Japanese Lantern Pottery

Fourth-generation artist inspires the community with his unique designs 

Alvin Alejo is a local multidisciplinary artist who is sharing his love of pottery through community classes.

Alvin teaches his students how to make stunning Japanese-inspired lanterns from clay. The lanterns, which are Alvin’s original designs, are built in three separate pieces, allowing his students to refine the art of pottery.

Participants will have the opportunity to carve their name or an inspirational word on the side of the lantern, then a solar panel is attached, making it a truly unique piece of art.

“The lanterns have their speciality and uniqueness in many ways. Firstly, it comes in three pieces; the lid, the base and the body, for the reason that it is not too bulky to be fired in the kilns,” Alvin said. 

“Its small solar panel generates power during sunny hours and radiates light through the name carved in it at night.”

While Alvin is an artist of many disciplines, pottery has been a passion of his since he was a teenager, however growing up in the Philippines, there weren’t many opportunities for him to hone his craft. 

“I had been enthusiastic about pottery since my high school years on how glazes are made, as there was no access to pottery facilities from that place at that time in my hometown in the Philippines,” Alvin said. “So I just kept the interest until I found this pottery club at Old Petrie town in 2015.”

“The very thing that inspires me is my will and passion to go on enjoying the craftsmanship of the olden days and apply them in these days in time.” Alvin said.

As well as his pottery classes, Alvin makes jewellery, restores furniture, and has even built boats. In the 1980s, Alvin had a successful furniture-making business and across eight conservative summers, he restored his grandmother’s house which was built during the Spanish regime in the Philippines. These life experiences help to make this artist a true asset to the Geebung community and its surrounds.

Japanese Lantern Pottery Workshop
Bookings for Alvin’s class can be made at: www.classbento.com.au; $190 per student; All materials included.