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My Endless Gratitude
-- By Shirley Yiping Zhang
   Feb 12, 2017
NOTE: All of the words and are in the process to be checked and polished by the publishing house at this time, they are not the final copies yet.


It is 2:00 pm, Feb 11, on the Lantern Festival in my birthplace Beijing, but in Springfield, MO, USA, it is midnight, Feb 10, 2017.

Now, as I write the last article of the publication which is a part of my research for my little cross-cultural and comprehensive art creating and its project that I have worked on for 16 years, in the golden light in my own house in the USA, a little bit of me cannot believe it is true, and I cannot help casting my mind back to the moments, 16 years ago, when I first landed on the airport of Paris, France, and then 8 years ago, when I first set foot on American soil to study for my first Masters degree of Business Administration at Missouri State University while seeking my cross-cultural art dream which started since 2000 on September 28, 2008. I could never have imagined that today, I would have majored in Chinese painting in the two best art schools of China – China Central Academy of Arts and Chinese National Academy of Arts for 7 years, earned three times more credits than the requirements of the country, passed the national examination and has become a candidate for my second Master degree of Fine Arts at the Graduate School of the Chinese National Academy of Arts which is the highest art research organization in China since September 21, 2016 and which I should get in July, 2019 if everything goes smoothly during the meantime, while, hopefully, becoming an instructor in Chinese World Humanities at an American college with this publication series as my own textbooks.

In the past 16 years, very many things have happened in my life. My heart is full of endless gratitude to so many people and organizations which have directed, supported and helped me, and I would really like to list them here and remember all of them forever.


-- My Endless Gratitude to My Chinese Alma Maters on Art and My First Teachers

Sept 10, 2010, a former colleague and friend enrolled me in the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing while I was in a hospital in Shenzhen; and then, when I went into its School of Chinese Painting at CAFA on Nov 26, 2010, and went into Chinese National Academy of Arts on Oct 7, 2011 ( The course started in Sept but I was late starting because I had attended the 2011 Kentucky World Language Conference) during my sick leave, after learning Chinese painting for 8 years in my free time and having twice held art exhibitions in the USA. I just wanted to realize an art dream which I have had since childhood ( I had learned opaque watercolor painting and oil, then stopped before I went to university, and re-started in 2002 but with Chinese painting). I myself didn't expect that I would be able to study Chinese painting in Beijing for so long that I have now entered my 7th year and will continue until my 9th year at least… The simple reason I continue is that the more I study, the more I feel Chinese arts’ broadness and profundity, and the more I realize the gaps in my knowledge framework, the more I want to improve myself.

So, I would really like to thank the Chinese National Academy of Arts (CNAA ), China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA ) and the 59 (37 from CNAA and 22 from CAFA) professors and tutors who taught me face to face in Beijing and my 3 first art teachers and 3 vocal music coaches, for they have given me a new and artistic educational background and helped me lay a good foundation for my future development. I would really like to thank and always remember:   

陈平教授Prof. Ping Chen – Dean of the School of Painting at China Central Academy of Fine Arts and a supervisor of Ph.D. students. It was he who pointed out that “ Poetry is the core of Chinese paining, the final competition of Chinese painting is poetry not technique” and it was also he who told me how to lay a stable professional foundation for my cross-cultural and comprehensive art dream on painting and music. What he said to me face to face has been directing my studying and working direction as a motto since June 18, 2011.

满维起教授 Prof. Weiqi Man – President of Chinese Traditional Painting Academy and former Executive Deputy Dean of the Chinese Painting School at the Chinese National Academy of Arts and a tutor of Master students. It was he who recommended some specific ancient masters in Chinese art history for me to learn, and it was he who supervised my study for 4 years ( Sept, 2011 to July, 2015) . He also offered me a free study opportunity in his school for 2 months in 2016. He was the art advisor of the Volume 1 of this publication series.   

穆家善教授 Prof. Jiashan Mu – Researcher at the Chinese National Academy of Arts and a former Professor at the Maryland Institute of Arts in the USA, founder of “ the Dry-ink One-thousand-hair Wrinkling Technique” for Chinese painting, he not only opened my mind and helped me to see my little cross-cultural and comprehensive art dream from a new and international view in 2014, but he has also been my supervisor for my Masters degree of Fine Arts since July, 2016 and the art advisor of this publication, created a painting for a Chinese poem and music and offered another 8 paintings for the publication.

