9/15 Beijing

Our last day as a group. I finished my project this morning. It was a watercolor and ink drawing of the reflected images of people walking with umbrellas. The reflections were cast on stone floors at the temple of heaven. I also included a sampling of words from my thoughts of the day. Alone......content...looking in back on the trip as we are about to depart. In the evening we went to a famous tea house where there were live performances from different samplings of Chinese culture. There was a bit of opera, some kung fu,balancing acts and even a pair of men who could impersonate virtually any sound. It was a nice way to end the trip.

9/14 Beijing

We went to the Temple of Heaven in the rain this morning. It was absolutely poring. Everyone there has an umbrella which made for a beautiful sight. It was hard to enjoy the sights with the discomfort of soggy feet and the awkward navigation with umbrella in hand. I felt closed off by the barrier my umbrella created for me. I did less socializing and more introspective thinking. I was a bit miserable from the elements but feel it was good for me to experience the temple under those conditions. It was raining from the heavens but I was protected, able to contemplate the experience. It was good inspiration for my final project.

9/13 Beijing

Ahhh.....Beijing. What a refreshing retreat. Maybe it is the weather, cloudy and less humid, or the fact that we just came down from the great wall but I feel rejuvenated. We went to the Forbidden City this morning and walked around for a few hours. I couldn't believe the size of the palace. The whole city was displayed with such grandeur that I felt like an ant crawling around the city. The later part of the day was used for project development. I spent some time writing down ideas and recording my thoughts into some form of poetry.

9/12 Great Wall

I woke early to catch the sunrise from the tower we camped on. Watching the sun peak over the meandering wall was glorious. Even though the sky was foggy the suns bright pink rays illuminated the horizon. We hiked for the entire morning and into the afternoon. I loved the stretch of wall we were able to hike along. It was worn and partially crumbling, revealing it's old age.
After lunch near the wall, we went to Beijing. Our first stop was CAFA, China Academy of Fine Art. We were all so impressed by the schools facilities. It was very professional and creative. I noticed artistic elements in unexpected places. From the bathroom signs to the studio labels, every detail was pushed to a creative high. The studio labels were designed as holograms of the students eyes who commonly used the space. As you walked past the eyes would wink or close. All around I found the campus to be a students dream.

9/11 Jinan to Great Wall

Today we traveled north toward Beijing from Jinan. We ended the day in a little town at the base of the great wall. Ying organized a bus to take us there so we could camp on the wall. First we had dinner at a farmers house where the food was by far my favorite cuisine. They made steamed dumplings and fresh vegetables. It was so nice to have a non-greasy meal for a change. We hiked up to the watchtower after dinner and layed out our sleeping bags. After a game of cards and some words were exchanged, we went to bed with anticipation about the sunrise.

9/10 Shandong University/ Jinan

The exhibition was quite the production. The morning began with the hanging of our work. Again we had limited supplies so the installation was a bit rocky but we got it done in time for the opening. I had no idea so many students would attend. There was banner cutting and picture taking followed by certificate signing. After the crowd cleared, all the students got together with the president of their university and we made another spontaneous scroll painting. The exhibition was such a rewarding way to conclude our experience with the students at the Shandong University of Art and Design.

9/9 Shandong University/ Jinan

Today was the last day to work on our projects. We finished with a review. It was so amazing to see all of the ideas become art in just three very challenging days. I am happy with our pieces but feel we could have produced better quality work if given more time and adequate supplies.

9/8 Shandong University/ Jinan

Today Jessica and I were able to start our painting because yesterday we found the window we needed to complete our idea. It has been so hard for all of us to get started on the project because of the availability of supplies. It was like, ok I have an idea, now I need table space to draw it on or a printer, scissors, Internet, colored pencil?......we basically had to work with little to no materials. The basic supplies we did find were sought out. It seemed like such a hassle to actually produce a thought into an image.
This day began with the challenge of hanging the window so we could paint from both sides in unison. It was quite the production; to get our only window hung with makeshift supplies and contrasting views of how it should be done. We painted all day and has a great time. Jessica and I were in our own world, working intensely toward an unknown goal. We decided to work in response to each others spontaneous painting, so we had no idea of how the finished product would look. We simply wanted to relay our impressions about the other's culture. I painted my thoughts on China and she recorded her imaginings of America. We also focused on the words understanding and exchange to keep our thoughts together. The project has already brought us close. We were talking at the end of the day about how we feel comfortable together, like family.

9/7 Shandong University/ Jinan

On the second day of project development we were able to narrow down our ideas and discuss details. We gathered materials and prepared for tomorrows creation. I felt more relaxed today because our concept was decided. I could tell that everyone else was feeling the same way. There were more smiling faces and less confused looks.

9/6 Shandong University/ Jinan

Working with the students has been exciting and challenging so far. We are still getting to know each other and learning how to work as a team. We come from such different backgrounds both culturally and academicly so we are all trying top meet in the middle. We are all determined to make a stunning piece but the barrier of language makes the process hard. I am grateful for this unique opportunity to collaborate and nurture friendships with the Chinese students. I feel we are working toward a great project where the journey is more important than the destination.

