SAYA MORIYASU
OZEKITACHI 尾石達- STONE TAILS

J. Rinehart Gallery is delighted to announce exhibition of long-time Seattle artist, Saya Moriyasu. Moriyasu’s exhibition, Ozekitachi 尾石達- Stone Tails, brings together the heightened awareness of Japanese spirits escaping from the depths of oozing hot water, basking in their first daylight, and encountering humans within their thermal wonders.

Ozekitachi 尾石達- Stone Tails will be on view online and in the Gallery March 2 - 27, 2024. Collectors Preview Reception will be held in the gallery Saturday, March 2 from 3-5pm. Public Opening will be held First Thursday, March 7 from 5-8pm. An Artist Talk will be held Saturday March 16 at 2:00pm.

The term "Ozekitachi" (尾石達) combines "Ozeki" (尾石), which can be interpreted as "tail of the stone,” and "tachi" (達), a suffix often used to pluralize or indicate a group of individuals. In Japanese, adding "tachi" to a noun or name can suggest a plural form or indicate a group. The family is comprised of Onsen (hot springs), creatures, members of the Ozeki.

The indigenous Japanese Shinto religion, Kami (gods), or spirits inhabit every facet of existence. Moriyasu highlights ancient geology and origin of life through her depictions of thermal creatures. They break through the mineral deposits of the Onsen, imbuing them with unadorned simplicity.

Moriyasu’s creatures communicate by expelling their minerals upon awakening beneath the surface. Using clay sourced from the earth, Moriyasu encapsulates these entities through their mineral dried mouths and eyes. 

Of her work Moriyasu states: “During the road trip to my September 2023 residency at Mission Street Arts in New Mexico, a transformative journey unfolded, where the hot springs (onsen ♨ in Japanese) became a profound source of inspiration. I found myself enveloped in the wordless communication of the waters. Though incomprehensible in language, I felt the energy and presence of deities within the depths.”

Working in clay, wood, ink, and many other materials, Moriyasu’s work is often comprised of many small pieces that make up a larger piece. Her work can be found in the collections of the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, Wing Luke Museum, Whatcom Museum, Western Gallery, Western Washington University, NW Museum of Arts and Culture, and Washington State University, as well as countless private collections throughout the U.S.

• ARTIST STATEMENT

  Exhibition Statement
  Ozekitachi 尾石達- Stone Tails
  

  During the road trip to my September 2023 residency at Mission Street Arts in New Mexico, a transformative journey unfolded, where the hot springs (Onsen ♨ in Japanese) became a profound source of inspiration. Immersing myself in the ancient geology and origins of life on Earth through these natural thermal wonders left an indelible mark on me.

  From the onset, the sensation of oozing hot water, seeping from the depths, enthralled me. Floating serenely on my back at Pagosa Springs in Colorado, I found myself enveloped in the wordless communication of the waters. Though incomprehensible in language, I felt the energy and presence of deities within the depths. Jemez Springs, in contrast, revealed water trickling from small, mineral-dyed mouths, forming captivating layers formed by the springs. The emergence of their gentle voices from the depths of the earth enchanted me.

  In the indigenous Japanese Shinto religion, kami (gods), or spirits, inhabit every facet of existence. The whimsy of animating (tail) what's perceived as an inanimate object (rock) in the Ozeki family name brings a smile to my face. A rock with a tail is a very Shinto way of looking at the world. My encounters with Onsen creatures heightened my awareness of these kami (gods) and spurred me to channel these emotions and sensations into my art.

  Envisioning these creatures basking in their first daylight and encountering humans within the waters as they awakened to consciousness. They embody the energy rising from the depths, representing diverse stages of evolution—sometimes akin to gods, other times as unformed entities that aren’t quite “right.” Their creation is steeped in ancient geology, imbuing them with wisdom and unadorned simplicity. While they may lack a voice, they communicate by expelling minerals upon awakening beneath the earth's surface.

  The ceramic process includes clay sourced from the earth and minerals for glazes, deepening the connection of my art to our planet and the historical roots of ceramics. I reflected on the whispers from the earth's kami, enriching the spiritual essence of my creations.

  This journey—from the hot springs to the studio—has been transformative, allowing me to delve into the depths of our earth’s history and the connections binding us to nature. Through my art, I aspire to convey the encounter with these Onsen creatures and the ancient forces shaping our existence.