some new tarp colors around. doesn't the one on the right look like fruit stripes?

winter is here

Saw the first bits of snow a few days ago and it has been on and off bitter cold. time to bust out the long underwear! I have some serious doubts about whether or not I will survive the winter here. Sure, I come from Chicago where I know cold but it has been a good 7 years since I lived through a real winter and I have become a total wimp. Everyone here says this is nothing. Yikes!

Next week I will go to Hangzhou to teach a one-week intensive seminar at the China Academy of Art. This is one of China's top art schools and so I am really looking forward to it (that and because I think I can escape the cold). It is only a week but it is *intensive* meaning 3 hours of class EVERYDAY. I am used to three hours once per week so this will be a real challenge! I was thinking to go for 2 weeks until I found out that last little detail. One week is plenty. Anyway, just crazy busy right now preparing materials, trying to locate readings, downloading images off the web, etc.
wish me luck!

china guardian auctions

auction season is on in Beijing...went to a few just to watch. this is a photo of the China Guardian sale but they probably all look somewhat the same...

Three Gorges on the block...

walked into the preview of the auction at Poly and nearly fell over when I saw this piece. This painting was on view at the Asian Art Museum during the Liu Xiaodong's solo show in April 2006 so it has only been a matter of months...plus they had a film on the monitor next to the painting showing footage from the opening which was completely surreal because I was there!

opening of PKM gallery

Forbidden City - The Palace Museum

The Sparrow Quartet

went to hear some bluegrass music last night...they played for THREE HOURS, it was amazing. such talented musicians and a pleasure to watch. check them out: abigail washburn

get yer cabbage here...

fall has arrived in Beijing

vegetable bus

sancha redux

technical issues

sorry if some of you were having trouble seeing photos here lately...I think I have ironed out the problem but please let me know if you still have trouble. Access to blogger is currently blocked in China and so I had to switch where my blog was hosted. This block happens every so often and it could last day or weeks or months. It means that I can write posts but I cannot see them nor can anyone else in china. So anyway, I moved things around it all seems to be working so far.

Constantine is here visiting me now and we have been in house-mode, getting my place all set up. It means more trips to IKEA and the "hypermarket" to get things like a toaster oven, DVD player, bathmats, garbage cans, etc. fun fun fun! Living alone again is strange because I realize that I could pretty much survive with a bowl, a plate and some chopsticks...maybe a spoon...but then having just one more person around really changes things entirely. Unfortunately it is all temporary, since constantine heads back to SF in a few days.

pix of shanghai biennial

Shanghai Art Museum exterior with sculpture by "anonymous" artist

Neon light and sound installation by Shen Fan

installation by Li Jianhua

Chinese furniture made of radiator pipes