Artists from China Program Features Chinese Fine Arts Teacher from Jiangsu
CCLC, in collaboration with the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, kicked off the ninth year for the Artists from China Program in Chicago in late Feb. and early March. Mr. Zhu Yong, an award-winning grade school Chinese fine arts teacher from Jiangsu Province, was the featured artist this year.
Mr. Zhu visited 20 CPS schools, introducing Chinese culture and teaching Chinese language students techniques of watercolor painting. (See photo gallery “Artists from China” for select activity images.)
CPS students from elementary to high schools had the experience of getting exposed to one of the oldest forms of painting in China, and also the hands-on experience of creating their own water color work under the guidance of an experienced Chinese fine arts teacher and artist.
Mr. Zhu serves various roles in the education and promotion of Chinese fine arts, including being a member of the Fine Arts Committee of China’s Education Association, a member of the Association of China’s Fine Arts Education and Promotion, a member of the Fine Arts Education Council of Jiangsu Province, among others. He has devoted his career to children’s education in fine arts and has received numerous teaching awards from local to national levels. His students have won many awards in fine arts competitions over the years.
From Feb. 27 to March 10, Mr. Zhu gave two one-hour-session classes at each of the 20 schools in CPS, from elementary schools such as Bell, Perez, Alcott, middle schools such as Hernandez and Evergreen, to high schools such as Jones College Prep, Lane Tech, Westinghouse, and Walter Payton, to name a few.
In the past, Artists from China Program had featured artists specializing in various traditional Chinese arts, handcrafts, and practices, including Chinese painting, prints, paper-cutting, kite making and Tai Chi.