Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Meet Claire Sakaguchi: Designer, Crafter, and Creative Extraordinaire
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and we’re so excited to be celebrating it all month long. Throughout May, watch the B3 Magazine and barre3 Instagram for stories highlighting members of our global barre3 community who identify as AAPI.
Today, we’re featuring Claire Sakaguchi, Digital Design Director at the barre3 Home Office. Not only do we admire Claire for the innovative, insightful, and design-driven work she produces at barre3, but we’re constantly inspired by all that she’s making behind the scenes. A talented ceramicist, sewer, artist, cook (and more!), Claire explores the intersection of creativity and technique in every project she takes on.
Read on to learn more about Claire’s creative process, daily rituals, and how she’s finding joy amidst a challenging year.
B3 MAGAZINE: At the barre3 Home Office, we all take so much inspiration not only from your work and what you create, but from your presence and approach to each day. What does living a creative, fulfilling life look like and mean to you?
Claire: When I reflect on what brings me the most happiness, it’s in my hands-on creative outlets. There have been periods in my life when I haven’t had those outlets, and I could see a direct correlation between the lack of access to studio space, art, and hobbies and my happiness and overall well-being.
I get meaning out of life through making things. In terms of my work, I’m creating experiences digitally, but in my personal life, I find happiness by producing things specifically with my hands. Throughout my whole life, I’ve been a maker, and I’ve always kept myself busy trying new things and exploring new mediums.
B3 MAGAZINE: What was the first creative endeavor you dove into?
Claire: From a young age, I was always drawing, painting, or building things. Then I learned to sew when I was 10, and I made a quilt as my first project. As a kid in school, art class was always my favorite, and I would always try to maximize the number of canvases I could use and work with all the clay that I could get my hands on. I’ve always lived by the belief that if you want to get started with something, just try it. So with that, I’m always continuing to develop and refine these different skills.
I’ve also gone through different evolutions of diving deep into a single medium, such as painting or watercolors, and then transitioning to a new technique such as sewing or pottery. I go through different phases, and will go fast and furious on one thing, take a break, and then return again.
B3 MAGAZINE: Do you see each of your individual creative practices supporting the growth of one another?
Claire: I do like to have a variety of mediums that I’m working with, because the approach is always different. For example, ceramics are very organic for me—I don’t have a specific plan in mind when I sit down to create something. The clay has a mind of its own whereas with sewing, you have a lot of constraints and I usually want to make something specific that fits and looks a certain way. I like having that balance of different mediums that allow you to either be more creative or more technical.
But I also think it’s fun to flip it. I recently made a dinner set, and it was a chance for me to try and be really international about what I was making and try to create the same size for all the different pieces across a set of six. This was a challenge, but it was also really rewarding to see that I could be a more technical potter. That’s another way I try to challenge myself in my work. I like the flexibility of the mediums that can fit whatever mood I’m in or approach I want to take.
B3 MAGAZINE: You’re a ceramicist, a printmaker, you sew, dye, cook and bake all the beautiful things, and I’m sure I’m leaving something out of this list. You’re involved in so many different creative mediums and endeavors—what pulls you to all of these and what do you see as the connective thread that times them each together?
Claire: It goes back to my love of working with my hands. I love the fact that I live in a home surrounded by many of the things that I’ve made. I also like making things that serve a specific function and purpose: clothing, ceramics, and other usable objects that I interact with each day. The process brings me joy as do the final products.
B3 MAGAZINE: Do you have any daily routines or rituals that keep you grounded and inspired?
Claire: I’m someone who likes to be busy and always have a project going on in the background. Creating structure around my work and my hobbies allows me to find the time to prioritize each. In terms of daily rituals, I try to prioritize working out in the morning, and that helps me set an intentional tone for the day. I try to take my time preparing a meal in the morning, making coffee, and just going through that routine mindfully before starting my work.
My corgi Winston also gives me a lot of structure, because he has his own needs. We take walks that bookend the start and end of my work day, and that’s been really therapeutic for me. It provides some distance from a screen, and especially during the time that we’re in with COVID, it’s nice to have that reason to go outside, leave the house, and do something for someone beyond myself. Cooking is also something that brings me joy, and I’ve established a consistent ritual of cooking on Sundays that sets me up for the week.
In terms of creative structure though, I’m not someone who has a very specific daily practice. I never want to force it. I’d rather have it be something that I look forward to on my own versus feeling like it’s something that I have to do every day. I try to keep a running list of projects I want to accomplish, whether it’s a new pattern or ceramics piece that I want to make. With the dish set I mentioned earlier, I remember getting so excited about the set coming out of the kiln. The big reveal always feels like Christmas for me, and in the end, you have very little control over what happens in the kiln. There’s a lot of suspense as you wait to see if things turn out as you imagined they would.
