I knew Ms. Stephanie in Jun or July, 2009.
I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to have my art exhibition sponsored by Chamber of Commerce and Springfield Regional Art Council by the good help of Mr. Brad Bodenhausen, Ms. Lead Hamilton and Mr. Gong Xiaoou in Sep, 2009.
Then Ms. Stephanie did all of the detail jobs: From choosing every painting, to write the labels of each paintings, until hang up them on the wall; from decorate the exhibition hall, to fix flowers on the piano, everything she arranged or done by herself in person...
Also, it was she arranged the workshops in the Creamery Art Center and first time, I had an opportunity to go into 9 public schools...
Then in 2010, I took part in the ArtFest of Springfield, it was her, arranged the booth for me and until today, I still remember that she were in some yellow and green clothes, wore in a cowboy hat, hung up a canteen on her shoulder, let me think of the bright and brave army woman, and also an aritst who were going to paint from the nature...
Anyway, at the first time we met each other in her art center Nov 1, when we talked about we had not met each other for 3 and a half year, during the time, she lost her sister and I lost my mother... tears flew on her face... at that moment, I felt the soft and tender heart of an artist...
In the evening, I looked a series art works with red colors by Mr. Stephanie. They are abstract, but bright, healthy and quite alive.
I am quite impression on her red and golden color art works and they did make me think of bright and beautiful yellow, golden and red colors in Nov in whole of the Springfield City, thought of the kind, educational and friendly people who are living on this land...
Caught the short time, she answered some of my questions. I am impression on her opinion that art is very personal, to express her own feeling at the first, then to influence the others naturally, therefore, she did never tell people what she wanted to express by herself, but let her readers to feel what in her paintings, to get something from her art works by themselves…
Also, can imagine? She quite enjoy painting several paintings at the same time together, to get the inspirations each other, some times, one of her paintings would wait for her 9 years to continue it…
Via the short talking, I have really learned so much for her indeed…
Because of the time problems, we have not finished our interview yet, I will find another time to interview her. :- )
I do hope Ms. Stephanie and her family members healthier, happier and more successful …
If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to
shirley@ebridge.cn . You are welcome to publish your opinions in
Message Board as well.
Shirley Yiping Zhang
Nov 30, 2013
