Home from China, part 5

In Beijing we attended the Graduation Fashion Show at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. Amazing and innovative designs were presented by models who could have been on a New York runway.

 The next day I gave a presentation to students, thinking, "What am I going to tell these students about color and design?" I focused on the creative and originality aspects of my material, and they responded with great curiosity and interest.

At each venue I began with "who I am and what I do," which showed pictures of my map location, home, yard, and studio, and the thought of living among trees and a grassy yard was appealing, since most of their experience is in high-rise apartment living. I told the Rise and Shine, Inner City story about how the arrangement of colors creates "neighborhoods" which have to touch and merge and interact to become a successful city, which is also a metaphor for countries in our world. It was rewarding to see smiles of recognition and agreement on many faces as they understood the message the quilt portrays.

We were fortunate to see Beijing on a relatively clear day but also saw the frighteningly sad smog on other days. There were trees planted along most of the streets we were driven through, but they were still bare from winter. I can just imagine how different these streets will look when all these trees are fully leafed out!

Sidewalk in Beijing

On a clear day

Same view from hotel window on smoggy day

 

 

Home from China, part 4

Linda and Martha in library lobby

The Dalian Municipal Library is a beautiful building four stories tall and is free for the residents. There are branches, but no system for borrowing from other branches. They use the card catalog and there were large tables set up for people to use while reading books, magazines, and newspapers. We saw many students studying.

 

I had a copy of The Llama's Pajamas, written by a good friend, Carol Vickers, with me in case any of my talks involved young children. It's about a boy who didn't look after his quilt as he should have, and had it borrowed by a bear, a monkey, and a llama. I gave it to the children's librarian after I showed it to her and briefly told her the story; she was delighted to add it to their collection.

The Llama's Pajamas

 

Dr. Seuss books in Chinese



MEANWHILE, back in Mississippi, the azaleas were blooming, as well as my healthy geranium plants on my front porch. The temperatures in Dalian were in the 30s and 40s, sometimes quite windy when we were near the water. When we left home the flowers were barely beginning to bloom, so this was a happy surprise to see when we got back.

Home from China, part 3

Dalian is a beautiful city, situated near the rocky coastline, with hills and mountains surrounding the heavily populated city. Traffic in Dalian and Beijing was very busy, with pedestrians and bicyclists moving in and out of traffic as they could make their way. Changing lanes was a daring act, often accompanied by a beep-beep as the car moved over, trusting that the oncoming vehicles would yield. Turning at intersections sometimes resulted in traffic jams when cars would head in the direction they wanted to go and others were turning other ways. We don't have any photos of these scenes, because Linda and I often had our eyes closed. The only way this could work is because the traffic was moving much slower than we are used to here.

Mr. Wong and Linda

The temperatures were in the 30s F, and the wind could be quite chilling. Our guide (Nancy) from the Dalian Modern Museum took us to the Museum of Natural History and a large aquarium. We ate lunch at a place called "Barbecue Meat in Wang Mazi," selecting food by looking at pictures of dishes posted on the wall. Mr. Wong, our driver, tried to teach Linda to use chopsticks, but forks were always provided when they saw how inept we were. We enjoyed and were brave about trying new dishes . . . well, a little brave.

Martha and Nancy

We toured the Dalian Polytechnic University and visited with Professor Ren Wendong, a famous Chinese Brush artist, who shared his book of paintings with us. After my lecture, we visited classrooms where students were working on weaving, interior design, and clothing construction.



Professor Ren Wendong and staff

From window of Dalian Polytechnic University

From window of Dalian Polytechnic University



Home from China, part 2

In Dalian we were escorted to the Museum by Scott Macintosh, Assistant Public Affairs Officer, and Li Zhuo, Cultural Assistant, from the U.S. Consulate in Shenyang; our interpreter was Ms. Teng Chaonan (Nancy) from the Museum staff. They took part in the ribbon cutting and setting up all the groups for talks.

Scott Macintosh and Li Zhuo

The next lecture was for 16-18-year-old students at the Bainian Vocational School, a school for children of migrant workers. Our concept of migrant workers is of people who follow the crops for work. In China, the rural people are called migrant; if they need a job and come to the city, their children are not eligible for school because they are not registered in the city. This school is a free school established as a two-year boarding school to prepare the young people with a trade so they can earn a living.
My emphasis in this talk was on creativity and originality, entitled Finding My Way, Following My Dream. The students were extremely interested and asked many questions.

 

The students were constantly reminded of ways toward a good life by the signs posted along the hallways, in English and Mandarin:

I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.

Knowledge makes humble, ignorance makes proud.

Action speak louder than words.

A thousand-li journey starts by taking the first step.

Do one thing at a time, and do well.

Home from China

My daughter Linda and I have just returned from a 12-day trip to China--what a marvelous experience! The first day (our rest day) we enjoyed seeing some of the sights of Dalian with a Dalian Museum staff member and a driver.  We attended the opening of The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st-Century America at the Dalian Modern Museum in Dalian, Liaoning Province.

Poster in front of Dalian Modern Museum

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, I gave a talk/demonstration for some very interested visitors. Walking through the exhibit answering questions and giving information about the variety of quilting styles was enjoyable to us all.  

