Yesterday I had the honor of attending an event in Beijing at the Residence of the U.S. Ambassador to China, hosted by U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns and his wife, Libby Baylies.
It was a wonderful evening hearing from the talented artists at ‘A Celebration of Contemporary Chinese Art.’ The evening began with an hour of mixing and mingling as guests admired the art displayed inside the Ambassador’s Residence.
Ambassador Burns then opened the night with a warm welcome, saying, “Welcome to an evening that celebrates the bridge between China and the United States.”
His wife, Libby Baylies, who had the idea of hosting Chinese artists in the residence, explained that while the U.S. residence usually features American artists, she wanted to share Chinese and Chinese-inspired artwork, emphasizing that art is an important bridge between cultures.
She then introduced each artist, who shared the stories behind their pieces, adding a personal touch to the night’s celebration of cross-cultural connections.
Afterwards, we continued to mingle and see the artwork, and I was delighted to have a chance to meet and chat briefly with Ambassador Burns. He was very personable and friendly, asking many questions. I told him about living in China since 2015 and my travel blog (this one you’re reading!). He also asked where I’m from (Texas), and he told me his brother lives in Plano, so we had joked about the Dallas Cowboys and sports. It was really nice to finally meet him after seeing him posting online (he’s very active on Twitter)!
When it comes to China-US relations, I feel it is now more important than ever to focus on people-to-people connections and find common ground through what makes us all human—art, music, culture, food are all an excellent bridge.
As an American who has lived in China since 2015, I feel this strongly. These shared experiences create understanding, build friendships, and help bridge cultural divides, reminding us that we have more in common than we may realize.
Thank you again to Ambassador Burns and Libby Baylies for hosting an inspiring night celebrating art and culture.
