たい料理をイメージすることが多いガラス食器。「ガラスは温度差に弱いんです。人肌程度の湯にゆっくり入れて温めてから使えば大丈夫。単色シリーズはこんな風にホットサンドを盛っても合うんですよ」。単色シリーズ20cm角プレート（各13,200円）、ボウル（各7,700円）。
Glass tableware is commonly joined with cold dishes. "Glass is vulnerable to temperature differences. It's okay to put it in hot water about the same as human body temperature and warm it up before using it. The single color series is suitable for hot sandwiches like as you can see in this photo." A piece from the Single color series - 20 cm square plate (13,200 yen), bowl (7,700 yen).
ごはん作りを豊かにする 愛らしいガラスの器
A Glass Bowl That Is Perfectly Crafted for Making Any Dish
日本の原風景のような懐かしい景色が広がる新潟市西蒲区越前浜で、ガラス作家として活動をする星名 泉さん。古民家を改装、というよりはそのままの状態を活用し、「izumi glass studio」を立ち上げた。
Izumi Hoshina, a glass artist in Echizenhama, Nishikan-ku, Niigata, works amidst a nostalgic scenery something akin to the scenes of classic Japan. Rather than renovating my traditional Japanese home, [called a ‘kominka’ in Japan] my husband and I decided to live and work in it in as it is and launched "izumi glass studio.”
ガラス作家の星名さん。とても穏やかでやわらかな雰囲気を放つ女性です。まわりの空気をぱっと明るく華やかにする、そんな魅力を感じました。
Ms. Hoshina, a glass artist. A woman who radiates a very calm and soft atmosphere. I felt the imprint of her charm in her surroundings, and her surroundings reflected her brightness and inner tranquility.
フュージング、スランピング、ザギングといった３つの技法を使って、テーブルウエアを中心にカラフルでぽってりと愛らしい作品を作っている。そんな星名さんが今夢中になっているのが、単色のガラス食器。本来、さまざまな色の板ガラスを使うことによって作家の個性を発揮するフュージング技法において、単色で作るというのは、ある種、タブーともいえる斬新なアイデア。
Using three techniques such as fusing, slumping, and sagging, she creates colorful, weighty, and graceful works focusing much of her artistic effort on tableware. At the moment, Ms. Hoshina is putting all of her creative effort into monochromatic glass tableware. Primarily, the fusing technique demonstrates the individuality of the artist by using flat glass of various colors, but Ms. Hoshina has decided to make her works in a single color, a novel idea bordering on a taboo practice.
単色ガラスを2色組み合わせたシリーズ。独特のカラーリングが不思議。組み合わせる色によってプレートの雰囲気自体変わるのがおもしろい。
A series that combines two single-color pieces of glass into one piece of glass art. The unique coloring is mysterious. It is interesting that the atmosphere of the plate changes depending on the colors that are combined.
「単色の方がどんな料理も受け止めてくれて、盛り付けやすいかなって思ったんです。器は料理が盛られて完成、料理の延長上にありますから、『好きなように使ってね』という思いも込めて、単色を作るようになりました」。
"I thought that a single color would be easily paired with any dish and make it easier to serve. When the food is prepared and served, it is complemented and improved upon by the dish, so I thought, 'Use it as you like.' With that in mind, I started to make single color glass art tableware.“
アトリエであり、ショップでもある古民家に、所狭しと作品が並ぶ。星名さんいわく「もらった」とか「見つけた」というユーズドの家具が、これまたいい雰囲気を醸し出している。
Works are lined up in her traditional Japanese home that servers the duel purpose of atelier and a store front. The used furniture that Ms. Hoshina reported that "I got it" or "I found it" creates a nice atmosphere.
多くの人にとって、自宅で料理を作る機会が増えた今。時間をかけて料理を楽しんだり、新しいレシピに挑戦したり、料理の楽しみ方が広がったという人も多いはず。そんな時、自分の想像力に応えてくれて、さらに気分を上げてくれる器があったら…ごはん作りはもっと楽しくなる。
At present, many people have more opportunities to cook at home. There are many people who spend time enjoying cooking, trying new recipes, and expanding the way they enjoy cooking. For myself, in such instances, if there is a piece of glassware that responds to my imagination and raises my mood, preparing meals will be even more fun.
