Kyle is a Ceramics Major at WVU and is here working on a pot. Let's find out what he thinks of China.

Here is Todd and he is working on throwing. I think he is finding out that the clay here is nothing like he is used to working with. He's a hard worker and I know he is going to get it. Let's see if I can run him down to get a audio blog from him.

Justin is pulling a handle here. Let's see if we can find him to get an audio blog.

As the children get their first curious looks at foreigners, we are working in the studio. We all have spacious areas to put our tools and wares.

The studio is really in it's early stages but has a huge amount of potential. The flow of the work area is taking shape and will be in full swing soon. There are also bathrooms, large sinks, computer area, lecture halls, decorating studios and gallery spaces that will be coming soon. I will show you the new areas as they develop.

The new studio is a great place to work night or day.
The facility is huge. I don't know the exact square footage because there are multiple buildings that are being appropriated in this early stage of program development. Students are able to have tables, wheels, clay, extruder, slab rollers, glaze booths, banding wheels, shelves, plaster, ware carts and kilns at their disposal. It is truly incredible.

This is a group photo of all the participants of the 2006 Fall Exchange trip. You will meet all of them one by one as the arise in the Blog. This is going to be a great semester and the new facility is wonderful.

This other gentelman is Ouyoung. He has been involved on the Chinese side of the program for a long time. Ouyoung goes by the English name Vic and is a good guy.

Professor Bob Anderson during the opening ceremony of the facility.

Recently Professor Bob Anderson, who is responsible for the fruition of the China Exchange Programs, united West Virginia University and JingDezhen Ceramic Institute,"JCI" in a linkage that was able to renovate a dormant building for the use of a ceramic facility. This facility would combine Western ceramic understanding and studio layout with Chinese facilitation allowing a mixing of ceramic cultures. Professor Anderson and JCI are creating a one of a kind learning environment for both cultures to exchange ideas and ceramic education.

Here is a basic rundown of our location.
We traveled by train from Shanghai, which is on the coast to JingDezhen, which is a mountainous region that is hot with many rivers. These are a couple other maps to get a closer understanding. China is broken up into Provinces, much like America is broken up into States. After that you can see cities, towns, then villages on maps.

A bus was at the train station in JingDezhen and we later arrived on the college campus dorm rooms that we would call home for the next three months. People were busy unpacking and discovering their rooms. Some were more concerned about the broadband internet connection we had access to. Generally the rooms are comfortable. The beds are a bit hard and the toilet is in the floor, but it is a comfortable and clean place.

About 16 hours on the train we had made it to JingDezhen around 4am. Amanda is excited holding up her ticket to JingDezhen. As you can see the rest of the group memebes are loaded down with backpacks and luggage to make their stay comfortable.

Being the resourceful raftguide, Noelle brought her headlamp and was able to read more of her book during the quite time on the train.

Here is the washroom and access to a sink and mirror are ready. You want to get in a good habit not to drink the water in China. Most of the time you just have your water bottle with you and you will be fine. Let the brushing begin.

At night is a great time. Everyone is sleeping and your hear the sounds of the train, "ker ker ker ker" lulling you to sleep. This is a shot of the hallway and you can see there are ladders around to get to the bunks and toward the light is the bathroom and area to wash up or brush your teeth.

Noelle was taking advantage of the spot to get the shots. Todd found out they served hot food on the train and was getting his grub on.

Justin has found his spot and you can see it is a little cramped, but it's perfect for laying down.

Josh another gradudate at WVU has found his bunk on the top. You can tell he is stoked. The train has an open hallway running along the entire car. The car is then sectioned into cabins containing six bunked beds. The bottom bunks have a table and hot water thermos that can be accessed for tea and instant noodles. In the hallway are chairs attached to the wall that retract to allow space for traffic. This area also contains a small table that you can set at, drink tea and look out the window. The trains are really comfortable and a great way to make long distant trips.

We had boarded our train and Matt took a moment to check out the scenery.

The next step was the traveling thoughout China. This is comfortably done by train and I think all of us really enjoyed it. Here is a pretty typical train station usually crowded with people and their belongings waiting. China's railway system covers the entire country and it is a great way to get around. We were all excited to board.

The members of this Fall 2006 exchange program with China are a great bunch of people. Throughout this blog I am looking forward to getting to know them more and featuring our lives together living and learning in China. Ceramics is a common interest throughout the group, but discovering China is electrifying for all of us.

Josh is a Graduat student at WVU and he is looking for some good books at the Museum store. He is really excited just like the rest of the students to see great ceramic art.

Qing Dynasty furniture was on exhibit. I don't know what kind of wood it was but it was beautiful and the carving was extremely meticulous. I would love to have a meal and talk over this set.
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/later_imperial_china/qing.html

Noel is a Graduate student at West Virginia University "WVU"and she is looking at a large scroll with calligraphy. The writing is beautifully done with brush and ink.

Justin and Kyle are both West Virginia University students and are looking at a traditional wheel that was used in ancient time. Here the thrower sets on the round seat, legs wide open to the sides with the large flywheel in the center. The user then gets the wheel going with a stick up to a rapid speed. The wheel head is connected to a large concrete base which allows for continued inertia and the thrower forms the clay until the wheel stops spinning then repeats. It is hard on the back. I have tried this style of wheel throwing and it is difficult but possible.

Sculpture from the Tang Dynasty. This was the height of China's Cosmopolitan age. Trading was going all over the continent. This piece can easily be identified because of the tri-colored glazes of yellow, green, and brown. The dress is also a representation of the fashion of the times.
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/classical_imperial_china/tang.html

Matt is a student from Indiana University and is seen here marveling at a large bowl from JingDezhen with carved dragons battling in the sky. It is decorated with the famous Shadow Blue Celadon. One of my favorite pieces in the Gallery. Seeing the large amount of work from JingDezhen in this collection is really firing people up for their stay in the famous ceramic city.

Here is more Blue and White, this time with copper red decoration. This is a picture of a dragon wrestling in the water or sky. It could be a metaphor for the struggles of the emperor.

Here is a piece from JingDezhen where we will be living and studying. The blue and white decoration is hand painted with a hand made brush dipped in some cobalt dissolved in water and some aged red tea. This is one of the famous identifiers of JingDezhen wares. On this piece cobalt is painted directly on the body of the ware, in some cases the pigment is painted on a glazed piece then reglazed to encapsulate the blue and white decoration. There is a lot to learn and everyone is going to get familiar with Chinese ceramics.

Todd is from Ohio State College. Here he is looking at a rather large platter painted with overglaze in yellow and blue. Yellow was the color for the Imperial ceramic collection. I think Todd is wishing he could fire something this large.

There are many levels to the museum. The most important exhibition is the ceramics. We should meet some more students that are on the trip as well.

Amanda is examining some wonderful pieces. She is a graduate of West Virginia University's Ceramic department and has attended the Summer and Fall exchange trips. Now she is returning once again to JingDezhen, to work as an English teacher and get more classroom experience, as well as International experience to put on her resume. While she is living in JingDezhen teaching, she is also able to be surrounded by ceramic culture.

The Zhou Dynasty was a great time period in particular for this kind of artwork and you can see more about it if you want to visit this site I have found.
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/zhou.html