INFORMATION FOR
On June 16, 2024, the 2024 Sino-American Youth Printmaking Exhibition opened at the Zhiyuan Art Museum in the historic town of Bencha, China. The event was co-curated by Professor Cong Zhiyuan, Director of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, and Mr. Chen Chao, Secretary General of the Printmaking Institute of the China Association for Promoting Cultural Development. It was hosted by the People’s Government of Rudong County and organized by the People’s Government of Bencha Town, Jiangsu Donghe Group, and the Zhiyuan Art Museum. The exhibition will run until December 16, 2024.
Opening Ceremony
Showcasing 61 works created by young printmaking artists from both China and the United States, the exhibition establishes a platform for artistic exchange among printmakers and researchers worldwide, while injecting fresh cultural energy into the ancient town of Bencha. Contributions include printmaking works from students at Michigan State University (East Lansing), New York University, SUNY Stony Brook, Purdue University, and William Paterson University, alongside award-winning pieces by outstanding young Chinese printmakers selected by the Printmaking Institute of the China Association for Promoting Cultural Development.
Exhibition
Notably, 20 pieces by William Paterson University students were selected for this international exhibition. The works displayed span diverse themes, vivid colors, and innovative techniques, including handcrafted masterpieces and cutting-edge digital and AI-driven creations. These works blend artistic value, emotional depth, and boundless creativity, making the exhibition both an exceptional artistic feast and a vivid practice of cultural exchange between East and West.
Dr. Richard J. Helldobler delivering video message
Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, President of William Paterson University, delivered a congratulatory video message at the opening ceremony:
Greetings from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey! I am Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, President of the University. On behalf of everyone at William Paterson, I want to congratulate Professor Cong and everyone at the Zhiyuan Art Museum on the first anniversary of this successful endeavor. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all great success with the opening of the 2024 Bencha Sino-American Youth Printmaking Exhibition.
At William Paterson, we are proud of the great work of our Center for Chinese Art – under the expert leadership of Professor Cong. For 15 years, Professor Cong and the Center have worked to advance artistic cooperation and appreciation, as well as mutual cultural understanding through the collaboration of students and artists from our two countries.
We are especially pleased that William Paterson students are able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to further their education and artistic development by participating in this international exhibition, along with students and artists from across the United States and China.
The participation of William Paterson students is thanks both to your museum and to the Center for Chinese Art here on our New Jersey campus, which is a wonderful platform for preserving and sharing China’s artistic heritage. The Center has helped make William Paterson a recognized leader for Chinese art and art education in America. Its great success is due in large part to the good work of Professor Cong, who is doing so much to promote artistic cooperation and understanding between our two nations.
It is appropriate that the museum’s first anniversary should be marked with an exciting exhibition of printmaking, which is one of the foremost mediums of Chinese artistic expression. I know the exhibition will make great strides in furthering the artistic goals of the museum and all of the participating artists. Again, I wish you all the best on this special day and for the exhibition ahead. Thank you!
Highlighting the Significance of the Event
Chen Lei, Mayor of Rudong County, remarked at the opening ceremony: “This is both an artistic exchange between young talents from China and the United States and a significant milestone for Rudong’s cultural endeavors.”
Chen Lei, Mayor of Rudong County
Since its inauguration in June 2023, the Zhiyuan Art Museum has served as a cultural landmark in Rudong, hosting numerous themed exhibitions and attracting over 300,000 visitors. By bringing art closer to everyday life and enhancing public appreciation, it has become a vital cultural hub. The county plans to leverage this exhibition as a catalyst for embracing a new cultural mission, regularly organizing high-quality art exhibitions and exchanges, fostering the creation of culturally rich and era-relevant works, and further amplifying Rudong’s reputation as a “hometown of folk culture and art.”
Opening Event
Professor Cong Zhiyuan, a renowned printmaking artist hailing from Bencha and Director of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, expressed: “Printmaking is a universal artistic language that transcends borders and facilitates seamless communication. The exhibited works highlight the creative spirit of young printmakers from both countries and infuse new dimensions into Sino-American cultural exchanges.”
The opening day also featured a Sino-American Youth Art Education Symposium and an academic lecture titled Art and the Times: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.
For more information, contact (973) 720-2799, email ccart@wpunj.edu, or visit www.wpunj.edu/ccart.
Part of the exhibition Exhibition Visit
Audience Visit the Exhibition
Audience Visit the Exhibition Part of the Exhibition
