Newsletter – November 2022
Hello friends,
Welcome to our seasonal ITSUMO newsletter. Every month we hope to share the joy of exploring the subtle nuances of changing seasons, and how this influences our daily lives together. The first snow of the season has fallen, the temperature is getting colder with each passing day. As we head deep into the winter months, there are many things to look forward to.
Nov 10 – Dec 24, 2022
An exhibition across two Vancouver spaces
ITSUMO and our friends at SORT are pleased to announce a solo exhibition of multidisciplinary artist Janice Wong from November through December, taking place simultaneously across both our shop spaces in Vancouver.
After two years of discussion and collaboration, “Ebb & Flow” emerges as Wong’s debut ceramics-focused show. With origins in the mediums of drawing, painting, and photography, her practice expands into the third dimension in this study of process, culminating in a special collection of standalone and functional objects.
Ebb & Flow, meaning a recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth, Wong’s ceramic art explores clay and form, time and emotions. Planning an exhibition across two separate shop spaces has been a true labour of love, and yet our collective concept is clear. Throughout the process, the vision of an imaginary river flowing between East and West Vancouver has held strong, symbolising Wong’s initial curiosity in clay forms uncovered at a beach in Iceland, to her now thriving ceramics practice on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
“Said the river: imagine everything you can imagine, then keep on going.”
—Mary Oliver
We invite you to join us at both SORT and ITSUMO for what will be an inimitable exhibition in each environment, whether it’s for the opening events or visiting either space for quiet viewing and contemplation. More details can be found below.
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Save the Date
Opening Night
Thursday, Nov 10, 2022, 7pm – 9pm
ITSUMO concept space | 269 East 6th Ave, Vancouver BC
Join us for the opening night to celebrate and meet the artist from 7pm-9pm. Enjoy refreshments and treats.
We’re excited to host the first of many exhibitions and events in our brand new Concept Space, and hope to see you there!
(No RSVP needed and the artwork will be available for purchase.)
about EXHIBITION
Janice Wong‘s curiosity about ceramics and clay forms began with pieces of sea-worn industrial ceramics found at an urban beach during an artist residency in Reykjavík.
Following a 30-year career in 2-dimensional mediums, the craft of ceramics came at a time when Wong welcomed a fresh set of challenges. Experiencing the loss of a loved one, the process of ceramics, with a focus that enabled worries to recede — centering the clay, coaxing forms into a balanced whole — provided distinct rigour and routine.
Ebb & Flow is ultimately Wong’s exploration and distillation of forms — the potential of a vessel, the optimism of a bowl. The Horizon and Cloud bowls are reminders of a lacquer bowl Wong grew up with, while the Pebble and Pod forms are small vases reminiscent of sea-worn stones — standalone objects that can also be used for single blooms. Each form presented in this collection offers multiple functions, with the potential to cradle, hold, or shelter precious/necessary objects… “Or air. Even that is enough.”
about ARTIST
JANICE MAR WONG is a multi-disciplinary visual artist whose mediums include ceramics, painting, printmaking, drawing and photography.
Janice studied Fine Art at the University of Saskatchewan, and received her BFA with Distinction, Honours Painting, from the Alberta University of the Arts. She is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships including Canada Council Project and Travel Grants, Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant and BC Provincial Project and Travel Awards.
Her work is exhibited and collected in Canada, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Janice’s family roots trace back through British Columbia history to the mid-1800’s. Born in Saskatchewan, she has resided in Vancouver since 1986.
Newsletter – October 2022
Hello friends,
Welcome to our seasonal ITSUMO newsletter. Every month we like to share the joy of exploring the subtle nuances of the changing seasons, and how this influences our daily lives together. Fall is finally upon us, and already we anticipate the coming winter season; a time to plan ahead and prepare for the cozy holiday celebrations.
September Shop Hours
Open
Wednesday ~ Saturday: 12:00 – 18:00
Sunday: 12:00 – 17:00
—–
Closed
Monday & Tuesday
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Free Gift for Online Order
Starting this week, we will be offering an exclusive ITSUMO round linen coaster for our online orders over $100.
