Playmountain East

Born in Kagoshima, Japan, Shori Morinaga started out as carpenter and furniture maker, and opened his atelier Crate in 2007. There, he developed a passion for woodturning. In 2010, he met American sculptor Alma Allen in Joshua Tree and soon became his apprentice. Shoji continues to make turned wood objects and custom furniture at Crate, and shows his work around the world, from Playmountain Tokyo and Dieci in Osaka to Tortoise in Los Angeles.

Join us for the opening preview on Friday, July 21 from 5 to 8 pm.

The next in Playmountain’s series on Japanese-influenced artists and makers: TEMBEA canvas bags and SOLS canvas sneakers.

TEMBEA means “to wander” in Swahili, so these canvas beauties made in Tokyo are meant to be your everyday companions. Whether carrying baguettes or biking to work, each bag softens over times and becomes part of your life.

SOLS is manufactured in Kurume, Fukuoka, a city well-known for its rubber industry. Created with a slight inward curve often seen in old canvas sneakers, and a vulcanization process to ensure durability, SOLS delicately expresses the traditional craftsmanship with a new point of view.

A small selection of handmade leather goods from RHYTHMOS will also be featured, made in Japan and crafted for everyday use.

Exhibition statement from Shinichiro Nakahara:

”I have been pursuing the work of Japanese and American Craftswomen for several years. Fascinated by the viewpoints presented by their creative activities, I find beautiful the particularly deep involvement I see given to the work. The tradition of Craftsmen in Japan is extensive and has produced fine work, but it has also been based on a certain stoicism. In recent years this has gradually changed along with an increasing number of Japanese Craftswomen who create with great freedom of thought. Seeing not only the work of these Craftswomen, but also their processes, has given me a glimpse into their lives. I had anticipated feeling connected to their perspectives and their pursuit of beauty. I discovered not only did I appreciate the completed object but also the landscape surrounding its creation.”

”We are presenting a total of 10 Japanese female artists — Akiko Oue, Fumi Sako, Hiroyo Masuko, Masae Mitoma, Momoca Usagi, Nutel, Reimi, Rino Akihiro, Tomoko Wada, and Yumiko Iihoshi — who are artists, product designers, ceramicists, metalsmiths, paper artists, illustrators, rug makers, and glass sculptors.”

On a Japanese map of the Pacific Ocean, California is located to the east of the Japanese Islands. East is West, and West is East.

Since its inception Landscape Products has been inspired by California: its architecture and design, arts and crafts, music, and films. In other words, we have always been excited by the cultural breeze that blows from there.

This is why we have named our new retail venture in San Francisco Playmountain East. Even though we are across the Pacific from each other, we are close neighbors of heart and mind. Please keep watching kindly over us as we begin our journey "East.”