Jorge's Shisa

WOW! I was going to be so good when I started this blog about posting often. Well, doesn't look like I did such a good job! Well, my last post was showing some Shisa that I made in pottery class. For those of you who don't know, Shisa or Shishi lions are found on the rooftops or entryway to most houses here in Okinawa. They are not religious symbols, just a superstition. They usually are faced looking at the pathway to the house. The male, his mouth open growling and scaring away the bad spirits, the female, mouth closed, smiling holding in the good spirits. Anyway, we commissioned my pottery Sensei, Master Potter Jorge Itokazu to make us a pair for the entrance to our new home. We are leaving Okinawa in less than two weeks for a new adventure, a new phase of our lives without the military. We showed him a photo of a pair we had found that we liked......told him to make them that kind of shape, but with Jorge's style. Here is what we he came up with. These haven't been fired yet, but I am soooooo excited!! I love them and keep looking at the photos. I can't wait until I can look at them every day! I love how the butt is higher than most, and the tail is over his butt facing forward. I'm also posting a photo of me and Jorge.