It’s hard to believe that more than two weeks have passed since I last made an entry. I’m now back at “home”, safely back in Halifax, where I’m jumping from the frying pan into the fire, leaping from an incredibly intense experience in China, to an equally intense time at NSCAD. I can’t afford to lose the momentum I’ve built up as I work toward completing my written thesis and make work for my Master of Fine Arts exhibition, which will open in Halifax on April 10, 2008.

FLICAM Site EntranceNorth American Museum

Canadian Museum under construction — two weeks before the openingAt the opening of the Canadian Museum, November 6, 2007

I’m posting some photos of the opening of the Canadian Museum which took place on Tuesday, November 6, 2007. It was a spectacular event and all of the Canadian artists managed to successfully complete a body of work and install it in time for the opening. We were all somewhat exhausted by the time the opening happened, but also thrilled to have been part of this immense project. The Canadian Museum is part of the original North American Museum, housing the USA Museum and the Canadian Museum. And recently the decision was made to add the South and Central American Museum on to the back of ours, resulting in one very long structure. But fortunately each museum has its own entrance, and the Canadian Museum comprises one third of the space. On the same day our museum opened, there was an exhibition of work by the four Mexican artists who worked concurrently with us, another by two German artists, and the inauguration of the new International Ceramic Editors Magazine Information Centre.

Ribbon cutting at the opening of the Canadian Museum and the new ICEMA Information CentreTaiko drumming at the opening of the Canadian Museum

A future posting will include photos of the other international museums that have been completed as part of the FLICAM (FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums) project and examples of artists’ work in these museums. It is very interesting to compare the different approaches, sensibilities, and aesthetics of ceramic artists from the various countries. Another four to five museums will be built over the next three years, including the Northern European, Southern European, African, South and Central America. The scope of this project is enormous with plans for a ceramic university, a ceramic cultural park, an extensive residence complex, a master’s studio and residence with a swimming pool, and on and on. It’s been an amazing honour to be part of this huge vision and significant cultural exchange.

Firecrackers at the opening of the Canadian MuseumLes Manning, organizer of the Canadian contingent of artists, delivering his address at the opening of the Canadian museum

I have included some photos of my work, installed in the Canadian Museum. The lighting in the museum is low, so the work is difficult to photograph in situ. A future posting will provide more images of the work I completed at the Fuping Pottery Art Village, with photos of the work in progress and more images of the finished works, including close up details.

Unveiling of the plaque at the entrance to the Canadian MuseumCanadian Museum entrance

I hope this finds you all well. I want to thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement. You have no idea how important they were in times of extreme challenge and stress. Thanks for believing in me.

With sincere gratitude,
Grace

At the entrance to the Canadian Museum with my work in the foreground and large poster of the Canadian artistsMore of my works in the Canadian Museum – Fuping Tree Group # 1 and Fuping Tree Group #2, 2007

Two of my works in the Canadian Museum – Fuping Uprooted Tree #1 and Fuping Uprooted Tree #2, 2007One of my pieces in the Canadian Museum — Fuping Memorial Tree, 2007

Fuping Uprooted Tree #1 with Dragon Scale and Corn Motifs, 2007

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.