INFORMATION FOR
11/07/2013 — 11/08/2013
The symposium was co-sponsored by the Center for Chinese Art, Art Department, the College of Arts and Communication at William Paterson University of New Jersey, Asian Cultural Center of New Jersey, and with the cooperation of the Preparatory Committee of the National Chinese-American Art Faculty Association. The pilot symposium "American and Chinese Visual Arts Education: A Comparative Dialogue” was a two-day symposium that will include panel discussions, lectures and presentations on visual arts pedagogy that transcends experiences in America and China respectively. Twenty-one presenters from 20 American universities were primarily U.S.-based visual art professors of Chinese origin, who had considerable teaching experiences in both China and the United States. The primary focus of this pilot symposium was to engage participants in the dialogue of comparative pedagogy encompassing visual art in higher education. The symposium included discussions of the different practices in the delivery of the visual arts curriculum as well as the exchange of the personal experiences of each artist-teacher.
11/07/2013, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at 144C Power Art Center, 25 Power Ave, Wayne, NJ, 07470
Presenters introduced and exchanged views on their educational backgrounds, teaching experiences in China and the United States, and their works and students' works.
11/08/2013, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Hobart Hall Martini Conference Center
The symposium took the form of a panel discussion and a representative’s speech. All of the presenters have their educational backgrounds in China and the United States and their experience in art education in Chinese and American universities. Their similar experiences and common themes enable them to become good friends and express their opinions freely. The seminar provides them with an excellent platform for dialogue.
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Hobart Hall Martini Conference Room, Communication Department
Professor Zhiyuan Cong, Director of Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, chaired the symposium. Mr. Yansheng Wang, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in New York, Mr. Jun Zhang, Cultural Consul, Mr. Yang Zhang, Educational Consul, Professor Daryl Moore, Dean of College of Arts and Communication, William Paterson University and other officials attended the symposium. Counselor Wang, who addressed the conference, remarked, "The comparison of art education between China and the United States is often cited as evidence of the cultural differences between the two countries. We cannot deny that there are differences, which is why China has always vowed to respect cultural diversity and encourage dialogue and exchanges between different cultures.” Wang hoped that the seminar would not only discover the differences between Chinese and American art education, but also explore how to solve the problem. The morning meeting was divided into groups discussing 2D, 3D, design, and art theory/history. Professor Zhimin Guan from Minnesota State University, Professor Liqin Tan from Rutgers University, and Professor Ming Fay and He Zhang from William Paterson University of New Jersey spoke on behalf of each group.
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Faculty Dining Room, Speert Hall
The Center for Chinese Art and the College of Arts and Communication held a reception. Among the 40 guests at the banquet were Dr. Warren Sandmann, Vice President and Provost of William Paterson University; Dr. Steve Han, Associate Provost; Margaret Lam and David Yen, the Honorary Directors of CCART; and delegates. The banquet was hosted by Daryl Moore, Dean of the College of Arts and Communication. Vice President Dr. Warren Sandmann, Margaret Lam and David Yen, and professor Xiaohong Zhang from University of Wisconsin who represented the participating professors, delivered speeches. Professor Zhiyuan Cong made a concluding speech. He said that the pilot symposium, jointly organized by CCART and Asian Culture Center, aims to promote the exchanges and understanding between Chinese and American people in culture, art, and art education and promote the development of art education in universities of both countries. He thanked the Chinese consulate for its support, the school leaders for their help, the Asian Cultural Center for its cooperation, and the preparatory committee and professors of the Chinese-American Art Faculty Association for their active participation and cooperation.
