Golden Bridge Pottery – Pondicherry, India

Greetings from South India!
Along way from home, but now happily ensconced in a home away from home.

I have been working here on a Ganesh sculpture. It is heaven! I think Ganesh put the obstacle of my computer breakdown in my path so I would go analogue and pay attention to his creation. Though Ganesh is suppose to be the remover of obstacles. His obstacles not mine?

Golden Bridge Pottery was founded by my wonderful hosts Ray Meeker & Deborah Smith in 1971. They have trained and taught many Indian nationals the skill, craft and art of production pottery and artistry of ceramics. If this were Japan, they would be considered national treasures. 

For about 40 years Ray taught a 7 month course to mostly young woman the skill and practice of working with clay. They were probably (but not necessarily) artistically minded, it was something to do while waiting to get married or go to graduate school, etc. He has created a generation of formidable artists. I mean kick ass! The few that I've met, they're passion for the medium and dedication is impressive. Also they're appreciation for Deb & Ray. 

They are taught (6 days a week, all day) from the making of clay to wheel throwing to glaze making and wood firing. The 7 months is a distillation of a 4 year BFA. Distilled to the coursework for a ceramic major. IMHO anyway.

More to come but wanted to set the scene. I am doing this with my thumbs in an iPhone, so time to rest the digits.

Like vs Possibility

People ask me why I go to India so much. "You must really like it....", they say. I don't think it's about liking it. It's too difficult a place to like, meaning it's not a lukewarm kinda thing, which is what like seems to me. I have left at least twice, perhaps 3 times saying I would never return. No one believed me, except me. But I can't be one of those Indiaphiles saying how much I love India.
Because on a personality level I don't. It's hard to be tested. It's difficult to be patient and out of ones 'comfort zone'. To be astonished by poverty and magic and utter chaos, happening all at the same time. It's hard walking around feeling sorry for people and also be annoyed that they look at you as walking ATM machines. Or witness or be the recipient of a wonderful act of kindness or generosity while going crazy with the sound of honking horns or stench of garbage or watching a sick dog limping down the street. Yeah, you've heard varieties of this kind of description before. Seen photos of such things. I have nothing new to add. Except it's not about 'like' or even love. It's more about acceptance and being able to be open hearted and not shut down or overwhelmed while having these experiences that are difficult, uncomfortable if not just painful or confusing or all at the same time.

But in my search for God knows what (and that's about the only entity that might know): love of travel, pottery, design, beauty and some truth in all that...
I keep returning to India. This time by way of Japan, which I naively thought would be my 'replacement', as in 'Japan is the new India as my 'go to' place.
But I met Deb and Ray there (Japan) and we really got along and they run a pottery concern, 'Golden Bridge Pottery'. They are expats who have lived in Pondicherry since 1971. We all enjoyed our time together so much, they generously invited me to come visit. So I am. Just to make it clear: it's not because I like India.

Something I noticed: While visiting in Japan I noticed that Japanese do not like to say 'no'. They say, 'it is not possible'. They consider this more polite and more pleasing and cultural aesthetic. In India, I often hear, 'anything is possible (madame)'. Because there, in India it is. Mostly it shows up in the guise of utter chaos. So with trepidation and a bit of a chip on my shoulder or a bit of fear of getting sick from something I ate, AGAIN. *sigh*  Off I go! Will keep you abreast of the chaos I roll into as the blog ambles forward. Namaste.