Majestic Mountains and Shimmering Water Art Exhibit July 29 to Aug 1 2014

An art exhibit by Portland artist and PSSCA Board member Maihwa Frances Li has been created using acrylic to provide for a series of colorful paintings depicting memorable Oregon sights in all four seasons. While she traveled all over Oregon, Maihwa found much natural beauty, similar to Chinese landscapes, majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, scenic beaches, and abundant wildlife which inspired her for the creation of this exhibition.

Exhibit Dates:  July 29 to August 1, 2014 - 9am to 5pm

Exhibit Location:  Portland City Hall, North Atrium (1st floor)

Opening Reception: July 30 - 3pm to 5pm, Portland City Hall, North Atrium

Maihwa Frances Li was born in Shanghai, China, and grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. She loves painting--all through her youth she took lessons from different masters to learn both traditional Chinese-style and Western-style paintings. In 1970, Maihwa came to the US to further her graduate studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, met her husband Hehching Harry Li and married him in Rolla, Missouri in 1972.

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While raising two children in Upstate New York, Maihwa taught throughout the Upstate New York school districts, Chinese schools, and community colleges--instructing students in traditional Chinese brush painting, ikebana (Japanese-style flower arranging), and origami (paper folding). The New York Museum in Albany named Maihwa the Woman of Art in 1980.

In 1996, Maihwa and her husband moved to Portland, Oregon, where she still resides. She teaches Chinese brush painting at different locations for Portland Parks and Recreation. Maihwa volunteers as a docent for the Portland Japanese Garden, the Portland Art Museum and the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Maihwa is a member of the Women in the Arts Museum in Washington, DC, the Oregon Watercolor Society and the Northwest Watercolor Society. Maihwa's paintings are collected by banks, hospitals and individuals.

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Mayoral Delegation Visit to Suzhou, 2013

SUZHOU, CHINA October 2013 The Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office hosted the Portland Mayoral Delegation Visit of 20 participants representing education, culture and trade in Suzhou October 26 to 30.

Visits were arranged with the Port of Taicang, Mayor of Taicang, the Nike Distribution Center, Shanghai/Suzhou American Chamber of Commerce, the Suzhou Singapore Industrial Park, Mayor and Vice Mayor of Suzhou, the China Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, the Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau, the Suzhou Garden Development Company and Suzhou Design Institute Company, the Suzhou Daily Group, the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office and a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Suzhou Ballet Theatre.

The Suzhou Daily Group hosted PSSCA’s 25^th Anniversary Trails of Bliss poetry and photography exhibit at the wonderful Tongli International Cultural Exchange Center.

Suzhou Calligraphy Exhibition 2013

United States Exhibition of Wu School Calligraphy

On the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the two cities, in order to further promote the cultural exchanges and increase the friendship between Chinese and US people, calligraphers from Suzhou visited Portland with sincerity to display 30 newly created pieces.  Suzhou hereby wishes the friendship between US and China everlasting. Suzhou is a noted historical and cultural city in China and the calligraphy in Suzhou is richly endowed by nature. “Wu School Calligraphy” in Ming Dynasty enjoys high reputation at home and abroad and forms the flourishing scene of “all the calligraphy schools in China regard Suzhou as forefather”.

      

Now Suzhou Calligraphy school has inherited the good traditions, carried forward the urban spirits of “cherishing literacy and wisdom, being open-minded and tolerant, seeking for excellence creation and accomplishing everlasting harmony” to dive into the innovation of calligraphy.  The calligraphy creation keeps harmonious development with the academic and educational activities. In December, 2007, Suzhou was honorably selected as the first “Noted Calligraphy City” in China, which unveils the new historical chapter of Wu School calligraphy.

Portland and Suzhou signed the sister-city agreement in June 1988 and for the past 25 years, both cities have achieved outstanding achievements in culture, education, garden and economic cooperation and exchanges.

August 2013