Stones Across Cultures: A Sustainable Art Exchange and Ceramic Workshop Series:
Call for Artists

In collaboration with Professor Emeritus Kouan Hashimoto, Joshibi University of Art & Design, Sagamihara, Japan 

Workshop facilitated by Jasmine Cardenas – Artist & Project Lead 

The International Programs & Collaborations Office (IPCO) at OCAD U is excited to present Stones Across Cultures, a unique intercultural and sustainability-focused workshop as part of our Global Studio Series. 

Over the past year, we have fostered global connections through virtual networking groups, including collaborations with Joshibi University of Art & Design. Professor Emeritus Kouan Hashimoto, renowned for his expertise in extracting natural pigments from stones, brings his sustainable artistic practice to this initiative. 

This workshop invites OCAD U students to participate in an intercultural material exchange and a hands-on ceramic workshop. With the support of IPCO, participants will send small stones to Japan to be ground and transformed into natural pigments by Professor Hashimoto. These pigments will then be returned to OCAD U, where ceramicist Jasmine Cardenas will lead a workshop on binding these pigments into clay to create small sculptural pieces. 

PROJECT TIMELINE 

• Step 1: On January 21st, 2025, selected participants provide up to 3 stones that weigh less than 200g total to the International Programs & Collaborations Office.
• Step 2: The stones are mailed to Professor Hashimoto in Tokyo, Japan, where they are ground into pigments using modern milling techniques.
• Step 3: Once processed, the pigments are returned to OCAD U for a hands-on workshop set to take place late March 2025. Jasmine will guide students in creating small-scale sculptures, charms, or jewelry using clay and their natural stone pigments.
• Step 4: All pieces will be bisque fired, and finished with a clear glaze, for a final glaze firing. Participants will be notified when pieces are ready for pickup.  

This initiative explores the materiality of clay, showcasing the transformative interactions of stone pigments fired at over 1,000°C and celebrating the process of experimentation. Students will also gain insight into how submicron natural pigments—an innovative and sustainable alternative to synthetic pigments—can be integrated into contemporary art and craft practices. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing sustainability, cultural exchange, and the exploration of eco-friendly materials in art. 

ELIGIBILITY  

Open to all current OCAD U students across all faculties, including those in Graduate Studies 

EVALUATION CRITERIA:  

Submissions for Stones Across Cultures will be evaluated based on artistic alignment with sustainability, demonstrate an interest in the use of eco-friendly materials and the exploration of natural pigments. Preference will be given to works that incorporate intercultural perspectives, show technical proficiency in ceramics, sculpture, or jewelry making, and demonstrate innovative approaches to material exploration. Applicants should align with the project’s focus on cultural exchange, sustainability, and experimentation, and commit to full participation in all project stages, including submitting stones, attending the workshop, and creating work with the returned pigments.  

SUBMISSION DEADLINE  

Complete the online form to apply.  Apply by January 15th, 2025, by 9:00 AM EST 

COLLABORATOR

Kouan Hashimoto is a renowned Japanese-style painter and leading expert in the field of natural and mineral pigments. Born in 1953, he graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1977 and studied under prominent mentors Meiji Hashimoto and Tatsuo Takayama. He became a full-time lecturer at Joshibi University of Art and Design in 1986, later serving as Professor, Dean of Graduate School, and Vice President. Currently, he is Professor Emeritus and a visiting researcher at Joshibi University of Art and Design.

He has more than 20 years of research in the development of advanced grinding techniques that regenerate inorganic natural pigments, which is a breakthrough that surpasses the previous 3-micron barrier. A member of the Japan Society for Powder Engineering, his work integrates stone milling techniques with the principles of sustainability outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His research promotes global cultural exchange and universal sensibilities, fostering a deeper connection to Earth's ancient history. Professor Hashimoto's unique approach to natural pigments has made significant contributions to the fields of art, technology and environmental sustainability.

FACILITATOR

Jasmine Cardenas is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans sculptural painting, collage, ceramics, and installation. Her practice is rooted in an experimental approach to materiality, where she has incorporated a range of elements including vibrant textured paints, upcycled materials, and annatto-dyed textiles, to create both real and imagined spaces. These spaces are shaped by the tactile qualities of the materials, which draw from her Canadian-Ecuadorian heritage, familial stories, traditions, lived experiences, and the nuances of her domestic environment.
Recently, Cardenas has turned her focus to ceramics, embracing sustainability in both materials and methods of art making. She holds a BFA from OCAD University (2017) and currently serves as the International Networking Assistant in the International Programs & Collaborations Office. In 2022, she founded Casa Studio, a small-batch ceramics studio in Hamilton, ON, where she creates functional sculptures that marry form and purpose. Whether working with tinted clays, crafting organic forms, or producing large-scale wall installations, her work is defined by a tactile approach to clay collaging and a dedication to blending art with utility. Beyond creating art, Casa Studio is committed to fostering accessible art opportunities within their local community. Cardenas is currently based in Hamilton.