How are you? Had you had a good week and have you started a good new week?

On my side, last week, except the daily studying and teaching, mainly I did two important things.

First of all, I interviewed Mr. Brad Bodenhausen (he is on the second photo) - the former Executive President of Springfield Area Chamber of Commence, and a current director of an international leadership training center of Missouri State University, one of the best friends who has offered the most assistance to help my long-term art dream to be true by holding my first art exhibition as one of the sponsors with Springfield Region Art Council together in Sep, 2009. This art exhibition and the first series Chinese painting demonstrations, poems on the paintings, singings with I created music in the classrooms and the art center, really helped me find the development direction of rest of my life – to go a cross-culture and comprehensive art road.

Then in May, 2010, when I had to cancel the travel to Kentucky because of my healthy problem and left for China ahead, it was also him, with my private tutor Mr. Gong Xiaoou together, helped me to save 64 of my paintings in the store of Mr. Joe Jenkins and Mrs. Jenkins in Springfield.

Can you imagine? Just for this save, gave me a wish to come back Springfield some day. After all, I had not had any plan to come back Springfield when I left for China in Oct, 2009, so that I sold my car, gave my music instrument of 88 keys, printer, TV, vacuum cleaners, water bed and every thing to the others, even, I was the only student did not apply a social security number as all my classmates did.

Since the day that my paintings were saved in Springfield, there was also some care for coming into my heart, because they were my best level at that time, and I wanted to create a fund via them to help the local people to learn Chinese culture, art and language.

However, when my study in Beijing entered the 3rd and 4th year, I started to worry about these paintings in Springfield, for I felt they are too bad to show the others. I started to worry about whether they would become something that mislead the local American people, especially the teenagers who have not had opportunity to see the best and the greatest Chinese traditional arts yet, so that I wanted to take them back, just like some auto-makers recalled their cars that were unqualified, but I wanted to leave another group of new paintings in Springfield via some suitable way, not for selling, but for teaching, researching, creating something best, accumulate the part best year and year, to help the local people to learn some true traditional Chinese arts with more data and practicality.

So, even though we do not write often, I am sure, Mr. Brad Bodenhausen is a very credible friend who would offer help at the time I need.

With so many appreciations to Mr.Brad Bodenausen and Springfield Area Chamber of Commence, I wrote an outline that used my time for about 48 hours before I went to the office of Mr. Brad Bodenhausen ( I write an outline for every one whom I interview before I go to him or her by reading his/her education and work background, work reports, missions, responsibilities, personal interesting and so on). Then we had a quite delight and helpful talking on many interesting topics, such as the relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and the local government, the relationship between the C of C and the business of the city; why Springfield earned the designation, “Missouri’s economic engine,” and what is the biggest connection between Springfield and China... I do have learned so much about American culture and the management experiences via the inerview indeed.

Then in the morning, Saturday, Nov 9, 2013, by the good recommended of Mrs. Wanda Nova, considerate arrangement of Ms. Riann Lubinski(she is on the 4th photo)- the President of the Southwest District Art Teachers Association in Drury University, I shared my cross-culture and comprehensive art studying, researching and creating with a group of American art teachers from Missouri State and got good comments.

Even thought I did not sleep until 4:30am for I just started to paint a new painting as the second gift (you can see them via hitting the links below) for the organizer at 1:00am, Nov.9. Infact, I had completed a little painting at 8:00pm, Nov. 8, then I just thought of the conference would be held in Drury University, I should really prepare a little gift for the organizer from the host, even though I would like to carry my books, DVDs and albums of paintings, a little painting that was completed specially, maybe the best? So, even though I got up at 7:30am and I suffered a serious headache after I finished the work there and for whole of the Sunday and most of the Monday, I did feel so happy in my heart. :-)

Do you know why?

I did not really think that Dr. David P. Manuel (he is on the first photo), the President of Drury University and his wife Mrs. Manuel(she is on the first photo) came to my classroom to see my art works, talked with me with so kind and friendly style; also, Mrs. Manuel asked me: " Do you want to teach? " " Do you want to teach after you finish your study? "

There was no any preparative to this kind of questions, just the first responding. “ Yes. ” I answered.

Then, on the road to go back home and in the coming two days, the more I thought, the more I felt that Mrs. Manuel’s questions just like a lamp suddenly lightened my future road. Why don’t I think of becoming a guest instructor in a university to teach some classes that are my advantages?

Such as:

-- A comprehensive and artistic Chinese language class by enjoying painting, music and poetry,since the Volume One of my series book and DVD has been pulished by a university publishing house already.

-- A traditional Chinese painting class, to teach 5 kinds of Chinese paintings that I have learned in the best art schools in Beijing.

-- A Chinese culture classe by talking the stories behind of Chinese paintings, music, poems and the other arts...

During the teaching process, continue to do my researching via painting, writing, creating music and making DVD and comprehensive art productions.

Then I need not to waste my time on something I most do not like to do – selling my own art works, but via some suitable way, to save and display them in the classroom and somewhere, to help more people, to learn Chinese culture, art and language.

Then the value of my work will be maximized?

I am thinking:

Since my comprehensive art project is a creative job, no one taught me how to do it. My art professor just gave me idea how to paint, my music professor just taught me how to sing, my English tutor just taught me how to translate, no anyone else could truly tell me how to do all of the things together, and no anyone in China or in the World had done a model for me before I painted my first comprehensive painting with poem, English translation, music, article and sang them in person, before I found my own web site and published the first book and DVD, and the fact in the past 5 years has proved this creation is welcome by my target users.

So, I myself just be the true host, guider and the creator of this project. At this situation, what is the best choice of mine? Of course, to be a guest instructor in a university that can understand my value of as a human being, and the value of my project as a creation, so that they would like to offer me a platform to teach, to research and to create with a wide chest and a far -sight.

I am sure, I will certainly offer something more beautiful and meaningful for the students of the university, and become the proud of the school.

So,until now, the biggest guide I have gotten from my travel is: I have found the best way to develop my project. That is, to be a guest instructor of Chinese painting, Chinese language or Chinese culture in a Western University. Of course, I need a short time to improve my English before I go on the flatform. :-)

When I said guest, for I want to go back Beijing to fill myself often. After all, my root is in China. My value is because I am a native Chinese who loves my own country and culture, but I want to help people who are from the other cultures to understand and to know more about our culture via an artistic style.

Do you think that I am living in the moon and making a Day Dream again?

How about you? Do you have anything special to share?

You can see the big size photos via the link
Shirley Yiping Zhang
Nov 11, 2013