Grade 6 Class Yi － Chih-Yu Tsao
We were here at Chen Forng-Shean Miniature Art Museum today. Other than touring and interviewing, there was an important task－Brick Carving DIY Activity. What we are going to do was carving before firing. In the beginning, Mr. Chen placed a chunk of clay in front of every one of us. Then, he started to explain the use of tools and making-process before we began by our own hands.

It seemed easy by just watching the demonstration. But it was quite difficult when doing it on our own. The good thing was before firing the carving could be fixed any time, so failed works was not a concern. Different strength of carving made different outcomes. Some characters had complicated strokes, so it was even harder to carve. It took great effort to complete every piece of artwork.

After an hour or so, my creation is ready. A little rough, but unique. Mr. Chen said, “A good production can take up half day or even whole day.” I learned a lot from this tour. I fulfilled my life with knowledge and new experience. It has been a worthwhile trip.

Grade 6 Class Yi － Shao-Ting Lin
Today, we conducted interviews, visited the museum, and experienced brick carving. The method we adopted was carving before firing, which produces smooth curves on the fired products. By contrast, carving after firing involves use of carving tools on the fired products, which was relatively difficult.

Mr. Chen is our teacher; he demonstrated the manufacturing process of brick carving. He used a brush to write down the topic “The Universe in a Grain of Sand－The Miniature & Brick Carving of Chen Forng-Shean” and introduced carving skills. After listening to his introduction, we personally experienced the skills.

On the table, there is a referential paper piece with simple patterns. After deliberation, I chose a little cute mouse for my carving. After I finished carving, I asked Mr. Chen to write my name below the pattern, so I could refine the edge and chip away patterns on my work. After finishing the work laboriously, I realized that brick carving is painstaking. It is a fun and vivacious learning experience today. I have gained a lot.

Grade 6 Class Jen － Pei-Chi Wang
After the interview and visit activities, we experienced brick carving processes. I was so nervous and looked forward to the carving. I was afraid that I would mistake or make ugly works. After seeing Mr. Chen’s demonstration, I began to feel nervous. Even a brick carving master like him cannot be too cautious. He spent a long time carving for just one word. I was worried that I might mess it up.

During operation, it seemed to be easier than I imagined. It was like cutting clay. The method of carving before firing was adopted for our handmade experience because it is easier than carving after firing. However, it was somehow difficult carving the work. For the first time, I thought my name was a hard one. I could not help but admire Mr. Chen’s determination and patience.

Although we spent only an hour to carve the works, the following firing process requires a month. A work without firing is alright. In order to preserve our products for a long period, we decided to fire the products.

In the interview process, I saw Mr. Chen in person and many of his amazing works. I also created brick caring by my own hands. What an unforgettable and meaningful practice!

Grade 6 Class Hsiao － Jui-Hung Chien
Today, we visited the Chen Forng-Shean Miniature Art Museum and experienced brick carving activities. Mr. Chen introduced the tools and manufacturing methods to us. I designed and carved my patterns before Mr. Chen wrote my name on the work.

The calligraphy art by Mr. Chen is beautiful. He reminded me not to remove the parts with his calligraphy. I thought that I could finish carving by the time limit. Nonetheless, we people sitting at the same table, carved the works while chatting with each other, not aware of the elapsing time.

Because there are many small gaps in my name to be carved, it is difficult. In addition, I was distracted by others’ works. Thus, I only finished partial carving after all others completed their works. Mr. Chen was so concerned of my progress that he helped me carve part of my work. Thanks to Mr. Chen’s help, I could finish the work by time.

Finally, I finished two works: one was my brick carving work, and the other had my school’s name, Ji Ren Elementary School, on it. Today, I observed Mr. Chen’s works, interviewed him, and experienced how to make brick carving. What a day!

After ending the interview, we begin experiencing about brick-carving.  Today what we are going to do is carving before firing.  First of all, Teacher Chen demonstrated the right way how to make brick-carving.  His neat technique made me think it is simple for anyone to do, but I found it wasn’t like what I thought when I started to do it by myself.

