INFORMATION FOR
10/26/2022 — 10/27/2022 William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470
The international symposium “Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City” examines the history of the famous Silk Road. With the American “Silk City” of Paterson at its core, the symposium focuses on the temporal and spatial extension of the historical coordinates of the Silk Road and its connection to the development of China and the United States in culture, education, art, industry, and commerce since the 18th century.
Featuring academic presentations and discussions, art exhibitions, and more, the symposium seeks to stimulate historical research on the Silk Road and help to identify its significance in its farthest reaches. Offering a fresh look at the historical orientation of the Silk Road and the “Silk City” of Paterson, this two-day event will expand and enhance international understanding and cooperation; provide a forum for discussion between the governments and universities of sister cities, and promote the development of cultural, educational, economic, and commercial exchange.
Sponsors China International Cultural Association, China
Co-Sponsors Guizhou International Cultural Association, China | City of Paterson, NJ | Nantong Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China | Chinese-American Art Faculty Association | China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou, China | Paterson Museum, NJ | Nantong University, Nantong, China | Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China | Guizhou Minzu University, Guizhou University of Commerce, and Qiandongnan Vocational and Technical College for Nationalities, Guizhou, China
Host Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, co-organized with the William Paterson University Galleries and the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Time 8:00 – 11:00 a.m., New York Time 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Paris Time 8:00 – 11:00 p.m., Beijing Time
Location Martini Room, Hamilton Hall, William Paterson University, and Online
Zoom Link Click Here to Register Please download Zoom software (version 5.12) in advance and register for the meeting.
Hosts Dr. Joshua Powers, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, William Paterson University Dr. Wartyna Davis, Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, William Paterson University Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director, Center for Chinese Art, William Paterson University
Remarks Dr. Richard Helldobler, President, William Paterson University Mr. Huang Ping, Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, New York Mr. Andre Sayegh, Mayor, City of Paterson Dr. Li Zeng, Vice President, Guizhou Normal University Mr. Lyusheng Chen, Former Vice Director, China National Museum Ms. Diane Von Furstenberg, CEO of the fashion brand DVF, and President, Council of Fashion Designers of America
Keynote Speeches Dr. Feng Zhao, Honorary Director, China National Silk Museum, China, and Chair, International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles: “From Silk to Silk Road, Pre-Han to 16th Century” Dr. Ben Marsh, Professor, School of History, University of Kent, United Kingdom: “Unraveled Dreams: Silk and the Atlantic World, 1500-1840” Dr. Stephen Hahn, Professor Emeritus, English, William Paterson University: “Paterson as ‘Silk City’ in a Global Context”
Location 12:00 – 1:45 p.m. Martini Room, Hamilton Hall, William Paterson University, and Online
Moderator Dr. He Zhang, Professor, Art History, William Paterson University
Panelists Dr. Feng Zhao, Honorary Director, China National Silk Museum: "Intriguing Looms: The Silk Patterns from the Silk Roads" Claire McRee, Associate Curator, Allentown Art Museum: “Designs for the Loom: The Work of William Geskes” Donna Ghelerter, textile and fashion historian: "World-Famous Artists Designed these Silks for You: AUDAC and 1930s American Silks" Martina D’Amato, Cora Ginsburg LLC: "Dutch Chinoiserie Silks of the 1730s and 1740s" Dr. He Zhang, Professor, Art History, William Paterson University: “Silk Trade and Make in Western China and Central Asia in the Early Historic Times”
Location 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. University Galleries, Ben Shahn Center, William Paterson University
On View August 29, 2022 – December 2, 2022 South Gallery and East Gallery
Co-Organizers Dr. He Zhang, Professor of Art History, William Paterson University Casey Mathern, Director of University Galleries, William Paterson University
On View October 17, 2022 – December 2, 2022 Court Gallery
Co-Organizers Jianshan Wang, Dean of the College of Cultural Arts and Communication, Guizhou University of Commerce Zhiyuan Cong, Professor and Director of the Center for Chinese Art, William Paterson University Casey Mathern, Director of University Galleries, William Paterson University
Hosts Guizhou University of Commerce Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University William Paterson University Galleries
Time 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. By invitation
Online Exhibition
Co-Organizers Dr. Feng Zhao, China National Silk Museum Professor Zhiyuan Cong, William Paterson University Giacomo DeStefano, Paterson Museum
Hosts The China National Silk Museum Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University Paterson Museum
Co-Organizers Professor Wei Dong, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Zhiyuan Cong, William Paterson University
Hosts Chinese-American Art Faculty Association Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University
Time 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., New York Time 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Paris Time 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Beijing Time
Moderator Dr. Stephen Hahn, Professor Emeritus, English, William Paterson University
Presenters Dr. Vincent Parrillo, Professor Emeritus, Sociology, William Paterson University Mr. Ganlin Hua (China), Professor, Yangzhou University, China: “The Silk Road of Yangzhou in Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD)” Mr. Giacomo DeStefano, Director, Paterson Museum: "The Paterson Museum: Preserving the City's Industrial Past" Dr. Chong Yao, Assistant Professor, Nantong University, China: “Zhang Jian and China’s Textile City – Nantong” Dr. Lucia McMahon, Professor and Chair, Department of History, William Paterson University: “Paterson's Early Industrial History” Dr. Jian Zhao, Associate Professor, Nanjing Arts University, China: “The Extended ‘Silk Road’—An Investigation with America's ‘Silk City’ Paterson as an Example” Dr. Elena Sabogal, Associate Professor, Community and Social Justice Studies, William Paterson University: “The (In)Visibility of Peruvian Women in Paterson's Public Spaces" Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Art, William Paterson University: “The Role of Art and Art Education on the Silk Road: Chinese-American Art Faculty” Professor Wei Dong, Department of Design Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison: “Crossing, Integration, and Innovation: The Journey of the Chinese-American Art Faculty Association” Dr. Zheng Wang, Professor and Chair, Art and Design Department, Beijing Jiaotong University, China: “Research of Chinese-American Art Faculty in the Past 40 Years Based on Big Data”
Time 1:30 – 6:00 p.m. Tour led by Dr. Stephen Hahn, Professor Emeritus, English, William Paterson University Registration Required: Click Here
Locations Great Falls National Historical Park—Alexander Hamilton and Founding of the U.S. (National Park Service staff) Paterson Museum—Artifacts of Silk Manufacturing (Museum Director) Lambert Castle, Observatory and Overlook—19th Individualist Capitalists, Layout of City (Museum Director) Botto House/American Labor Museum—Skilled Craft Workers and Laborers, Living Conditions (Evelyn Hershey, Education Director)
