MenLo is a studio and gallery focused on growing the international artist community in Jingdezhen, providing access to the city for aspiring ceramic artists, and amplifying young and emerging Chinese contemporary artists in any medium. As a studio we are committed to working in an integrated way with the city, its artisans, and its industry. As a gallery we do not have representational relationships with artists, we facilitate making, and try to find the work done in our studio homes in various galleries, museums, and other venues around China.
Porcelain Echoes in Jingdezhen - July 8-26, 2019
The second iteration of the Private Studio Jingdezhen’s summer ceramics intensive, lead this time by artist Kala Stein, is scheduled for July 2019.
Participants will be given the tasks of responding to Jingdezhen and exploring the intersection of art, design, and production at the handmade. Kala will lead group projects to initiate experimental learning centered on investigations into the physical and conceptual nuances of making with porcelain in the extraordinary setting of Jingdezhen, the Porcelain Capitol City.
In addition to the studio classroom experience with Kala, participants will have the chance to learn through demonstrations by master blue and white painters, mold makers, and other artists and artisans living in Jingdezhen both foreign and local. Interactions with professional slip casters, glazers, throwers, kiln firers, decal onlayers, flower makers, and any other kind of ceramic and industry related worker imaginable will change the way the act of ceramic making can be conceptualized. In addition, field trips to ceramic museums, the famous Jingdezhen “ghost” antique market, historic production centers, modern ceramic factories, and the mountain that is original source of porcelain will fill out the three week course.
To underscore the regard for studio practice and process as a significant factor in any created object we will document our experiences through photography, assemblage, collection, and writings. These records will be turned into a depiction of each participants Jingdezhen experience, and will accompany the made objects that result from each persons explorations. A group exhibition at MenLo gallery will mark the end of the session with an opening reception open to artists, artisans, and all the new friends made in Jingdezhen.
The cost of the session is $1,400 per student which includes housing for the 3 weeks session + up to 5 days before or after, personal studio space, studio materials, transportation upon arrival in jingdezhen, and transportation for all field trips. For more information contact us at NiceArtists@gmail.com.
Potential participants can apply by sending a statement of interest and a short introduction (less than 250 words) of thier life and relationship with art to NiceArtists@gmail.com.
Kala Stein (wesite)(b.1979, USA) is an artist and designer noted for innovative mold making and casting techniques. Her work explores dynamic systems and sustainable practices within the intersection of design, production, and the handmade.
Working with clay for 20 years, Kala’s approach to ceramic design and art is informed by her belief that it is all an experiment and it is all relevant.
Field Recognition: National Endowment for the Arts Grant (2017); MFA Ceramics, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2009); BFA Ceramics, SUNY New Paltz (2002); Moravian Pottery & Tiles Works (2002-2005, PA); apprenticeship with Donna Polseno & Richard Hensley (2005-2007, VA). She taught ceramics at Alfred University for five years and at various universities and art centers across NY and California.
Kala is the Director of Ceramics & Arts at Sonoma Community Center.
Works by Kala Stein
Summer School 2017
