douglas gray on thu 4 mar 99
Just had to drop a quick note to everyone, particularly those of you who had
such wonderful suggestions for our student trip to Washington DC. It was an
incredible experience. The highlight had to be the visit to the storage area in
the Freer gallery. One of the art handlers, Tara Cora, really out did herself
with our group. She gave us the grand tour of pots, jade, bronzes, laquer
woods, scrolls and illuminated manuscripts. It was unreal. Then to top it off
she pulled out several pieces of ceramics and with some guidance allowed us to
touch and hold these beautiful pieces. My first request was for a Chinese
porcelain red vase. Spectacular doesn't seem to do the glaze justice. If only
I had Ron Roy's magnifying glass. Then it was on to 14th and 15th century
Korean tea bowls with stamped designs inlayed with slip. Then the neolithic
Chinese vase form, and on and on. Our one and a half hour tour turned into
almost three hours. And Tara was great. She was genuinely enthusiatic about
the pieces she shared with us and about the collection as a whole. Her
enthusiasm was contagious and the students really enjoyed themselves. But then
how often do you get to handle a three thousand year old pot, (well I know some
poeple get to keep pots like that on the shelf in their dinning room). All in
all a wonderful weekend.
And any one who is interested in getting a behind the scenes look at the storage
facility at the Freer is encouraged to call and make an appointment. They are
really trying to make the collection accessible. Just be sure to call in
advance and make an appointment. There are only 3 art handlers and they keep
busy schedules.
still reeling,
doug
I spent almost as much time smelling the old pots as I did touching and looking
at them. ahhhhhh...........
============================================================================ =)
Douglas E. Gray, Assistant Professor of Art
P.O. Box 100547
Department of Fine Arts and Mass Communication
Francis Marion University
Florence, South Carolina 29501-0547
dgray@fmarion.edu
843/661-1535
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