The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

Student news without fear or favor
The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

Student news without fear or favor

Leia Ostermann, Author

All content by Leia Ostermann

Exhibit combines Western media with Chinese culture

Leia Ostermann
January 4, 2011

Contemporary Chinese art work is now returning to more personal inspirations by using Western art tools. "Artists draw from the same sources around the world," said the director of the University Library...

‘Papers’ sheds light on youth illegal immigration issue

Leia Ostermann
December 5, 2010

The documentary, "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth," is a disquieting yet realistic view into the lives of illegal immigrant students and their pursuit of higher education. This film screening, including...

‘American Sueno’ shows dreams can happen for everyone

Leia Ostermann
November 18, 2010

Love and life, amor and vida, are the two ideas that everyone searches for their whole lives, the dream that identity and an identity based neither on culture nor sexuality. The bilingual play, "The American...

Dance, drink, party and change a kid’s life

Leia Ostermann
November 9, 2010

Flappers, hippies and hipsters will all be represented at a decade-themed benefit fundraiser tonight at Club Shenanigans. Twelve communication studies students planned this charity event as an assignment...

Jokes and tokes; Doug Benson does not disappoint with comedy show

Leia Ostermann
October 29, 2010

Doug Benson is all about jokes and tokes. Somehow he managed to combine these two slacker pastimes to create the ultimate dream job. College students should learn from him. After all, we all have something...

First successful stem-cell surgeon speaks at Sac State

Leia Ostermann
October 22, 2010

Dr. Martin Birchall, who led the research team that performed the first stem cell cures, is lecturing on stem cell research and curing respiratory disease at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the University Union...

‘Sin Nombre’ shows startling, but realistic view of immigrant life

Leia Ostermann
October 8, 2010

Brilliant and expansive cinematography captures the feel of Mexican gangs and the drive to immigrate north, but it also makes this thriller a tough watch. "Sin Nombre,' which translates to "without a name",...

Fake obituary inspires new goal

Leia Ostermann
September 29, 2010

British adventurer and rower Roz Savage gave up her Edwardian mansion and little red sports car for a dream and a cause. She wanted to have an exceptional obituary. In order to obtain this obituary, Savage...

Great Wall Bar-B-Q – not for the faint of stomach

Leia Ostermann
September 24, 2010

Overrated, in my definition, is when quality does not match expectation. Food has never been a point of disgust in my life, especially Asian food: Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Mongolian are all tasty to...

Symphony offers historic and compelling music

Leia Ostermann
September 23, 2010

People can be moved by the tangible and visible aspect of music they see performed in a concert. The Sacramento State Symphony Orchestra, performing at 8 p.m. at Capistrano Hall this Saturday, wants to...

Stephan Hogan is a breath of fresh indie air

Leia Ostermann
September 17, 2010

It is hard to think of an artist who blends several genres and audiences into one catchy and lyrically-based record. Stephan Hogan's breakout album, "Hello," reaches out to a variety of ages and speaks...

‘Easy A’ offers fresh laughs in stale genre

Leia Ostermann
September 17, 2010

After a summer of dim and dreary comedies, it is refreshing to watch a movie that doesn't quite fit in. "Easy A," flavored by the sagacious and sarcastic Emma Stone, takes the classic story of "The Scarlet...

Art displays culture of Yunnan, China

Leia Ostermann
September 15, 2010

In an attempt to share their culture with the world, four award-winning Chinese artists brought their ethnic art to Sacramento State on Thursday as a part of their California art tour.

"Art is an organic part of Chinese culture," Sac State President Alexander Gonzales said. "Chinese people often make friends and renew friendship through the bridge of literature, calligraphy and painting."

The artists, Hekun, Chen Hongling, Hu Xiaoxing and Yinxin, spoke only Chinese. This was their first time in the United States, Hekun said through a translator. They came from the providence of Yunnan, the origin of art and humanity in Chinese culture, Hekun said.

Yunnan is home to 26 minority groups, which the artists purposed to capture through their art, Hekun said. The artists wanted to speak to the minorities and to give them a voice through their artwork, Hekun and Xiaoxing said.

Art comes from the blending of culture and nature, Hekun and Xiaoxing said. The whole exhibit shows emotion, local culture and diversity, personality and the clear beauty of China, Xiaoxing said.

Xiaoxing used watercolors to paint the relationships between people and their environment. Pointing to his favorite piece, "Fellow of Mt. Alias," Xiaoxing said the 70-year-old man in the painting had run the whole way down the mountain to greet him when he visited their village.

The old man was an oat farmer from a self-sustaining minority group, the Yi, Xiaoxing said. The pink shirt and wool cap he wears was hand-made by his wife for special occasions, Xiaoxing said. The old man was proud of what his wife had made and their mountain culture, Xiaoxing said.

"People are really lucky who live in Yunnan. It's what you would call a paradise," Xiaoxing said. "Yunnan has the most flowers and the most traditions and the most art. When you visit China you usually go to the big city. But in Yunnan you see culture and the clear sky. As blue as the California sky," Xiaoxing said.

Their culture also revolves around hard work, Hekun said. Hekun is a traditional reduction woodcut artist who works 17 hours a day on his art.

Woodcut prints are pieces of wood that have been gouged out and painted to create a 3D effect. This particular style of art originated in Yunnan Province about 50 years ago, said Hekun.

Yinxin, a photographer, said that his art is very aesthetic and a taste of life. His images capture nature and feelings, they are parts of his soul, he said.

Art gives us a window into the stories of traditional culture, calligrapher Chen Hongling said.

This exhibit was purposed to share this taste a traditional culture and to show the character of Yunnan and the Yunnanese people. Harmony, environment and creativity, are the themes the four artists wished to express.

Shao Wei, consultant general of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, explained that his country and community were committed to cultural exchange and sharing art.

"We want you to look at this art and to see our culture, to hear our culture and to feel our culture," Wei said.

The combination of the traditional calligraphy and wood cuts alongside the water colors and photography gave this exhibit a wide lens view into Chinese culture in the Yunnan province, Hekun said.

Yinxin, Xaioxing, Hongling and Hekun have all won awards for their contributions to the art society and have been featured in museums in China, England and multiple countries across Europe.

This exhibit fulfilled the dreams of many; Sac State's passion for cultural awareness, Hekun's desire to visit the United States, the desire for art students to experience non-western art and all four artist's passion to introduce the traditional Chinese culture to the states.

Leia Ostermann can be reached at [email protected]

Sac State music professor?s expertise inspires students

Leia Ostermann
September 8, 2010

Some professors practice their trade, others just teach. Keith Bohm, professor of music at Sacramento State, plays the dual role of musician and educator. As a soloist, Bohm has performed in recitals across...

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