Let's catch up. I have been selected to represent the island and create one of my sculptures for the 9th Changchun China International Sculpture Symposium.
The event promotes international cultural exchanges for the aesthetic improvement of the city's urban setting, Changchun, capital of Jilin Province in the northeastern part of China.Since 1997, eight sessions of the sculpture symposium have already been held so far, with the recurring theme "Friendship, Peace, and Spring."
To date, 347 sculptors from 172 countries have created 391 sculptures for the city representing different artistic styles from around the world. The sculptures are all displayed in the 92-hectare Changchun World Sculpture Park.
In addition to the permanent installment of my piece in the sculpture park, I will receive an allowance of $2000, a round-trip ticket to China, assistants and materials for the creation of my sculpture, and hotel accommodations, meals, and sight-seeing activities for the duration of my up to six-week stay.
I will be flying to China near the end of July to sculpt one of three proposed contemporary sculptures. Both "Leaping Fish at Play," in granite, and "Jumping Fish at Play," also in Granite( although type of stone may change...nothing is set in stone until it is), are proposed to stand approximately 6 feet high,and over 9 feet long and "Totem-Standing Together," a stainless steal piece, is projected to be 9 feet 6 inches high.
I am glad that my talent is acknowledged and that I am given this opportunity.
This year, the symposium, which will run from July 26 to September 5, invited artists from a list of select countries, including the CNMI, to submit sculpture proposals showing the national and local cultures of their respective countries. After an extensive review process and approval by distinguished Chinese artists, 31 sculptors have been selected this year.
