St. Vincent middle school students visit new Chinese Gate

Courtesy photo/Saint Vincent de Paul School

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Saint Vincent de Paul School's 6th- and 7th-graders got a sneak peek at the new "Chinese Gate" at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City.

SALT LAKE CITY — Saint Vincent de Paul School’s 6th- and 7th-graders got a sneak peek at the new "Chinese Gate" at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. They are one of groups of students who had their artwork displayed at the unveiling of the gate on Sept. 29th.

The gate, 12 years in the making, is a symbol of the Sister City relationship between West Valley City and Nantou, Taiwan. This prominent structure will be permanently housed at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center.

"I learned a bunch from the field trip and I would definitely go back," said 6th-grader Sophia Gulgulian. "Seeing all the interesting art on the gate was fun."

During their visit, the students were treated to a Powerpoint presentation from the gate’s architect, learning how the gate was constructed and the symbolism of Chinese gates. They then toured the grounds to view the gate’s architectural beauty and reflect on Chinese culture. Afterward, they viewed two exhibits showcasing artwork from Taiwan: "The Beauty of Nantou 2012," featuring contemporary fine art from Taiwan, and "Why Taiwan Matters," a photography exhibit tracing Taiwan’s history.

Students also worked with an artist to decorate a 50-foot long Chinese dragon that was used at the unveiling.

"I can talk about Chinese culture for a week, but the students will not learn as much from that as they do from educational trips like this one," said Gary Green, middle school social studies teacher.

As part of the curriculum this year, students will study ancient and contemporary China.