蒋彩苹教授Prof. Chaiping Jiang –   As a Supervisor of Candidates for Doctoral Degrees of Chinese National Academy of Arts, an inventor who got the national patent for her High Temperature Crystalline Pigments for Chinese painting and a leading scholar in her field and a professor of some of professors of mine, she taught me face to face in Dec, 2014 and she offered 8 of her paintings for this publication.

许俊教授Prof. Jun Xu – As an Associate Dean of Chinese School and a former Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, a Supervisor of Masters Degree candidates and an expert on Chinese traditional landscape, especially on “ Blue Green Mountain and River Painting”, he not only taught me face to face 2011 to 2015, but also offered 13 paintings for this publication.

王同君教授Prof. Tongjun Wang – As a former Guest Professor at Chinese National Academy of Arts, a Supervisor of Candidates for Master’s Degrees at Harbin Normal University, who created a blue green flower and bird painting technical for Chinese painting, he not only taught me face to face 2011 to 2014 and wrote a recommendation for me to become a master’s degree candidate at the Chinese National Academy of Arts in Sep, 2016, but also, he has offered 8 paintings for this publication.   

潘缨博士Dr. Ying Pan – As a Senior Professional Artist at the Chinese National Academy of Arts and a Supervisor of Candidates for Master’s Degrees, who found a Mogu Painting Technique for Chinese painting, she not only taught me face to face in 2011 to 2015 and wrote a recommendation for me for to become a candidate for my Master’s degree of Fine Arts at the Chinese National Academy of Arts in Sep, 2016, but also, she has offered 8 paintings for this publication.

姚舜熙教授Prof. Shunxi Yao – As the Head of Flower and Bird Department of School of Chinese Painting at China Central Academy of Fine Arts, a Supervisor of Candidates for Masters Degrees and an expert who created a special Chinese painting teaching method, he has not only taught me face to face in 2010, directed me by phone in 2012, but   he has also offered 6 paintings for this publication.

The other professors and instructors who taught me face to face at the Chinese National Academy of Arts: 田黎明教授Pro. Liming Tian, 李魁正教授 Prof. Kuizheng Li, Jiang, 高卉敏教授 Prof. Huimin Gao, 林若曦教授Ruoxi Lin 张鸿飞Prof. Hongfei Zhang, 韩学中教授 Prof Han Xuezhong, 苗在新教授Prof. Zaixin Miao, 李乃宙教授Prof. Naizhou Li, 何延吉教授Prof. Yanji He, 韩敬伟教授Prof. Jingwei Han, 白云湘教授 Prof. Yunxiang Bai, 周尊圣教授Prof. Zunsheng Zhou, 曾先国教授Prof. Xianguo Zeng, 刘选让教授Prof. Xuanrang Liu,      刘万鸣副教授Associate Prof. Wanming Liu, 成振国老师 Mr. Zhenguo Cheng, 苗重安老师 Mr. Chongan Miao赵国经、王美芳老师Mr. Guojing Zhao, Mrs. Meifang Wang, 田云鹏先生Mr. Yunpeng Tian, 曹传真先生Mr. Chuanzhen Cao, 吴冰博士Dr. Bing Wu, 刘波博士Dr. Bong Liu, 曹建华博士Dr. Jianhua Cao and 周午生老师 Mr. Wusheng Zhou, 李雪松老师Mr. Xuesong Li. My tutors: 吴彤老师Mr. Tong Wu, 卢文清老师Mr. Wenqing Lu, 孙琪老师Mr. Qi Sun, 马胜利老师 Mr. Shengli Ma, 任鸣老师 Mr. Ming Ren and 冀燕老师 Ms. Yan Ji.

The other professors and tutors who taught me face to face at China Central Academy of Fine Arts: 唐勇力教授Prof. Yongli Tang, 李洋教授Prof. Yang Li, 苏百君教授Prof. Baijun Su, 崔晓东教授Prof. Xiaodong Cui, 姚明京教授Prof. Mingjing Yao,李铁生教授Prof. Tiesheng Li, 刘庆和教授Associate Prof. Qinghe Liu, 于光华教授Prof. Guanghua Yu, 刘荣副教授Associate Prof. Rong Liu, 毕建勋副教授Associate Prof. Jianxun Bi, 岳黔山副教授Associate Prof. Qianshan Yue, 丘挺副教授 Associate Prof. Ting Qiu, 徐海副教授Associate Prof. Hai Xu, 谢青副教授 Associate Prof. Qing Xie, 金瑞副教授Associate Prof Rui Jin, 林彬副教授 Associate Prof. Bin Lin,张弓老师Mr. Gong Zhang, 张猛老师Mr. Meng Zhang and my tutors郭亚凯老师Mr. Yakai Guo and 李刚老师Mr. Gang Li.

