Jun Kaneko is a pioneer and leader in the field of monumental ceramic sculpture. His blunt monolithic Dangos (Dango meaning “rounded form” or “dumpling” in Japanese) combine both painting and sculpture and stand approximately 9 feet in height. The process to complete a single Dango requires months of labor. Jun hand forms each piece applying successive layers of clay, building the walls of the sculpture to a thickness of two inches. Each layer must dry before the next is added. The clay pieces are built inside the large kiln because they are too heavy and too fragile to move prior to firing. The initial kiln firing of the unpainted ceramic form can take up to 35 days.