INFORMATION FOR
“Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City”An International SymposiumOctober 26-27, 2022 | William Paterson University
The international symposium “Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City” examines the history of the famous Silk Road. With the American “Silk City” of Paterson at its core, the symposium focuses on the temporal and spatial extension of the historical coordinates of the Silk Road and its connection to the development of China and the United States in culture, education, art, industry, and commerce since the 18th century.
Featuring academic presentations and discussions, art exhibitions, and more, the symposium seeks to stimulate historical research on the Silk Road and help to identify its significance in its farthest reaches. Offering a fresh look at the historical orientation of the Silk Road and the “Silk City” of Paterson, this two-day event will expand and enhance international understanding and cooperation; provide a forum for discussion between the governments and universities of sister cities, and promote the development of cultural, educational, economic, and commercial exchange.
Co-Sponsors:China International Cultural Association, China | Guizhou International Cultural Association, China | City of Paterson, NJ | Nantong Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China | Chinese-American Art Faculty Association | China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou, China | Paterson Museum, NJ | Nantong University, Nantong, China | Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China | Guizhou Minzu University, Guizhou University of Commerce, and Qiandongnan Vocational and Technical College for Nationalities, Guizhou, China
Host:Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, co-organized with the William Paterson University Galleries and the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Wednesday, October 26, 2022"Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City" International SymposiumOpening and Keynote Speeches8:00 – 11:00 a.m., New York time | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Paris time | 8:00 – 11:00 p.m., Beijing time
LocationMartini Room, Hamilton Hall, William Paterson University, and OnlineZoom Link: Click Here to Register Please download Zoom software (version 5.12) in advance and register for the meeting
HostsDr. Joshua Powers, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, William Paterson UniversityDr. Wartyna Davis, Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, William Paterson UniversityProfessor Zhiyuan Cong, Director, Center for Chinese Art, William Paterson University
Remarks Dr. Richard Helldobler, President, William Paterson University Mr. Huang Ping, Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, New York Mr. Andre Sayegh, Mayor, City of PatersonDr. Li Zeng, Vice President, Guizhou Normal UniversityMr. Lyusheng Chen, Former Vice Director, China National MuseumMs. Diane Von Furstenberg, CEO of the fashion brand DVF, and President, Council of Fashion Designers of America
Keynote SpeechesDr. Feng Zhao, Honorary Director, China National Silk Museum, China, and Chair, International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles: “From Silk to Silk Road, Pre-Han to 16th Century”Dr. Ben Marsh, Professor, School of History, University of Kent, United Kingdom: “Unraveled Dreams: Silk and the Atlantic World, 1500-1840”Dr. Stephen Hahn, Professor Emeritus, English, William Paterson University: “Paterson as ‘Silk City’ in a Global Context”Panel: “The Silk Road from China to America”12:00 – 1:45 p.m. | Martini Room, Hamilton Hall, William Paterson University, and OnlineModeratorDr. He Zhang, Professor, Art History, William Paterson UniversityPanelistsDr. Feng Zhao, Honorary Director, China National Silk Museum: "Intriguing Looms: The Silk Patterns from the Silk Roads"Claire McRee, Associate Curator, Allentown Art Museum: “Designs for the Loom: The Work of William Geskes”Donna Ghelerter, textile and fashion historian: "World-Famous Artists Designed these Silks for You: AUDAC and 1930s American Silks"Martina D’Amato, Cora Ginsburg LLC: "Dutch Chinoiserie Silks of the 1730s and 1740s"Dr. He Zhang, Professor, Art History, William Paterson University: “Silk Trade and Make in Western China and Central Asia in the Early Historic Times”
Opening of Art Exhibitions3:00 – 5:00 p.m. | University Galleries, Ben Shahn Center for the Visual Arts, William Paterson University
ExhibitionsA Durable Thread: The Silk Road from China to AmericaOn View: August 29, 2022 – December 2, 2022Co-OrganizersDr. He Zhang, Professor, Art History, William Paterson University | Casey Mathern, Director, University Galleries, William Paterson University
Textile Arts from Guizhou, ChinaOn View: October 17, 2022 – December 2, 2022Co-OrganizersJianshan Wang, Guizhou University of Commerce | Professor Zhiyuan Cong and Casey Mathern, William Paterson UniversityHostsGuizhou University of Commerce | Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University | William Paterson University Galleries
Welcome Banquet6:00 – 8:30 p.m. | By invitation
Online ExhibitionsSilk and Silk Road: From Hangzhou to Paterson Co-organizersDr. Feng Zhao, China National Silk Museum | Professor Zhiyuan Cong, William Paterson UniversityGiacomo DeStefano, Paterson MuseumHostsThe China National Silk Museum | Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University | Paterson Museum
The Unbounded Silk Road: Artworks of the Chinese-American Art Faculty Association Co-OrganizersProfessor Wei Dong, University of Wisconsin-Madison | Professor Zhiyuan Cong, William Paterson UniversityHostsChinese-American Art Faculty Association | Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University
Thursday, October 27, 2022"Across Time and Space: Silk Road and Silk City" International Symposium9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., New York time | 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Paris time | 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Beijing time
LocationMartini Room, Hamilton Hall, William Paterson University, and OnlineZoom Link: Click Here to RegisterPlease download Zoom software (version 5.12) in advance and register for the meeting
Roundtable: “Silk Road and Silk Cities”ModeratorDr. Stephen Hahn, Professor Emeritus, English, William Paterson UniversityPresenters Dr. Vincent Parrillo, Professor Emeritus, Sociology, William Paterson UniversityMr. Ganlin Hua (China), Professor, Yangzhou University, China: “The Silk Road of Yangzhou in Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD)”Mr. Giacomo DeStefano, Director, Paterson Museum: "The Paterson Museum: Preserving the City's Industrial Past"Dr. Chong Yao, Assistant Professor, Nantong University, China: “Zhang Jian and China’s Textile City – Nantong”Dr. Lucia McMahon, Professor and Chair, Department of History, William Paterson University: “Paterson's Early Industrial History”Dr. Jian Zhao, Associate Professor, Nanjing Arts University, China: “The Extended ‘Silk Road’—An Investigation with America's ‘Silk City’ Paterson as an Example”Dr. Elena Sabogal, Associate Professor, Community and Social Justice Studies, William Paterson University: “The (In)Visibility of Peruvian Women in Paterson's Public Spaces"
Art and Art Education on the New Silk RoadProfessor Zhiyuan Cong, Art, William Paterson University: “The Role of Art and Art Education on the Silk Road: Chinese-American Art Faculty”Professor Wei Dong, Department of Design Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison: “Crossing, Integration, and Innovation: The Journey of the Chinese-American Art Faculty Association”Dr. Zheng Wang, Professor and Chair, Art and Design Department, Beijing Jiaotong University, China: “Research of Chinese-American Art Faculty in the Past 40 Years Based on Big Data”
Field Trip to Paterson: The “Silk City”1:30 – 6:00 p.m.Tour led by Dr. Stephen Hahn, Professor Emeritus, English, William Paterson UniversityRegistration Required: click here
LocationsGreat Falls National Historical Park—Alexander Hamilton and Founding of the U.S. (National Park Service staff)Paterson Museum—Artifacts of Silk Manufacturing (Museum Director)Lambert Castle, Observatory and Overlook—19th Individualist Capitalists, Layout of City (Museum Director)Botto House/American Labor Museum—Skilled Craft Workers and Laborers, Living Conditions (Evelyn Hershey, Education Director)
