Events and Programs

Previous Events and Programs from Fall 2016 to Spring 2017

Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Distinguished Visiting Artist Series:
Chinese Hyperrealism Artist Jun Leng Visits William Paterson University

April 19 – 21, 2018

Jun Leng is the leading figure of Chinese hyperrealism. He is the president of Wuhan Art Academy, and chairman of the Hubei Federation of Literary and Art Circles, School of Oil Painting researcher at China National Academy of Painting, and a China National First-Grade painter.

Leng is a 1984 graduate of Wuhan Normal College where he also taught for many years. His honors include the 1993 Silver Art Award at the Chinese Oil Painting Exhibition, the 1994 Artwork award at the second annual Chinese oil painting exhibition, the 1995 Golden Award at the third Annual Chinese art exhibition and the 1999 Golden Prize in the ninth National Art Exhibition; and he participated in the “100 Years of Chinese Oil Painting” exhibition.

Jun Leng's oil paintings hold a very special place in Chinese art circle, with its unique composition and masterful use of fine techniques. He is famous for its hyperrealistic paintings and drawings, viewers are always overwhelmed by the incredible details that can stand up to any close-up examination or with a magnifying glass. Objects are depicted with spectacular precision that often enthrall the crowds. Jun Leng's take on contemporary motifs and contents also provide full psychological tension for viewers. His techniques live up to his reputation, the No.1 master of the Chinese hyperrealism school.

The demonstration is free, but advance registration is required.  Please CLICK HERE for registration. For more information, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799 or email ccart@wpunj.edu, or visit web wpunj.edu/ccart.

Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Distinguished Visiting Artist Series:
Chinese Artist Gaopeng Pan Visiting William Paterson University

The Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University will host Chinese artist Gaopeng Pan for a lecture/demonstration of Chinese landscape painting on March 21, 2018, at the University’s Power Art Gallery on 25 Power Avenue in Wayne from 2 to 4 p.m. The lecture/demonstration is in conjunction with Pan’s exhibition, “The Heart Explains Everything: Chinese Paintings Exhibition by Gaopeng Pan,” from March 21 to April 2 at the New York Gallery of Chinese Art located at 91a Allen Street in Manhattan. The exhibition, with lecture and demonstration, is jointly organized with the Jiangsu Chinese Culture Promotion Society, China Taizhou College and the New York Gallery of Chinese Art.

A well-known landscape painter, Pan is a National Artist and a member of the Chinese Artists Association. He received the Golden Award at the Grand Jiangsu Landscape Paintings Exhibition, and his works are in the permanent collections of the Jiangsu Art Museum, Zhongnanhai, in Beijing, and the National Art Museum of China, also in Beijing.

Hui Shang, chief editor of China Fine Arts, comments that Pan’s landscape paintings feature northern mountains and rivers in China with the subjective spirit of the northern nature. His images transform greyscale ink, stacked and layered, into seemingly thousands of mountain peaks. Through his imagination, Pan depicts a boundless, desolate, primitive world where human beings have never set foot, but also a psychological state in which people still find themselves rootless, lonely and cold in a prosperous postmodern society. His mysterious landscape paintings have thus become a symbol of spiritual and psychological space, revealing the living circumstances of people in contemporary society.

Free, but advance registration is required. For more information about this event, please Click here to register for this Event. For more information, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799 or email ccart@wpunj.edu, or visit web wpunj.edu/ccart. You also can call New York Gallery of Chinese Art at 212.574.4407 or email nygca@gmail.com, or visit web www.nygca.com.

Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Distinguished Visiting Artist Series:
Chinese Artist Gaopeng Pan Visiting William Paterson University

March 21 – April 3, 2018

This event is organized by the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, New York Gallery of Chinese Art, China Taizhou University, and Jiangsu Chinese Culture Promotion Society.

