do good

just returned to shanghai after a packed weekend trip to beijing. on sunday, our gallery participated in 'the gift' charity bazaar, put on by friends from "stage one productions", a start-up events production company. artists, boutique stores and galleries set up tables to sell their wares while donating a portion of their proceeds to an NGO of their choice. we were able to sell some pieces from our functional ceramics collection (and even one small glass piece!) and donate 10% of our earnings that day to bethel, a non-profit orphanage and training center for blind orphans in china.

there were some amazing vendors represented at the bazaar, and it was very exciting to meet folks and hear more about what they do. i am constantly impressed by the people i come across in china doing inspiring, excellent work. i had the chance to find out more about starfish project (and buy some earrings!) and witness the launch of short+savage, started by a couple of friends. i love my friend matt's t-shirt designs - thoughtful, edgy, and just plain well-done. here's the design of the t-shirt i purchased from "short+savage"-- a modern day take on the "5 loaves plus 2 fish":


seeing the exciting work that other folks are doing always fills me with inspiration and, i admit it, a twinge of envy. i know the grass is always greener somewhere else, but i still get a bit restless and impatient when i hear of other projects that i'm dying to roll up my sleeves and dig into. there is so much GOOD that can be done and is being done....and i want to be involved with it all.

at these moments, i suppose i also wonder if i am at the best place of intersection of my talents, skills and passion. are there other positions and projects that i'd be better suited for than my current station? how do i know my calling isn't elsewhere? and then the spiral of questions and restlessness begins.....

the past couple of months have been rough. a lot of work, very little play. feeling at the end of my rope in various capacities, knowing i need to pause, pray and breathe but also feeling too busy to do that (which is all the more reason to make time).

before flying back to shanghai today, i had a terrific lunch with jamie (adjunct curator with the hammer museum). he had some wonderful insight on both the professional and personal levels, good food for thought that i'm slowly chewing. i know i feel a bit lost lately, like i'm in some cobweb of confusion. not to be confused with a "glass case of emotion."


cups of coffee: 2

mood: achy, tired...please don't be the f-l-u.....