B3 MAGAZINE: For many people, it can feel difficult to commit to a creative practice. How do you make your creative work a priority?
Claire: Because my creative work is something that makes me so happy, it’s never felt like something I have to push myself to do or find time for. For me, it’s really just driven from the fact that this is what brings me the most joy.
But if you’re someone who’s just starting out, I think it can be helpful to begin by taking a class. The hands-on instruction can help set you up with the technical skills required for whatever you’re doing. That’s something that I’ve found very helpful. Trying to figure something out all on my own can lead to frustration and even make the activity less enjoyable.
With a class too, you also get that built-in structure and consistency. You’ll know that every Wednesday night, for example, you’ll be doing this activity, and you can keep coming back to that.
B3 MAGAZINE: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Claire: Definitely from other artists. My black holes on Instagram are definitely looking at other ceramics artists and seeing how they combine different clays and glazes. There’s such a strong maker community on social media, especially within sewing and ceramics. People are really open to sharing, and that’s something I appreciate so much about the maker community. It’s never about keeping secrets or competition; people are so open to helping others with their work.
I’ve also gotten a lot of inspiration from traveling, and from getting to see how different cultures make things. I always love going to different artist co-ops and checking out local ceramics stores or textile places just to see all the variety.
B3 MAGAZINE: With so much going on in the world today, it can be difficult to know how to best share our voice. What advice would you share with someone who may be hesitant to speak their truth?
Claire: It’s important to find the right audience. There are so many different platforms now for people to share their voice that sometimes it might not be directed toward an audience that you feel safe with. There are so many different opinions and perspectives, and everyone wants to share something. I do feel like context is really important when we share stories and ask questions, and it’s something that often gets lost without an opportunity for deeper conversation.
Personally, I’ve felt that I’ve had the most productive and impactful conversations within a small group of just one or two other people. So I would encourage you to find people you trust, who you feel safe with, and who respect you and focus your energy on those conversations. That’s personally where I feel a lot of change, growth, and learning can happen.
B3 MAGAZINE: Many Asian cultures have a reverence for highly aesthetic and thoughtful art forms. Do you feel that you’re family and culture has inspired your creative practice?
Claire: When I think about the Japanese approach to art, it’s a very technical process. When you think about Shibori dye, for example, it’s so beautiful and very precise. Over the years, I’ve evolved to really slow down and focus on the craft, process, and the materials themselves. That notion of slowing down has really been a learning curve for me, because in the past, I wanted to always produce in quantity. Now, however, I’m focusing more on the quality of fewer pieces.
In my professional and hobby-based work, I am very process-oriented. I want to understand all the steps, why something is done this way, and what are the right and best tools to use. I think the Japanese have such respect for their equipment, and as a result, they create very high-quality tools. My favorite block carving tools and my pottery wheel are Japanese-made, and it’s so enjoyable to work with such highly-engineered tools. It makes the process so much easier.
There’s this aesthetic that’s popular right now called Japandi, a Japanese-Scandinavian aesthetic, and it’s funny because I’m part Swedish as well. I admire that clean, simple aesthetic, and I always try to honor natural materials. In my sewing, I use natural fibers versus synthetic, and the same goes for my pottery: I try to use natural colors or focus on exposing the natural clay. I love that so many of my materials come from the earth in their raw or natural state, and I try to honor that in the final product as well.
B3 MAGAZINE: Not only do you work at barre3, but you have a regular barre3 practice. How have you found movement alongside your creative pursuits supporting your mental and physical health?
Claire: Alongside my creative hobbies, movement is something that’s really helped me establish a routine this year. I used to be a die-hard in-studio person, so the shift to doing it at home has been really different for me. But now I’ve adapted, and I’m happy that I still have that outlet for movement in a new environment.
I try to maintain a balance, with cycling, yoga, walking, and barre3 done all throughout the week. I like the variety, and having a schedule helps me feel balanced. On the days that I don’t exercise, I definitely don’t feel as awake, engaged, or connected to my body. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in dance studios. Having an outlet for movement has always been as important to me as having creative outlets. They both allow me to connect with my mind and my body and help me funnel creative energy into something expressive.