Exhibition Date: March 24 - April 1, 2018
Gallery Hours: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, Closed on Monday

Opening Ceremony: March 23, 2018, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
New York Gallery of Chinese Art
91a Allen Street, NY, NY 10002

Lecture and Demonstration:The Heart Explains Everything-Chinese Landscape Paintings
Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
144C Power Art Center at WPUNJ
25 Power Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470

Gaopeng Pan is a well-known Chinese landscape painter, National Artist and member of the Chinese Artists Association. His received the Golden Award at The Grand Jiangsu Landscape Paintings Exhibition, and his works are collected by Jiangsu Art Museum, Zhongnanhai and National Art Museum of China.

Gaopeng Pan's landscape paintings reflect the magnificent and boundless images, featuring mountains and rivers in China. He paints more than the specific northern mountains and rivers, but worship and representation of natural scenes, and the subjective imagination and creation of nature by his spiritual mind. He overlooks the thousands of mountain peaks as stacked ink on paintings. He has not only shown his imagination to the desolate and boundless primitive world that human beings have never set foot on, but also displayed description of psychological state where people still constantly feel lonely, cold, and mysteriously conscious in a highly prosperous postmodern society. It is from this point of view, that his mysterious and treacherous landscape paintings, in fact, have become a kind of spiritual psychological symbol and revealed current living circumstances of its people.

---Hui Shang, Chief Editor, China Fine Arts

Free, but advance registration is required. For more information about this event, please Click here to register for this Event. For more information, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799 or email ccart@wpunj.edu, or visit web wpunj.edu/ccart. You also can call New York Gallery of Chinese Art at 212.574.4407 or email nygca@gmail.com, or visit web www.nygca.com.

Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Distinguished Visiting Artist Series:
Soul of the Han: Han Carved Stone from Tengzhou, China.

This event is hosted by the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, New York Gallery of Chinese Art co-organized with China Institute of Han Dynasty’s Art, Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Shandong Province,Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Media of Zaozhuang City, Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Zaozhuang City,Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Media of Tengzhou City,and Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones, China.

This program advised by Lyusheng Chen, Daryl Joseph Moore, and Ip- Wing Kong. The Organizers and Curators are Professor Zhiyuan Cong, and Director Hui Li.

Throughout 206BC to 220AD, the Han Dynasty produced remarkable Han Carved Stones adorned with gorgeous reliefs. From underground tombs (also known as hypogea) to the entrances of cemetery temples, these stones served as the building blocks to showcasing the life of the Han people. The art depicted on the stones not only represents the peak of ancient Chinese art of the pre-Han period, but also casts a profound influence on Chinese art after the Han Dynasty, marking a crucial point in its history. The rubbings from these stones give us an opportunity to study the economy, culture, art, and many other domains during the Han Dynasty, providing a glimpse of what society was like long ago. In order to better understand the art of the 55 stone rubbings from the Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones’ collection, we are pleased to invite experts from museums across China to help us share the treasures of Eastern art.

Lecture and Demonstration
A Trip Back in Time: Art Appreciation and the Highlight of the Han Carved Stone Rubbings
November 30, 2017, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
William Paterson University Power Art Center P143,
25 Power Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470

Host: Zhiyuan Cong, Director of Center for Chinese Art
Speakers:
Liping Hu, Director of the Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Zaozhuang, Shangdong
Er Wang, Princeton University visiting scholar from Beijing University
Hui Li, Director of the Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones

Demonstration of Rubbing from Han Carved Stone
Hui Li

For more information about this event, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799 or email ccart@wpunj.edu.

Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Art Lecture and Exhibition
Delegation from Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones, China

From November 29th to December 3rd, at the invitation of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, delegation from China Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones that included Deputy Secretary-General of Zaozhuang City Ms. Hongwei Zhang, Director of Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Zaozhuang City Ms. Liping Hu, Director of Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Zaozhuang City Mr. Sang Zhang, and Director of China Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones Ms. Hui Li visited America, they brought HAN art, Song of Strong Winds and HAN culture to New York and New Jersey.

