Ric Swenson on thu 1 feb 07
Greetings from JingDeZhen Ceramic Institute, China via Atlanta, Georgia, Fe=
b 1, 2007
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Actually, I=92m on break in Atlanta for a few weeks, visiting family and fr=
iends in America. A bit of culture shock to find myself back in familiar, =
yet unfamiliar feeling territory. Brings to the forefront some of the most=
glaring differences between America and China. So many cars here=85so man=
y fast food places=85so many white and black people and so few Asian folks.=
No one staring at me cause I=92m different. Strange and yet somehow comfo=
rting.
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During my last few weeks in China I spent most of my time giving final oral=
exams to my college students, opening, on Dec 22, and then on Jan 14, clos=
ing up my solo exhibit of ceramic sculptures at The Pottery Workshop in Jin=
gDeZhen. Busy weeks, full of celebrations of Xmas and New Years and dinners=
with good friends. The food in China is SO good.
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I have enjoyed having some CiCi=92s pizza and a good steak here in Atlanta =
and went for the obligatory trip for a burger and fried onion rings at THE =
VARSITY here in Atlanta. I bought the ingredients yesterday ($40.00 !) for =
my famous Bison Chili which last year took second place at the chili cook o=
ff at the Annual Superbowl Sunday Chili Cookoff at Trinity Lutheran Church =
in Lilburn. I=92m hoping for first place this year=85..I have changed my r=
ecipe slightly, to spice it up a notch or two. A few Habenerno peppers and=
more secret ingredients will make it more memorable, I hope.
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Television here is more of the same. China has limited English programming=
, but it suites me better than all the local and national news and games sh=
ows in the US tube. I still enjoy watching Law and Order and the History Ch=
annel. I can=92t believe how interesting it is to visit Barnes and Noble h=
ere. I=92ve picked up some CDs of nursery rhymes for my kindergarten studen=
ts, and I bought three games of SCRABBLE to use in my college classes.
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My trip from JingDeZhen to Shanghai and then on to San Francisco and then o=
n to Atlanta was shorter than the trip over. When I went to China last Mar=
ch, we flew up the Pacific Coast over Seattle and B.C. and over Anchorage, =
then over Siberia to Shanghai. 13 hours. On the return trip, also on United=
Airlines, the 747 flew in a straight line over Tokyo to San Francisco, 10 =
hours. I watched a total of 5 movies on the trip. Too much film and not e=
nough sleep. I arrived with a jet lag that took me down for 24 hours. Sho=
ulda slept.
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I have helped recruit two more Oral English teachers for the institute. Mik=
e F. from Canada and Kris M. from California. They answered my queries thr=
ough CLAYART a few weeks ago. Several others are interested in teaching th=
ere in the following term too. There are MANY opportunities in China and i=
n Asia to teach oral English. If you are interested in an adventure, you c=
an live the adventure in China, Korea, Japan or any number of other eastern=
countries that are scrambling to communicate with the west. It=92s an exci=
ting time to be in China, I think. There is so much change and growth in C=
hina today and interest in the Western way of life. If I can help anyone ou=
t there find a position in such a job, I would be happy to do so. I have h=
ad nothing but good experiences so far and I am always happy to share infor=
mation.
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Went to the world=92s largest aquarium and the Atlanta Zoo last week. The =
ON-LOAN Chinese baby Panda is very cute and now at 18 lbs looking very heal=
thy. The Georgia Aquarium is awesome, huge and state of the art in all ways=
. Went to see Medieval Times Show last week too. Swordsmanship and horsem=
anship and a great hands-only eaten meal. Wonderful costumes and a shallow=
, but fun storyline. I could relate to that show that way a Chinese might r=
elate to the Peking Opera. =20
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My solo exhibition at Caroline Cheng=92s Pottery Workshop in JingDeZhen was=
a fabulous success. They told me there were 500 people at the opening Dec=
ember 22. That might be an exaggeration, but there were a lot of folks the=
re. Many of my students came as well as arts faculty and other ceramic art=
ists. There are two large galleries at the Pottery Workshop and both galle=
ries had shows. Upstairs was my solo exhibit and downstairs, was the work o=
f 30 Chinese ceramic artists from JingDeZhen and environs. Rrefreshments, b=
everages , fruits, snacks, etc were served and CD music in the background. =
At the opening, 6 students and I danced and floated around the main galler=
y to the music of =93I Believe I Can Fly=94.=20
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My work, as I said before=85. =94=85 Fiery Expedition Be My Wing.=94 consi=
sted of porcelain thrown forms with added wings of clay, silk cloth, ribbo=
n, metal, wood and vegetation among other materials. The newspapers were th=
ere to cover the shows and there was TV coverage as well. Ceramic shows in =
JingDeZhen are media events. I used drawings of my work and my artist=92s =
statement to festoon the walls. My friend, art historian, Dorothy Su, did r=
ed paper cuts to add to the festive pre-Christmas show. My work was also a =
collaboration with five other artists. I had 45 pieces in the show and gav=
e 5 pieces to other artists so that they could do whatever they wanted to d=
o to add wings to those pieces several weeks before the opening. They real=
ly impressed me with their ideas and the execution of their ideas. I had pr=
ofessional photos done of all the work and will someday make those availabl=
e on a website.
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I brought my family and friends some ceramics, silk and jade pieces from Ch=
ina. Everyone was thrilled with my gifts. I brought a Chinese military un=
iform, with hat to give to my high school aged nephew. He=92s psyched to w=
ear it to a civil war re-enactment next week. (I hope nobody shoots him!) =
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Well, in several weeks I fly back to JingDeZhen Ceramic Institute for anoth=
er wonderful year. I have just enough time now to re-new my passport and v=
isa and spend some quality time with family.
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I am already a little homesick for China.
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Happy potting and regards=85
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and =94keep your stick on the ice=94
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Ric
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