ガラスならではのカラフルな色合いと涼やかな表情。これからの季節はより一層、食卓を華やかにしてくれそう。
The colorful hue and unique looking glassware. The coming season will make the dining table even more gorgeous.
決して安い買い物ではないけれど、だからこそ尊く、大切に、暮らしを豊かにしてくれる自分のラッキーアイテムとして使いたい。星名さんが作る器はそんな存在になってくれる。
Ms. Hoshina’s handmade glass art and tableware carry the inherent cost of being one of a kind, but that's why people want to use them as life enriching precious items. The glassware made by Ms. Hoshina fosters such a lifestyle.
izumi glass studioの器の数々
Many Pieces of Glass Art from izumi glass studio
なんともユニークなリングのシリーズ（各13,200円）。リング状に焼成したガラスを、透明のガラスに熱でくっつけて作っている。料理の色味が足りない時、カラフルなガラスの器で色を添えるのも、星名さんおすすめの使い方。
A series of unique rings glass tableware (13,200 yen). It is made by heat-bonding glass that has been fired in a ring shape onto transparent glass. If the color of the food you’ve prepared is not enough, Ms. Hoshina recommends you supplement your dish with one of her colorful glass bowls.
ほかの作品とは雰囲気の異なる、シャープな印象を持ったストリンガーのシリーズは最新作。20cmボウル（25,300円）、グラス（14,300円～）。星名さんいわく「ゆるいものを作り続けていると、ふとした時にその反動で、対極にあるものを作りたくなるんです（笑）」とのこと。
The stringer series with a sharp impression, has a different artistic expression from some of her latest works. 20cm bowl (25,300 yen), glass (14,300 yen and up). According to Ms. Hoshina, “When I continue to make glass art with gentle, lax lines, I suddenly want to make something at the other end of the spectrum (laughs).”
同系色の絶妙な組み合わせがモダンな雰囲気を放つ白と透明のシリーズ。15cm角プレート（各6,600円）、20cmプレート（13,200円）。こちらのシリーズには、写真のような同系色のものと、茶色と黄緑、黄色と青など、パキッとしたコントラストを楽しめるカラーリングもある。
A series of white and transparent glass tableware that gives off a contemporary feeling with an exquisite combination of similar colors. 15 cm square plate (6,600 yen), 20 cm plate (13,200 yen). In this series, there are colorings that allow you to enjoy a crisp contrast such as brown and yellow-green, yellow and blue, and similar colors as shown in the photo.
食卓ではもちろん、インテリアとしても存在感を放つモザイクのシリーズ（各16,500円）。「かっちりとした印象を放つ正方形のモザイクに、ゆるっとした流動的な形状を合わせてやわらかさを出しました」。暑い季節にアイスやかき氷などを盛り付けて使いたくなる。
A series of mosaics (16,500 yen each) that have a strong presence not only at the dining table but also have the potential to be part of an interior design. "The square mosaic gives off a solid impression and is combined with a loose and fluid shape to give it softness." The glass tableware will build a desire in you to serve ice cream or shaved ice during the hot season.
ガラス作家Profile
星名 泉さん／新潟県村上市生まれ。女子美術短期大学卒業後、東京ガラス工芸研究所でガラスについて学んだのち、2002年より制作活動開始。2006年、現在の拠点に移住。展示会への出展のほか、ワークショップ等も開催。
Glass Artist Profile
Izumi Hoshina / Born in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture. After graduating from Joshibi Junior College of Fine Arts, she studied glass crafting/making at the Tokyo Glass Crafts Research Institute, and she started producing her own works in 2002. In 2006, she moved to her current workshop. In addition to displaying works at exhibitions, she also holds workshops.
[Komachi Magazine Original Author Credit Below]
この記事を書いた編集者
3度の飯より酒が好き。いや、米も好き。あと、猫も好き。収入の8割は食費に費やす自称グルマン河野が、毎日の献立作りに使えるネタから、女性ひとりでは入りにくいようなお店の話まで。間口は狭く、出口は広い「食」の話をお届けいたします。
Editor Kouno
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