10am on November 30th, Senior Vice President and Provost of William Paterson University Dr. Warren Sandmann welcomed the delegation at his office, and praised highly on the HAN culture lecture and its cultural contribution to the local diversified communities. Dr. Warren Sandmann also commended for all the achievements that the Center for Chinese Art has made in recent years. The delegation visited the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University afterwards.

2pm in the afternoon, the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University hosted lecture and demonstration on “A Trip Back in Time: Art Appreciation and the Highlight of the Han Carved Stone Rubbings” at Power Art Gallery. Associate Provost of William Paterson University, Dr. Jonathan Lincoln, former Associate Provost of William Paterson University, Dr. Steve Hahn, university faculties and students, and audience from New York and New Jersey were gathering together for the special art introduction and demonstration.

Lecture was moderated by Prof. Zhiyuan Cong. Ms. Liping Hu opened the lecture with her speech in which she introduced: Han Dynasty was pivotal in Chinese history and represented a pinnacle of human civilization. Mr. Er Wang, Princeton University visiting scholar from Beijing University, an expert on Han history, explained the history context of Han Confucius noble class portraits. Ms. Hui Li presented Han carved stone rubbings paintings and demonstrated how to make them. When she took out all the tools for making Han stone carved stone rubbings, audiences were excited that they get to watch such professional and exquisite art making process outside of a museum. The introductions and demonstrations received full appreciation from the participated audiences.

3pm on December 2nd, the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, New York Gallery of Chinese Art in New York City co-organized with China Institute of Han Dynasty’s Art, Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Shandong Province, Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Media of Zaozhuang City, Bureau of Cultural Heritage of Zaozhuang City, Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Media of Tengzhou City, and China Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones hosted and officially opened exhibition “Soul of the HAN: Han Carved Stone Rubbings from Tengzhou, China” at New York Gallery of Chinese Art. Prof. Zhiyuan Cong told stories on how the exhibition concept got developed, a collaboration with Mr. Lyusheng Chen, President of Chinese Institute of Han Dynasty’s Art, Director of New York Gallery of Chinese Art Mr. Ip- Wing Kong and Director of China Tengzhou Museum of Han Carved Stones Ms. Hui Li.

Deputy Secretary-General of Zaozhuang City Ms. Hongwei Zhang gave a speech on behalf of the City of Zaozhuang. This exhibition consists of 63 Han stone carved rubbing paintings selected from 1500 museum permanent collections, depicts multi-aspects real life of Han Dynasty societies and people, and content ranges from economics, cultures, production, and daily life. She thanked all the participants and friends for making the exhibition possible and welcome visitors to visit Zaozhuang City and Tengzhou City, to see the extensive and profound Han cultures in person.

Director of New York Gallery of Chinese Art Mr. Ip- Wing Kong, Deputy Director of Office of Institutional Advancement of William Paterson University Mr. Spencer, Director Ms. Hui Li also gave their brief speechs during the exhibition opening.

For more information about this event, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799, email ccart@wpunj.edu,

Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Distinguished Visiting Artist Series
President Xiaoyang Yang and the Delegation from China National Academy of Painting visit William Paterson University

The Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University co-organized with the China National Academy of Painting, the Institute of Art Research of China National Academy of Painting, the Sino-American Culture & Arts Foundation and the New York Gallery of Chinese Art hosted “Ink Painting from the East: An Exhibition and Symposium of Contemporary Chinese Ink Paintings” at William Paterson University and New York Gallery of Chinese Art respectively on November 10, 2017.

10:00am in the morning, President of China National Academy of Painting Mr. Xiaoyang Yang and their vice President Mr. Xiaoling Zhang led a delegation of 12 artists visited William Paterson University, the Center for Chinese Art and Art Department. Dr. Kathleen Waldron President of William Paterson University, Dean of College of the Arts and Communication of William Paterson University Mr. Moore, and Director of the Center for Chinese Art Prof. Zhiyuan Cong met with the delegation at the Hobart Manor.