The museum director hosted a dinner for our group from the U.S. Consulate office, who had organized the Dalian events. The next day we were taken for a tour of the Dalian Municipal Library, where Linda was able to ask and share information. (Linda is a catalog librarian at USM in Hattiesburg. On this trip, she was also my computer/PowerPoint specialist and the one helping me remember where we were and what day and time it was; I could not have managed without her!)

Museum visitors

That afternoon I presented a lecture to about 100 junior high students at the Dalian University of Technology. They listened politely, but when they were allowed to come close for photos and examination of the fiber art pieces, they really came alive.

 



Dalian University of Technology students





More report and pictures tomorrow.


Dalian Modern Museum in Dalian, China

Dalian Modern Museum

An exhibit at the museum

Opened on March 22, 2002 Dalian Modern Museum is the first museum building in Dalian which follows the modern western style. The exhibition is organized in a clean, transparent way, and the information is presented with a bit of luxury and big space providing good visibility. Black and white, the dominant colors of the interior correspond with yin-yang theory, traditional in Chinese culture. The impressive building with total space of 21 600 square metres soon became the 21st century cultural landmark of Dalian.
What a beautiful place for the display of The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st-Century America. How exciting it will be to see some of the history and culture of China and share our quilt story with the people there.

Dalian, Liaoning Province, China

Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It is surrounded by the waters of the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south.

Map with Dalian marked

Larger map showing proximity to North and South Korea and Japan



Dalian is a city of 6 million people

Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's northernmost warm water port. The second largest city in Liaoning province, next only to the capital (Shenyang), the city has a significant history of being used by foreign powers for its ports (Dalian's port and Lüshun's port). Today it serves as a regional financial base and an important international shipping centre and logistics hub in Northeast Asia. (Source: Wikipedia)

I'm Going to China

I thought having my Rise and Shine, Inner City quilt on the cover of the catalog for The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st-Century America was about as big a thrill as I could have. . . until I got the phone call saying SouthArts and ArtsMidwest were sending me to the opening at the Dalian Modern Museum in Dalian, China. Here are a few pictures from the first venue in Shanghai:

 

I am excited about being a quilt representative and sharing my passion with the Chinese people, as well as learning more about their interest in quilting and the arts. My daughter Linda (an academic librarian at USM) will go with me, and we hope to visit some libraries also. I've been so busy preparing my lecture/demo/presentations that I have neglected to post on my blog for others to enjoy. I promise to post more!

More Installation Photos from Hattiesburg Arts Council Exhibit

Butterfly Crossing

In the Beginning

Galaxy, Leaf Study II, Atrium at Ochsner's, Clara's Iris
 

Hattiesburg Arts Council Exhibit - Installation Pictures

West end of the historic Hattiesburg Cultural Center

Pacific Coast, Silk With Stitches, Giant Wave

Migration

Red Ruffle, Red Hibiscus, Red Daylily

The Elements: Air, Earth, Water

Exhibit at Hattiesburg Cultural Center

The Hattiesburg Arts Council is sponsoring a Fiber Arts Exhibition from February 12 through March 12 at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center in Downtown Hattiesburg. Featured artists are Diane Williams of Jackson and Martha Ginn of Hattiesburg. There will be a luncheon and artists talks on Tuesday, February 19. Reservations required for lunch (601-583-6005). Click to enlarge postcard.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Tornado

We had a very damaging tornado on Sunday afternoon, February 10 in Hattiesburg. I stood on my front porch and watched it move from west to east, almost not comprehending what I was seeing. But when pictures began coming in, it was very sobering to realize I was only about 10 blocks from University of Southern Mississippi, where there was serious damage. Our church was not damaged, but several friends in church, Pine Belt Quilters, and the art association did not fare as well. It is  fortunate that we have not had any serious injuries or deaths reported. We lost TV cable and thousands lost power; I was fortunate to only lose TV but not power.

Catalog Cover for China Exhibit

As if having my quilt selected as part of The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st-Century America were not enough excitement and honor, I have just received copies of the exhibit catalog, with my "Rise and Shine, Inner City" pictured on the cover. The exhibit opened in September 2012 in Shanghai and will travel to four other museums or galleries in the next few months of 2013.

Catalog Cover

The exhibit is a program conceived and sponsored by the United States Embassy-Beijing. The exhibition and its tour throughout the People’s Republic of China has been jointly developed and managed by ArtsMidwest and South Arts, with additional assistance from the Great Lakes Quilting Center at Michigan State University.

The exhibition will tour to five venues throughout China, beginning September 7, 2012:

• Shanghai Museum of Textile and Costume at Donghua University in Shanghai
• Yunnan Nationalities Museum in Kunming, Yunnan Province
• Guangxi Museum of Nationalities in Nanning, Guangxi Province
• Venue TBD in Changsha, Hunan Province
• Dalian Modern Museum in Dalian, Liaoning Province

Links have been set up with more information and pictures of all the quilts:

·         http://www.southarts.org/site/c.guIYLaMRJxE/b.8271263/k.62F9/The_Sum_of_Many_Parts.htm

·         http://www.southarts.org/site/c.guIYLaMRJxE/b.8273279/k.90FD/About_the_Exhibit.htm

·         http://www.flickr.com/photos/artsmidwest/sets/72157630842024574/

·         http://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/sum-of-many-parts-quilt-exhibition