Yearly China jade market trip
Jul 19, 2017 7:49:20 GMT -5
Fossilman, rockjunquie, and 4 more like this
Post by kk on Jul 19, 2017 7:49:20 GMT -5
Hi there,
Its been a while, was in China for a couple of weeks and did my usual rounds in the Jade Market of Hualin.
Did not find the the nephrite I was looking for (yellow skin), so took some cheap Mookite (10$ per kilo), for me to cut up and try out.
China bounty, Mookite, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Found also this little piece of Moroccan chalcedony. But have no idea how this should end up. The only thing for sure is that it will not remain a specimen. Anyone know how this strong green got in there?
Morocco Chalcedony Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Saw some nice pieces of nephrite's, fabulously worked
Seen in market 2017, jade, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
And, While still plenty-full, the percentage of jade is shrinking noticeably. Turquoise and amber too. Whats new is the use of impact-glass from Vietnam (real and fake, cant tell the difference), and slowly, every year the percentage of agates increases. This time they had even unfinished pieces on sale. In the near future, I predict to see more rough (some there now for the first time, but could not see anything for my skill-level to carve).
Agates seen in market Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
It seems to me that some very talented jade carvers are switching to agate in general. Some of the agates are absolutely stunning and have been worked by anything but novices or regular factory workers. Thats a good thing overall, as with time there will be more value accepted for that type of material and Fire Agate might come in just fine alongside. Some of the fine works utilizing moss, are on par with the skills needed to work fireagate on highest skill-levels. Its a very recent development, but clearly noticeable over the past 4 years. 4 years ago, there was hardly any agate in that market (Hualin is pretty much the second-biggest permanent jade-market worldwide with 32000 registered businesses). Now, a good quarter of the former jade sectors have been taken over by agate. AND formerly street-vendors; now you find them in permanent shops.
So much for the stones, now on to other fun parts on the trip.....
As always, I go to China in order to hold Summer camp at a school for students aged 13 to 15.
This year we had a super team of 3 and things worked out splendidly.
To my surprise, close to the school, hidden just behind developments facing the roads, I found the Guanzhou that I remember from the early 1990's. Small brick buildings, tight alleys, wires hanging from just about anywhere, people actually smiling at you as you walk through and small family-businesses just about every few meters. Spend an hour in there, and one forgets that you are in effect in a 20 million people city till you see the next towering building.........
Old city remains Guangzhou 2017, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Old City remains Guangzhou 2017, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
But we where there to work with the kids. As every year, drama and art where my biggest projects.
Kids are still shy, and at this age especially awkward about consciously moving their bodies. So of course, thats where I come in.........
2017 Drama project, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Lots of fun when they can laugh at "grandpa" first, until they have to try for themselves.
Somehow feel old looking at that next picture....
Explaining how to create space for acting out something as simple as preparing "Milk-tea", drinking it, and follow through.....
Looking old, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Next year should be fun; as our theme is Canada, I'm planing to have them learn to do a traditional FN Induit dance including making/improvising the drums......
The other project, as every year is to create something tangible. This year the principal asked if we could make a totem fitting the room (we did individual totems in the past, just drawing them up and rolling them up), So we asked the kids to come up with a design for their class and took the best designers out to create a 2.5 to 3 foot creation of their design.
stages, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Wire mesh as the center to provide stability, and then paper for basic shape held down with tape. Then a couple of layers of kitchen towels with white glue. Ready for basic paint, before starting actual painting.
step two,, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Stack them up
Testing combinations, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
And voila, we got a basic Totem representing the tribe of 3 classes.......
Kainzer Kurt, 2017 project by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Unlike the past few years, I did relatively little with only the top, to serve as an example. The actual work this time is 90% from the students, instead of the other way round in the past.
Was a good year, looking forward to next time
Best regards, Kurt
Its been a while, was in China for a couple of weeks and did my usual rounds in the Jade Market of Hualin.
Did not find the the nephrite I was looking for (yellow skin), so took some cheap Mookite (10$ per kilo), for me to cut up and try out.
China bounty, Mookite, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Found also this little piece of Moroccan chalcedony. But have no idea how this should end up. The only thing for sure is that it will not remain a specimen. Anyone know how this strong green got in there?
Morocco Chalcedony Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Saw some nice pieces of nephrite's, fabulously worked
Seen in market 2017, jade, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
And, While still plenty-full, the percentage of jade is shrinking noticeably. Turquoise and amber too. Whats new is the use of impact-glass from Vietnam (real and fake, cant tell the difference), and slowly, every year the percentage of agates increases. This time they had even unfinished pieces on sale. In the near future, I predict to see more rough (some there now for the first time, but could not see anything for my skill-level to carve).
Agates seen in market Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
It seems to me that some very talented jade carvers are switching to agate in general. Some of the agates are absolutely stunning and have been worked by anything but novices or regular factory workers. Thats a good thing overall, as with time there will be more value accepted for that type of material and Fire Agate might come in just fine alongside. Some of the fine works utilizing moss, are on par with the skills needed to work fireagate on highest skill-levels. Its a very recent development, but clearly noticeable over the past 4 years. 4 years ago, there was hardly any agate in that market (Hualin is pretty much the second-biggest permanent jade-market worldwide with 32000 registered businesses). Now, a good quarter of the former jade sectors have been taken over by agate. AND formerly street-vendors; now you find them in permanent shops.
So much for the stones, now on to other fun parts on the trip.....
As always, I go to China in order to hold Summer camp at a school for students aged 13 to 15.
This year we had a super team of 3 and things worked out splendidly.
To my surprise, close to the school, hidden just behind developments facing the roads, I found the Guanzhou that I remember from the early 1990's. Small brick buildings, tight alleys, wires hanging from just about anywhere, people actually smiling at you as you walk through and small family-businesses just about every few meters. Spend an hour in there, and one forgets that you are in effect in a 20 million people city till you see the next towering building.........
Old city remains Guangzhou 2017, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Old City remains Guangzhou 2017, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
But we where there to work with the kids. As every year, drama and art where my biggest projects.
Kids are still shy, and at this age especially awkward about consciously moving their bodies. So of course, thats where I come in.........
2017 Drama project, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Lots of fun when they can laugh at "grandpa" first, until they have to try for themselves.
Somehow feel old looking at that next picture....
Explaining how to create space for acting out something as simple as preparing "Milk-tea", drinking it, and follow through.....
Looking old, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Next year should be fun; as our theme is Canada, I'm planing to have them learn to do a traditional FN Induit dance including making/improvising the drums......
The other project, as every year is to create something tangible. This year the principal asked if we could make a totem fitting the room (we did individual totems in the past, just drawing them up and rolling them up), So we asked the kids to come up with a design for their class and took the best designers out to create a 2.5 to 3 foot creation of their design.
stages, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Wire mesh as the center to provide stability, and then paper for basic shape held down with tape. Then a couple of layers of kitchen towels with white glue. Ready for basic paint, before starting actual painting.
step two,, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Stack them up
Testing combinations, Kainzer Kurt by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
And voila, we got a basic Totem representing the tribe of 3 classes.......
Kainzer Kurt, 2017 project by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Unlike the past few years, I did relatively little with only the top, to serve as an example. The actual work this time is 90% from the students, instead of the other way round in the past.
Was a good year, looking forward to next time
Best regards, Kurt