Carefully hand-sewn one by one by a Japanese sashiko artist, these round coasters are made of soft linen, finished with a coloured sashiko threaded knot. Each one is unique, made in various colours and sizes.
A colour is chosen at random for every order. Offer is available for a limited time only until quantities last.
* * *
Free Shipping + Linen Coaster
*Free shipping will still be offered for orders over $150 including an ITSUMO handmade linen coaster. (Exceptions may apply to some products.)
Place them under cups, teapots, and incense holders to protect surfaces from spills or scratches. Or simply use them to provide cushioning for your favourite objects while adding warmth and charm to your home.
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Japanese Shears and Gardening Tools
“Made in Tsubamesanjo”, our ongoing special event held at ITSUMO this month, is featuring beautiful and functional kitchenware and home goods directly from the city of Tsubamesanjo located in Niigata prefecture. Tsubamesanjo is best known for their traditional craftsmanship and famous for its metal processing and technological evolution.
Now as the days are getting brighter with Spring approaching, we would like to introduce some of our favourite new products available at ITSUMO.
Stunningly handcrafted by the skilled craftsmen in Tsubamesanjo using their traditional techniques and knowledge, a selection of essential Japanese tools for gardening is now available in-store and online. Highlighting from traditional Japanese bonsai shears to high quality tools for all gardening/ outdoor lovers, we hope to share inspiration and joy of working with plants, flowers, soil and the nature. Whether that be foraging on a camping trip, pruning flowers in a yard or starting a mini indoor garden at home, these beautiful tools are truly pleasurable to use.
Thanks to all the amazing response we’ve been getting for the event, “Made in Tsubamesanjo” will run until
Sunday March 6th, 2022.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
ITSUMO
279 East 6th Avenue, Vancouver BC V5T 1J7
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Ideal for traditional Japanese bonsai and general gardening work, these shears feature strong forged blades with razor-blade sharpness. Handmade one by one from high-carbon forged steel by skilled craftsmen at Toyama Hamono in Niigata prefecture.
Toymama Hamono is a traditional shears manufacturer based in Sanjo Niigata, Japan, a town famous for the craft of blacksmithery since 1861. Their methods are based on the manufacturing methods of Japanese swords (Katana) and have been hand-making secateurs and shears for almost 160 years. Toyama Hamono continues a respectful reputation throughout Japan and the world for producing excellence in gardening shears.
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2021 was a time of resilience. Our year began with a renewed search for hope. Miraculously effective vaccines were delivered, and we began to emerge from what we hope had been the most uncertain time of the past many months. At that same time, we were reminded of the challenging new realities of climate change. In light of these difficult but not insurmountable problems, we commit that our work and responsibilities to our community must continue every day.
2022 is the year of Tiger. Although it did not originate in Japan, the Chinese zodiac, and the 12 animals that represent it, have been embraced by Japanese traditions wholeheartedly, and it is an inherent part of daily Japanese life & culture. On New Year’s Day, we cherish and learn about the meanings of the symbolic animal, enriching ourselves with a sense of fresh prospect and possibilities for the year ahead.
The tiger was thought to be a star whose predecessor shines in the night sky due to its golden fur pattern. Seen as a powerful animal, along with the lion, the Tiger presents an image of strength and authority, and also has a is a symbol of wisdom followed by firm decision. Specifically, 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger (壬寅, みずのえとら, mizunoetora). It is said to represent the auspiciousness of beginning anew and nurturing what has been born.
We hope that the year 2022 will be a cornerstone of revitalized growth, sprouting through the harsh winter as a new daily life begins.
We would like to thank all our valued customers and trusted community for their continued support over the past couple of challenging years. It has been an absolute pleasure to serve each and every one of you. We remain tremendously grateful for all of the kind encouragement and loving support offered to us each and every day.
We look forward to the many good things to come in 2022, and to seeing everyone in the new year when the circumstances in our community most certainly begin to improve.
Once again, thank you so much.
From all of us at ITSUMO, we wish you & all your loved ones a safe, healthy and brilliant start to the New Year.
ITSUMO is pleased to have another opportunity to invite Vancouver based artist Joji Fukushima for his final exclusive sale featuring his hand-crafted wooden plates “Ha Plates 葉皿”.