12:00pm, the Symposium began at the William Paterson University library hall. It commenced with a video introduction specially made for this exhibition by the China National Academy of Painting. Prof. Zhiyuan Cong hosted the Symposium. He explained the theme of the Symposium is Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting: Art Appreciation and Reevaluation in a Cross-Cultural Context. He commented that “Contemporary Chinese ink art” in America and “Chinese contemporary ink art” in China are two concepts often have been mixed. “Contemporary Chinese ink art” in America is guided by western art philosophies, is embedded with modern art movements, and combined with Chinese culture and sentiment in opposition of the rebellious western art slogans. “Chinese Contemporary ink art” in China is guided by Chinese culture spirit and art philosophies, inspired by contemporary Chinese natural lives and themes, to promote and carry forward Chinese cultural traditions, and develop innovative Chinese contemporary arts. Therefore, it is very meaningful and important that experts and scholars in this symposium address and discuss Chinese contemporary ink art appreciation and reevaluation in a cross-cultural context by different eastern and western aesthetics and visual perspectives. Vice President of China National Academy of Painting Mr. Xiaoling Zhang gave the thematic speech, Dean of College of the Arts and Communication of William Paterson University Mr. Daryl J. Moore, Prof. Jin Sun of Beijing Normal University, Director of William Paterson University Galleries Ms. Kristen Evangelista, Researcher at China National Academy of Painting Mr. Ming Chen discussed globalization of Chinese Contemporary ink art. Mr. Xiaoling Zhang closed the Symposium with a summarized speech.

6:00pm, curated by Dr. Zhang Xiaoling, vice president of China National Academy of Painting and chief editor of Art News of China, “Ink Painting from the East: An Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Ink Paintings” opened at New York Gallery of Chinese Art in Manhattan. The exhibition showcased 52 paintings of 27 renowned Chinese ink artists that have been actively participated in Contemporary Chinese ink field that aim to introduce contemporary Chinese ink art from an academic and aesthetic new height.

The grand opening of “Ink Painting from the East: An Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Ink Paintings” and opening celebration of New York Gallery of Chinese Art are hosted by Dean Daryl J. Moore and Prof. Zhiyuan Cong. Guests speakers respectively are: Cultural counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in New York Mr. Liyan Li, President of China National Academy of Painting Mr. Xiaoyang, Yang, President of William Paterson University Dr. Kathleen Waldron, Chairman of Chinese Contemporary Culture and Art Foundation USA Mr. Sam Zhu, Honorary Directors of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University and President of New Jersey Chinese Association Ms. Margaret Lam.

“Crossing Pacific: talk to maters in person” was a special program planned during the opening ceremony. The dialogue was hosted by prof. Zhiyuan Cong, he invited President of China National Academy of Painting Mr. Xiaoyang Yang, vice president of China National Academy of Painting and chief editor of Art News of China Dr. Xiaoling Zhang, and Robert C. Morgan, American Art Critic for a talk on Chinese contemporary ink art. Despite the apparent differences between American culture and Chinese culture, it has never stopped artists connecting with each other. 12 years ago, Robert C. Morgan met with Mr. Xiaoyang Yang over disagreement of art expression, now they have found consensus on tolerance and communication in today’s two giant cultures, and became art confidant. These two dialogues will become tales in the American and Chinese contemporary art exchange history. Mr. Ip-Wing Kong, Director of New York Gallery of Chinese Art opened the exhibition and cut the ribbon for the gallery’s grand opening.

As the chief program organizer of this project in America, Prof. Zhiyuan Cong told reporter, that the Center for Chinese Art has great appreciation for China National Academy of Painting, their president Mr. Xiaoyang Yang and vice president Mr. Xiaoling Zhang, for the honor and opportunity to co-organize and co-host this international project. The Center for Chinese Art will continuously organize high level exhibitions and academic programs like this, and will keep up with the Chinese American culture and art exchange and development.

