A Patchwork of Ceramics in Jingdezhen

Jindezhen is about a day's drive SW from Shanghai. It is arguably the world's porcelain capital. The whole city revolves around the ceramic industry. There are several universities and training institutes for students, and hundreds of 'factories', each specialising in some aspect of ceramic production. 'Artists' don't do the complete production themselves as in the West. One factory will process the clay, another will specialise in mould making, another will pour the moulds or finish the green ware, turn the bases, some are specialist carvers, painters, lustre painters, decal makers, glaze makers, and so it goes on. There is even a 'kiln master' to fire the kiln, then a team of 'specialists' will finish the pots, grind the bases, and a specialist box maker custom makes boxes for transport.

Even the traffic lights and street lights in the city are made from porcelain.

We stayed at Sanbao - an independent, privately owned renovated farm house about 10 km from town. Jackson Li and his sister Wendy run the place. Jackson is well known in the ceramic world for being a bit more 'Western' in his approach - his repertoire of skills is unusually broad and he makes the most beautiful brushes [see previous posts and the web site].

...bathroom wall tiles,

 I don't know who made this piece, but it shows a popular style of abstract work with the gorgeous celadon glaze that I love so much.

...this time a 'patchwork of glaze'- glued to canvas after firing.

...clay,

...this was originally a kiln, then a fireplace, now a repository for reject bowls.

...exhibition piece,

'Beneath our Feet'

...part of an exhibition by Englishman, Tom Hayes, who had been at Sanbao for 6 months,

...and this one commenting on the layers of ceramic history, shards, clays, soils and rice paddies.

The institute welcomes international artists for residencies at all times, so if you want a fabulous opportunity to immerse yourself in this world, check out the web site or just email Wendy.

...one of the buildings with a residence and several studios.

Footnote - I have many more Sanbao pics and pics of great ceramic pieces but I'll leave them for another post - this one was all about the 'patchwork'.



The 12 days of Christmas

After a bit of fun with the last blog, I'll try to get a little bit serious with this one.

Our esteemed COMA [Collaboration of Maleny Arts] leader, Ken Munsie, [E.L. for short], curated the latest exhibition, 'The 12 Days of Christmas', which is now hanging in one of our fabulous local cafes - 'Maple 3'.
This is my painting, titled 'One Bossy Gander'. Fiona reckons it will do people's heads in 'cos I have 7 geese - well, I actually have only 6 geese and one gander - it's called 'artistic license'.

 

Our E.L. always wants words to go with our art works, so here are mine:

"ONE BOSSY GANDER"
One bossy gander
with 6 geese a laying,
happy puddling in Sanbao stream,
keeping watch over comings and goings,
greet me each morning
as I walk to the studio.

These are very recent memories from the rural tranquility of the Sanbao Ceramic institute, Jingdezhen, China. The geese and I had many conversations as we met along the creek banks and the pathways leading from the sleeping quarters to the restaurant and the working ceramic studios. They became my friends.

...these are the models for my painting...

Barry, Fiona and I helped hang the show this afternoon.

Barry hanging my painting with his '5 golden rings' to the right...

...Fiona checking the levels ['I phone' app.] on Helga Nehrkorn's partridge painting...

...E.L. [Ken Munsie] hanging 3 French hens...

...and me supervising the paper work!!

I did kind of form a bond with these geese - I loved the way they kept appearing at random water spots around the property - the pool where the clothes washing was done, the running stream where the lunch dishes were rinsed [must have been the attraction of the left over rice], the pond near the kaolin stamping, water driven apparatus, and along the track to the studios. I can still hear them squarking 'good night' and 'good morning - get out of bed...'  to me.

I did a couple of ink drawings whilst at Sanbao and then had them mounted onto a 'silk' scroll.

...check out the sox - a free gift after one of our many heavenly foot massages.

Brush making in Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen is the 'porcelain capital of the world' - beautiful, fine, strong, translucent porcelain is found in the area. It has a major student ceramic training institute and hundreds of specialist ceramic related 'factories'. 10km out of town is an International exchange complex/venue with studios, kilns, accommodation, restaurant, shop, and all the support and advice any ceramic artist could want - this place is 'Sanbao', about 10km from the city, run by Jackson Li and his sister, Wenying Li with the daily nitty gritty presently sorted out by the fabulous Sebastiano Pimenta from Brazil.
We had a week at Sanbao and met some wonderful people and really experienced life in the creative city of Jindezhen.
Jackson is well known 'in the west' for his ceramic works and also for making his own brushes.
Here are some of the brushes available for sale in the Sanbao shop - some made by Jackson...

...these were for sale in the student market...

 

...Jackson's friend making brushes...

...I bought these lovely brushes for about $40 - yum