Join us in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month all throughout May and beyond. Follow along on Instagram and tune in right here on the B3 Magazine for in-depth interviews, features, and more. And if you’d like to start your barre3 journey, sign up and get your first month of barre3 online for $1, or find your local studio.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and we’re so excited to be celebrating it all month long. Throughout May, watch the B3 Magazine and barre3 Instagram for stories highlighting members of our global barre3 community who identify as AAPI.
Today, we’re featuring Claire Sakaguchi, Digital Design Director at the barre3 Home Office. Not only do we admire Claire for the innovative, insightful, and design-driven work she produces at barre3, but we’re constantly inspired by all that she’s making behind the scenes. A talented ceramicist, sewer, artist, cook (and more!), Claire explores the intersection of creativity and technique in every project she takes on.
Read on to learn more about Claire’s creative process, daily rituals, and how she’s finding joy amidst a challenging year.
B3 MAGAZINE: At the barre3 Home Office, we all take so much inspiration not only from your work and what you create, but from your presence and approach to each day. What does living a creative, fulfilling life look like and mean to you?
Claire: When I reflect on what brings me the most happiness, it’s in my hands-on creative outlets. There have been periods in my life when I haven’t had those outlets, and I could see a direct correlation between the lack of access to studio space, art, and hobbies and my happiness and overall well-being.
I get meaning out of life through making things. In terms of my work, I’m creating experiences digitally, but in my personal life, I find happiness by producing things specifically with my hands. Throughout my whole life, I’ve been a maker, and I’ve always kept myself busy trying new things and exploring new mediums.
B3 MAGAZINE: What was the first creative endeavor you dove into?
Claire: From a young age, I was always drawing, painting, or building things. Then I learned to sew when I was 10, and I made a quilt as my first project. As a kid in school, art class was always my favorite, and I would always try to maximize the number of canvases I could use and work with all the clay that I could get my hands on. I’ve always lived by the belief that if you want to get started with something, just try it. So with that, I’m always continuing to develop and refine these different skills.
I’ve also gone through different evolutions of diving deep into a single medium, such as painting or watercolors, and then transitioning to a new technique such as sewing or pottery. I go through different phases, and will go fast and furious on one thing, take a break, and then return again.
B3 MAGAZINE: Do you see each of your individual creative practices supporting the growth of one another?
Claire: I do like to have a variety of mediums that I’m working with, because the approach is always different. For example, ceramics are very organic for me—I don’t have a specific plan in mind when I sit down to create something. The clay has a mind of its own whereas with sewing, you have a lot of constraints and I usually want to make something specific that fits and looks a certain way. I like having that balance of different mediums that allow you to either be more creative or more technical.
But I also think it’s fun to flip it. I recently made a dinner set, and it was a chance for me to try and be really international about what I was making and try to create the same size for all the different pieces across a set of six. This was a challenge, but it was also really rewarding to see that I could be a more technical potter. That’s another way I try to challenge myself in my work. I like the flexibility of the mediums that can fit whatever mood I’m in or approach I want to take.
B3 MAGAZINE: You’re a ceramicist, a printmaker, you sew, dye, cook and bake all the beautiful things, and I’m sure I’m leaving something out of this list. You’re involved in so many different creative mediums and endeavors—what pulls you to all of these and what do you see as the connective thread that times them each together?
Claire: It goes back to my love of working with my hands. I love the fact that I live in a home surrounded by many of the things that I’ve made. I also like making things that serve a specific function and purpose: clothing, ceramics, and other usable objects that I interact with each day. The process brings me joy as do the final products.
B3 MAGAZINE: Do you have any daily routines or rituals that keep you grounded and inspired?
Claire: I’m someone who likes to be busy and always have a project going on in the background. Creating structure around my work and my hobbies allows me to find the time to prioritize each. In terms of daily rituals, I try to prioritize working out in the morning, and that helps me set an intentional tone for the day. I try to take my time preparing a meal in the morning, making coffee, and just going through that routine mindfully before starting my work.
My corgi Winston also gives me a lot of structure, because he has his own needs. We take walks that bookend the start and end of my work day, and that’s been really therapeutic for me. It provides some distance from a screen, and especially during the time that we’re in with COVID, it’s nice to have that reason to go outside, leave the house, and do something for someone beyond myself. Cooking is also something that brings me joy, and I’ve established a consistent ritual of cooking on Sundays that sets me up for the week.
In terms of creative structure though, I’m not someone who has a very specific daily practice. I never want to force it. I’d rather have it be something that I look forward to on my own versus feeling like it’s something that I have to do every day. I try to keep a running list of projects I want to accomplish, whether it’s a new pattern or ceramics piece that I want to make. With the dish set I mentioned earlier, I remember getting so excited about the set coming out of the kiln. The big reveal always feels like Christmas for me, and in the end, you have very little control over what happens in the kiln. There’s a lot of suspense as you wait to see if things turn out as you imagined they would.
