PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 91 played, Lee notes that the amount of time he’s spent working with pottery now almost equals his time in tech. While he has leveraged his previous experience in marketing to sell his work through his website as well as on Etsy, Lee says that most of his pieces find buyers through word of mouth. In summer, you can find him at the annual Palo Alto Glass and Clay show, where he’s been a regular participant. He also holds two open houses a year in his studio, with the next one set for December 6 and 7. In Japan, the concept of Kakko Nintei, or Living National Treasure, has been formalized into a coveted honor for a select group who not only excel at a traditional art form but also dedicate themselves to teaching it to apprentices. The designation comes with an annual grant from the Japanese government to help artisans devote themselves to their crafts. Lee says that he has met a few of these living legends on his travels. “They were interesting men and not arrogant, as one might expect,” he recalls. “Mainly, they feel the need to share and pass on their knowledge.” Is that a designation he would like for himself? Lee just laughs. The artist shares that one of the best consequences of his decision to become a full-time potter has been the wonderful experiences he and Donnie have shared on their travels. During a recent trip to Iceland, a region not really known for ceramics, he visited a shop that mainly sold functional pieces. Surprisingly, there were a number of pots that were made using a “crater” technique of glazing that he has experimented with in his own work. He met the artist and she shared PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: LEE MIDDLEMAN portola potter leemiddleman.com her glazing formulas, a generous gesture that he did not expect. “Making ceramics is a bond,” explains Lee. “My wife says we can’t go anywhere in the world where I don’t have friends or won’t make new friends.” ABOVE: (clockwise from left) Lee’s Winter Diamond Globe; Crater Glazed Seed; Dessert Sunflower; and Jade Abora vases.
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