I would also like to thank and remember my first art and music teachers forever:

My deceased first American art and music teacher, Mr. Charlie K
My first opaque water color painting and oil painting teachers, Mr. Liren Wang王立人先生
My first Chinese painting teacher, Prof. Hui Tao陶辉教授
My first Chinese landscape painting teacher, Mr. Gang Li 李刚老师
My first tutor of painting from nature with pen, Mr. Tong Wu 吴彤老师
My first tutor of painting from nature with Chinese brushes, Prof. Tiesheng Li 李铁生教授

My first music tutor who taught me both composition and vocal music, Prof. Weiye Meng 蒙伟业教授.
My first and second vocal music coaches Mrs. Xuan Ma马萱老师 and Mrs Yan Huang黄燕老师

-- My Endless Gratitude to My American Alma Mater-- Missouri State University and to Missouri People

Missouri State University not only gave me an opportunity to get my MBA degree, but also it helped me become an artist and find the cross-cultural and comprehensive art road. I would like to thank and remember these faculty (members?) and staff of the University:

Associate Vice President Stephen H. Robinette, he has been the American advisor of this cross-cultural and comprehensive art publication series since 2010. It was he who gave me a helping hand or a clear opinion at almost every difficult time or when I had to make the hardest choices. It was he who has helped me to save the 64 pictures which I had donated to Springfield, MO in 2010 since July, 2011.

President Clifton M Smart, he has met me, attended my art exhibition at Ozarks Technical Community College and recommended me for a course on Feb 24, Feb 27 and July 19 2014.

Associate Vice President Bradley V. Bodenhausen, he recommended me for a study opportunity in 2014, helped me to store the 64 pictures which I had donated to Springfield, MO to the store of Mr. Joe Jenkins in 2010, and sponsored my first art exhibition when he worked for Springfield Area of Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

Vice president William Brent Dun, he accepted my interview for my “American Story” which I wanted to write and gave me some actual directions Nov 12, 2013.

Associate Vice President and Director of Plaster Student Union Thomas Lane, for sponsoring my second art exhibition in the US in May 6 to 25, 2010; Former Provost Belinda McCarthy, for approving the art exhibition and attending it on Mar. 6, 2010; Director Robin Low of the Brick City Art Gallery, for organizing the art exhibition; Prof. Edward Chang for doing most of the logistical work during the art exhibition.

Chinese Specialist Xiaoou Gong of the Business College for doing the connection jobs of my first and second art exhibitions, helping to save the 64 paintings I donated to Springfield to the store of Mr. Joe Jenkins, in May, 2010, and being my private tutor, helping me pass the two most difficult course in 2008 to 2009.

Per Course faculty member Mrs. Hing Wah Hatch and Associate Prof. Mr. Jerry Hatch for doing most of the logistical jobs for me to teach during my first art exhibition at 9 public schools and the Creamery Art Center, MO, in Sept, 2009.

Prof. Steve K. Olson, Associate Professor Paul Ashcroft, Ms. Sivill, Elizabeth A, Mr. Dementyeva, Rano B and Mr. Thornton, Craig M of the Accountancy School at Missouri State University for correcting my Chinese poem translations and 2 articles for free in 2015 and in 2016.

Vice President James P. Baker, Ms. Kristan E. Gochenauer, Prof. Yungchen Cheng, Mr. Zhang Peng; Prof. Gloria J. Galanes, Prof. Carolyn Cardenas, Prof. Jason R. Jolley, Prof. Yuhuan Qiao, Prof. Wenping Qiu and Dr. Weirong Yan of Arts and Letter College; Prof. Olen Greer, Prof. Steve K. Olson, Prof. Glenn Pace and Instructor Patrick R. Sells of the Business College have all offered help on my dream seeking.

I would also like to thank the other professors and tutors teaching me face to face from 2008 to 2009:   Prof. David Meinert, Prof. Kent Ragan, Prof. Parker Richard S, Prof. Keith, Nancy K, Prof. Elizabeth, Prof. Olsen Greer, Prof. Charles Hermans, Prof. Carlo Smith, Prof. John Kent, Prof. Randall Sexton, Prof. William Donoher and Ms. Anna Brashers.

