PA Senator Carolyn Comitta, Razin M. Karu, Executive Director of PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs, Dr.  John Baker, chairman of the Board of the Chester County Art Association, Dr.  Carolyn Greene, Chief Curator of La Salle University Art Museum, Grace Kong, president of the Asian American Women’s Coalition, famous lawyer Glenn Hing and his wife, professor Albert Wang and his wife, and nearly 100 other guests and artist members attended this excellent event. The event showcased amazing Chinese calligraphy and painting artworks on site. The live demonstrations of Chinese artworks were a big hit and attracted guests’ interest in Chinese culture and art. Artists donated to support the charity organization “Home of the Sparrow” through artwork sales.

 

Sue Cheng, President of the International Chinese Arts Society of Americas, expressed deep appreciation for the excellent partnership with the Chester County Art Association and for everyone’s support and cooperation in having the Lunar New Year celebration and art exhibition held as scheduled. Sue stated that “Spring Festival – the Chinese Traditional New Year Celebration” has been officially included in UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since last December. This traditional festival will enrich the history of world culture and art development in many ways. As for the celebration, writing Spring Festival couplets, blessing characters, and sending auspiciousness are some of the essential traditional content for celebrating the special occasion, which brought great joy to the guests.

 

In their speeches, Senator Comitta, Razin M. Karu, and others wished Chinese friends a happy Lunar New Year and a prosperous Year of the Snake. They also congratulated the International Chinese Arts Society of Americas and the Chester County Art Association for their successful cooperation in hosting this historic celebration, which has positively contributed to enriching the diverse cultural life of the community. They thanked the artists for participating in the event, for their beautiful artworks, and for their big heart in fundraising to support the charity organization “Home of Sparrow.”.

 

Calligraphers Ms.Wen Xiao and Mr. Zhongkai Yan wrote auspicious words and spring couplets for the guests to express New Year’s blessings through live demonstrations. Also, on behalf of the International Chinese Arts Society of Americas, the artist Xueqin Wu presented her Chinese painting to the Chester County Art Association to thank them for their friendship and look forward to future exchanges and cooperation.

 

The artists/works participating in the event on the day (in no particular order) included Sue Cheng, Liye(David) Zhu, Xiaoyuan Chen, Wen Xiao,  Benbiao Zhang, Guangyu Zhang, Yichen Fan, Zhongkai Yang,  Guoneng Huang,  Xueqin Wu, Yusheng Feng, Diane Spreadbury,  Meifu Luo, Zehong Wang,  Xinfei Sun, Lishan He,  Jingkun Xu,  Qingying Yao,  Baoxiang Wang,  Shurong Dong,  Rongfa Zhang,  Zhisheng Xi,  Xinbai Yang, and Chester County Art Association board members Steve Hanney, Bob Perna, John Spangler, etc.

 

Special thanks to the sociaty’s vice president/secretary general  Liye Zhu and his wife Mingming He, who came all the way from New York city, and artist  Zhongkai Yan, who came all the way from New Jersey to attend the celebration! Thanks to photographer Steve Cheng,  Ying Zheng, and friends Mingming He,  Yingfang Liao and Hongyan Gu for providing photos, recording precious memories for this event!