Macomb, IL – There's an international flair to a new art exhibit on Macomb's courthouse square. The paintings were done by an artist from central China.
The artist is Chuangao Yu. His connection to Macomb is his daughter Jing Yu, who works at Western Illinois University.
The paintings are mounted on traditional Chinese silk scrolls. Some depict scenes from the artist's garden in China, while others reflect what he saw while visiting the United States last year. Chuangao Yu says when he returned to China, friends asked what he saw. Instead of explaining the sights to them, he painted what he had seen. Some of those works are included in the Macomb exhibit.
The works of Chuangao Yu will remain on display through the end of October at Sullivan Taylor Coffeehouse and The Wine Sellers.
Jing Yu talked about her father's paintings with News Director Rich Egger. You can listen to that conversation by clicking on the audio button.
Additional information:
*Chuangao Yu is a steel factory administrator in China. Art is a hobby for him and he's won awards at exhibits in his homeland. He exhibited works in Macomb early last year in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
*Squirrels caught Chuangao Yu's eye while he was in America because there are no squirrels in the part of China where he lives. He was also fascinated with fish he saw at Sea World.
*The artist hopes the paintings spark interest in China and encourage more Americans to visit his homeland for the Olympics.
*Jing Yu says art knows no boundaries. She feels people from around the world can easily communicate through art.