I would specially like to thank Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and its former Executive Manager Brad Bodenhausen, Springfield Regional Arts Council and its former Executive Director Leah Hamilton for sponsoring my first art exhibition which was a milestone on my road of dream seeking in Sep, 2009.

I would like to thank the Director of Programs, Stephanie Cramer, of Springfield Regional Art Council for doing every thing for my art exhibition in 2009 and my art show at ArtFest in 2010. It was she who planned and arranged all my art demonstrations for the local people at K-12 schools and their art center in 2009.

I would like to thank the following art teachers for organizing my Chinese art demonstrations in their schools:

Art teacher Tracy A. Gardner-Snodgrass of Hickory Hills Middle School.
Headmaster Livingston and Art Teacher Erin Hughes of Robberson Elementary School.
Art teacher Kanvnila Price and teacher Dave Cowens of Bailey Alternative High school.
Art teacher Cindy Bylander of Kickapoo High School.
Teacher Calvin Lallen and teacher Ms. Rosliand of Springfield Community Center.
Art teacher Stephanie Lemons of Sherwood Elementary School.
Art teacher Kevin Zimmerman of Harrison Elementary School.
Per Course faculty member Hing Wah of Missouri State University.
Professor Hue Ping Chinn of the Art Department of Drury University.

I would like to thank President David Manuel of Drury University, Mrs. Manuel and Dr. Rebecca D. Burrell for coming my speech room at their art center that the Northwest District Art Teachers' Association organized for me on Nov 9, 2013. The questions Mrs. Manuel asked, “Do you want to teach?” “Do you want to teach after finishing your study in Beijing?” lit my mind and first inspired me to think of extending my original teaching boundary to include higher academic fields. As a result, I have now become a candidate for a Masters Degree   in Fine Arts at the highest art research organization of China.

I would really like to thank Ozark Technical Community College, its Fine Arts and Humanities Department and the Fine Art Gallery,   for sponsoring my 4th and 6th comprehensive art exhibitions in Feb, 2014 and in Feb, 2016. I would especially like to thank them for approving me to open a new and creative course – Chinese World Humanities, which uses this publication series, in their college , which commences in 2017 or later.

I would really like to thank and remember:

President Hai Higronof, for awarding me a Certificate of Appreciation at my art exhibition and told me “Come back early…” on Feb 27, 2014.

Dean Lance Renne, he was present my exhibitions on Feb 7 and 27, 2014 and Feb 5, 2016, and approved my new course to be taught in his college.

Provost Steve Bishop for being present my two exhibitions in Feb, 2014 and Feb, 2016 and supporting my work at his college.

Art instructor Mrs. Cynthia Moorce, Music instructor Mrs. Marilyn Dunn for organizing my demonstrations in their departments in Feb, 2014.

Dr. Dr Jessica Gerard for recommending me to her college and for organizing the first two lessons for me in her college in April, 2010.

Ms. Gomez Mindy M and Ms. Sherry A. Phelan for giving me a training on how to be a good instructor for 8 weeks Oct to Dec in 2015. Ms. Vicki and Mrs. Fran Giglio for training me in English from Sept, 2015 to Feb, 2016, and then from Jan, 2017 to now.

I especially appreciate the help and support of Mrs. Kat Allie – the Department Chair of the Fine Arts and Humanities Department and Fine Art Gallery Manager at Ozark Technical Community College. It was she who did everything to help me and give me those opportunities with her good insight and an open mind. What she has done has not only given me much encouragement and much inspiration which has affected and will influence me in my cross-cultural and comprehensive art dream seeking, but she has also set a good example for me on how to treat an unknown foreign student or a dreamer when she or he is nothing yet. If it wasn't for Mrs. Kat Allie and her good help, I would not be what I am now with this project.

I would really like to thank Seymour R-II Public School and its Superintendent D. Bruce Denny and Principal Brian Wilbanks of the High School, for giving me 3 opportunities to share what I have learned and dreamed of with their students and local people in May, 2010, Sept, 2013 and Feb, 2014.

I would especially like to thank their former Art teacher Wanda Nava, for organizing all of my Chinese comprehensive art presentations, demonstrations and teachings, a total of 21 events at her school from 2010 to 2014 and recommended me to other schools and art organizations.

I would like to thank President Crayl Posada - Stillings of Ava Artist Guild for twice organizing workshops for me to share Chinese and American culture and arts with its members on Sept 21, 2013 and Dec 12, 2015.

