Kwan Wu s Presentation July, 2011 Part I: The Commemorated Chinese - US 30 Year Peace and Friendship Sculpture Exchange Project Part II: The proposal of Chinese - US Culture Sculpture Park
Project Planner: Kwan Wu Highlight of Wu s background Master s degree in sculpture, 1981 Professor of Guangzhou Fine Arts Institute, 1981-1988 Chairman of Young Sculptor association of Guangdong, China Immigrated to the US, 1988 Major works: the Bill of Rights; George Brett: Phog Allen; Negro Lead Base Ball Team Invited by President & Mrs. Clinton to visit the White House, 2000 One man sculpture show in the National Arts Museum, Beijing, China, 2007 One man sculpture show in the Guangdong Arts Museum, Guangzhou, China 2009 Art Director of Shishan International Sculpture Park, Guangdong, China Honorary Chairman of Kwan Wu s Arts Gallery (10,000sqf) Guangdong, China. Kwu13@comcast.net kwanwusculpture.com
Part. I The Commemorated Chinese - US 30 Year Peace and Friendship Sculpture Exchange Project The year of 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and the U.S.. From 2009, through 2010, in order to celebrate the continuous peace and friendship and peace between two countries, we have worked together with the Chinese National Sculpture Committee, the Beijing Federation of Returned Overseas and Nanhai Shishan city government to complete a monumental cultural exchange project: the Commemorated US-China 30 Year Peace and Friendship Sculpture Exchange. As one of the promoters, Kwan Wu had helped to raise more than 2.5 million Yuan (about USD$400,000). There were four master sculptors selected from each country for the project. In the United States, the Chinese sculptors art works were installed in Washington D.C., New Jersey, Atlanta, and Topeka. They were also erected in the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Changchun, and Foshan. The project was such a success that it received attention from both governments and their people.
" Commemorate China-US 30 Years Diplomatic Relationship Sculpture Exchange" had well done in 2010. We picked up 4 master sculptors from each country and exchanged their works in the different cities of countries permanently. (see pictures in the following slides). the ceremony events in the 8 places: US -- 1. Grounds For Sculpture, NJ 2. Maryland University Washington D.C 3. Atlanta city (near Carter Center) 4. Topeka, Kansas China-- 5. the city of Changchun 6. the city of Beijing 7. the city of Shanghai 8. the city of Foshan
"The Flowing Cloud", by US master. Jon Barlow Hudson, Beijing Sculpture Park.
Unveiling ceremony, Beijing Sculpture Park, China
"Passing Paths", Shanghai Sculpture Park, by US master Johnson Seward, Shanghai, China
Mr. Johnson Seward with Kwan Wu
Ribbon cutting ceremony for Seward sculpture, Shanghai Sculpture Park, China
"The Gate of Peace", By US sculptor, Kwan Wu, International Sculpture Park, Nanhai, Guangdong, China
"Peace Star", by US master Elden Tefft (right) International Sculpture Park, Chang Chun City, China
Unveiling ceremonyfor Elden Teffe sculpture, Changchun, China
"Peace Tree",by Chinese master, Han Meilin, Washington D.C. USA
"Green Leaves" by Chinese masters, Pan He and Pan Fen, Grounds For Sculpture, NJ, USA
"The Same Words", By a group of Chinese yang sculptors, Atlanta city, USA
"The Same Words", By a group of Chinese yang sculptors, Atlanta city, USA
The Lantern Light", by Chinese master Ye Yushan, Topeka, USA
As part of the project, "Kwan Wu Art Gallery opening ceremony was hold at Nanhai Culture Park
US Consul General, Mr. Brian L. Goldbeck (left) and Kwan Wu (right) spoke at the ceremony
Kwan Wu present a gift" President Carter Shake Hand with Mr. Deng" to President Carter
Kwan Wu Art Gallery, Nanhai Culture Park
Kwan Wu Art Gallery, Nanhai Culture Park
CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Li Changchun visited Kwan Wu Art Gallery China CPC Propaganda Minister Liu Yunshan visited Kwan Wu Art Gallery
Kwan Wu Art Gallery, Nanhai Culture Park
Kwan Wu Art Gallery, Nanhai Culture Park
Kwan Wu Art Gallery, Nanhai Culture Park
Part II: The proposal of Chinese - US Culture Sculpture Park The Goal To commemorate Chinese settlement in the US for the past 100 years To appreciate the new land and culture as new citizens of the US To create a new arts park by combining Eastern and Western cultures as the base for international culture exchange programs and local festivals, bringing people together and educating the generations to come The Idea The Chinese people immigrated to the US more than 100 years ago. From gold miners and railroad workers in the early years to becoming engineers and scientists with high education in all fields, these immigrants have contributed their talents to their new country to this day, and are proud to have become a part of America. I (Kwan) immigrated to the US more than 20 years ago. During this time, I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in the Chinese community. In recent years, the Confucius Institute, the Chinese Medicine School, and Chinese Churches have been built in our metro area. Of additional importance is the building of a sculpture park to link our culture and history, allowing our future generations to remember our past and continue to work together with people of all races and ethnicity in this prosperous land.
The Plan & Process In 2008-2009, working together with the Beijing Federation Chinese Return Oversea and Nanhai Shishan city government, along with the Chinese National Sculpture Committee, we have completed a big project-the Commemorated US-China 30 Year Peace and Friendship Sculpture Exchange. As one of the promoters, I have raised more than 2.5 million Yuan (about USD$400,000), and we have selected four master sculptors from each country for the project. Their works were installed in Washington D.C, New Jersey, Atlanta, and Topeka. They were also instituted in the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Changchun, and Nanhai. The project was such a success that it received attention from both governments and their people. The new Chinese-US Culture Sculpture Park in the US we plan to build will take many years as we collect a number of pieces every year, casting the sculptures in bronze and other long lasting materials. We will raise funds from multiple sources. Meanwhile, we will locate a city that has an available city park that could be transformed into a sculpture park. The sculptures in the park will come in the form of donations, which will be shipped and become permanent properties of the city. The city will be responsible for the sculpture base, installation, and art work maintenance.
