Breakfast with Jackson Li…
On our second morning we (Americans and Japanese) were invited to breakfast by Jackson Li. All I knew was he was a friend of HiroTashima’s. They had gone to graduate school together at Alfred University. I thought this was very nice of him so I decided to bring him a gift, a small porcelain bud vase decorated loosely with brushwork that reminded me a of an oriental watercolor. At breakfast I was sitting near him and he spoke of his studio which had a stream powering his ancient clay-making apparatus. I was soon to learn he owned the Hyatt Regency Hotel where we were eating. After breakfast he took us to the other side of the hotel to view his museum and international gallery from which he had curated a show of ceramics from around the world. I had a singular opportunity to give him my card with a photo of “A River Runs Through It” and asked if I could give him a gift. He responded “certainly” and carefully unwrapped my gift, turning it slowly, then smiling, he placed my card and piece on a pedestal with his own sculpture, and I was in his international show. His last words were “I’m going to have to look you up. “ I was over-the-moon!
