Visiting WWII veteran to bring Chinese expertise, artwork
Joy Pavelski
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
A World War II veteran Marine will visit campus next Tuesday and Wednesday, speaking about World War II, post-World War II Chinese politics and contemporary Chinese art.
Gerry Jones, 78, first arrived in China in 1945 after the Okinawa campaign, disarming and repatriating Japanese soldiers with the 1st Marine Division, in which he trained as a scout and sniper. He lived in China for the next 16 years, during the communist revolution under Chairman Mao that forever changed geopolitics.
"Just because our mission statement articulates Greco-Roman principles doesn't mean we cannot open other areas of study without raising the old bugaboo of multiculturalism," said Professor of English Daniel Sundahl. "I am deeply concerned that students become acquainted with cultures other than their own, even if non-Western."
Usually, a visiting speaker at Hillsdale College comes from academia or public policy, Sundahl said, while Jones' breadth of knowledge centers around real-world experience.
"Much of what he wants to talk about is based on his life, which you can see has been pretty rich," Sundahl said. "He has an insatiable curiosity."
In China and the United States, Jones has worked as an architect for the past 56 years, lecturing at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. While traveling throughout China and the United States, he has spoken about World War II Pacific history, modern Chinese politics, Buddhism, mountain architecture and Chinese contemporary art and poetry.
Jones and his wife, Leslie, own a collection of breathtaking contemporary Chinese art, from watercolors and ink to oils. To collect it since the 1980s, they have had to develop an extensive list of contacts in China. Chinese artists are still under state authority, and even viewing paintings they often store under their beds requires building trust and rapport with the artist.
The Jones' art collection has been displayed at the Phoenix Art Museum. Jones will show slides of this art during his 4 p.m. lecture on Tuesday. Seating will be limited.
Gerry Jones, 78, first arrived in China in 1945 after the Okinawa campaign, disarming and repatriating Japanese soldiers with the 1st Marine Division, in which he trained as a scout and sniper. He lived in China for the next 16 years, during the communist revolution under Chairman Mao that forever changed geopolitics.
"Just because our mission statement articulates Greco-Roman principles doesn't mean we cannot open other areas of study without raising the old bugaboo of multiculturalism," said Professor of English Daniel Sundahl. "I am deeply concerned that students become acquainted with cultures other than their own, even if non-Western."
Usually, a visiting speaker at Hillsdale College comes from academia or public policy, Sundahl said, while Jones' breadth of knowledge centers around real-world experience.
"Much of what he wants to talk about is based on his life, which you can see has been pretty rich," Sundahl said. "He has an insatiable curiosity."
In China and the United States, Jones has worked as an architect for the past 56 years, lecturing at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. While traveling throughout China and the United States, he has spoken about World War II Pacific history, modern Chinese politics, Buddhism, mountain architecture and Chinese contemporary art and poetry.
Jones and his wife, Leslie, own a collection of breathtaking contemporary Chinese art, from watercolors and ink to oils. To collect it since the 1980s, they have had to develop an extensive list of contacts in China. Chinese artists are still under state authority, and even viewing paintings they often store under their beds requires building trust and rapport with the artist.
The Jones' art collection has been displayed at the Phoenix Art Museum. Jones will show slides of this art during his 4 p.m. lecture on Tuesday. Seating will be limited.
Be the first to comment on this story