Chinese artist practices 'unique style'
I-Chen Wu
By RICHARD MURPHY
Kansan Staff Writer
The late John F. Kennedy once said, "Power makes men cloudy; art makes men clear." One can easily discover that I-Chen Wu, Chinese artist and graduate student in Educational Guidance at the University of Kansas, is a clear person.
Wu's home is a mansion-type bi-level that has seen better years. It is open to everyone, however, with a sincere interest in the knowledgeable and pleasant experience that is Chinese art.
It is easy to discuss art with Wu for hours and still have questions to ask. Wu's manner is relaxed and receptive when he senses a curiosity about his occupation.
One indication of Wu's
KU Dames gives wives chance to meet people
The second Monday of every month wives of KU students and married women students can leave the children with hubby and attend the monthly meeting of KU Dames.
"The purpose of the organization is to give women an opportunity to make friends and meet other women. Most are working girls, new to the campus or married students with limited opportunities to meet new people," said Mrs. Frederick Kirschman, president of the organization.
A community project is planned for each year as well as parties.
Mrs. U. G. Mitchell, the wife of a former KU math professor, founded the organization in 1910, when she asked several married women students to visit her home. The women's children provided the entertainment.
The University of Chicago asked KU to become a charter member of the Intercollegiate Association of Dames in 1911.
"Each September we send out 2,300 letters of invitation. We accept people when they come."
"Right now we have about 50 paid members. The problem is that too many of the girls are just too shy to come to the meetings."
KU Dames' insignia is a wedding ring pierced by an arrow. The ring represents love, and the arrow friendship.
Kansan Telephone Numbers
Newsroom—UN 4-3646
Business Office—UN 4-4358
University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kansas.
Published at the University of Kansas
bearing the academic year except
holidays and examination periods.
Mail subscription rates: $6 a semester,
$10 a year. Second class postage paid
at Lawrence, Kan. 66044. Accommodations,
goods, services, all students without
regard to color, creed or national origin. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of Kansas or the State Boar of Regents.
Feb.26 1969 KANSAN 5
popularity is his over-stuffed scrapbook. In it are letters of acknowledgement from Gov. Robert Docking, former Presidents Truman and Johnson and former Vice President Humphrey, to name a few.
Wu has exhibited his brush paintings at Expo '67, in Montreal, Can., HemisFair '68 in Houston, Tex., and numerous art shows throughout the United States and Canada. His reputation is on a national scale and he has traveled to twenty states in the United States to exhibit his art.
"I have been very fortunate to know many people in Chinese communities in big cities." Wu said. "These people have been most courteous to provide me with places to stay."
The main concern of his works are representations of the
essence of art objects, Wu explained. "First, paint the object and second, paint the intentions of the object," he said.
The simple landscape seems to be the preoccupation of Chinese art.
"Painting is the ideal world," Wu said. "Some landscapes are heaven on earth to Chinese people."
The 40-year-old artist said his painting has been influenced most by Chi Pei-shih, a famous Chinese artist who died a few years ago and whom Wu compliments as an excellent instructor.
In discussing art and nature, Wu heavily emphasizes nature. As Henry James said: "Nature furnishes the material by means of which to express a beauty still unexpressed in nature. The artist
beholds in nature more than she herself is conscious of."
Wu is a traditionalist in every sense of the word. He said the art student today should be thoroughly educated in the historical development of the art.
"I believe that the classical style should be learned first," Wu said.
Wu, whose favorite subjects are shrimp, crabs, frogs, tadpoles, horses, vegetables and the pine and bamboo, is also a poet and calligrapher—two qualities essential to a Chinese painter.
"The bird is a poem," he said. "The poem is saying the bird is in a foreign land and people
A painting hanging in his room resembles a small bird in a tree. Wu explained this is a painting he compares to himself.
One can sense art is a great adventure to Wu. He refers to it in a reverent inflection. His collection contains works of Pei-shih along with his own efforts. Observation and study of this collection can make one realize man knows little about himself.
When asked what makes an artist spend so much time at his work, Wu said, "I think it is the unique process of creativity. I feel like a fulfilled, ingenuous man when I am painting."
cannot understand him—so he will just sing loudly."
In J. Paul Getty's article, "The Educated Executive," he tells us "people who practice and/or study the fine arts are invariably blessed with a more humane and open-minded outlook towards life." Wu appears to be a prime example of this statement.