With this summer’s heatwave, slurping a bowl of cold noodles may be just what the doctor ordered. ADVERTISING With this summer’s heatwave, slurping a bowl of cold noodles may be just what the doctor ordered. In Japan, slurping noodles is
With this summer’s heatwave, slurping a bowl of cold noodles may be just what the doctor ordered.
In Japan, slurping noodles is not only accepted, but is considered polite. On Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Donkey Mill Art Center presents its ninth annual Cool Fusion: Festival of 1000 Bowls, a celebration of the ceramic, musical and culinary arts. Japanese noodles can be eaten hot or cold, but Japanese custom considers somen noodles a popular staple during the summer months because they are thought to keep one cool. In haiku poetry, the word somen denotes the summer season.
Somen is a thin wheat noodle, that is traditionally served in ice water to give the noodles an extra cooling effect. Who needs air conditioning when you can slurp a bowl of cold somen? What’s even better is that slurping is part of the ritual, so you can enjoy being noisy while still maintaining manners.
“Cool Fusion is a fundraiser for our ceramics department, and this year is our ninth annual event,” said Anne Catlin, director of media and programs at the center. “The volunteers involved are really amazing, professional, local artists from various walks of life. Artists such as Amber Aguirre, Terri Tokuda, Kate and Will Jacobson, Gerald Ben, are all artists that make ceramics independently, and are making these bowls as a donation for the event.”
Cool Fusion has supported ceramic arts and education for people of all ages and abilities at the Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa for nearly a decade. Each year, 1,000 somen noodle bowls are created for this event by local artists from across the island, who volunteer their time for this event. Each bowl is an original work of art, wheel-thrown and individually glazed.
“The artists create their bowls anonymously so you never know which bowl was made by whom,” said Catlin. “But people who know the characteristics of the artists work can spot differences among them. For example, some may put a little indentation under the lip of the bowl, so there are little clues from time to time so you can spot you made your bowl.”
Guests can take their time selecting their bowl, and examining the uniqueness and subtle nuances of each piece. Additional handmade bowls can be purchased as well, in addition to many other pieces of ceramic art, including larger bowls, vases and cups.
“Every year, these ceramic artists start three months ahead of time creating bowls, for the day of the event when the community comes together,” said Catlin. “The guests will have the opportunity to choose their favorite bowl and then we’ll serve somen noodles, which is a cold Japanese dish. They’re noodles with a variety of toppings, presented artfully in these handmade bowls. Guest can go through and have as many servings of the noodles as they would like.”
This year’s event will be held at the Keauhou Shopping Center in the theme of Bamboo and Shibori. Guests will enjoy live music by Innovations Youth Orchestra, led by Andrea Lindborg, in addition to the noodles and sake tasting, while perusing locally handcrafted ceramic wares.
All funds raised by this event will support the center’s Ceramics Department’s mission to bring clay art to people of all ages and abilities in the island community. Along with year-round classes in pottery and sculpture, the program also offers weekend workshops focusing on various techniques taught by visiting artists from around the world.
“It’s beautiful, and it’s delicious,” said Catlin. “We are really trying to connect people in a meaningful way — not only with each other, but with the handmade object. For these ceramics artists, their craft is really heart-felt and there’s a lot that goes into something even so basic as a bowl. Our emphasis this year is not only connecting people with the handmade object, but helping them have a greater understanding of how it’s made and also the connection the artists feels in creating an object like that.”
Tickets are $20 presale and $25 at the event. Admission includes a handmade bowl of your choice heaping with home-style, Japanese Somen noodles. Swirls of fine noodles, homemade broth, and special toppings of fresh chopped vegetables will be delicately and artfully presented in petite bowls called a soba choko. Both traditional wheat noodles and gluten-free noodles are available. Sake cups (masu) are $15 and can be used for a complimentary sake tasting.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 322-3362 or visit www.donkeymillartcenter.org.