9/5 Shandong University/ Jinan

Some of the Chinese students came to Jinan from their University to spend time with us today. It was exciting because we understood that they don't come to Jinan often (since the commute is 40min) and it was our first opportunity to get to know each other. It was challenging because we had to communicate all day and only one of the Chinese students (Jessica) spoke English. Thankfully the few phrases we learned and some charades got us through. We hiked the Thousand Buddha mountain which was surprisingly close to the old university where we stayed. There was a giant gold Buddha statue at the top. It was quite the site to see a huge Buddha and forest in one direction and the expensive city scape on the other. By the end of the day we all felt more comfortable together. I know I am more excited to get to know the students after a day like this.

9/4 Shandong University/ Jinan

We had a busy day. There is so much to see in and around Jinan that we made several stops and endured a day of long bus rides. First we went to Confucius' homestead. It was really amazing to learn about the design of the space. Everything was layed out to relay something about their belief system and culture. There were many gates and doorways used to relay a concept or promote some sort of positive fortune.
Next we went to Confucius's' burial site. There are thousands of descendants buried there too. I was so intrigued as I explored the grounds to see raised hills as the spot of burial. There was always a large stone explaining who was buried and their accomplishments followed by a grassy mound where the remains were placed. It was beautiful and serene. I like that the Chinese give so much respect to a man like Confucius. I mean he held no political rank and lived so long ago, but he was a great thinker who highly influenced their culture.
We finished the day on Mt Tai Shan. It is one of the five sacred Taoist peaks and also the most climbed mountain in the world. I loved finishing the day on top of the mountain, looking over the city. I would have liked to spend more time there and even climb it for myself (we took the cable car).

9/3 Shandong Unitversity/ Jinan

We met the Chinese students we are to collaborate with today. At first it was awkward. We speak so little of each others language, gestures aren't always universal, and all the expectations are heavy on our minds. They are putting our projects into a formal publication after about a weeks worth of work. To break the ice, Ying had us do a spontaneous graffiti type project. Basically, there was a 20ft scroll laid out and we unleashed all of the imagery and ideas we could muster in about 10 minutes. Our students went first, visually relaying our thoughts about China, and the Chinese responded to our impressions. It was really neat. I had a great time and think it was the perfect activity to begin our cross cultural communication.

9/1 Shanghai to Jinan

We leave Shanghai today and I have to admit, I am excited to escape the madness and explore something new. The pollution in this city is so intense that we have only had one day of clear sky. I love open landscapes and nature scenes. One of the major draws for visiting china to me was the unusual landscape. I want to see rock faces with relief sculptures etched into them, ornate temples and villages with smiling people. I know these images are a bit idealized but I am interested in looking beyond what the city has to offer in China.

8/31 Shanghai

Something I will definitely remember about China is the way people drive. There is absolutely no order or courtesy involved. Everyone just does what they please, no matter if there are pedestrians involved or thick traffic. The simple designation between sidewalk and street seems to be irrelevant to these people.
Every time I get into a taxi or bus I have to look down to avoid screaming and grabbing the drivers wheel. It sounds a dramatic, I know, but let me assure you the experience is breathtaking. There have been several occasions where I have screamed out of genuine fear during a standard commute. Each time I shriek, the driver laughs because he is so used to the city's irregular flow. Cars cut across five lanes of traffic with no warning to make an exit. People casually walk in front of buses driving full force. There is rarely a pause for walk signals or even a red light. It seems the laws here are more like suggestions. Although everything is tight and in seeming disarray there seems to be a flow that transports the masses to their place of urgency.

8/30 Shanghai

Day three in Shanghai. We traveled to the best preserved water village in the area. There was time to take in the scenery and sketch. The heat hindered me from painting too long but I feel the impressions I gained will stay with me. The village was interesting with it's varied architecture and ornate hand made decor. It felt lived in but also worn out. The fact that it was a tourist destination, strewn among traditional people's homes, was unsettling to me. It felt like I was contributing to the suffocation of an elegant culture. there were shops with people heckling the tourists, restaurants to serve them and crowded pathways. I began to think about the lives of those villagers and how they probably had no control over the development of their land. I was informed, they receive a very small portion of our entrance fees and judging by the way they live, I can only assume it to be true.
To me it seemed clear. The people in the village were being exploited so that others could come and fantasize about the way China used to be. The locals couldn't wash their clothes, walk down the street or even take a nap without being gawked at or even photographed. I would have rather heard a folk tale or looked at a picture book to understand what a traditional water village was like.

8/29 Shanghai

A day to reflect and be inspired. We visited the Chinese cultural museum and art museum then finished up at some contemporary artist's studios in the evening. I particularly enjoyed the museum's exhibits on furniture as well as cultural seals/stamps. I see creativity as such a huge part of Chinese culture ancestry. It is beautiful. When I was in the history museum I was blown away by the displays of artistic creation. I could have mistaken it for the art museum. In my mind infinite detail and worldly class will forever be linked with Chinese artistic expression.

2/28 Shanghai

rise......anticipation..stiff.....open eyes

smell...adjust............converse...strive

ackward......heat..beat............interest

wonder brimming...anxiety...massive

many................too much.....fake...deal

submit...forefit.............reflect...neglect

wealthy.....slice..rice........contentment