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Q: We were talking about Maja Grotell.

Takaezu: Well, I told you earlier that when I saw her work and the signature of her pieces, and I saw in magazines, I thought, this is the person, I want to work with her. Of course someone else told me about her, but not much. It's the work that made me go to Cranbrook. And, as I said, I was surprised that I got in. I was surprised that I got the medal for the year. But she was a very interesting teacher. She did not give you criticism. She really cut the piece up and told you the truth about it. One thing about her. She had sixth sense. She knew a lot of the things you were going through or working on. But I think she wanted you to be an individual, that everybody was an individual. And I feel the same way. You give one project and expect everybody-- because of your background, whatever, your experiences, and she has brought all this thing out, and I think her criticism and what she helped me form my own identity in a way. In Hawaii we had a very good teacher, Claude Horan, but I think I mentioned somewhere, I think I learned technique from Horan, but I found myself working with Maja Grotell. Her work was strong and she really was dedicated to the idea to see that ceramics go into the same level as any other medium. And I think she has. I think there are all kinds of students who went there and not all realized her capacity or her philosophy. And two