Penn State Great Valley receives art donation

MALVERN, Pa. — The International Chinese Arts Society of Americas recently presented Penn State Great Valley with two pieces of art: a painting titled “Blossom and Prosperity” by artist Xueqin Wu and a calligraphy banner on rice paper that says “Penn State University” in Chinese. The pieces will be hung in the campus’ Knowledge Commons.

The pieces were presented at the Sept. 14 opening reception for the exhibit “Chinese Art Showcase,” which is on display in the Henry Gallery at the Great Valley campus.

“Art has no boundaries and connects us in ways that words alone cannot. It was an honor and privilege to team up with Penn State Great Valley and work with Suzanne [Cruit, director of corporate and community relations] to set up this exhibition,” said Sue Cheng, founder and president of the International Chinese Arts Society of Americas, which organized and sponsored the event. “This Chinese Art Showcase brings communities together to celebrate different cultures and facilitates greater understanding and mutual trust in neighborhoods with diverse cultural backgrounds. On display are nearly 80 artworks meticulously selected from more than 40 Chinese and American artists, mainly from the Greater Philadelphia and New York City areas. The exhibition has award-winning artists and artworks with rich Chinese history and unique styles.”

Wu, the artist of "Blossom and Prosperity," was an associate professor with years of art education experience, including as a visiting scholar in Chinese painting at Michigan State University. She employed a rigorous teaching methodology and has students all over the world. Wu specialized in flowers and birds, with a particular freehand Chinese painting style. Many international collectors collected her works.

Guoneng Huang created the calligraphy artwork. Huang loves Chinese culture and has always had a strong interest in Chinese calligraphy, teaching himself the practice by following ancient calligraphy masters. He’s practiced traditional Chinese calligraphy in various styles since he was young, often participates in painting and calligraphy exhibitions in China and the United States, and is well received in cultural and art circles. His calligraphy artworks have won many awards of excellence and have been collected by Chinese calligraphy enthusiasts.

Both Wu and Huang live in the Philadelphia area and are members of the International Chinese Arts Society of Americas, which aims to provide a platform for international exchange, collaboration and development for artists based in China and overseas, by means of organization, collection, exchange and exhibition.

A few years ago, Penn State Great Valley was approached by the Chester County Economic Development Council and asked to host the exhibit as part of an initiative to build strong business ties between Chester County and China. Great Valley also has its own connection to China, with many international students and faculty members coming from the country.

The exhibit features the work of more than 40 renowned Chinese American artists, including award-winning artist Fengshi Jin. The pieces focus on traditional painting and calligraphy that promote Chinese culture.

“We are thrilled to be able to share the works of this talented group of artists with our community,” Cruit said. “With over 70 pieces, this is the largest exhibit we have hosted in the Henry Gallery. The mix of calligraphy and paintings makes for a stunning display.”

Located on the second floor of the Penn State Great Valley Conference Center, the Henry Gallery is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and when the campus is open for evening events. “Chinese Art Showcase” will be on display until Dec. 6.