A G A W A A T E
Traditional Glazed

KEVIN YATES
Ontario, Canada
​2025

5 x 10 x 10 inches
Nanban Inspired Semi-Cascade, Inward Lip
Clay, Lake Superior Sand from Agawa Bay
​Wheel Thrown
Matte Brown/Black Glaze, Crackle Glaze
Fired Cone 10, Sand Blasted

A​gawaate, named after Agawa Bay, Lake Superior, means "shadow" or "protected" in Ojibwa.

"My goal is to create rugged textured bonsai containers which match the wildness of the Canadian landscape, and in particular, lichen covered granite found on the Canadian Shield. I use ancient volcanic sands as grogs, which I collect from the shores of Lake Superior and Huron. These sands interact with the clay and glazes in very unpredictable ways. Once fired, they often melt, and pit the surface. I use other mechanical techniques to work and age the containers surface further after firing.

I'm inspired most by the nanban containers. For me their quality surpasses the marker, and hold their own unique presence. I love that they celebrate imperfect textures and form. I strive to create containers which have a similar presence. I see my containers suiting a variety of bonsai tree forms, and both conifer, and deciduous species. With this particular container,  I wanted it to be both refined and rugged, and offer a hint of a natural context to a bonsai composition."

- Kevin Yates

A B O U T   K E V I N   Y A T E S

I'm an artist, and art professor from Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. I teach sculpture at York University, in Toronto. I have been growing bonsai for over three decades and working on creating bonsai pots since the pandemic. Im interested in creating familiar yet distinct forms with rugged textures to match the wildness of the Canadian landscape. 
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​Follow Kevin Yates on these platforms:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kevin.yates.106
Instagram: www.instagram.com/go1901/?hl=en

T H A N K   Y O U   T O   O U R   S P O N S O R S

D I S C O V E R   P O T T E R S   I S   P R O U D   T O   S P O N S O R   T H E   2 0 2 5   N O R T H   A M E R I C A N   B O N S A I   P O T T E R Y   C O M P E T I T I O N

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