Sichuan University and Kent State University Students Exchange Ideas

2016 @ Infinitum (Create + Lead + Learn) Exhibition opens at Sichuan

This exchange exhibition showcases works of 18 faculty members from Kent State University, joined by works of 18 faculty members from Sichuan University.  The exhibition uses Quick Response Codes to honor unique individual and cultural stories by giving special attention to each artist's portfolio. From late March through April 2016 the exhibition is opened to the Chinese public at the Sichuan University Art Gallery in Chengdu, China.

At the opening reception on Friday 25 March at 3 p.m., Associate Director of KSU Beijing, Mr. David Wei was joined by the Associate Dean, Mr. He Yu of SCU Arts College as the guests of honor. In their speeches, both recognized that this exchange exhibit has served as a wonderful opportunity to foster greater mutual trust and intensified understanding among faculty members from both cultures. The exhibit has traveled from the KSU Museum to Sichuan; prior to this, it was installed in the Stager and Blum Galleries for six month from June 2015 to January 2016.  This project has received generous support from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Kent State University Research Council, and the AY 2013/14 Catalyst Project grant from KSU College of the Arts.

Among those present at the opening were a group of KSU students who had arrived at Chengdu that morning after traveling Xi’an and Beijing for a week.  This event was part of the KSU School of Art 2016 Travel-Study to China Program led by Professor Jack McWhorter and Dr. Koon-Hwee Kan.  For the entire day of 25 March, the KSU students interacted with their SCU team members, with whom they have engaged in a lively conversation for more than a month prior to their trip via email.  During their face-to-face interactions they continued the discussion as a team while at the group gathering time, students from both universities presented their I SEE YOU 2.0 Project. These students will be holding their own exhibition to showcase their collaborative art and research projects in late April at the lobby gallery of KSU Fine Arts building at Stark.