Local artist Chyako Hashimoto shares her artistic journey with us as an accomplished potter and pottery teacher in Durango, Colorado.

Four Corners Arts Forum

Join me for an inspiring and informative conversation with local artist and long time Durango, Colorado resident Chyako Hashimoto. As an an artist she is a potter, pottery teacher and gardener. Chyako has been the owner of YUNOMI Pottery Studio for the last thirteen years which is located in the Smiley Building. She is a native of Japan but found her love of pottery making when she came to America to attend Fort Lewis College. She expresses that her goal has always been to “dedicate your life to something you love”. Chyako has studied with many master potters and exhibited her work in Durango, Steamboat Springs and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Between 2000 to 2004 she was an artist in residence at Laloba Ranch Clay Center in Steamboat Springs. In addition to creating beautiful and functional work, she gets much of her joy from teaching wheel throwing classes in her studio, with a maximum of six students in each class creating an intimate setting. There are also monthly memberships available which include the usage of over twenty beautiful house-made glazes, bisque, and glaze firing. For many years she has studied and taught mindful meditation which she incorporates into her pottery classes, beginning each class with a short mindfulness meditation. Chyako has created the YUNOMI studio as “a small clay community where you can meet and develop friendships with likeminded people while finding and nurturing your artist within”. She’s grateful to be able to share her passion with many people through the studio. For more information about her classes and memberships visit the website www.yunomipotterystudio.com. You can also find her on Instagram @chyakopot.