I have begun working in a new space that is pretty damn cool. It’s a converted Catholic boys school that is now studio spaces for a variety or working creative professionals. I rather think it’s fitting to be working there. Being a “product” of Catholic education that is now transformed as well, it seemed like a good pairing and it’s a beautiful studio with great proportions and space.

This building is part of the Crane Arts whose mission is:

• Creating a unique community that encourages and supports artistic production by both emerging and established artists.
• Assisting the development and growth of Philadelphia’s creative resources, assets, and potential.
• Creating a unique location for certain creativity-based businesses to thrive alongside the vibrant, Crane Arts community.
• Providing unique space for the visual and performing arts to showcase events on a local, regional, and national scale.

It’s a great community to be apart of and it’s great to be back in the studio, slow going as it may be.

So It’s time that I ended my website silence, and let everyone know that I am now working in Philadelphia Pa. It was a difficult decision to leave The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, but ultimately for me it was the right one. The longer I am here in Philly the more sure I am of that decision. I am now currently the Shop Supervisor for The University of The Arts in Center City. I am working with some great faculty in ceramics: Jim Makins and Liz Stewart. They are wonderfully supportive, great teachers and I have thoroughly enjoyed working for them. I also recently found out Bruce Metcalf, of amazing craft theory fame, is a lecturer here and am now even more excited about taking free classes.

The pictures include the main entrance for my building, Hamilton Hall, some city shots, an Andrew Martin workshop that occurred here this week with some examples of his new marbleizing techniques and a picture of the glass hot shop that is outside my office with Alex and David who work in the glass dept.

Sometimes (most times actually) I still can’t believe that this is my life.

I was invited by one of the trainers at the gym I go to in Jingdezhen to his town on the outskirts of Jingdezhen to play some basketball and have dinner with his family.  It was an awesome day and I think I was the first foreigner to have ever been there in a very long time if ever.  His family was extremely kind and generous, we had an amazing meal of fish, garlic shoots. eggplant, pork and bell peppers, egg and green peppers, potatos and an assortment of other tasty treats.  I also took the number 4 bus back and got some great footage of the city at night.  Apologies for the shaky camera work, hopefully it will not make anyone car sick when watching.

Here are some random shots of my Chinese life.  Some pictures of a local factory area, a scooter ride we took up a nearby mountain, the open market and a typical lunch spread that I eat at the PWS.  When I look back through these photos I can’t help but feel “is this my life? I live in China!” I’m still amazed that life has brought me here to such an amazing and off-the-wall place.

apologies for the poor picture quality, my little hand-held video camera doesn’t take great photos. Now to be glazed, fired and then more building of surface.

Here is night one in the tile factory. Going back today, to clean up the lines, put in the border, apply a underglaze transfer pattern around the edges and maybe start tile #2.