Celebrate the Grand Opening of the New York Gallery of Chinese Art
Ink Painting from the East:
An Exhibition and Symposium of Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting

Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, co-organized with China National Academy of Painting, Institute of Art Research of China National Academy of Painting, Art News of China, Sino-American Culture Arts Foundation and New York Gallery of Chinese Art.

Chinese contemporary ink painting aims to demonstrate how traditional ink art renews and recreates itself through the integration of contemporary life and theme. This exhibition and symposium are part of the “International Advocate for Chinese Ink Painting” organized by China National Academy of Painting. China National Academy of Painting is a non-profit national art institute with emphasis on art creation, art research, art education, art collection, cultural promotion and exchange, bringing together the best artists in the Chinese art field.

“Ink Painting from the East: An Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Ink” includes 54 artworks created by 28 renowned and active Chinese contemporary ink artists, they present the highest academic and aesthetic art achievement in China. The symposium is to discuss “Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting: Art Appreciation and Reevaluation in a Cross Cultural Context” from both the American and Chinese perspectives.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate New York Gallery of Chinese Art on its grand opening. New York Gallery of Chinese Art is an art gallery focuses on traditional and contemporary Chinese arts, a collaborator under the guidance of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, a pivotal window to introduce Chinese arts in New York City the art world capital. We sincerely thank Mr. Ip-Wing Kong for his contribution and endeavor for promoting and supporting Chinese art!

Directors of the Organizing Committee:
Xiaoyang Yang, President of China National Academy of Painting
Daryl J. Moore, Dean of College of the Arts and Communication, WPUNJ

Associate Directors:
Xiaoling Zhang, Vice President of China National Academy of Painting and Dean of the Art Institute
Ip-Wing Kong, Director of the New York Gallery of Chinese Art
Sam R. K. Zhu, Chairman of the Sino-American Culture Arts Foundation
Zhiyuan Cong, Director of the Center for Chinese Art at WPUNJ

Exhibition Curators and Symposium Host:
Xiaoling Zhang, Zhiyuan Cong and Yi Wang, Researcher at China National Academy of Painting

Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting: Art Appreciation and Reevaluation in a Cross Cultural Context Symposium
11/10/2017, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
William Paterson University Library Auditorium
300 Pompton Road, Wayne, NJ 07470

Host: Zhiyuan Cong
Speakers:
Daryl J. Moore, Dean of College of the Arts and Communication, William Paterson University
Xiaoling Zhang, Vice President of China National Academy of Painting
Kristen Evangelista, Director of William Paterson University Galleries
Jin Sun, Professor, Beijing Normal University
Robert C. Morgan, American Art Critic
Ming Chen, Researcher at China National Academy of Painting
Richard Vine, American Art Magazine Editor

Ink Painting from the East: An Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Ink Paintings
11/10 -11/16/2017, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
New York Gallery of Chinese Art
91a Allen Street, New York, NY 10002

New York Gallery of Chinese Art Grand Opening and the Exhibition Opening Ceremony
11/10/2017, 6:00-9:00 pm
New York Gallery of Chinese Art
91a Allen Street, New York, NY 10002

Exhibition Curators: Xiaoling Zhang, Yi Wang
Participating Artists:
Baolin Jiang, Dakai Du, Quanzhon Guo, Quan Liang, Guo Shi, Ming Zhou, Lizhu Zhang, Zijian Liu, Wei Zhao, Yun Liu, Yong Sun, Xiaoyang Yang, Rongsheng Lin, Jinxing Zhou, Hui Chen, She Liu, Lianbin Ji, Jialin He, Gang Liu, Shunyu Lu, Lijun Fang, Shi Fang, Gang Liu, Qiang Li, Yinan Qiao, Xiang Fang, Yidan Zhang, and Xiaofeng Shao.

