SUMMER 2003:  We were honored to have a visit to ARTS by  CHINESE "National Treasure" artisans from Beijing University and the China Science and Technology Museum.  These talented artists toured a number of cities in the United States, Spring through Fall, with the major international exhibition "CHINA: 7000 years of  Discovery".  We were fortunate to be able to bring a number of these artisans to ARTS during the time they were demonstrating their specialized arts at  the Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center.

Drawloom weavers Sheng Derong and Fan Fengyu (shown on either side of me at ARTS) were weaving on a 17 foot long Chinese drawloom, a loom advertised as a "two-story two-person drawloom".  The other artisans (L to R) are He Junliang/ papermaker, Lang Zhili/ Dough Figurine Sculpting, Huo Qingshun/ woodblock printing and his Assistant (center below), the Director and Li Hongsen/Calligraphy. (Our translator, Jin Qiang, took the photo.)

Sheng and Fan use special techniques to produce rare "cloud brocade" of silk and real gold on this drawloom.  This cloth was only permitted to be worn by the Chinese Emperors in times past; today it is only permitted to be woven by special museum permission.  We at ARTS are delighted to have been given a piece of this rare cloth for our Archives!  In addition, Huo donated a wonderful warrior print to ARTS and, at the request of the Director, a special calligraphy was created by Li highlighting the very special bond of friendship which we formed... undaunted by differences in language and culture. "In art there are no boundaries... just opportunities."