I would like to thank President Riann Lubinski of Northwest District Art Teachers' Association for organizing lecture for me at the art center of Drury University on Nov 8, 2013

I would like to thank Co-president Desiree Young of Visual Art Alliance for organizing a speech for me at P.O. Box 1113 on Sept. 13, 2015

I would like to thank Brentwood Branch Library, Springfield, MO and its former manager Ms. Kim Flores for approving my comprehensive art exhibition in their library Sept 1 to 30, 2015.

I would especially like to thank Librarians Peggy Hanes for she and her colleagues not only organized my 5th art exhibition in the USA, but also offered a place for me to teach at their library September to December, 2015.

I would like to thank Mrs. Glad Syermer and Principal Paula Baird of Immaculate Conception School, Principal Cheryl Hall of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School and Principal Lindsay Paulsell of St. Agnes School for organizing 66 hours of lessons for me to teach in their schools, about 1,600 person-time attended my two courses from September to December, 2015. During the courses, my “Traditional Chinese Painting Course” and “Comprehensive and Artistic Chinese (Together With Me Learn Chinese Culture and Language by Enjoying and Practicing Painting, Music and Poetry” matured. Both of them were pregnant with the new course   “Chinese World Humanities ” which I will teach at OTC from 2017.

I would like to thank Missionaries Mrs. Sherri Merkling and Mr. Jeason Merkling for helping me learn Bible face to face during they came back the USA to see a doctor from Africa since Jan, 2017 to now.

I would really like to thank Mrs. Qingqing Yan and her husband for they wanted to drive me to their house and offer me a place to stay when the electricity and gas were not working in my house when a freezing rain hit Springfield, MO, Jan 13, 2017 and would like to offer me a room to teach for free in 2013 to 2014.

I would especially thank Mr. John David Lawson and his wife for they did not only look after my house when I was not in the USA 2016, but also they offered their time to drive me to see a doctor for urgent treatment when I wounded my ankle on Dec 10, 2017.

I would like to thank Mr. John Walker and his wife for offering help since Oct, 2015, such as with buying a house and looking after the house, calling the local utility department before I asked them during the freezing rain, giving me a ride after I wounded my ankle.

I would also like to thank Mr. Tim Stoll and Mr. Jacob Stoll for they repaired my floor with a quite professional style and with a good discount in their Christmas holiday and gave me a ride when I had a difficult time Dec 27, 2016.

I would like to thank Ms. Carrissa Griffin for she just like a rescuer who offered so much help in my travels 2015 to 2017, picked up me at the airport, called the Mediacom, took me to At & T and helped me to buy a new cell phone…   

I would like to thank Mrs. Ellen for taking me to see a doctor for emergency treatment in Jan 2016.   

I would like to thank President Lonnie Funk, Mr. Tony Martine and Mr. Steve Reed of the Rolling Oaks Group of Companies LLC, Springfield, MO, Mr. Don Haselhorst and Ms. Lean of Haselhorst Properties for their good help with my accommodation in 2013 and in 2015. Thanks also to Department Manager Leigh Anne Garren of University Plaza, Springfield, MO for her good help in 2013 and 2014.

I would especially like to thank Mrs. Harriet Mears who is a Honorary Doctor of Drury University for offering me accommodation for free for 10 days in 2010. Thanks to Mr. Joe Jenkins for offering a free storage and for looking after my donated 64 paintings May, 2010 – July, 2011. Thanks to Ms. Mary Ellen for offering me a house from Sept 20, to Nov. 18, 2015.

I would especially thank Mr. Zhu Bin and his wife for their most logistics support Oct 2013 to Feb, 2016, especially for their great help on buying my house, and so giving me a base for my little cross-cultural and comprehensive art dream in America. If it wasn't for their support, I would not have developed my work in Springfield.

Thanks to President Ron Buffalow and Mr. John of the BTI Pest Control LLC for killing the insects in my house in Dec, 2015.

Thanks Mr. Byrian Kramme for checking my house and gave the direction how to improve its safety on Oct, 2015.

Thanks to Mr. Daniel Hou and his wife for their good help on finding a house in Sept, 2015.   

I would like to thank the 4 Police Officers for their seasonable help with my safety and fixing a broken water pipe in my house at a midnight in Feb, 2016 and for checking my house in Nov, 2015 and Nov, 2016.      

I would like to thank President Don Stilley of K & R Electric, Inc. for buying 3 paintings at my 6th art exhibition in Feb, 2016.