For more information about this event, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799 or email ccart@wpunj.edu, or visit web wpunj.edu/ccart. You also can call New York Gallery of Chinese Art at 212.574.4407 or email nygca@gmail.com, or visit web www.nygca.com.

Celebrating the 120th anniversary of the birth of a Chinese Art Master
Pinnacle Art Achievement, Backbone of China:
Talk on Pan Tianshou and his Art

Born 120 years ago in Zhejiang, Pan Tianshou is considered as one of the most celebrated Chinese modern artists, together with such celebrated names as Wu Changshuo, Qi Baishi and Huang Binhong, known as the "Four Great Masters of Chinese Ink Painting of the 20th Century".

At this lecture, Prof. Cong will relate Master Pan Tianshou's art career and focus on the characteristics of his paintings and art achievements. A short film produced by CCTV on Pan's life and works will also be shown.

Prof. Zhiyuan Cong is the Director of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, Chairman of the Chinese-American Art Faculty Association. He has had more than 30 solo international art exhibitions at various prestigious institutions, including the National Museum of China, UN Headquarters, and Indianapolis Art Museum. He has been invited to give talks and speeches at more than 150 universities and museums.

Professor Zhiyuan Cong studied and taught at Nanjing Arts Institute for 12 years. The predecessor of the Institute was the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, where Pan Tianshou taught. Prof. Cong studied with famous painter and founder of Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts Liu Haisu, and Xie Haiyan, both were close friends of Pan Tianshou. The edifying and inspiring influences by these masters provided Prof. Cong with an in-depth understanding of Pan Tianshou's artworks.

This Lecture will be conducted in Chinese, with no interpretation. Free, but advance registration is required. For more information, please call Renwen Society at (646) 912-8861, email learnedsociety@gmail.com 

Chairwomen of Supervisory Committee of China Arts and Entertainment Group
Ms. Chunmei Chen visited The Center for Chinese Art

Invited by the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, Ms. Chunmei Chen, Chair of Supervisory Committee of China Arts and Entertainment Group of China visited the center from August 24th to 25th 2017. Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication, Mr. Daryl Joseph Joseph Moore met and dined with Ms. Chunmei Chen. Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director of the Center briefed Ms. Chunmei Chen on center’s progress, current plans and future projects and development directions. Professor Cong thanked Ms. Chunmei Chen for her perennial support and guidance. Ms. Chunmei Chen lauded highly on the endeavor and achievement that the Center has contributed to US-CHINA cultural exchange. Ms. Chen stated that there will be more future collaborations, and she will continuously support the development of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University.

Chairwomen of Supervisory Committee of China Arts and Entertainment Group
Ms. Chunmei CHEN visited The Center for Chinese Art

Invited by the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, Ms. Chunmei Chen, Chair of Supervisory Committee of China Arts and Entertainment Group of China visited the center from August 24th to 25th 2017. Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication, Mr. Daryl Joseph Joseph Moore met and dined with Ms. Chunmei Chen. Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director of the Center briefed Ms. Chunmei Chen on center’s progress, current plans and future projects and development directions. Professor Cong thanked Ms. Chunmei Chen for her perennial support and guidance. Ms. Chunmei Chen lauded highly on the endeavor and achievement that the Center has contributed to US-CHINA cultural exchange. Ms. Chen stated that there will be more future collaborations, and she will continuously support the development of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University.

Professor Zhiyuan Cong, the Director of CCART invited to attend:
Jiangsu Development Summit in Nanjing, China during Summer 2017 Academic Trip

May 5 – 28, 2017

May 18-20, 2017
Upon invitation by the Governor of Jiangsu Province of China, Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director of the Center for Chinese Art attended Jiangsu Development Summit from May 18th to May 20th 2017. Professor Cong delivered a speech titled “Cultural Confidence and Cultural Mission” at the Purple Culture Forum during Jiangsu Development Summit. Professor Zhiyuan Cong addressed: Jiangsu has had a long-standing rich culture tradition and resplendent cultural history and has been the dominant clout in Chinese cultural history. Jiangsu should be more active in carrying out international culture exchange programs, improving understanding between Chinese and American, representing great stories of Chinese art masters, sharing Eastern cultural treasure with the world by showcasing fine tradition of Chinese people and masterpieces of Chinese arts. Professor Cong ended his speech with calling for collaboration: the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, the only university art center that focuses solely on introducing and promoting Chinese arts will continuously be the platform for Chinese American cultural exchange.

