Taiwanese Guests Teach Beacon Students The Universal Language Of Art

Engrossed in projects across the second floor of the Monday afternoon, students from Beacon Charter School High School for the Arts seemed to hardly notice the language barrier as teachers from Taiwan shared their craft.

Dough figurines, calligraphy scrolls, paper parasols and bamboo dragonflies filled the room as the young artists moved from station to station, creating traditional Taiwanese artwork.

45 students attended the event, a unique opportunity to learn the culture and skill of nine guests from the small island in East Asia. Woonsocket was the first stop for these traveling artists, touring the United States for Taiwanese American Heritage Week.

"This is the experience of a lifetime," said Tina Go, head of admissions for the school. "Understanding the culture... it's a unique opportunity that I hope the students continue."

The visitors arrived on May 4, Rhode Island Independence Day, and met their hosts at a reception at Principal Robert Pilkington pointed out that the arrival coincides with a similar celebration: the 100th anniversary of Taiwan’s independence.

"There are artistic connections, cross-cultural connections, they really get to create a bond," Pilkington said. Each artist was provided an interpreter from the Rhode Island Association of Chinese Americans.

Pilkington led the guests on a tour of Providence with stops at the statehouse, Benefit Street and Rhode Island School of Design.

Jack Huang Ph. D., director of the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston coordinated the trip, his second in the United States. "It's been wonderful, they've really been hands-on," said Huang of the students.

Last year, Huang visited Central Falls with a group of Taiwanese artists for a 600-plus person assembly. "They had fun, but they just watched. This time, the students did the work."

In the closing ceremonies, Pilkington presented each artist with an honorary diploma from .  He said he hopes to repeat the festivities next year, potentially with foreign visitors to teach music or dance. "This has been a joyous couple of days. I'm so impressed with the warmness and graciousness of our guests," he said.