first to Lavenham and Long Melford. well, these were for business. no, i'm not in antique business. lovely houses.

friday, went to the Museum of Mankind. saw the exhibit, "Pottery in the Making." well presented. found there would be a demonstration by Gabriele Koch saturday. coil-building, burnishing, and saw-dust firing. seen her pieces before at VA. decided to come back the next day.

went to rows of galleries in the area, mostly contemporary paintings. was not much impressed.

then, to Royal Academy of Art, where "Sensation" and "Hiroshige" were on exhibit. seen some of the chopped-out cow and the half-sliced pig stuffs. probably at the Tate a few years ago. thought the exhibit a bullshit. indeed, some paintings were furbished with "shits". very, very crowded. my breakthrough: tell a guard that you are to get a Hiroshige ticket. no line for Hiroshige, an hour long line for Sensation. once at the ticket booth, get a combination ticket for both exhibits.

saturday, spent from 10 to noon at the MM, at the Gabriele Koch demonstration. well attended, more than 120? very well presented. it is amazing she has such a good control of shading/smoking in saw dust firing. well, i am definitely going to try saw dust firing by myself. i was so inspired that i got one of her favorite burnishing tools on my way home over the atlantic: British Airways spoon. no, i'm just kidding.

walked to the Contemporary Ceramics (Shop/Gallery). very nice setting. spacious, and elegantly set.

then, to BM. the far east exhibits were closed in 95 and 96. now they are open (and mummy sections are being closed this time). the calligraphy exhibit of Ogawa Toshu was great, especially "clouds". another inspiration i can try on saw dust firing someday (when i get quasi-control of shading patterns). "Arts of Korea" exhibits with my favorite Korean Celladons (and w/ shanngan (?), (zogan? (in japanese, my guess, a.k.a. mishima)). Hoggarth, in the next rooms.

walked to Contemporary Applied Arts. another elegantly set craft gallery. saw a Koch pot here, too.

i missed the Besson Gallery. went there on saturday. it was closed. (i didn't read some of your postings carefully enough.) well, next time. and VA, also next time. busy one and a half day but really enjoyed these visits.

and again, many thanks for your good suggestions.