After that we went to the porcelain market where there were many people working on porcelain and a great museum was just behind us here.

The main entrance to the campus.

This guy was watering the trees.

Amongst all the marching there were many people working on the new facilty. It is really going to be amazing when it is done. These women were working hard on some trees that were going to be planted.

The freshmen are all required to do some services where they all dress alike and march around. I don't know much about what they were doing but it did have a militant feel about it.

Their soccer field is huge and the mountains in the background are incredible.

This is the new campus that the University is building. It looks like it is going to be a really amazing place for people to study. I love that they have art everywhere. This is really great.

The next day we all just traveled around led by the Chinese to places they wanted us to see.

We all had great meals. Thanks, to whomever paid for it. This is Alex taking a moment to get a picture.

All I could do was enjoy the food, raise my glass when people wanted to toast, and daydream about kungfu artists come crashing through the walls kicking the ceramic pots out of our hands. The place was great and it made me want to make a movie like Tarentino's, "Iron Monkey".

Their shoes were really interesting. I thought it gave new meaning to elevator shoes.

very elaborate.

Rick and Donna were just soaking it all up. Check out the outfits on these waitresses.

More celebrating, bridge building.

After the ceremonies we were taken to a famous restaurant that was modeled after the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911. Here is our teacher Bob Anderson celebrating the union between West Virginia University and Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute. When in Rome.

Helpful students are everywhere, ready to practice their english and help out by introducing themselves. This is Cherry. That is her english name. I have trouble remebering people's real name, they're tough

My favorite. I really like the classical subject matter.

Utilizing contemporary and tradition

great stuff

more

Mixed media

After the ceremonies we got to see some great artwork that was created by the teachers of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute. These are some examples of their work.

Sergio has really helped me out in my college career, thanks for everything. I'm sure I will be calling on you again. He has great taste in footware as well.

During our first week here we went through a lot of ceremonies welcoming us to the campus. It was really nice. Sergio Suave our assistant Dean of the Creative Art Dept. was also able to make the journey here to Jingdezhen along with Peter Lee. I think their eyes were really opened up to what is going on here and the potential that this program will have for the future.

Life at Sanboa is going well. We are all working hard. Some folks are having a bit of trouble still with the clay but I see people making advances and adapting all around.

I'll show you more of Jason throughout the stay here.

This is his third time to China with the WVu program and he has gotten better at speaking a bit and previously he studied in Yixing making teapots and Chinese influence is a major chord that makes up the music of his work.

Jason Bohnert our main teacher is here at a more traditional wheel trying to work off the hump. Jason is in charge of the program while Bob Anderson is back in America. He is doing a great job and is just taking everything one day at a time. He is a graduate from WVu with an MFA in Ceramics and is a full time potter in North Carolina. He does great work.

Katie throwing.

Rick is watching over students offering advice on technique and critique. He and Donna have really been a great help and addition to the line up of people involved in the program.

Donna working on a wonderful serving dish that she saw in the Shanghai museum.

Brad a grad student at Wvu throwing the bowls off hump.

Dave from the University of Utah working at a wheel that we have all gravitated towards. The same kind of wheel that we use in America.

Here is Gus trying his hand at a traditional styled wheel.

Slab building studios at Sanbao. There are paths to all kind of great areas at Sanboa. It is really jsut a wonderful place to work.

Grass hut around the back of Sanboa where coil building demos are held. We'll get to those in the future.

Building housing eggshaped wood kiln that is huge at Sanbao. From what I understand currently this kiln is in disrepair and cannot be fired. We are hoping with further funding and proliferation of the semester program that we will be able to get this or the smaller eggshaped kiln housed in this building fired by the students and a master. We have found out that this is difficult though but someday.

Walkway into Sanboa

Sanboa

Exterior of Sanboa and around the complex.

Sanbao

Sanboa

The studio is amazing. Everyday I go there I am just overwhelmed buy the beauty. It is nestled in between some steep mountains you can see here in the distance. I love all the sweeping roof designs and tiles.

Scott, grad student from WVu. Awesome potter and good friend to. I wish he would have kayaked with me this summer though.

After breakfast we usually take a bus or ride our bikes down to Sanboa. This is the main studio that we work at every day. It is a Ming Dynasty replica studio that is wonderful. Here were learn about the porcelain. It is a bit overwhelming though because the clay is so different than what we are use to. Most everyone has difficulty throwing it except for Scott.

The noodlemaker is one of our favorite new friends because he makes wonderful food. Everyday he pulls fresh noodles in this traditional method and it is quit amazing to watch. With this dough he is able to pull it until he creates thin noodles. You really have to see it to. I think the Italians saw this during Marco Polo's visit and call it spaghetti.

Allen is pictured here on the left of the fellow in the hat. Allen is our main interpreter. His job is to hang out with us for the next three months and kind of help us through any difficulties that might arise. He has been a wonderful help and I am very thankful to have him around. He's very patient and always suprised with our very different American ways.

These are fried buns called Jowdza. The keep them hot in the steamer. They're wonderful.

The food here is great and there are people in alleys that do a great job of cooking for all who would like to eat. These people are making this bread egg wrap thing that is wonderful. You can watch and learn how to cook if you are interested as I am about culinary practices.

After we all got settled into our microcomsic existences it was time for Breakfast.