Valentine’s collection is a part of “Artists Respond, Equitable Rural Futures,” a project of Springboard for the Arts supported by the Blandin Foundation. It proudly features the 12 Chinese zodiac animals through the intricate, yet expressive mediums of Chinese ink and watercolors activated by local lake water on rice paper; each painting vividly portrays the stories of the “Hao Family’s (her maternal side) Chinese American immigrant experience in rural, western Minnesota.”
All animals are outlined with black, prominent Chinese Ink with lingering watercolors filling the blank space, as if to give spirit. To represent her family, Valentine painted “her mother (ox), brother (dragon), grandmother (dog), grandfather (pig), and herself (monkey).” Through each representation, she hopes to convey the many stories of her family through “each animal’s reputed attributes, symbolism, expressive brush strokes, and color choice.”
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and as a response to the tragic
Atlanta shootings, Valentine (Communication & Writing Studies ‘13) turned her pain into art and uses the traveling exhibition as an invitation for folks to see the scrolls and hear her family’s stories through her artist talks. As an artist, Valentine understands her art is personal and does not represent all members of the Asian American Pacific Island community. She believes in the importance of giving voices to rural-residing Asian Americans. “‘Asian’ and ‘Rural’ are two identities that intersect and foster a unique experience, but that experience is not new.” Asian folks have long lived in rural areas, and they deserve equitable representation.
Valentine was raised in Fergus Falls, a rural community where roots run deep. Despite having a connection to this close community and her family, at times it was difficult to embrace and appreciate her Chinese identity. According to Valentine, it is difficult to form a concrete idea of your heritage culture without direct exposure. To deepen this connection, after graduation, she returned to China to visit her aunt who helped revive her cultural identity. In the words of Valentine, the time spent with her aunt provided, “Appreciation, adoration, and a deep respect for everything I knew was valuable, but I didn’t value throughout my life.”
A year after this trip, Valentine was given a residency opening at Kaddatz Artist Lofts on the commitment that she would dedicate herself to an art medium. With a hobbyist’s background in art, she committed herself to watercolor painting. Valentine self-taught using materials affordable to her: Crayola watercolors and Canson paper sourced from a big-box store. From there, she was able to secure a Career
Development Grant from the Lakes Region Arts Council to obtain professional grade materials for her growing pursuit in becoming a professional artist.
After hearing word of her artistry, Dr. David Beard (English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies), former professor of Valentine, connected her to Matt Rosendahl, UMD’s library director, and Kate Rolfe, LSC librarian. From there, Rosendahl and Rolfe collaborated and coordinated Valentine’s exhibition while Beard spread the word and obtained support from various entities.
With support from a Career Development Grant received from Lake Region Arts Council, Valentine plans to finish her artwork of “The Audacity to be Asian in Rural America: We owe you no apologies,” by mounting the rice paper scrolls to silk brocade, archival and conceptual embellishments used in traditional Chinese scroll paintings. The finished art collection will be on display at the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids in April & May of 2022 and will be open for exhibition invitation starting in June 2022 with priority given to rural communities.
To stay updated with her latest endeavors, Valentine invites those interested to visit her website nancyxvalentine.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram @nancyxvalentine.