Hai Ying Wu
Encyclopedia
Hai Ying Wu is a Chinese American
sculptor
best known for his firefighter
memorial
s and his memorial commemorating the Auto-Lite Strike
in Toledo, Ohio
.
A native of China
, Wu received his degree in sculpture from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
, and became staff sculptor for the city of Chengdu
on the Chengdu Public Arts Commission. He worked primarily in public art and in the "socialist realist
" genre. A large number of his public art works can be seen in Chengdu. He participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, and was caught in the square when the Chinese military attacked the demonstrators. He emigrated to the United States
later that same year, and in time became a U.S. citizen. He worked in construction and as a dishwasher before enrolling in the University of Washington
School of Art. He graduated with a Master of Fine Arts
degree. For his master's thesis, he designed a memorial to 19th-century Chinese American railroad workers which was later installed in a park in Tacoma, Washington
.
As of 2007, he divided his time between his home in Everett, Washington
, and China.
Wu is best known for sculpting the Seattle Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Seattle's
Pioneer Square. A design competition was held among all interested students in the UW School of Arts, and Wu's design was chosen. He has erected similar memorials throughout the Pacific Northwest
. He also created the Auto-Lite Strike Memorial in Toledo, which commemorates the violent United Auto Workers
strike of 1934. His work for Compass Health in Everett, Washington
, was his first sculpture to focus on children.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
best known for his firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
s and his memorial commemorating the Auto-Lite Strike
Auto-Lite strike
The Toledo Auto-Lite strike was a strike by a federal labor union of the American Federation of Labor against the Electric Auto-Lite company of Toledo, Ohio, from April 12 to June 3, 1934....
in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
.
A native of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Wu received his degree in sculpture from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
Sichuan Fine Arts Institute is a public fine arts university located in Chongqing, China. It opened in 1940 and is one of the famous eight Chinese art colleges. The university offers full-time, 4-year undergraduate education, as well as graduate education....
, and became staff sculptor for the city of Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
on the Chengdu Public Arts Commission. He worked primarily in public art and in the "socialist realist
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
" genre. A large number of his public art works can be seen in Chengdu. He participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, and was caught in the square when the Chinese military attacked the demonstrators. He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
later that same year, and in time became a U.S. citizen. He worked in construction and as a dishwasher before enrolling in the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
School of Art. He graduated with a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree. For his master's thesis, he designed a memorial to 19th-century Chinese American railroad workers which was later installed in a park in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
.
As of 2007, he divided his time between his home in Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, and China.
Wu is best known for sculpting the Seattle Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Seattle's
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
Pioneer Square. A design competition was held among all interested students in the UW School of Arts, and Wu's design was chosen. He has erected similar memorials throughout the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. He also created the Auto-Lite Strike Memorial in Toledo, which commemorates the violent United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
strike of 1934. His work for Compass Health in Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, was his first sculpture to focus on children.
Public works
Among Wu's public works are:- "Crane and Turtle" located at North Shore Health Center, Bothell, Washington
- "Dance" in Lynnwood, Washington
- "Emerging" in Renton, Washington
- "The First Pitch" in Redmond, Washington
- "Hide and Seek" at Imagine Children's Museum Collection, Everett, Washington
- "Children Crossing a Stream" at Luther Children's Crisis Facility at Compass Health, Everett, Washington
- "Migration" in Bend, Oregon
- "Northglenn Veterans Memorial" in Northglenn, Colorado
- "Seattle Fallen Firefighter's Memorial" in Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington
- "Team Work" in Glendale, Arizona