The university and The Grace Museum will host visiting Chinese artists from Thursday to Saturday through exhibitions, dialogue and live painting.

The event centers around an intercultural project developed by Robert Green called “Boundless: A U.S.-China Collaborative Exhibition,” which showcases Chinese artists Zhai You, Gao Yun, Fan Lei, Shao Lian, Wang Ping, and Wei Dong. 

Green, chair of the Department of Art and Design, sparked the idea over two years ago through conversations with Chinese artist Sheng Dongqiao about shared Chinese landscape influences that had inspired them.

“I was motivated to reach out to him because our paintings were indebted to traditional Chinese landscape painting styles that date back to the 18th century and beyond,” Green said. “It seemed to us that as we were in dialogue with one another, so, too, were our works.”

In addition, Bonny Leibowitz, a Dallas-area artist, Hollie Brown, adjunct instructor of art and design, Kenny Jones, art and design professor, Polly Jones, a local artist and alumna, and Green will have art featured in the “Boundless” project alongside the Chinese artists.

A smaller exhibition titled “Boundless: Origins” will also feature Green and Chinese artist Sheng Dongqiao in the Brown Library. Green and Sheng have worked closely for the past to plan the events.

“The greatest benefit of this exhibition is that it appears in China and America,” Green said. “Though it will speak differently in each setting, it will amplify the importance of cross-cultural dialogues and creative initiatives on both sides of the Pacific.”

Chen Chunmei, minister-counselor for cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, will also attend the opening on Saturday.

“We were also convinced that having the artists attend the exhibition, come to the opening reception, sit for a public dialogue with local audiences and include interactive elements were necessary to promote mutual understanding and respect,” Green said.

Students can witness global dialogue aligning with the university’s Christ-centered mission of service and leadership. The events are free and public. 

Dialogue between artists occurs 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Grace Museum, followed by Hanqiu Xu’s piano recital at 8 p.m. in Williams Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.

On Saturday, the Shore Gallery opening runs from 10 a.m. to noon with poetry from Steven Moore, professor of language and literature, music by alumnus Ryan Chu, and remarks by Green and Zhai You, vice president of Jiangsu Chinese Painting Society. The day will close with live collaborative painting at 2-4 p.m. at The Grace Museum.

For more information, see the university’s website here.