APPLICATION
M.F.A in with a concentration in painting and printmaking
Jing Shui / 税静
Artist's Statement
Having been born in The People’s Republic of China and having spent the majority of my life pursuing the arts in China, I became somewhat accustomed to the reality that everything I was to do, everything that I was to be, was all for the State. Everything. China is a hierarchical society, and I was far down the hierarchy. When I applied to Tsinghua Universities Academy of Art and Design in Beijing, where I earned both my Bachelors and Masters Degrees, the government mandated that 40% of all students accepted had to be from Beijing while the other 60 % could come from the remaining provinces. I was one of five students chosen from my far-off Province of Sichuan. Yes, a hierarchy indeed. Tsinghua University was ranked 20th in the world by Forbes, and for me to be accepted at all was a great honor, let alone coming from such a distant place as Sichuan. I advanced in Chinese academia until I earned a doctorate in Chinese fine arts from the Chinese National Academy of Arts.
Thus, in the eyes of China, I proved myself within its academic
hierarchy, and I was assured a lifetime of a distinguished university professorship. However, something was missing. I didn’t know what at the time, but now, after marrying a bronze sculptor from Virginia and emigrating to the United States six years ago, I know exactly what it was. Chinese academia has a priority on the collective – to be useful within the society. What I find in the arts of United States is that there is a priority on individuality and personal expression not only as a means to become useful to society but also to oneself. That sense of self is lacking in Chinese academia and my life. I have a profound opportunity here in America to develop my form of personal expression within the arts. I took an abstract painting class at UVa with Professor Megan Marlatt – this was my first exposure to abstraction. I have since been learning oil painting and printing, whereas my emphasis in China was ink calligraphy and watercolor painting. I have refined brush painting skills – I am a master of the brush in Calligraphy, the push and pull, the fine stroke, and the broad stroke – and I am anxious to apply my traditional skills to innovative and expressive painting.
I want to continue to focus on the relationships between Traditional and Contemporary, East and West, Abstract and Concrete, Realism and Surrealism. The commonalities and conflicts are fascinating – I too am all these things. My oil painting “Landscape” (36″ x30”, see my portfolio No. 2) started as an idea from one ancient Chinese calligraphy character, “Mountain .” It inspired me to think about abstract landscape painting – mountain and water, distance and close-up view – different perspectives in one piece. My painting also connects with the Chinese mythic story of “Heaven,” mountains and rivers in the heavenly sky, as in our natural world. I have exhibited in the States at McGuffey Art Center and 2nd Street Gallery in Charlottesville, Va.
I love teaching. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts currently employs me as an adjunct teacher. Since 2017, I’ve collaborated with UVa East Asia Center teaching Chinese calligraphy lectures and workshops to the community. I underwent training and became a docent for the Fralin Museum of Art at UVa in 2017. The position allowed me to work on the language arts, communication, and refining my ability to speak English. I am a renting artist at McGuffey Art Center, and I conduct classes teaching about Chinese calligraphy, painting, and Chinese culture. I was very excited when I heard that accepted applicants to VCU Masters program have the chance to teach. The best way to learn is through teaching. I love sharing my process and expertise thoughts within a diverse community. I would love to be a studio art professor at a United States University someday.
Community is essential to an immigrant like me. The VCU Arts community feels familial. This sentiment is precisely what I heard from a VCU professor during a virtual open-house meeting. I’m working to build the art and culture
communication bridge among professionals in China and USA. I have established the JSVA Center for Cultural Communications. I partnered with Hainan University Art School conducting its national art project in the States. I want to share my Chinese art resources. My colleagues in China work for many important art museums, galleries, institutions, art schools, and Universities in a leadership role, such as the Palace Museum in Beijing, Tsinghua University, and China’s National Art Museum. I am associated with the Tsinghua Alumni community in the States – some of them are prominent art collectors. After living in the States, I am now a Chinese-American artist wanting to share my international and local connections with the VCU Arts community.
While in China, I edited and designed the top ceramic professional culture magazine “Civilization – Ceramic” as executive manager, editor, designer, and Marketing Specialist. I implemented and coordinated a Washington-China Culture Festival program in Washington D.C., 2012 and 2013 which helped dozens of Chinese artists to travel to the United States. While in the States, I have published articles about American art in the National Art Museum of China Journal. I have built multiple websites for myself and other artists. I worked for McGuffey Art Center as First-vice President and as a team member of the Shop Committee and Figure Drawing Committee.
