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1. The shelves of the gallery are lined with Catherine’s work. She hopes to offer coffee in the future. 2. While adding designs to a mug, Catherine writes “Have a good day” on the inside, hoping to make somebody smile.

Born and raised on Ishigaki Island, Catherine is the daughter of two ceramicists: Paul, who hails from New Zealand, and Nami, who is Japanese. In that sense, she comes from a ceramics family, but she started making pots fairly late, at twenty-seven. Catherine spoke to the reasons behind this circuitous route.

“No exaggeration, I grew up in the jungle of Ishigaki Island. Our house was like a cattle barn my dad built with his friends! It was fun when I was little, but in my teens I started to resent it. I couldn’t wait to get away. After dropping out of high school, I spent time living on the main island as well as Fujisawa and Kamakura, up in Kanagawa Prefecture, working in the restaurant and hotel industries.”

Up through her late twenties, Catherine led a busy life, moving from place to place. By the time her younger brother was heading off to study in New Zealand, their father’s homeland, she had begun to tire of this lifestyle. But joining him brought Catherine to a turning point in life.

“He and I moved into a place near Barry Brickell, the potter that my parents had studied under. Now and then we went over to his studio to hang out. I thought his work looked so fun, but I never asked him to teach me. A year later, when I was back on Ishigaki Island, I saw my mother making pots and thought it was the coolest thing that I had ever seen. Despite the fact I’d never thought of that sort of thing before. Maybe living abroad gave me the perspective that I needed to see my home in Okinawa with fresh eyes. Finally I told my mother ‘I think I want to try this,’ and she said ‘Okay, I’ll show you.’ That’s when I started making pots.”

For forty years, Catherine’s mother Nami has been firing pots in a style called “Nantouyaki” (South Island Ceramics). What sets her style apart are brightly coloured motifs depicting Okinawan flora and fauna. In her first years making pots, Catherine stuck to the traditional techniques, but at the age of twenty-nine, a trip with her parents to their mentor Barry’s studio revolutionised her approach.

1. The shelves of the gallery are lined with Catherine’s work. She hopes to offer coffee in the future. 2. While adding designs to a mug, Catherine writes “Have a good day” on the inside, hoping to make somebody smile. 3. Works from her time spent training with Barry Bickell. “I don’t think I could make something this detailed now,” she says. 4. Catherine’s current work. Though all employ mandala motifs, the influence of Nantouyaki can be felt in the refreshing colours. ¥2,500〜

“My family has been making our own clay since I was little. Since I grew up thinking this was normal, I was actually surprised to find out you could buy clay in a store! Digging up the clay is tough work, and mixing it with water to the right consistency takes time. I always think how easy it would be to just go out and buy some clay. My mother’s health forces her to use clay from a store. So I figure that as long as I am able, I want to follow her example and make clay from Okinawan soil. This clay is fragile, though. It barely sticks together. It’s awfully hard to throw on a wheel. But this provides a welcome challenge. My hope is that whoever handles my creations will pick up on the atmosphere of Okinawa in some small way.”

Working up until this point at her mother’s kiln on Ishigaki Island, Catherine has since opened her own studio. The name NANTOUYAKI references the family tradition, but rather than write it using characters, Catherine opts for the alphabet.

“I came this close to using a completely different name. But after spending most of my twenties away from home, I wanted to do something to acknowledge my parents. So I asked my mother, ‘Do you mind if I call my place “NANTOUYAKI”?’ She was absolutely thrilled. My mum had been certain that the Nantouyaki name would end with her. Nantouyaki is a big part of what I do, but I’m also adding mandalas and my own original designs. To make a distinction, I decided to write NANTOUYAKI in letters. Luckily, my mum completely understood my point of view. I want to make ceramics for as long as I can. When I’m at work, my motto is ‘Smile at the everyday.’ That’s why I write little positive phrases like ‘Have a good day’ on my cups and mugs. When someone sees those words and smiles, as they finish with their drink or do the dishes, I’ve done my job.”