they got me workin workin day and night....

It's still freazing in Shanghai, but I managed to motivate tonight and ride my bike. I guess it helped that I was riding it 20 minutes away to get a massage. hehe... Things have been super crazy for me lately, in terms of keeping busy. I've had the part time job at the gallery, and part time teaching. Only Mondays off. Plus I've been picking up speed with my installation preparations for AmSpace. Chris has been on a big trip around South East Asia, and so I have the place to myself! Im making a mess, paper crafting all over the livingroom because its too cold to work in my studio. I get cute texts from Chris daily, sometimes more, which helps. But I still really miss him. I'll get to meet him in Thailand for our friend's wedding in Phuket (actually in Khao Lak) and then we go on a week long trip together (first ever!) to Malaysia (KL andn Melaka) and then to Vietnam (probably only Saigon). Then Im back to Shanghai to start installing a week before my show. Phew.

Tomorrow is my last day at m97 Gallery. I've given my notice (a couple times now) and finally am making the big switch, from organizing and selling artwork, to making my own. I'm friends with my bosses there, so as long as that's still intact, the job itself can kiss my butt goodbye. Im ready to move onto more selfish ways to spend my timem. I'll have 3 days per week to concentrate on making work, and possible getting back into Yoga. My job situation from now on will be purely teaching English (4 girls in individual classes over the weekend, and an entire fashion label company called Icicle Wednesdays and Fridays). The Icicle job just started, and so far Im 2 weeks into it, and have worked with about 10 different people there. Its exausting in an energy sucking sort of way (we cram 4 hour long teaching sessions on Wednesdays, and 6 hour sessions on Fridays). But its best for me this way because I can have 3 days to get lost in the studio.

Im buying a little camera (thanks mom!) finally, and will be taking better care of documenting my life here. Its stupid that I havent been sharing more. OH, and the coolest news is that the Elf Parlor (my brother's awesome coffee shop in North Adams, Mass) has finally opened it's doors to the public, and has been serving up coffee and nice beats and positive weirdness for a few weeks now. Check them out on Facebook (although I'm unable to see any pictures....maybe its a censor issue?) Give them a shout out!

Okay, over and out. Next post will be about my travels and my show.

wish me luck,
sara
xo

Happy Western New Year, Happy Chinese New Year, and the last days of Thirtywonderful....

I know, geez...it's been a while.

It's super duper cold (and humid to make matters worse) in Shanghai right now, and most of the Chinese folks who run the little shops have split town and headed out to remote parts of the country. Its the Chinese Lunar New Year, and it's a big deal. The streets are less busy, and people are leaving the big city to spend the year's biggest holiday with family. What is left is a more realistic amount of people in your way, and I can sense some sort of holiday spirit amongst these Chinese faces. Its like the feeling westerners have about Christmas. I'm back from a day of running around looking for a hardware store that is still open so I can buy spray-paint. I had no luck, so I'll have to wait until a week from now when all of the people return. Why do I need spray paint, you may be wondering?

Because I moved into my studio and am fixing it up. yep, it needs some TLC. My 40 sq. meter rectangle of joy is finally a reality. Some furniture stayed after I signed my lease, and I was able to clean most of the keepers. Some things have a wierd funk about them and need to be covered in black enamel ASAP. But in a nutshell, I am super super excited to have a space of my own and am trying to hurry up and outfit my studio with the right materials and organization so I can get busy. My proposal is way overdue for the AmSpace Gallery and I'm hoping to have my show in Late February, or early March (which means February is going to be NUTSO!)

I've given the photography gallery I've been working for my notice (again), and will be solely teaching English part time at home, and making work part time. (see Sophie and Angela, 2 of my 5 students, above, enjoying 10 minutes of drawing time after the meat of the lesson). I'm trying to organize my life so that artmaking becomes a reality again. I'm looking for more English gigs, and am happy Im on the right track. Money is tight right now, but Chris is totally supporting me in the rent category. I think I can make more money here teaching than if I came home to the US now and tried to find work. Just need to get more cash for art materials (glitter, foam, canvas, paint) and traveling.

Speaking of traveling, Im going to Thailand mid-March for my friends Candice & Jarrett's wedding. Its on an island near Phuket. Hello beaches, here I come! (eh hem, sunburn here I come)... Then Chris and I will take a train to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, for five days. Then we take a flight to Vietnam (Saigon) and stay for another 4 days. Yes! I finally get to see most of Southeast Asia. Thank god, I was beginning to think I would leave China without see what else is over here. (will I ever get to India????)

Leaving China? well, not yet exactly. But it's in my thoughts. Don't want to be here for much longer. My studio is awesome, and I've waited for so long for it. I'll spend 8 months or so in it, give it up to an art friend if I can find one, and then Im ready for something else. I think....Not sure if Chris and I want to move to the same place...we'll see....

My 32nd Birthday is on Monday, and I'm celebrating it at the Glamour Bar (on the waterfront) along with my fellow Aquarian friend Ellen (who will also be celebrating for her departure from Shanghai Feb. 1st, which means I'm one good friend less richer). Hopefully all of our friends will obey the "black and white" dress code and we'll boogie to some of my favorite black disco (Chris will be dj'ing so I think I get to hear whatever I want!). I'll write again when I know what I'm doing with myself as a 32 year old. yikes.

Hugs from the East.

I miss you.

s
xo