My entire life has been dedicated to the arts in one form or another, as I am also a culinary artist – I love to share my delicious cuisine. I also love sports, having been a ski instructor and a women’s champion in Ping Pong while in college. Body. Mind. Spirit. My life is the arts. The arts are my life. I hope you accept me. I would be a good and valuable member of the VCU arts community.
Portfolio
Please click cover image for full size work and description.
Landscape
No.1
Oil on canvas, 36″ x 30″, 2021.
Green Tara
No.2
Oil on canvas, 24″ x 20″, 2021.
Peace
No.3
Oil on canvas, 20″ x 20″, 2021.
Rainbow Six
No.4
Oil on canvas, 27″ x 24″, 2021.
Linoleum Prints
No.5
7″x5″ & Multiple size works, 2021.
Bird Sculpture
No.6
Paint on plaster, Metal, Wood, 4″x2.7″, 2021.
2020
No.7
Oil on canvas, 16″ x 12″, 2021.
2021
No.8
Oil on canvas, 16″ x 12″, 2021.
2022
No.9
Oil on canvas, 16″ x 12″, 2021.
Black Lotus
No.10
Oil on canvas, 12″ x 12″, 2021.
Self-portrait
No.11
Gouache, Watercolor on paper, 15″ x 11″, 2020.
Ancient Bird
No.12
Oil on canvas, 24″ x 20″, 2020.
South and North
No.13
Gouache, Watercolor on paper, 30″ x 23″, 2020.
East and West
No.14
Gouache, Watercolor on paper, 30″ x 23″, 2020.
Ipad Figure Drawing
No.15
Drawing on ipad, multiple size, 2020.
The Heart Sutra Calligraphy in Chinese Standard Script
No.16
Ink on rice paper, 15″ x 13″, 2018.
Double Happiness
No.17
Ink and color on paper, 34″ x 22″, 2017.
10-Minutes Figure Drawing with Chinese Brush
No.18
Ink on paper, 7″ x 5″, 2017.
10-Minutes Figure Drawing with Chinese Brush
No.19
Ink on paper, 10″ x 8″, 2017.
Sketch from Michelangelo's David Status
No.20
Pencil on paper, 28″ x 20″, 1995.
Art to Card (self-designed)
Extra
Prints, 5.5″ x 4.25″, 2021
Resume
Degrees
- Graduate School of Chinese National Academy of Arts, Beijing, Ph.D., Fine Arts, Literature, 2009 – 2012
- Tsinghua University, Academy of Art & Design, Beijing, BFA, Design, Literature, 2002 – 2005
- Tsinghua University, Academy of Art & Design, Beijing, BA, Design, Literature, 1995 – 1999
Teaching and Work Experience
- Adjunct faculty, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Va. 2021-present
- First Vice President of McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, Va. Jul.2021-Oct.2021
- Artist, McGuffery Art Center, Charlottesville, Va. 2017-present
- Docent, Fralin Museum of Art, Charlottesville, Va. 2017-present
- Lecturer, East Asia Center of UVa., Charlottesville, Va. 2017-present
- Founder, JSVA Center for crossing cultural communication, 2015-present
- Web designer, 2015-present
- Lecturer, Sichuan Normal University, 2015.
- Worked with Spanish artist Juan Garcia Ripples, Spain, 2015.
- Postdoctoral Researcher / Program Executed Manager, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 2012-2014.
- Implemented and coordinated the Washington/China Culture Festival, Washington D.C. 2012, 2013.
- Book editor and designer, 2013.
- Art Auction book writer, Poly Auction, Beijing, 2011.
- Ski Instructor, Yuyang Ski Resort, Beijing, China, 2006. / Kiroro Ski Resort, Sapporo, Japan, 2011.
- Teacher, Beijing Jiaotong University/Art Training Institutions, 2005-2008.
- Worked with German designer Heidi Beck, Germany, 2005. Participated in Collections Premieren Dusseldorf (CPD), 2005; Attended Atmosphere D’Hiver 2005, Paris.
- Editor, China Textile Information Center, Beijing, 2005-2006.
- Designer, Smart Garments, Beijing, 1999-2000.
Exhibitions (Selected)
- Abstract/Non-Objective Show, McGuffey Art Center, 2021.
- Maker’s Show, McGuffey Art Center, 2021.
- Teeny Tiny Trifecta 4, Second Street Gallery, 2021.
- “One Hour to Many Days” Figure Drawing Show, McGuffey Art Center, 2021.
- Black and White Show, McGuffey Art Center, 2021.