We are now in the progress of: Founding a committee with members of high reputation in both countries. This committee will select artists and art works from both countries and set up sister friendship parks with Guangzhou Sculpture Park and Nanhai Shishan International Park of China. Funding more than 3 million RMB (about USD$500,000), including the value of the art work, which has been verbally approved by the Shishan International Sculpture Park and a group of well-known sculptors from China and other sources. Finding a city park in the KC area. There are numbers of cities in the KC metro area showing interest in this project. - Currently, we are in the process of selecting the Arboretum Garden in the city of Overland Park as a first choice. We plan to construct the sculpture park in two stages: Stage one: Establishing 20-30 pieces of sculpture at the Arboretum Garden area, over a three year period. Stage two: Expanding into the Kemper Farm area after the three years time depending on the funding and other circumstances.
The Result Having a cultural highlight in the Midwest. It will be the first and the only Chinese-US culture park in the US; and may include works from other countries. As new art works are being added every year, it will gain great attention in this country and internationally. Having a place for festivals, arts, academic programs, delegations, and travelers coming for ceremonies and cultural exchanges every year. Having more opportunities for local business, benefiting the city and its people.
11 Artworks Donated to the Chinese - US Culture Sculpture Park (to be installed in 2011) Yu Chang 1. Accept or Reject 2.Children With Their Door Keys Lu Zhengkang 1. Michael Jackson 2. Swimming Girl Yang Xuejun 1. The Chinese Pioneer in the US 2. The Village Boys Pan Fen 1. The Same Generation 2. Man and Nature New Born Zhong Zhiyuan Breeze Kwan Wu 1. The East and the West--- the Same Man 2. The President and The Empress
Yu Chang Accept or Reject Yu Chang s Bio * President, Sculpture Academy of Guangzhou. * Certificate - National first class sculptor Representing works: "Challenger" bronze, collection of National Arts Museum, Beijing, 2002 "Olympics Dream" bronze, International Olympics Sculpture Show, 2008
Yu Chang Children With Their Door Keys
Lu Zhengkang Michael Jackson Lu Zhengkang s Bio * Professional sculptor, Guangzhou Sculpture Academy * Certificate - National first class sculptor Representing works: "Sport-Nature" bronze, First place and the collection of the 9th National Game in Beijing. 2001 "competition" stainless steel, collection of Chinese National Sport Museum 2008
Lu Zhengkang Swimming Girl
Yang Xuejun The Chinese Pioneer in the US Yang Xuejun s Bio - National first class sculptor Representing works: The Same Song" bronze, collection of the city Boston, USA. 2009 "The Chinese Pioneer", bronze, National Show, 2010
Yang Xuejun The Village Boys
Pan Fen The Same Generation Pan Fen s Bio *Chairman of Pan He National Sculpture Park. * Member of the National Sculpture Committee Representing works: "The Same Generation" bronze, second place, National Sculpture Exhibition, 2009 "Green Leaves" bronze, one of the four Chinese sculptors for the project," Commemorate China-US Peace & Friendship Sculpture Exchange", 2010.
Pan Fen: Man and Nature New Born
Zhong Zhiyuan Breeze Zhong Zhiyuan s Bio *Vice president, Sculpture Academy of Guangzhou * Certificate - National first class sculptor Representing works: "Breeze" bronze, third place, National Arts Exhibition, Beijing,2006 "Summer" stainless steel, silver metal, National Sculpture Exhibition, 2008
Kwan Wu The East and the West--- the Same Man "East and West - the same generation" is a subject I am more interested in the project: it has both a deep cultural meaning, but also the concept of Philosophy - East and West has a strong cultural and historical differences, but also have a common humanity, Very interesting and deserves further study. The first, "the same person" with the same period of history half of the East and the West Roman terracotta warriors of the other half of the formation of a person; second, "Lincoln " and "Empress" Both the president about his contemporaries, a lifting of slavery to ; an adherent of the autocracy, two people sit together, forming a dramatic art. This time, I may only do first one.
Kwan Wu The President and The Empress "East and West - the same generation" is a subject I am more interested in the project: it has both a deep cultural meaning, but also the concept of Philosophy - East and West has a strong cultural and historical differences, but also have a common humanity, Very interesting and deserves further study. The first, "the same person" with the same period of history half of the East and the West Roman terracotta warriors of the other half of the formation of a person; second, "Lincoln " and "Empress" Both the president about his contemporaries, a lifting of slavery to ; an adherent of the autocracy, two people sit together, forming a dramatic art. This time, I may only do first one.
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China (Sister Park of Chinese-US Sculpture Park) The Guangzhou Sculpture Park is China's largest thematic sculpture park, at 113 acres. It was built by the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government in 1996 in commemoration of the 2210th anniversary of the founding of Guangzhou Town. The sculptures feature gardening, ornamental, educational, artistic and historic themes. Within this sculpture park is the Tang Daxi Sculpture Park which was approved in 2006 by the Municipal Government, displaying a collection of sited works by the prominent Chinese realist sculptor Tang Daxi. The works depict patriotic and historic themes. With its elegant environment and vast variety of sculptures, the Guangzhou Sculpture Park is a showcase of Guangzhou's history and Lingnan's cultural features.
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China (Sister Sculpture Park)
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China
Guangzhou Sculpture Park, China