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Kristin Mitsu Shiga Shag Shaggy Chug P.O. Box 83191 Portland, OR 97283 tel: 503.329.2352 fax: 503.286.8679 Write to us 
E-mail
© Copyright 2001 Kristin Mitsu Shiga All Rights Reserved |
| Profile |
BIO
I grew up in the early 1970's in a small home in New York City. My mother was a public school teacher, and I was raised in part by my German grandmother, tempered by the strict Japanese manners taught to me by my occasional-musician father. I began life with a love of the foods and languages of many cultures, a curiosity for intricate objects, and a strong sense of who I was.
After several attempts at college in different disciplines and many distracting forays into diverse careers, I found my passion for life in teaching. The desire to do so at a college level enticed me to finally finish a degree in Metalsmithing at the Oregon College of Art & Craft.
Portland, Oregon is where I find myself now, and in many ways, I feel like I have finally come home. Serendipitous circumstances have placed me in the company of many wonderful craftspeople, and my current instinct is to stand still long enough for the water around my feet to clear, so I may see the way before me.
STATEMENT
There are many ways to tell a story. Sometimes words will suffice. Often, though, the right ones are hard to find. I find storytelling to be easier when I use my hands to create an object to speak for me. The result may be a wearable haiku, or some length of prose from which to pour your tea, but each piece tells a story that can only be retold by the viewer.
A word about "Shag, Shaggy, Chug:"
Some of you may know me by my business name, Shag Shaggy Chug. The name's origins are the best kind - it came from a friend. One day, Hilary Pfeifer was spell-checking a document that included my name on her computer. The spell check rejected "Shiga" as a legitimate spelling for anything that can be defined, and suggested the three words, "Shag," "Shaggy," and "Chug" as appropriate alternatives. Since I like to think of my jewelry as alternative, I thought this would be the perfect business name under which to operate!
Want to know more about Hilary's great ideas? Click on her piece, below:
