In March, 2003, the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts graciously awarded a one-month residency in China to me, Peter Beasecker, Jim Connell, Eva Kwong, and Jim Leedy. I chose to go in May, 2003. It was a rich and amazing experience in terms of people, culture, place, and ceramics.

China has been intimately connected with historic ceramics in my mind. After seeing a small part of China first-hand, I realize there is a vital, living association between China and ceramics, expecially porcelain.

The people were friendly, hospitable, interesting, and fun. They make creative use of resources, and activity is everywhere.

Links below offer some images from China, links to an article from the Shanghai Daily News on the Zhujiajiao Art Heritage Village (where I spent half my time), and links for Sanbao art center and Jingdezhen 2004: 1000 Years Celebration of Porcelain.

It was a remarkable experience, and I owe great thanks to NCECA, Steve Brousseau and his wife Xue Mei, Jackson Li (founder of Sanbao), Xu Ai Min (Mayor of Jingdezhen), Mah Lin (Vice-Mayor of Jingdezhen), and Caroline Cheng (The Pottery WorkshopShanghai and Hong Kong), and the many other kind people who offered friendship and exchange.

To those who haven't seen China in person, I'd enthusiastically recommend the experience.

There will be events and tours for Jingdezhen 2004: 1000 Years Celebration of Porcelain that are created for people interested in ceramic arts. Included in the Jingdezhen 2004 events are an international ceramic exhibitions and a Millenium Wall and Column Project. There are fellowship opportunities listed in the Jingdezhen web site, as well as scholarships for NCECA members. There are also opportunities for artists wishing to work teaching English to Jingdezhen people who will work with the conference events.

Ceramic artist Jackson Li's Sanbao is an amazing place for clay artists to work. Historic China is present in traditional buildings in a lovely valley outside Jingdezhen. Historic and contemporary pots are throughout the grounds, as well as traditional tools and artefacts. The Sanbao web site has fellowship information. A beautiful and inspiring place to work with other international artists. Check out the web site below.

If you fly into Shanghai or Hong Kong, stop and visit The Pottery Workshop. Caroline Cheng, the owner, now lives in Shanghai, but is often in Hong Kong. The Shanghai location offers a residency opportunity for international artists that provides space to work and many opportunities for involvement with other artists. See links to contact her.

Zhujiajiao Art Heritage Village is a special place outside of Shanghai where Jeffrey Wong has created a sense of history and a unique workspace for artists. The Village will be re-locating this summer to a location near Tongli, another beautiful, historic water town, about 30 miles from its current location. Zhujiajiao art director and clay artist Steve Brousseau is working as the International Liaison for Jingdezhen 2004.

Links:
Jingdezhen Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute: www.chinaclayart.com

The Pottery Workshop:
www.ceramics.com.hk

Porcelain light post in a Jingdezhen Park.

Bronze sculpture of a potter using an atomizer to glaze a pot. Jingdezhen.

Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute

Arbuckle porcelain (greenware), created at Sanbao