May 5-8, 2017
Professor Zhiyuan Cong visited Yinchuan City, and Vice Mayor of Yinchuan City Ms. Xiumei Qian met with Professor Cong. Together with Yinchuan Culture Bureau Deputy Director Mr. Guo, Deputy Director Mr. Wang, Yinchuan Art Museum Director Mr. Huang Zhi, and renowned printmaker Mr. Guirong Luo, they discussed future collaboration on Yinchuan International Printmaking Programs.

May 9- 12, 2017
Professor Zhiyuan Cong visited Beijing. He had a meeting with China National Academy of Painting’s President Mr. Xiaoyang Yang, Vic President Mr. Lianbin Ji, and Mr. Jie Ding, Art Department Director of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. They had in depth discussion on cultural and arts exchange programs. Professor Cong also visited Capital Normal University and gave the speech “Reflection on Modern Arts”. Deputy Dean Ms. Mei Guo of International Cultural College of Capital Normal University, Mr. Wei Chen Deputy Dean Art College of Capital Normal University, and Department director Bingke Guo met with Professor Cong, they discussed details of students exchange program between Capital Normal University and the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, set to be implemented in 2018.

May 14-16, 2017
Professor Zhiyuan Cong visited Nanjing. Honorary President Mr. Hao Gu and President Mr. Yijian Gao of Chinese Culture Promotion Society of Jiangsu Province met with Professor Cong, they talked about future collaboration between their society and the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University. Chinese Culture Promotion Society of Jiangsu Province presented Professor Cong an official appointment letter and plaque to name him the member of their oversea council. While in Nanjing, Professor Zhiyuan Cong also visited Sanjiang University, Vice President Mr. Tongjiang Wu presented Professor Zhiyuan Cong the honorary professor appointment letter. Mr. Wuli Zhang, Dean of Art College also joined the ceremony, the ceremony closed by Professor Cong’s art lecture for their students.

May 17-18, 2017
Professor Zhiyuan Cong visited City of Changzhou. Changzhou Liu Haisu Art Museum and Jiangsu University of Technology both invited Professor Zhiyuan Cong to give speeches on “Reflection on Modern Arts”. Professor Cong attended the grand opening of Mr. Lvsheng Chen’s Oil Lamps Museum, and attended the opening ceremony of Xia Yiqiao’s Hundredth Birthday Anniversary Art Exhibition.

May 26-28, 2017
Professor Zhiyuan Cong visited Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation. Mr. Hakman Wing, Ms. Ching Yiu, Zhipeng Ding and Mr. Shengzhan Ding, the honorary Directors of Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation met with Professor Cong, the meeting was also joined by Mr. Xilong Xu and Yihong Zhao. Professor Cong expressed his sincere gratitude to their generous donation and support for the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University. Professor Cong then met with art master Mr. Jialing Chen, Mr. Xiaoxian Deng, Secretary General and Deputy Director of Shanghai International Culture Association, and their department director Mr. Yan Yang, discussed future programs of inviting Mr. Jialing Chen to America and organizing art exhibition for him in America.