B3 MAGAZINE: For many people, it can feel difficult to commit to a creative practice. How do you make your creative work a priority?
Claire: Because my creative work is something that makes me so happy, it’s never felt like something I have to push myself to do or find time for. For me, it’s really just driven from the fact that this is what brings me the most joy.
But if you’re someone who’s just starting out, I think it can be helpful to begin by taking a class. The hands-on instruction can help set you up with the technical skills required for whatever you’re doing. That’s something that I’ve found very helpful. Trying to figure something out all on my own can lead to frustration and even make the activity less enjoyable.
With a class too, you also get that built-in structure and consistency. You’ll know that every Wednesday night, for example, you’ll be doing this activity, and you can keep coming back to that.
B3 MAGAZINE: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Claire: Definitely from other artists. My black holes on Instagram are definitely looking at other ceramics artists and seeing how they combine different clays and glazes. There’s such a strong maker community on social media, especially within sewing and ceramics. People are really open to sharing, and that’s something I appreciate so much about the maker community. It’s never about keeping secrets or competition; people are so open to helping others with their work.
I’ve also gotten a lot of inspiration from traveling, and from getting to see how different cultures make things. I always love going to different artist co-ops and checking out local ceramics stores or textile places just to see all the variety.
B3 MAGAZINE: With so much going on in the world today, it can be difficult to know how to best share our voice. What advice would you share with someone who may be hesitant to speak their truth?
Claire: It’s important to find the right audience. There are so many different platforms now for people to share their voice that sometimes it might not be directed toward an audience that you feel safe with. There are so many different opinions and perspectives, and everyone wants to share something. I do feel like context is really important when we share stories and ask questions, and it’s something that often gets lost without an opportunity for deeper conversation.
Personally, I’ve felt that I’ve had the most productive and impactful conversations within a small group of just one or two other people. So I would encourage you to find people you trust, who you feel safe with, and who respect you and focus your energy on those conversations. That’s personally where I feel a lot of change, growth, and learning can happen.
B3 MAGAZINE: Many Asian cultures have a reverence for highly aesthetic and thoughtful art forms. Do you feel that you’re family and culture has inspired your creative practice?
Claire: When I think about the Japanese approach to art, it’s a very technical process. When you think about Shibori dye, for example, it’s so beautiful and very precise. Over the years, I’ve evolved to really slow down and focus on the craft, process, and the materials themselves. That notion of slowing down has really been a learning curve for me, because in the past, I wanted to always produce in quantity. Now, however, I’m focusing more on the quality of fewer pieces.
In my professional and hobby-based work, I am very process-oriented. I want to understand all the steps, why something is done this way, and what are the right and best tools to use. I think the Japanese have such respect for their equipment, and as a result, they create very high-quality tools. My favorite block carving tools and my pottery wheel are Japanese-made, and it’s so enjoyable to work with such highly-engineered tools. It makes the process so much easier.
There’s this aesthetic that’s popular right now called Japandi, a Japanese-Scandinavian aesthetic, and it’s funny because I’m part Swedish as well. I admire that clean, simple aesthetic, and I always try to honor natural materials. In my sewing, I use natural fibers versus synthetic, and the same goes for my pottery: I try to use natural colors or focus on exposing the natural clay. I love that so many of my materials come from the earth in their raw or natural state, and I try to honor that in the final product as well.
B3 MAGAZINE: Not only do you work at barre3, but you have a regular barre3 practice. How have you found movement alongside your creative pursuits supporting your mental and physical health?
Claire: Alongside my creative hobbies, movement is something that’s really helped me establish a routine this year. I used to be a die-hard in-studio person, so the shift to doing it at home has been really different for me. But now I’ve adapted, and I’m happy that I still have that outlet for movement in a new environment.
I try to maintain a balance, with cycling, yoga, walking, and barre3 done all throughout the week. I like the variety, and having a schedule helps me feel balanced. On the days that I don’t exercise, I definitely don’t feel as awake, engaged, or connected to my body. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in dance studios. Having an outlet for movement has always been as important to me as having creative outlets. They both allow me to connect with my mind and my body and help me funnel creative energy into something expressive.
Join us in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month all throughout May and beyond. Follow along on Instagram and tune in right here on the B3 Magazine for in-depth interviews, features, and more. And if you’d like to start your barre3 journey, sign up and get your first month of barre3 online for $1, or find your local studio.
