Home made breakfast

Everything from scratch, a lost art and Chinese tradition.

I.M. Pei and Suzhou

His only work in China. I wonder why.

Digit@Logue

One of the most impressive work in the new Exhibition in HKAM.

Fresh

Friends normally concern about what kind of Chinese food I can get in Florida. Some think seafood must be great there. Come to think about it, I haven't seem any swimming seafood in my town so far.

Patterns in chaos

The road down the hill is a chaos. Somehow, you still can find some patterns.

Pics for the Park

Inside outside

I like to spend my early morning in Kowloon Park while I'm here. Especially enjoy watching different Tai Chi group. Some people like to bring along their birds. I'm not sure how they feel about it.

Mud pie dilemma

Recycle porcelain or not. For me, it takes a lot of effort (to break it down into small enough pieces, wet and blend thoroughly). Plus long time passive concentration over a few days to have them dry (like watching water boiling, the catch is if you don't catch it right at the beginning, the process got to start all over again.) Another down side is, recycled porcelain loses it's plasticity. It takes some aging to get it back. So, why all these inconvenience. Firstly, making pots is not a convenience activity to begin with. Secondly, I think about ancient Chinese potters have been so proud of their translucent porcelain (kaolin) for hundreds of years before the German rediscovered the method of compounding and firing it, how can I just throw it away. Thirdly, we might ran out of kaolin one day, just like coal or fossil fuel. Should we leave some for generations come after us?

Intelligent one

Scientist always have to compete for research resource. Here's the reason one gave on the auction night, why we should spend our money on communication with dolphin, rather than sending more man to the space or trying to find life on Mars. He believe the chance for us to find someone way smarter than human being in space is very slim. Since, they will find us first, or they will not let us find them. Our best chance on Mars maybe some bacteria. So, why not trying our best to talk to some intelligent one on earth. Here's a list I would like to suggest (since not everyone has the chance to play with dolphin everyday). Crow is so smart, sometimes they do thing totally because they're bored with their life. Like a great mind stuck inside a confined body. Octopus is amazing. Marine biologist can tell you, they're the first invertebrate would play with them, steal fish from next tank, and cover their track in lab. My sister dosen't eat octopus. She said they might be alien. I can easily believe that. Of course, some dogs are better learner than the others, but most are more than willing to communicate with human. If everything fail, try your partner. ;->

Close encounter of the third kind

In fact, "type F" according to wikipedai: the subject experiences some kind of "intelligent communication". It was last thursday around 2PM, 18 knots of wind and I was on a 5 (meter sq.sail). There were 4 fins going up and down close by in the shallows of the spoil islands. I sailed closer, there were mother & calf, a big darker one and one follow behind. For a while, I worried they might get trapped in the shallows (which is half mile in each directions). Slowly, I sensed that they're just having a nice sunny day outing. No need to worry. It's the first time they stayed so close for so long.
Then came the gallery opening (every 1st thursday evening for most galleries in The Treasure Coast and WPB), Steve (Second captain of Stenella, the research vessel) asked whether I would like to donate a piece of work to the "The Wild Dolphin Project". I said Yes!...... you don't know, but I just talked to them today.

The group

Is it possible to know someone without knowing their past? Without knowing what they do for living, or without knowing their political/ economical or family background. I'm surprised by how easy this group get back together, and how easy to believe we know each other well, just because we know each others' works. I call this the magic connection between potters.

City of bridges and Universities

Two things struck me the most about Pittsburgh. Six bridges from one point of sight and ten universities within 3 miles. However, it's the full bloom pink magnolias in down town catch my breath.

Better late then never

My last pot finally arrived Sandwich yesterday. For a while, I thought it's lost for ever. Most of the time, you want your best works in a show, but then you also think about a lot of what if; what if it get lost in transit, what if it get broken, what if someone buy it, what if no one want it........
One of the most encouraging thing happened in Sandwich show was, one piece was sold to a local full time potter. Someone who understand what it took. Someone who doesn't really need another pot at home. Someone who will take care of it....... Bye.

Not the same

Music from your iPod and live concert are not the same. Looking at photos of art works and visiting museum to experience the real things are different too. There're a few impressionist's works, which I always want to see, but never have the chance till the recent visit to the Art institute of Chicago.

The end of the 8 months journey

Remember last summer on Vancouver Island, 14 potters got together to begin their 8 months creative journey. We all shared our visions and the paths that might take us there. Thanks for modern technology, we also have a wikispaces site to keep track of our progress and more importantly, our laughs and cries along the path. Unfortunately, one member left us and the earth involuntarily. Three couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't walk to the end for various reasons.

Next week, 10 will gather and have a show in Sandwich near Chicago. And Yes, only crazy Floridan will go to Chicago in the middle of march. However, considering how often you will have a chance with a group of same minded people committed to walk along with you. Anyway, big pots are double boxed and shipped, studio is cleaned, luggage are packed and I'm ready to begin a journey to end one.