Charming of the Multiculturalism -- Shirley's US Travel Diary -060 & 220th Friendly Greeting -Mon, Sep 21, 2009

Hi,Dear Friends

How are you? I really hope everything is doing well with you and you have started a good new week...

Today is 356th day that I have been in the US.

By the considerate arrangement by Springfield Regional Arts Council,especially the lead of the Education Coordinator -- Ms. Stephanie Cramer in peron and the warm support from the local American Chinese ? Ms. Hing Wah Hatch and Mr. Gong Xiaoou, I have been to 4 local schools to make 5 Chinese Painting Demonstrations and offered Chinese Painting lessons for 4 groups of local American teenagers and adults since my art exhibition was started on Sep 4 until Sept 20. Over 300 teenagers attended my demonstrations and 49 people attended my Painting Workshops.

During the process, I have touched many local American people, educators, children, managers and so on. I have really learned a lot from them.

In Roberson Elementary, it was the school master ? Mr. Livngston to help me to show my pictures to their students in person; it was also him, to help me to appoint some students from all of uplifted hands. It was still him to explain some terms that I could not speak clear in English. By his wonderful leading, the other teachers also helped me to show the different pictures to theirs students one by one and whole of the working hall was full of the friendly, harmonious and happy atmosphere. With an easy heart, first time I tried to paint a Chinese Xieyi painting on an easel, even though the colors was flowing on my hands (Chinese color is just like water, usually, we paint it on a desk instead of on an easel), I did a good job there鈥� then, a cute boy Bakc completed his first Xieyi Birds, then, after my demonstration was finished, A group of warm and lovely American children not only asked me to sing for them again, but also they wanted to have my business cards and take photos with me together鈥�

In Bailey Alternative High School, by the wonderful organizational work of the art teacher Ms. Kamila Price, the school master, teachers and technology people did their best to offer me a wonderful work condition. With an appreciated heart, I produced my best level in my 5 demonstrations. Many students wanted to get my business cards and wanted to learn to paint from me. Even, a beautiful American girl sent me a box of chocolate and someone wrote to me to ask when and whether I would offer a painting lesson鈥�

Besides the demonstrations, last week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday evening and night, I offered another three painting workshops. I was happy to see the big smiles of the lovely children from the Springfield Community Center when they heard me to sing a poem on my painting and complete their lovely paintings. Meanwhile, I was touched by those volunteer teachers for their so patience, kind to treat these children.

Another a good piece of news is that right now, some professional artists, art teacher and designer have started to join my painting workshops.

-- A Senior Designer --Mr. William Bill Baunach has bough some Chinese brushers and he has completed his 3rd Chinese Xieyi Painting;

-- A beautiful Art Teacher ? Ms. Tracy not only took her son to come to my Painting Workshop Sunday night, but also, she has ordered 70 Chinese painting brushers for her students and bough her first chop with Chinese characters.

-- A famous local artist ? Ms. Nancy Rose, not only joined our painting workshops, but also, she has sent me a works of her as a gift. :- )

-- American Chinese ? Ms. Gui Zhenmei has had a good starting on her first Chinese Gongbi Painting .

-- A 12 years old American boy ? Samuel Snodgrass painted his first Chinese Xieyi Peonies in my first demonstration in his school and he has completed his first Xieyi birds and his third Chinese Xiyipainitng in my 4th Painting Workshop.

A strong feeling is that American people are quite interested in Chinese cultures. Especially, they are interested in my combined creations. Every time, I got the warm applause after I had introduced my own combined art with 鈥淐hinese Gongbi + Chinese Xieyi + Music + Calligraphy + Singing + language and Literature鈥� and finished to sing a poem in my painting. I am thinking that maybe the integrate art form with multi - Chinese culture elements are something most attractive?

Are you interested in Chinese culture and art? What kind of arts is your favorite? Painting, Music, Language or something else?

I am just a learner on art of painting, music, English and Chinese language, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate your understanding, directions, supports and hope to get your friendly direction and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or Yiping007@MissouriState.edu, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Mon, September 21, 2009 From USA