Itinerary
Fall Semester 2008
September 7 - December 14* (Dates may vary slightly)
The year 2004 marked Jingdezhen's grand millenium celebration of porcelain production. Many international ceramic artists continue to visit Jingdezhen to experience the world's most concentrated ceramic production.
Students will work in our expansive studios on the campus of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute. The complex of buildings is equipped with electric wheels, traditional Jingdezhen type wheels, 2 gas fired fiber kilns, a large wood kiln, and soda kiln. Materials familiar to western potters will be available for making your favorite glazes, and unlimited resources associated with Jingdezhen’s historic ceramic production.
Participants will dine in our studio kitchen, where meals are prepared fresh daily by our studio kitchen staff. Occasionally off campus dining will be scheduled and provided by the program.
Participants will work with faculty from the Jingdezhen Institute and local artisans skilled in traditional and contemporary ceramic techniques. Workshops featuring the large traditional coil built pottery of local rural potters, Yixing teapot making, traditional porcelain throwing and assembling and much more.
Experience the firing of Tianbao’s 160-foot long climbing dragon kiln and Jingdezhen’s traditional “egg shape” kilns. Familiarize yourself with the unique tools of China’s foremost craftsmen as they demonstrate traditional skills of dry carving, wet carving, under-glaze “Qinghua” cobalt decoration, over-glaze enameling, porcelain and stoneware sculptural techniques, and much more. Participants will experience the centuries old methods of hammer milling, the ancient art of glaze ash preparation, brush making, tool making, and more.
Travel the seemingly unchanged streets that once transported “crown jewel porcelains” to the royal courts of Emperors and Kings and enabled the peoples of the world to marvel at the superior skill of Chinese artisans. Participants will have the opportunity to familiarizes themselves and assist in the preparation of local Chinese cuisine, study Tai-Che, become acquainted with faculty and students of Jingdezhen institute, and local artisans.
Spend time in Yixing, where for centuries, potters have produced the exquisite and famous Yixing teapots and tea ceremony vessels and implements. Visit the working studios of Yixing potters and the prized historic collections of this world famous ceramic city.
Local travel will introduce you to Ming dynasty villages that abound in early architecture and historical remains of ceramic activity that lead to Jingdezhen’s status as the “porcelain capital of the world”
The semester will conclude with travel to Xian and Beijing. In the Xian area, the capital of early China, the center of the Qin Empire, and the center for silk route trade, students will visit the Terra Cotta soldiers of Emperor Qin’s burial, the Bampo matriarchal village, Xian’s municipal museum, the “Great Mosque”, Famen temple and more. A visit to the ancient mountain top pottery village of Chen lu will introduce students to the now dwindling numbers of traditional potters who carry on the ancient traditions of Yaoware porcelain.
In Beijing, students will visit the Forbidden City, Tianeneman square, a variety of history and culture museums, the silk markets, and China’s foremost art academy, the Beijing Central Academy of Art.
This is a special cultural and educational opportunity that offers students an in-depth study experience that may be a once in a lifetime chance to engage in this creative and cultural experience that will help shape their future as ceramic artists and contributing members of the world's creative community.