I asked the teacher for a favor to write four words, YOUR NAME, which is the current latest movie.  At first, this is just a joke from a friend of mine, but it’s been used by me in the end.  I dug out the empty part of no-word on the square of clay, and I saw the teacher digging it empty faster than me. On the contrary, I spent lots of time making it well by myself.  In the process of carving, there are several times I almost carve it wrong. However, it is also the advantage of carving before firing that I can fill up with it constantly if I carve it wrong again and again.

After being busy working on it, I eventually finished an unique work of mine. I have been looking forward to it because it needs nearly one month to do the firing of my work. The whole activity finished with a perfect ending here, it made me impressed to have an interesting and abundant experience today!

Grade 5 Class Yi － Yu-Yu Lin
Today we were here at Chen Forng-Shean Miniature Art Museum. Apart from an interview with him, what’s more important for us was to experience the making of brick carving. Mr. Chen demonstrated the work and told us the use of tools and its techniques.

Then, it was our turn to do it by ourselves. Mr. Chen wrote my name “于又(Yu-Yu)” in calligraphy and I carved out the rest of the material. I’m glad my name has simple strokes and is easy to work on, which made my classmates jealous. Since I still got some time left after I finished my part, I made another one, a dice from the rest of earth. Through the skill called “carving before firing, it would take about a month for the whole process, and I can’t wait to see my final work after the kilning!

Grade 5 Class Hsin － Hsuan-En Hsu
After the interview, we began the activities of brick carving experience. We first had to write the calligraphy on the clay. Teacher Chen demonstrated the Expo theme “The Universe in a Grain of Sand－The Miniature & Brick Carving”  for us. Chen's calligraphy was really beautiful!  Teacher Chen carved the Expo theme so easily; however, his carving skill was cumulative experience.

During the brick carving activity, I tried to carve my name “嫙恩(suan-En)” Carving the word “嫙(Hsuan)” was difficult because it has too many strokes to carve, and the gaps among the strokes of “嫙(Hsuan)” were so tiny to carve it. Fortunately, we used “carving before firing”skill to carve the words. It was like to carve the words on the clay. Even though we destroyed the work accidentally, we could make it up again.

Carving was difficult at the beginning.  However, I practiced more and I was skilled more.  The more I carved, the more fun I had. I was satisfied with my work in the end, and I am looking forward to get my carving work after a month.

Grade 5 Class Hsin － Hsuan-Chu Chen
After the tour of his museum and our interview of him, Mr. Chen let us experience brick carving ourselves. What we had on each table included the tools, the materials, and the little pictures for reference. Mr. Chen first demonstrated the approach of brick carving, which was writing calligraphy on the material. Then he carved out the rest of the material, which seemed easy enough. Mr. Chen is indeed an artist for his excellent handwriting!

Every one of us requested Mr. Chen to write calligraphy, and I was no exception. But when I did the carving myself, I realized it was really difficult. We had to be careful not to carve out the strokes of the characters, and also the bottom part had to be filled up to look pleasing. Meanwhile, some slits were hard to work on.

There are varied kinds of tools, just as the ones for working with clay. Some are used for character or picture tracing. It’s the same with toothpicks, one of which is made of metal and used for carving out the unnecessary part of the material, while chopsticks are used to flatten out the bottom part. So each tool is important. I traced a drawing of a dolphin for the first half part of my work and asked Mr. Chen to write my name for my second half part. I thought I could finish it soon, but it wasn’t to be. There were so many tiny cracks among the strokes that I had to handle carefully with a bamboo pick. Everyone was happy when his final work was done.

From this experience, I’m not only impressed by Mr. Chen’s micro-carving skills, but aware that the seemingly-small handicraft also takes a lot to finish. Both of these are precious legacies and expected to be passed on permanently.

Grade 5 Class Ai － Ko-Hsin Huang
An important activity after our visit and interview with Mr. Chen was the brick-carving experience. It was to let us know something about brick carving and have fun trying it ourselves. Although we could not make such exquisite work like Mr. Chen, we could enjoy the fun with our teammates in the carving process. Besides, Mr. Chen would help us with the hard part.