Int'l symposium on Silk Road to be held in US historical 'silk city'

An international symposium on the role of Silk Road in the development of China and United States in culture, art, industry and commerce since the 18th century will be held this week in Paterson, New Jersey -- the US "silk city" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City," to be held at the William Paterson University on Wednesday and Thursday, will feature academic presentations, discussions, and art exhibitions designed to offer a fresh look at the historical orientation of the Silk Road and the Paterson. "We hope to stimulate historical research on the Silk Road, expand and enhance international understanding and cooperation, provide a forum for discussion between the governments and universities of sister cities, and promote the development of cultural, educational, economic, and commercial exchanges," said Zhiyuan Cong, professor of art and director of the center, in a press release. Co-organized by the William Paterson University Galleries and the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the symposium is co- Founded in 2009, the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson is the first nonprofit center for Chinese art in the United States that aims to academically promote cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries.