Source: Kathleen Witcher, 785-532-5444, kwitcher@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.k-state.edu/oip/jilin/

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

THE ARTS TO HELP FORMALIZE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN K-STATE, CHINA'S JILIN UNIVERSITY

MANHATTAN -- A delegation from China's Jilin University will be in Manhattan Nov. 12-21 to build and formalize a strategic partnership with Kansas State University.

"Jilin University is considered one of the most esteemed institutions of higher learning in China," said Kathleen Witcher, program coordinator for the office of international programs, which is sponsoring the delegation's visit. The university is in Changchun, the capital city of Jilin Province in northeastern China.

During their visit to K-State, the delegation from Jilin's Art College will conduct two special art exhibitions and a musical performance. All of these events are free and open to the public.

Activities will kick off Monday, Nov. 15, with a reception for the Jilin University artists and musicians at 7:30 p.m. at K-State's International Grain Science and Industry Complex, 1980 Kimball Ave. The reception is hosted by the office of international programs and Friends of International Programs. The public is welcome.

The reception also will mark the opening of two Chinese art exhibitions at the grain science complex. Both will be available to the public through Friday, Nov. 19.

The two exhibitions are:

* Miniature artwork by Jilin University's Liming Fu, chairman, professor and doctoral supervisor of Jilin's Art College. Fu's exhibition includes 10-20 works of art. His miniatures have been called "the treasure of Chinese art" by media. His work has been given to the heads of American and European countries as gifts by Chinese leaders. His art also has been collected by people all over the world, including in Japan, Korea, the United States, Germany and Canada. Fu studies the theory of miniature art, and his work has been published.

* Chinese painting exhibition by Weishun Lei, vice chairman and master students' supervisor at Jilin's Art College. The exhibition includes 20-30 of Lei's works. He is an award-winning artist, whose works like "Feelings for the Home Land," "The First Month of the Lunar Year," "Little Fiends," "Black Figure Painting of Water-Ink," "Wild Grapes" and "The Peasant Family" have won many national and provincial prizes in China.

The musical performance will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, at All Faiths Chapel. It will feature group, double and single performances of traditional Chinese music using four of Chinese musical instruments: the Chinese flute, also known as the vertical bamboo flute and cucurbit flute; the pipa, a four-stringed musical instrument; the erhu, also known as the Chinese fiddle; and the yang qin, a dulcimer. Musicians from the Art College include Wei Miao, assistant chairman, Chinese flute; Liwei Wang, director of the music department, yang qin; Shufang Yang, associate professor and master's students' supervisor, pipa; and Zhinan Qu, vice director, music department, erhu.

More information about the Jilin University artists and musicians is available at http://www.k-state.edu/oip/jilin/.