MINNESOTA ROCKS!

The Changsha-St. Paul Sister City Committee is working with Public Art St. Paul to co-host

The International Stone Carving Symposium 2006

Big bocks of stone.

Sculptors with chisels

Six weeks of creativity

May 22 through June 30 at the St. Paul College Lawn

on Kellogg Blvd at Summit Avenue

in St. Paul

 

About the event:  Fourteen master stone sculptors from around the world and Minnesota will gather in St. Paul to create artworks from Minnesota stone.  Working on the lawn of St. Paul College they will shine a public spotlight on the ancient art of stone carving.

 

International friendship will be fostered by these artists from Changsha, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Zimbabwe, India, Egypt, Finland and Minnesota as they share their unique creative perspectives and cultural traditions in bringing forth sculptures from this vital Minnesota resource.  The resulting artworks will be permanently installed in public places in St. Anthony and throughout St. Paul.  Watch news and media releases for information on tours, special programs and more. 

 

Members and Friends are invited to a

RECOGNITION BANQUET

honoring

LEI  YIXIN

Changsha Master Sculptor

Lei YiXin recently completed his sculpture for MINNESOTA ROCKS! - a remarkable project of Public Art St Pau.  Lei's sculpture will be installed in St. Paul's Phalen Park. 

www.minnesotarocks.org

Shi Jie Ying, spouse of Lei, accompanies him

during this 6 week commission.

Sunday, July 23 at 6:00

Peking Garden Restaurant

2324 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis

Cost is $15 ($20 after Friday)

RSVP to Joyce Hsiao at 651-484-5555

or uscpfa_mn@hotmail.com

By Friday, July 21

 

 

Lieutenant Governor

Carol Molnau to Lead Delegation to Shaanxi

           On April 1, Lt. Governor Carol Molnau will lead a delegation to Minnesota’s Sister Province Shaanxi with the mission of exploring potential cultural, educational, government and business programs.  This visit will coincide with a trade fair in Xi’an highlighting businesses of Western China.              

              USCPFA—Minnesota initiated the relationship with Shaanxi which was formalized by official document signing in October of 1982.

              As the designated Executive Agent for this 24 year old relationship, USCPFA—Minnesota has been invited to participate in the official delegation.  Chapter President Mary Warpeha will be attending.  Other Chapter members have been accepted by the Minnesota Trade Office but arrangements are still in process.

             Governor Molnau will present to Shaanxi government officials a  proposal for a joint project between Shaanxi Province and USCPFA—Minnesota to create a Northern-style garden in the Twin Cities. 

 

 

Macalester College

and

USCPFA—Minnesota

 co-hosted

EXPERIENCING JINGDENZHEN -

THE “PORCELAIN CITY” OF CHINA

           A Presentation by Gary Erickson,

Visiting Assistant Professor—Ceramics

Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Weyerhaeuser Board Room of Macalester College.

 

Gary Erickson gave a brief overview of the Macalester College art faculty’s May 2005 trip to five cities in China.  The remainder of the presentation focused on his three-day side trip to Jingdenzhen, the “Porcelain City” of China.  Included were digital images/videos of ceramic workshops, studios, schools, and a 64 meter long dragon kiln.

 

A complimentary buffet dinner was offered at 6:15 p.m. at the Weyerhaeuser Board Room. 

 

 

The Way of Doing Things

By Zhaobing Tao

             How you think decides what you do.  So American students usually do things they love to do but not what they have to do.  They like to try something new.  Chinese students are good at math and science but some students work hard on them just for finding better and fixture jobs in the future.  Chinese think more of results than Americans. 

“Country difference

makes

colorful world.”

            For Chinese students, there is a very important examination called NMET when they graduate from the high school and are going to enter college.  No matter how hard they worked on their courses and how they did well in their classes, once you fail the big examination, you fail everything you did in the three years.  In Chinese students’ eyes, every point in exam counts.  Even 0.1 point can make big difference.  American students seem care more about the process.  They enjoy the process, even though they fail at last, they worth doing it. 

           Country difference makes colorful world.  My American trip is really fascinating and I enjoy the different life here.  I had also learned a lot from the people here, kindness, creativity and integrity.  This memory will last forever in my mind.

Zhaobing Tao of Changsha Middle School participated in a student exchange with Henry Sibley High School in St. Paul in early February. Chapter Board Member Jennie Hsiao arranged for a banquet.

 

 

 The YEAR of the DOG Celebration

Members and guests of the Minnesota Chapter of USCPFA gathered to celebrate the Year of the Dog on Sunday, January 15 at My Le Hoa Restaurant in Little Canada.  200 people enjoyed an eight-course dinner.

Entertainment included singing by Elise Mealey-Lohmann and a chorus of high school students from Breck School.  The chorus was formed from students in Margaret Wong’s Chinese language classes.  The audience was delighted at the selections, command of language, and stage presence.  A loud round of applause accompanied the group off stage. 

Barbara Harrison, former National President, and Charles Petersen, former National Treasurer, were honored by the chapter for their extra-ordinary volunteer efforts at the National and Minnesota level.  (See photos)

Eight members of USCPFA Minnesota traveled with Governor Pawlenty on Minnesota Mission to China – 2005.  The group represented their employers as well as USCPFA Minnesota. The 218 delegates who participated in the six day Mission traveled to the three cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and had options to attend 94 different meetings during this time frame.  It was a whirlwind adventure for all concerned.

USCPFA took the celebration of Chinese New Year as an opportunity to host the Mission to China – 2005 travelers for the evening.  Eight brave Mission delegates prepared a skit as part of the entertainment. We presented the rigors of travel with a large intercultural business delegation as well as the perceived benefits for trade and commerce.  Minnesota and China have a long relationship of business rooted back to the 1800’s when James j. Hill established the Great Northern Railroad with rails leading to California in hopes of opening up U.S. trade with China. One of the first trade missions was led by Louis Hill back in 1906.

The Chinese New year celebration was a perfect opportunity to announce and display plans for a Northern Style Chinese garden in the Twin Cities.  Slides and commentary on the multi-million dollar proposal were presented to the audience.  Plans are moving ahead as a relationship is being explored with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for a site on the Mississippi river across from Downtown Minneapolis.