Delegation from Idaho University visits College of Arts

On June 13, a delegation from Idaho University (America) paid an academic visit to Jiangsu University. The delegation visited the exhibition of art works by graduates of Grade 2009, the showroom of Zhenjiang city development plan, and collected research data at Huaiyin Village, a site of cultural and historical heritage. And the United Design Team of Jiangsu University College of Arts and Idaho University Art & Architecture College had a demonstration of their achievements. At the exhibition, 29 Chinese and American undergraduate and postgraduate students expounded their ideas of design, effect drawing and hand drawing. The students’ supervisors made comments on their performance. Gao Jing and Li Xinchao, dean and vice dean of Overseas Education College, made an introduction of Jiangsu University and Zhenjiang City.

2:00pm, June 14, 2013, students and faculties from both the University of Idaho and the School of Art of Jiangsu University started their site work in Huaiying village located in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China with the purpose of listening to the opinions of the villagers about the Project of Building a New Socialist Countryside and carrying out a group study between the Chinese and the American students. In the processes of investigation, the Huaiying Village Committee arranged for the local staffs to give the visitors a comprehensive introduction to geographic features, transportation, historical legend, cultural characteristics, etc of their village. With the guide of local staffs, students and faculties from both schools visited the Huaiying Temple, the Weaving House, and the 7-Fairy Pond. The students photographed and measured for a further analysis, which not only guaranteed the success of the project but also promoted bilateral friendship.

2pm, June 25th 2013, the final presentation and exhibition of group design project was held in the entrance hall of the School of Art. 29 students from Jiangsu University and the University of Idaho joined the activities under the gaze of Professor Stephen Drown, Associate Professor Gary Austin and Dr. Hu Xiao from the College of Art and Architecture of the University of Idaho, and Mrs Gao Jing, Dean of Overseas Education College, and Dr. Han Rong, Vice Dean of the School of Art, and Mrs Li Shuyan from the International Office.

To promote the development of the Project of Building a New Socialist Countryside, the group design team had chosen to design on the historical district restoration project of Huaiying village in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China. The presentation was divided into 4 teams, each of which reported their site analysis, design concept, schematic master plan, and perspectives. The faculties gave comments on the work of each team and discussed the professional issues in the project.

Through their participation in the Project of Building a New Socialist Countryside and shared work, living, and studying, students from both schools started to learn more about the Chinese people, culture, traditional values, etc. Participants wished that they would keep the shared memory and pass it on and help promote the good relations between Jiangsu University and the University of Idaho.