Thanks to Pastor Philip Cheuk for baptizing for me on Dec 1, 2013.

Here is my endless Gratitude to all of the kind Missouri people who have helped, supported and directed me and to the Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri State, USA.      

-- My Endless Appreciation to Kentucky and Kentucky People

I would really like to thank Kentucky World Language Association, Kentucky Chinese Teachers' Association, the Confucius Institute at the University of Kentucky and 24 American Chinese teachers for helping me to extend my cross-cultural and comprehensive art into the field of Chinese as a Second Language for the first time in the US in 2011

I would also like to thank the Government of City of Pikeville, Eastern Kentucky Expo and Pikeville Artisan Alliance, for organizing my 3rd cross-cultural and comprehensive art exhibition in their city, my original demonstration has lead to two courses “ Poetry, Painting, Music – Comprehensive and Artistic Chinese” and “Traditional Chinese Painting” in the US since May, 2013.

I do appreciate and would like to remember these people and organizations:   

President Randy Barrette of Kentucky World Language Association
Director Huajing Xiu of the Confucius Institute at University of Kentucky
Former President Yan Wang of Kentucky Chinese Teachers' Association
American Chinese teacher Shanshan Li of Yates Elementary School
Headmaster Tara Isaace of Dixie Magnet Elementary School
American Chinese teachers Chen Hong and art teacher Rachel Losch of Dixie Magnet Elementary School
Former American Chinese teacher of Xuelian Lei of Crawford Middle School
Former American Chinese teacher Shanli Zhao of Tates Creek High School
Former American Chinese teacher Yiran Zhou of Leestown Middle School
Art Substitute Teacher of Lexington Traditional Magnet School

City Manager Donovan Blackburn of City of Pikeville
Former General Manager Steve St. John of Eastern Kentucky Expo
President Frank Dawahare of Pikeville Artisan Alliance
Director Minta Chanry of Artisan Alliance of Pikeville

Especially I would like to thank the former Grant Administrator Mrs. Leigh Ann Hughes of City of Pikeville and Director of Pikeville Artisan Alliance for organizing my 3rd art exhibition and did all the logistical jobs for my teaching in her city Nov, 2012 - May, 2013.

Art teacher Paula Smith of Pikeville High School
Art teacher Paula Martin of Pikeville Elementary School
Art teacher Bami Lucas of Pikeville Central School

I really appreciate Mr. Eddie Liu and his wife who are the Owners of Beijing Restaurant of Pikeville for sponsoring the advertisement for my third art exhibition in the USA, 2013. Thanks to General Manager Sam Keith of Hampton Inn for their good service in May, 2013.

I would also like to thank the friendly buyers at my art exhibition in Kentucky:
Mrs. St. John – Wife of Mr. Steve St. John
Mrs. Garlene Layne-Abshire – Art teacher of North Point Academy
Mr. Frank Caven
Mrs. Emma Jones – An attorney
Prof. John Howie of Pikeville University
Dr. Nicole Schnopp-Wyatt
A young man whose name I do not know.
Mr. Frank Dawahare

I especially appreciate Emeritus Professor Bill R Booth, my American art mentor and guide since 2009, for checking more than 100 of my paintings and helping me open the gate of Kentucky. Thanks to Mr. Yiran Zhou for introducing me to Dr. Booth who was a bridge between Missouri and Kentucky for me.


-- My Endless Gratitude to the Media and My Work Partners

As my cross-cultural and comprehensive art has budded and developed, I have gotten much help from the media and my work partners. Jinan University Press has published 2 series with 6 books, 4 CDs and 2 DVDs, more than 1 million words for me; 1 Chinese newspaper, 3 American newspapers and 2 American TV stations have reported on my work in the USA. I would really like to thank and to remember these people and organizations:

Former President Hua Wang 王华 of Jinan University Publishing Press, former vice President of Jinan University, Chief Supervisor of E-bridge Cross-cultural Series I and current President of Guangdong University of Finance & Economics for approving and supervising the first publication series.

President Yixing Xu 徐义雄of Jinan University Publishing Press for approving and supervising the E-bridge Cross-cultural & Comprehensive Art series II and mentioning the idea of creating some cross-cultural works in 2009 and for caring for and giving some good directions on the publication series since then.

Vice President Shengying Huang 黄圣英, Assistant President Fengqiang Jin金凤强, Mrs. Yueqiu Liang 梁月秋, Ms. Junsheng Huang黄圣君of Jinan University Press, President Xiaolu Du杜小陆of Humanity Branch at Jinan University Press for their good jobs on the publication series.

