Swanica Ligtenberg

Swanica finds a connection with Mother Nature and meaning of life through the creation of ceramic art. When she moved to Japan in 2006 she won awards in Mashiko and Mino for her raku horsehair technique work. With this technique one removes red hot pieces from the kiln and applies horsehair and other materials and fumes them. This results in exquisite earthenware colors and express the elegance and harmony of nature through her abstract designs, the interplay between line and form, and surface treatment.

Living in Kamakura, Japan, with its rich culture and history and its long heritage of wood carving allowed her to create a unique style. Her “Kamakura-Red Ware” is inspired by the texture and red pigmented color of the Kamakura Bori Wood Carving Art. Her multi-layered red glaze symbolizes love, passion and strength. My last work is inspired by the Flower of Life symbol. This symbol is known for its perfect form, proportion, and harmony and of sacred geometry, depicting the fundamental forms of space and time. It is the form beneath our being and point towards a divine order in our reality. It is a visual expression of the connections life weaves through all mankind.

JURIED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2003 Hakone Gardens, Saratoga, CA.

2004 The Artery in Davis, CA.

2004 Olive Hyde Gallery, Fremont, CA.

2008 California Clay 08 Exhibition from ACGA, Fresno, CA.

2009 San Diego Art Institute: 50th Internat. Juried Awards Exhibition.

2009 International Contemporary Teapot Exhibition, Scottsdale, Arizona.

2009 Koyasan Exhibition, Happymaker Group, Koyasan, Japan.

2009 The Kamakura-Red Peony Vase is accepted at the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, Nov., China.

2010 Shanghai International Modern Teapot Biennale Exhibition.

2010 Exhibition with goldsmith family in Museum "Het Valkhof" in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

1998 Gallery House, Feature Show: “Open Heart”, Palo Alto, CA.

1999 La Galerie Internationale, “Blue and White” exhibit, Palo Alto, CA.

2000 Gallery House, Feature Show: “Cosmic Space”, Palo Alto, CA.

2002 Gallery House, Feature Show: “As White as Snow”, Palo Alto, CA.

2004 Gallery House, Feature Show: “Build Connections”, Palo Alto, CA.

2007 Toko Gallery, “Horsehair” Show, Mashiko, Japan.

2009 Ginsuzu Gallery, “Horsehair + Kamakura Red”, Kamakura, Japan.

2010 Feature Exhibition: “Wings: Love is a bird, she needs to fly” Horsehair and Kamakura-Red Exhibition in Toko Gallery in Mashiko.

JURIED GALLERIES:

1997-1999 P.R.Coonley Art Store, Palo Alto, CA.

1997-2009 Gallery House Co-op, Palo Alto, CA.

1999-2001 Elemental Art Store, Los Gatos, CA.

2004-2006 SOBI Gallery, Burlingame, CA.

2006- Coupa Cosas Gallery, Palo Alto, CA.

2006- Pez Gordo Gallery, Los Cabos San Jose, Mexico.

2007- Toko Gallery, Mashiko, Japan.

2008- Yufuku Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.

2010- First Light Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.

JAPAN:

2006 Groups Show in Mitsukoshi Store in Tokyo.

2006 Ceramic Art Museum in Mashiko, Special-Judges Award.

2007 Groups Show in Mitsukoshi Store in Tokyo.

2007 Feature Exhibition: “Horsehair” Show in Toko Gallery in Mashiko.

2007 “Box” Show in Gallery In The Blue, Utsunomiya.

2008 Serving Ware+Food Exhibition, Yufuku Gallery, Tokyo.

2008 Museum of the Ceramics Park Mino, Tajimi City, Honorable Mention.

2008 Ceramic Art Museum in Mashiko, Judges’ Commendation Award.

2009 Koyasan Exhibition, Happymaker Group, Koyasan, Japan.

2009 Ginsuzu Gallery, “Horsehair + Kamakura Red”, Kamakura, Japan.

2010 Opening of “Swan Art Gallery” in Kamakura, Japan.

2010 Feature Exhibition: “Wings: Love is a bird, she needs to fly” Horsehair and Kamakura-Red Exhibition in Toko Gallery in Mashiko.

2010 Ginsuzu Gallery, “Kamakura-Red Sakura” Exhibition, Kamakura, Japan.

MUSEA:

2004 Los Gatos Art Museum, Los Gatos, CA.

2004+2005 Star artist in San Jose Art Museum.

2009 China Jingdezhen Ceramic Art Museum: Kamakura-Red “peony Vase”.

2010 China Shanghai Pot Museum: Kamakura-Red “Bamboo Teapot”.

2010 China Yixing Ceramic Art Museum: Kamakura-Red “Bamboo Teapot” in International Hall of teapots.