shanghai is colder than you think

I am in shanghai for a few days doing some Fulbright research and meeting with artists for my upcoming show. took the train down on wed night and have been running around ever since. Coming from frigid temperatures in Beijing, I thought that somehow it wouldn't be as cold here but I was dead wrong. It is an entirely different kind of cold, the kind of wet, damp cold that seeps into your bones and is increasingly hard to shake. it reminds me a lot of the bay area. There is no central heating here and really poor old uninsulated buildings so even when you are inside you get no relief. The temperature is definitely lower in BJ but there everything is (over)heated and dry so one just has to bear the outdoors in short spells on your way to or from something or somewhere, peeling off layers once you arrive. Here, you just bundle up in the morning and stay that way all day, and I mean ALL DAY. the overcoat does not come off. some friends here talk about buying more and more space heaters and then maxing out their power and experiencing blown fuses 5-6 times day because the houses/apts here are old and cannot handle all that capacity. All I can say is, I feel very lucky I am staying in a comfortable apartment with air conditioner type heating units! Still you walk out of that one room and eeech--it feels downright icy!

so far have met up with some interesting artists trying to meet collectors but so far nobody on that end. Did manage to go out last night to Shanghai MOCA for some free jazz event. it was literally free (with the exception of drinks) but it was also a bit too 'free' if you know what I mean (foreigners in weird suits playing 'free jazz'). I ended up in the corner talking to friends mostly, and somehow managed to get into a in-depth discussion with an artist until like 2:30am. Stumbled home and had to wake up the doorman to get in the gate. as a result I am feeling quite lazy today and just bought a few DVD's that I might indulge in later in my heated pad.

tomorrow heading to Hangzhou, again to meet with some artists for my show and just generally touch base with some folks. I hope to bring my CCA class through there in July so need to get a sense of what is good in terms of timing, housing, etc.

checking email at the shanghai library near where I am staying but no way to upload photos...more to come!