Director Min Lin林敏of the News Desk of Shenzhen Daily, China for their reports in 2009 and 2013.

Ms. Elizabeth Thompson and a Reporter for Appalachian News – Express, USA for their report 2013.   
Five Radio Broadcasters and East Kentucky Broadcasting, USA for their reports in 2013.
Two Reporters and the TV Station of Pikeville, KY, USA for their reports in 2013 and 2014.
Mrs. Camille F. D. Dautrich and News-Leader of Springfield, MO USA for their report in 2014.   
The reporter and Springfield TV station, MO, USA for their report in 2014.
Also the newspaper office in Seymour City, MO, USA.   

I would also like to thank my volunteer work partners for their friendly help:

Mr. Miguel Mckelvey and Mr. John Hayden who are graduates of Portland University and the owners of English, baby! for creating the articles and recording the CDs in English for the first E-bridge Cross-cultural and Comprehensive Art series – Together With Me Learn True American English from 2000 to 2001.      

Prof. Xijia Su 苏希嘉, Vice Provost Charles Jieping Chen 陈杰平 of China Europe International Business School and former Associate Dean and Dean of Accounting Department at Hong Kong City University for checking and correcting all my translation, totaling 0.93 million words, from English into Chinese in the 4 books of the first series for 2 years for free.

Assistant General Manager Charlie Qu Zhang 张全of the Network Company and Department Manager of Securities Times Newspaper Office for doing all of the software development jobs in his free time for free since 2005

English Tutor Mr. Mike Joyce from Britain for checking and correcting most of my writing for my Cross-Cultural and Comprehensive Art publications for free since 2002 and offering a lot of “ emergency” language assistance.   

English Tutor – Mrs. Xiaogang Zhang 张晓岗 from China for checking and correcting most of articles on Chinese poems in this publication for free from 2012 to 2016 and offering much “ emergency” language assistance.   

Designer Hongye Zhou周红叶 for doing the art design of the first DVD and the first book of this series for free.

Also, I would like to thank Designer Bao Yinjun包殷珺for designing and printing my 5 albums of paintings 2010 – 2015 before I started a new international travel and worked to quite a tight schedule.   

-- My Endless Gratitude to My Doctors and Nurses

Since Dec, 2009, during the whole of the process of working on my cross-cultural and comprehensive art study, practice and travels, I have had to fight illnesses. So,my heart is full of endless gratitude to my doctors and nurses:   

Department Head and Chief Physician Yu Liu 刘郁of Beijing University Shenzhen Hospital for her final diagnosis of a critical illness which had led to other illnesses, corrected a misdiagnosis and indirectly saving my sight.

Executive Vice-President Qiujiuan Zhang张秋娟 of Shenzhen Far-East Women and Children’s Hospital for helping me finally overcome a dangerous illness from which I have been completely clear since 2014.

Department Head and Chief Physician Song 宋主任, Wang王主任, Dr. Zhidong Yuan袁治东 and Dr. Qi Lin 林琦of Beijing University Shenzhen Hospital.
Department Head and Chief Physician刘红霞 of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital.
Dr. Yang Song宋洋 of Shenzhen First People’s Hospital.
Head Rong Liu刘蓉 of PET CT Department of Shenzhen Armed Police Force Hospital.
Dr. Deng邓医生 of Shenzhen Futian People Hospital.
Head-Nurse Min Gong龚敏 of Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital.
The American Oculist in Springfield, MO   

I do appreciate all of the other doctors and nurses whose names I do not know.

-- My Endless Gratitude to Some Leaders and Experts, Former Bosses, Colleagues and Classmates

Mrs. Jinhong Wang王锦红, Mr. Yan Liu, 刘妍 and Director Ping Liu刘兵of Division of Teaching Materials of Hanban / Confucius Institute Headquarters for organizing experts to check and evaluate the first volume of this publications series, giving me a sincere appraisal with much encouragement and pointing out my work direction.

Former Vice Minister Hong Jiang 江泓 of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Youth League and a Professor, he interviewed me and wrote“ 静心如莲Jing Xin Ru Lian – Keep a peaceful heart just like a water lily” for me.

Secretary of Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director Xuewen Huo   霍学文of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work for being a helpful supporter of my cross-culture and comprehensive art study, creation and practice.

