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Andre Wong solo (2)
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The City of Portland celebrated its 26 year of friendship with our Sister City of Suzhou, China during July 29 to August 1, 2014. The Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association (PSSCA) organized an exhibit at the City Hall of Portland with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Charles Hales and attended by a group a children from the Skybridge International school and other guests and friends.
Suzhou Week 2014 Ribbon Cutting
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The City of Suzhou donated copies of their new book, "In Suzhou", to Portland to be introduced during Suzhou Week celebration.
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"This is Suzhou, an ancient city with 2,500 years’ history. Suzhou is called The City of Gardens in China, and is enjoying a reputation as “The Paradise on Earth.” In the 13th century, Suzhou was hailed as “Oriental Venice” in Travels of Marco Polo. Charles Montesquieu, the French enlightenment thinker, praised Suzhou ancient city for its uncanny workmanship." This book is jointly produced by the Information Office of Suzhou Municipal Government, the Suzhou Education Bureau and the Suzhou Daily Group. Mayor Hales accepted the books on behalf of the City of Portland.
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The works by famous Suzhou Photographer, Mr. Jingzhong Fu, have been published in great number of China and international magazines and have been selected to several international renowned photography exhibitions, including French Art International Photography Exhibition, Britain Southern Devonshire International Photography Exhibition, Greek Circuit International Travelling Photography Art Exhibition, Austrian Trierenberg Super Circuit, Iranian Khayyam International Photography Exhibition, Indian PSI International Digital Photography Exhibition, US Washington International Photography Exhibition, Hong Kong Grace International Photography Exhibition, etc. We were honored to be able to exhibit Mr. Fu's work in Portland in celebration of Suzhou Week 2014.
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In honor of the Suzhou Week 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 Ms. Li traveled all over Oregon, she found much natural beauty, similar to Chinese landscapes, majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, scenic beaches, and abundant wild¬life which inspired her for the creation of this exhibition. For more information, please visit the art exhibit page.
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Both the photography exhibit of beautiful Suzhou scenery and the new book "In Suzhou" were contributions from Suzhou as symbols of the long and strong Sister City relationship between Portland and Suzhou.
The two cities, along with other award winners, were honored at a special Awards Ceremony on March 27th the Sister Cities International US-China Conference in Washington DC. A delegation from both Portland and Suzhou were in attendance to accept the award. Representing Portland were Martha Pellegrino, Director of Government Affairs; Michael Gurton, Portland Development Commission; Cathy Chinn, PSSCA President; Robert Fraser, PSSCA Immediate Past President and Lynne McIntyre, PSSCA Past President. Representing Suzhou were Mr. Xu Ming, Vice Mayor; Mr. Xu Huadong, Director of Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office and Ms. Dorathy Lu, Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office.
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The awards granted by Sister Cities International, recognize the accomplishments of outstanding US-China sister city programs and their contribution in building strong people to people ties between the two countries.
There are awards in several categories including Best Overall, Longest Relationship. Community Involvement, Youth, Arts and Culture, Economic Development and Trade, Most Innovative and Outstanding Individuals.
Suzhou and Portland established sister cities in 1988. The two cities have cooperated in economy, culture, education and grassroots exchanges ever since.
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Companies from Portland have successfully expanded their companies in Suzhou. Among them is Nike, Inc. which opened a shoe manufacturing plant in Suzhou in 1996 and has based its largest distribution center in Suzhou’s county level city of Taicang in 2011.
The award recognizes the two cities for outstanding achievements in trade and economic exchange. Suzhou is the only city in China to have won in this category. (Both Suzhou Daily and PSSCA contributed to this story.)
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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