President Kathleen Waldron Hosts the Celebration Ceremony:
Mr. Ip-Wing Kong Donated $150,000 for CCART

April 26th, 2017
Hobart Manor

On April 26th 2017, the William Paterson University announced Mr. Ip-Wing Kong's $150,000 donation to the Center for Chinese Art. The official ceremony and banquet were hosted by Dr. Kathleen Waldron, President of William Paterson University. Mr. Ip-Wing Kong, his daughter Ms. Tianna Hu and her assistant Ms. Nana Wang attended the ceremony. They were joined by Ms. Margaret Lam and Mr. David Yen, the Honorary Directors of the Center for Chinese Art. Also in attendance were: Dr. Warren Sandmann, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Ms. Pamela L. Ferguson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and President, William Paterson University Foundation Board, Professor Daryl Joseph Moore, Dean of the College of the Arts and Communication, Mr. Spencer Scott, Director of Major Gifts and Gift Planning, Mr. Zheshu Xie, World Journal’s Journalist, and Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director of the Center for Chinese Art.

Dr. Kathleen Waldron addressed the opening welcome speech. Mr. Ip-Wing Kong stated the purpose and requirement of his donation. Upon mutual understanding, President Waldron and Mr. Kong signed the donation agreement. President Kathleen Waldron signed and presented the official appointment letter and plaque to Mr. Ip-Wing Kong, naming him the Honorary Director of the Center for the Chinese Art at William Paterson University. The special ceremony was followed by a banquet held at Hobart Manor.

President Waldron welcomed Mr. Kong, praising him highly on the donation he made to the university, she thanked him for his contribution and support to the Center for Chinese Art. She and Mr. Kong agree that the Center for the Chinese Art has been flourishing and has achieved great success under the leadership of Professor Zhiyuan Cong. President Kathleen Waldron promised that the full sum of the donation will be used for developing the Center for Chinese Art. She will give her full support on cultivating more interests of Chinese culture and arts through educational program for the university and the surrounding community, to foster a deeper understanding for the people of the US and China.

Mr. Ip-Wing Kong shared his journey of giving back to the community and to the William Paterson University. Promoting Chinese culture and arts in the US has been his long-held wish. He has been searching for a matching platform to fulfill his dream, but it was not easy with all the top-tier universities in the region. Upon learning about the programs and achievements of the Center for Chinese Art website, and meeting with Professor Cong, Mr. Kong was touched by Professor Cong’s devotion to Chinese culture and arts and convinced by his talent and integrity. Mr. Kong made the decision to visit William Paterson University, to join the big family of the Center for Chinese Art, and to be part of the force for promoting Chinese culture and arts. Mr. Ip-Wing Kong is a well-known entrepreneur in New York, owner of the famous Kong Kee Tofu. He became a passionate art advocate himself in recent years, not only on promoting Chinese culture and arts, also with his talent and accomplishment in practicing expressionism calligraphy.

Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director of the Center for Chinese Art reported that for the past eight years the Center has been supported and aided by the University, the community and everyone was involved. First, it was founded with Mrs. Margaret Lam and Mr. David Yen’s donation and initiative, followed by Mr. Yong Liu and Mr. Mingsheng Liu’s donation, then Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation led by Mr. Zhipeng Ding, has provided stability and development to the Center for Chinese Art. Now with Kong’s donation, we will be thriving for better future. We are planning to collaborate closely with Mr. Kong to set up the New York Gallery of Chinese Art, be more active in New York, inviting more renowned Chinese artists come to the American East Coast for visiting, lecturing, exchange programs and organizing exhibitions. We are working on three culture projects right now: first, with Chinese Society of Han Art, inviting Shangdong Museum and Xuzhou Art Museum of Han Stone Gravings for Han Stone Gravings Rubbing Exhibition. Second, inviting Print Institute of China National Academy of Painting for Contemporary Chinese Prints Art Exhibition. Thirdly, partner with Jiangsu International Culture Association for Chinese Landscape Painting Exhibition and Symposium. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Ip-Wing Kong for his generosity, and hope to maintain continuous support, trust, anticipation and help from all of you.

For more information about this event, please call the Center for Chinese at William Paterson University at 973.720.2799, email ccart@wpunj.edu,

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