Sunday, September 23, 2012




6 days to Shanghai

8 Days to Residency.



Artists from the Sunshine Coast are:      

Robyn Gill - Australian Coordinator

Ellen Appleby,   Norman Dobson,   Yeats Gruin,    Linda Perry,   

                                  Carolyn Ritchie,     John Ritchie ,         Mieke van Sambeeck                                                                                                                                                                              

                    Ellen Vasiliauskas,        Lindi Drew 



Here is an Email from Ellen A.
Ellen A, Ellen V & Yeats are obviously enjoying their Tour.



Hi 
Shanghai was really enjoyable, a very clean and interesting city. 

Beijing a bit more challenging, and we had trouble with our booking at the first hotel so we are now in a hotel called Days Inn, a hotel chain and not memorable - they will be on the Internet if you need to find us. A more upmarket hotel, about the same price with breakfast (sort of western style). And ok. Next to the Forbidden City so we'll go there tomorrow.

Today we have booked a car to go to the Great Wall - a cheaper and better way to get there. We met up with Yeats son Julian and his girlfriend yesterday and saw the Temple of Heaven. A huge complex of several hundred acres with temples. It was the place the emperor made sacrifices amid enormous ceremony. Everything so huge from the dynasties.

Food here has been really good.  The dinner is started with dishes of vegetables, and meat (no rice). This is followed by dumplings, either steamed or fried. Julian took us to a popular restaurant last night with 2 pages on the menu of different dumplings (they are like wantons with thin wrappers, not dough). 

One of the highlights was the canal trip at Suzhou - the Venice of China - quite charming. 

The Shanghai Museum has an amazing collection of ceramics (as you'd expect), but after walking around them for a couple of hours, it was enough!! We went to a famous Buddhist Temple in Suzhou - just amazing and beautiful. So much to see here, but language is a problem and situations can easily be misunderstood - all part of the cultural adventure. 

I can't get onto Facebook or Blogger here, so will have to send the occasional email. 

Here are a couple of photos of Shanghai.

Next update in a couple of days.

Love
Ellen 


The Bund Shanghai


 Ellen Vasiliauskas  &  Ellen Appleby  


6 days to Shanghai

8 Days to Residency.


Artists from the Sunshine Coast are:        

Robyn Gill - Australian Coordinator

Ellen Appleby,   Norman Dobson,   Yeats Gruin,    Linda Perry,   

                                  Carolyn Ritchie,     John Ritchie ,         Mieke van Sambeeck                                                                                                                                                                                

                    Ellen Vasiliauskas,        Lindi Drew 

Have had a wonderful week.
Johanna De Maine had her opening at Art on Cairncross Gallery www.artoncairncross.com.au on Saturday and it was GREAT and then a Workshop on Brush Making with Jackson Li at Maroochy Bushland Botanical Gardens.

Jackson making a Brush from Goat Hair 

Jackson using Ink & Red Iron Oxide for Calligraphy Demonstraion


Jackson with a finished piece of his Art Calligraphy





Brush made from Pandanus - Jackson found on the Beach



Finished Goat Hair Brush



Kevin enjoying the Workshop











Tuesday, September 18, 2012


11days to Shanghai

13 Days to Residency.


Artists from the Sunshine Coast are:        

Robyn Gill - Australian Coordinator

Ellen Appleby,   Norman Dobson,   Yeats Gruin,    Linda Perry,   

                                  Carolyn Ritchie,     John Ritchie ,         Mieke van Sambeeck                                                                                                                                                                                 

                    Ellen Vasiliauskas,        Lindi Drew 


Have not written for some time.
HOW EXCITING!!!!!        Ellen Appleby - Ellen Vasiliauskas and Yeats Gruin leave for their Tour of China today.
They will arrive in JDZ by train the evening of October 1st and the rest of the Group in JDZ on October 2nd.


A great opening last Saturday with 'Hands of the Masters'
Ceramics by Greg Daly, Janet DeBoos, Kevin Grealy and Jackson Li
Held at the Arts and Ecology Centre,  Maroochy Bushland Botanical Gardens

Events organised:  A Tea Ceremony by Jackson Li, a fashion parade by Christine Elcoate, a martial arts display by Wing Chun and a children’s workshop .
Books and DVD’s of Jackson Li’s will be for sale.

A 2 day workshop was held at Jackie’s on the 17th and 18th September with Jackson Li.

“From the Hands of the Masters”
Saturday, September 15th at 2.30 p.m. 





Jackson Li - Kevin Grealy -  Janet DeBoos -
Greg Daly was unable to Attend the Opening

Jenny McKay - Kevin Grealy -  Jackson Li - Janet DeBoos - David Walker


Two Old Friends Jackson & Kevin.


Christine Elcoate - in depth conversation.


A beautiful piece of Kevin Grealy's work

More of Jackson's Work


More of Jackson's Work


Janet DeBoos


Ignition Awards for Ceramic Excellence 2012
to be held at the Butter Factory Arts Centre, 10 Maple St Cooroy on
Thursday, September 6th at 6pm
Opening Speakers: Jackson Li, Councillor Jenny Mackay and our patron
David Walker of Walker Ceramics and Feeneys


Mieke Van Sambeeck Winner of the Ignition Sculpture Section


Mieke with the Judge Jackson Li


A better snap of the Sculpture.



Merrie Tomkins - Winner of the Open Section of IGNITION.


The Winner of the Open Section of Ignition


Piece of my work in Ignition