Painting in Ming Dynasty Suzhou:  
​The Marketing of Scholarly Tastes 
Anne Wetherell, PhD
4 April, 2026     9:30 - 11 am 
Between the 15-18th centuries Suzhou developed into an economic and cultural powerhouse with an increasingly fluid social structure that dissolved the lines between commerce and the scholarly elite.  Join First Saturday PDX  as Dr Ann Wetherell talks about some of the best known scholar artists of Suzhou, especially Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming, how their paintings functioned within their personal networks and the subsequent commodification of Confucian painting to meet the demands of the burgeoning market for Suzhou souvenirs.   
*REGISTER HERE by 3 April
About the speaker:  
Ann Wetherell holds a Ph.D. in Chinese art history from the University of Oregon. Her research areas include Ming dynasty painting, Buddhist art of the late Imperial period, and Chinese American history in Oregon.  Having taught Asian and Western art history at Portland State University, University of Oregon, and Pacific University,  Dr. Wetherell is currently a visiting assistant professor of art history at Willamette University as well as University of Oregon, where she teaches classes on the art and architecture of India, China, and Japan. ​
​​​For those interested in continuing the conversation, there will be a no host multi-course lunch family style with the speaker at a Chinese restaurant afterwards ($20 incl gratuity - cash would be appreciated).  Please let us know if you are joining when you register for the program so that we can make the proper arrangements.
Check-in begins promptly at 9:15am

​**This is an on-site presentation. 
Reed College, Psychology Building, R105Auditorium 
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

The large East Parking Lot (free) is conveniently located adjacent to the Psychology Building.  See campus map here

Public transportation is available, plan your TriMet trip HERE.  (The #19 bus stops right on SE Woodstock East Parking entrance to the campus)

​We recommend that attendees be vaccinated and boosted, and follow CDC guidelines regarding masking.
Our program series is supported by Reed College, Northwest China Council, Lan Su Chinese Garden, PSU's IAS, and Portland Chinatown Museum.   ​​
​All our programs are free and open to the public.   ​