Kuksa
Object that Embodies the Exchange of Culture and Ideas
Jonathan Capps 2018–2019 U.S. Fulbright Fellow to Finland Glass Artist Nuutajärvi Glass Village To honor the 70th Anniversary of ASLAFulbright, Jonathan Capps designed and created a glass Kuksa, a unique piece of art of which he produced a limited edition.
S
hortly after Terhi Mölsä, CEO of the Ful-
cup, a spoon, or a ladle. It stands for warmth, nour-
bright Finland Foundation asked me if I
ishment, and salvation – all of which are essential
would consider making something for Ful-
to survival but also in building and maintaining a
bright Finland’s 70th year celebration, I found a
community. Like the Fulbright exchange, the kuksa
used book on Tapio Wirkkala at a kirpputori - in the
can be passed from one person to the next. An
book, there is an image of Wirkkala’s hands holding
exchange, if you will, of its nourishing contents,
a kuksa cup. Like the kuksa cup they held, his hands
which strengthens relationships and the bonds of
were worn and well used. They were the hands of
human connection.
a craftsman. I could not stop thinking about this
This year the Fulbright Finland Foundation
image, and it became a point of inspiration for
launched its new logo. From the beginning (even
designing these gifts.
before I knew what the form would be), I wanted to
I was first introduced to the kuksa cup during a
include an element in its design that celebrated and
February family trip to Lapland. I became fasci-
recognized Fulbright Finland’s new look. To me, the
nated with this courageously modest vessel, and as
new logo looks like an overlapping, looping, mir-
I learned more of its humble origins I realized, on
rored pattern line that consists of various shades of
an existential level, that the kuksa is a metaphor
blue.
for my Fulbright Finland experience. Tradition-
My glass Kuksa represents a marriage of both
ally made from the knot of a birch tree, each kuksa
design and craftsmanship - an object that embodies
cup is uniquely personal, and meant to fit comfort-
the exchange of culture and ideas.
ably in the maker’s hands. The kuksa by design is
12 | www.fulbright.fi
a thoughtfully humble and practical vessel. It is
Read the whole story and watch a video of creating
multifunctional, simultaneously acting as a bowl, a
the Kuksa at www.fulbright.fi/about-us/blog/kuksa
FULBRIGHT FINLAND
#FULBRIGHTFIN70