The main founder and the first Editor in Chief蒋亚平教授Prof. Yaping Jiang of the People's Daily Online, a Nieman Fellow of Harvard University, for being the Chinese Advisor of my cross-cultural and comprehensive art dream seeking since 2005 and the publication since 2013.

Both of Professor and Supervisor of Ph.D. Students Zhulan Fang 方竹兰 of Renmin University of China and President of China Association for Quality Promotion, Director of Institute of Quality and Law at Peking University Zhaobin Liu 刘兆斌 for they have been trying to help and support me since we re-met in Beijing in 2012. It were them who helped by forwarding my new telephone card SIM from Beijing to the USA after my Chinese cell phone was lost in the USA.

Mr. Robert Rao of Shenzhen University and former official of International Talent Training Center of Shenzhen Personnel Bureau for recommending me to Missouri State University.

General Manager Zhong Li 李忠 of   Leema Australia Pty Ltd., for introducing me to the local educational organizations and helping me with the poetry translation in this publication.

Executive Chairman Zhang Jin 张晋 of Huaxia Culture and Education Group of Australia and President of Huaxia Culture School of Sydney and Chairman Bi Lin 林彬of Australian Chinese Language School Corporation for their help since 2014.

Dr. David Wenhao Liu 刘文豪from Stanford University, for his good help with my study in the USA in 2009 and his help with technology and English language since 1997.

Director Dennis Hart of the Visiting International Professionals Program at Michigan State University.

Especially I would like to thank the deceased Senior Reporter Mingliang Zhao –赵明亮 of the Xinhua News Agency for his good help.

I would especially like to thank my former bosses and colleagues for their good support while I studied in the USA, was sick in Shenzhen and studied in Beijing. I am greatly moved that between Sept 2008 and March, 2013, they kept my single office in the company, kept me a position as their colleague and one of the founders of the companies, let me see my personal value, feel their warmth and give me the confidence to fight my illnesses and to return to society and the world.

Former Vice President Mr. Ming Zhou 周明 of Shenzhen Stock Exchange, former President of Shenzhen Securities Information Co. Ltd. and General Manger of China Securities Registration and Settlement Company.

Former General Manager Song Zheng 郑颂 of Shenzhen Securities Information Co. Ltd. and Shenzhen City Panorama Networks Co. Ltd.

Main Founder and the First President and Editor in Chief Fengyi Wu武凤仪of the Securities Times Newspaper Office, and Chairman of China Capital Market Research Association.

Department Director Shuliang Zhang张树良 of a Subsidiary at China's Securities Regulatory Commission and former department manager of Shenzhen Securities Information Co. Ltd., Mrs.Xiaolu Go高晓璐,   Mrs.Lijun Chen陈丽君, Mrs. Yanjie Yu于延杰 and Mr. Yingfang Zhao赵迎仿for helping me with logistics jobs when I was in Beijing in 2010 to 2016.

Dr. Man Sun 孙满and Mrs. Xiaoqun Liao 廖肖群, for offering much help with my financial management.

Former monitor 杨广印Guangyin Yang of my class at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts offered a lot of help in 2010 to 2012.   

-- My endless Gratitude to My Family Members, Friends and Students

I would like to thank all my family members. I would especially like to thank my younger brother for his help at almost every critical stage and at the most difficult time during the printing of my albums, he offered to pay the printing cost for my 4th album and for delivering my albums to the USA. I would also like to thank my younger sister who is a senior English teacher, she has checked and corrected all articles on the Chinese poems which I would like to be published in this publication.   

Finally, I would also like to thank Dr. Bill R. Booth, Mr. Jerry Taylor, Mr. Franklin Salveson, Ms. Carissa Griffin, Mrs. Wanda Nava and Mr. Philip Nava, Mr. John Divide Lawson from America, Mr. Ross from Australia for the urgent assistance they gave me, they corrected my writing when I suffered from a sharp headache in the USA in Jan, 2014.

I would like to thank Mr. Ray Heaton from Britain for correcting three of my articles for free in this publication.

I would really like to thank all of my readers, friends and students wherever you are, you made me realize the value of my little cross-cultural dream and have given me so much encouragement and strength to work and live optimistically and positively.

I would really like to remember all of you and I will continuous efforts on this cross-cultural and comprehensive art study, creation and practice, try to help more people in the world with a grateful heart...

Sincerely,
Shirley Yiping Zhang
Feb, 2017
Written in the USA
shirley@ebridge.cn
www.ebridge.cn