Dr. Lily Gaia Ye’s Silk Scroll “2025 Honor • Brilliance of Today • Green Silk Scroll” Collected by Idaho State University President Dr. Robert Wagner

2025年11月03日 02:53 Contributed by the Greater American Institute of Art (GAIA)

[打印本稿]

字号：较大适中

Dr. Lily Gaia Ye is presentingher silk scroll to Idaho State University President Dr. Robert Wagner inPortland.

(Photo courtesy of theGreater American Institute of Art – GAIA)

Portland, USA — October 8, 2025. Dr. Robert Wagner,President of Idaho State University (ISU), led a university delegation toPortland for an alumni reception with ISU graduates from the Northwest UnitedStates. During this warm and inspiring occasion, well-known internationalartist and President of the Greater American Institute of Art (GAIA), Dr. LilyGaia Ye, presented her original silk scroll artwork “2025 Honor ·Brilliance of Today · Green Silk Scroll” to President Dr. Wagner.The artwork, based on Dr. Ye’s original painting and developed into a silkscroll through traditional techniques, was received by Dr. Wagner and is nowdisplayed in his office on the ISU campus. It has since been incorporated intothe university’s permanent art collection as a treasured piece of culturalheritage, becoming part of the artistic and intellectual landscape of IdahoState University and embodying a shared appreciation for the dialogue betweenart and education.

Golden sunsetilluminating the glass arcade of Portland International Airport (PDX).

(Photo source: Online)

Naturallight and wooden structure intertwine to create a serene and humanistic spaceat Portland International Airport (PDX). (Photo source: Online)

The Artistic Spirit Across a Thousand Years

This silk scroll drawsupon China’s millennia-old tradition of silk painting, integrating Idaho’sstate flower, the syringa, and state bird, the mountain bluebird. Itscomposition features four pillars — inspired by the iconic ISU Red Hill columns— symbolizing wisdom, resilience, and illumination through knowledge.Thisscroll continues Dr. Lily Gaia Ye’s creative language from her earlierseries “2025 Honor · Gift of Achievement,” presented at thePAA Celebration, transforming a digital concept into a hand-crafted silk scrollin a signature palette of orange and gold. Dr. Ye’s artisticvision takes inspiration from the Song Dynasty masterpiece “Travelers AmongMountains and Streams” by Fan Kuan (范宽, ca. 950–1030), apioneering master of Chinese landscape painting whose monumental work standsamong the greatest achievements in Eastern art. A portion of Fan Kuan’soriginal composition has been subtly woven into Dr. Ye’s silk scroll. Theartwork further echoes the poetic and calligraphic spirit of Mao Zedong (毛泽东, 1893–1976) —founder of modern China and an unparalleled calligrapher and poet whose boldcreative energy continues to inspire generations. His calligraphy from “Ode to the Spring inthe Garden” is elegantly integrated into the composition, creating a timelessdialogue between Eastern aesthetics and Western artistic vision.

ISU alumni anduniversity delegation group photo at the event in Portland. (Photosource: Idaho State University)

President Wagner’s Vision and Reflection on theUniversity Spirit

Since assuming the presidency in 2024, Dr. RobertWagner has advanced ISU’s academic excellence and social impact throughhis vision of a “community-centered and innovation-driven university. “Underhis leadership, the university has seen remarkable growth in enrollment,research visibility, and international collaboration. In his speech, PresidentWagner highlighted the central role of art in liberal education,remarking, “The soul of a university lies not only in knowledge, butalso in the creation and sharing of culture.”

He expressed gratitudeto Dr. Ye for honoring ISU through her artistic contribution.

President Robert Wagneraddresses the audience, praising the resonance between art and academic spirit.

(Photo courtesy of GAIA)

The Encounter of Art and Education

Dr. Lily Gaia Ye remarked that this artworkpresentation was both a tribute to ISU and a celebration of the fusion betweeneducation and art. The work embodies her gratitude for her years of study andresearch at ISU and reflects the enduring spirit of cross-cultural dialoguethrough art. “This piece begins with Idaho’s syringa and mountain bluebird,”she said, “but it extends into the millennial current of civilization itself —a shared glory co-created by art and education.”

The Convergence of Artand Education — Honor and Echoes of the Era

The artwork presentation held in Portland was not onlya heartfelt moment of alumni connection but also a symbol of the ever-renewingbond between art and education.

With President Wagner’s visionary leadership guidingISU toward a future of inclusivity and innovation, Dr. Ye’s silk scrollresponds inkind — merging Eastern ink and Western ideals on asingle canvas. Its collection represents both artistic recognition and culturaltransmission: the scroll will remain gracefully displayed in theoffice of the President at ISU as a symbol of “Honor, Creation, andHarmony,” bearing witness to a university’s vision and to the spiritof our time.

Dr.Lily Gaia Ye in downtown Portland, Autumn 2025 — walking through the goldenfoliage that mirrors the poetic spirit of her art. (Photo courtesy of GAIA)