In response to last year’s “Ike いけ” exhibition by Joji Fukushima, we’re excited to announce another special sale featuring his body of work exclusively available at ITSUMO. With a limited amount of completely hand crafted plates from start to finish, Hazara 葉皿 (leaf-plate) breathes second life into leftover lumber. Individually unique and food safe, each plate is repurposed fromoff-cut thin pieces of bowed and cupped wooden planks, normally considered undesirable within the aspect of his woodworking. The hiragana word “は” (ha = leaf) has been carved on the bottom of each plate, which, instead of stamping his name, is his way of trademarking the series of his conceptualized work. Appreciating the beauty of the material’s imperfections, Joji Fukushima carries the wabi sabi ideology of embracing their natural state and finding joy from the potential of their becoming.
Ha Plates 葉皿 – Joji Fukushima Feature Sale
Starting from
Saturday December 11, 2021
[Location]
ITSUMO | 279 East 6th Ave. Vancouver, BC
[Shop Hours]
Tue – Sat: 12:00 – 18:00
Sun: 12:00 – 17:00
Mon: Closed
“ha” plates
For a while, I did not know what to do with thin pieces of bowed and cupped wood planks. They mostly come from re-sawing processes of cutting thick pieces of lumber into somewhat close to desired sizes. Dealing with off-cut is an inevitable aspect of wood working. Some of them are useful because they are straight enough… so I saw the bent and bowed pieces not so useful as I could not find any use for them. However, I eventually was able to get away from controlling focused woodworking practices. Then I started to see the joy in working with what they are, which led me to make ha plates series.
– Joji Fukushima
About Joji Fukushima
Born in Japan, Joji Fukushima came to Canada as a teenager and up until now has operated a/i studio, a multi-disciplinary workshop providing design and fabrication services located in Vancouver, BC. His wooden furniture designs are a combination of simplicity and thoughtful functionality and are often born out of everyday necessity and the idea of adapting objects to suit individual needs. His connection to the materials is evident, regularly using offcuts of wood to minimize waste and change the way we view and interact with seemingly basic items.
a/i studio: www.i-divides-a.com
We hope you enjoy this opportunity to experience a sense of discovery of Joji Fukushima’s legacy in BC. As a final farewell, we are honoured to be presenting “Ha Plates 葉皿” at ITSUMO to celebrate the end of a chapter before he moves back to Japan at the end of 2021. Almost as if Fukushima himself will be leaving us a trail of shedding leaves, making room for new growth to breathe new life on his next journey.
2021 Holiday Shipping Guide
If you’re looking to send a gift this holiday, please follow our Holiday Shipping Guide to help you plan when to order your holiday gifts to ensure it arrives before December 25, 2021.
Order Deadlines
[Canadian Orders]
[U.S. Orders]
All U.S orders must be placed by Saturday, December 11th
[International Orders]
Due to impacts of COVID-19, high volume of shipments and the unavailability of transportation, international orders are experiencing delays. As a result, delivery dates are not guaranteed, therefore shipping guideline dates for international orders can not be provided at this time.
Please find this link to Chit Chats (our drop-off facility) for updates on international mail services.
Gift Wrap
One of our special services we offer at ITSUMO is our complimentary gift wrapping, which is beautiful and thoughtful. If you would like your item(s) wrapped, please make sure to leave a note during checkout, or e-mail us with your order number.
Notes
At ITSUMO we strive to process your order as quickly and carefully as possible. Of course, sending gifts early is the best way to avoid any issues but we cannot guarantee the delivery date. Therefore we advise all customers are responsible for ensuring orders are placed in time for your parcels arrival. If we are experiencing higher than normal volume we will reach out to let you know.
Starting Tuesday November 9th, our shop in Vancouver BC will open on Tuesdays from 12 – 6pm additional to our regular operating hours till the end of the year. We look forward to assisting your seasonal shopping!
2021 Holiday Operating Hours
[ from November 9th ~ December 31st ]
12:00 ~ 18:00: Tuesday ~ Saturday
12:00 ~ 17:00: Sunday
Closed: Monday
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Shop Location
279 East 6th Avenue, Vancouver BC V5T 1J7
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Customer Service
Phone: 604-423-3679
e-mail: info@itsumo.ca