Hung-shu Hu
Hu Hung-Shu, professor emeritus, the University of Iowa, an internationally known artist with over a thousand paintings, countless sculptures, and a multitude of public art pieces around the world, died on January 22, 2015, from complications of a brain hemorrhage.
Born in Shanghai, China, in 1935, he and his family immigrated to Taiwan in 1949. After graduating from National Cheng Kung University with a B. Sc. in architecture, he came to the United States to study, receiving an M. F. A. in design from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He began teaching at the University of Northern Iowa in 1966 before becoming head of design in 1968 of the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, where he taught until he retired in 2003.
As an artist, Hu Hung-Shu did not limit himself to a single medium. He painted over a thousand striking black and white oil abstract landscapes garnering international attention and exhibits for his personal technique. His sculptural works range from the private to the public, with commissioned pieces spanning the globe. Locally, one can find his pieces at the Leavitt Center for University Advancement and the Boyd Law Building at the University of Iowa, Iowa City City High School, S. T. Morrison Park and Marriott Hotel in Coralville, the Eastern Iowa Airport, and the University of Northern Iowa Education College Plaza and Maucker Union. He also designed numerous furniture pieces, winning competitions and accolades. His book, "Basic Design: the Cultivation of Wisdom, Reason, and Sensibility," was published both in Chinese and in English in 2008.
His passion for art and design invigorated the classroom. As a scholar and mentor, he taught over 5500 students in his lifetime. His words and lessons resonated with them, as many now are active artists and scholars themselves, passing his lessons on to others. He was active as an artist every day of his life.
He is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Judy; son, Ching-chu (Jim), and grandkids, Xander and Elisabeth, of Columbus, Ohio; daughters, Ching-An of San Francisco, California, and Ching-Yuan of Denver, Colorado; five siblings: sister, Hung-Jui (Dominic) of Redondo Berach, California; brother, Hung-Tzaw (Carol) of Saratoga, California; brother, Hung-Kwei (May) of Saratoga, California; brother, Hung-Chih (Birger) of Duarte, California; and sister Huing-Tze of Taipei, Taiwan; his nieces, Ching-Yee, Ching-Pei, Tsung-Yi and Ching-Yu; nephew, Yung-Hsin; and five great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his father; Hu Sung-Ping, and mother, Hseuh Gei-Jen.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be planned for late April. His artwork may be viewed at www.huhungshu.com.
Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for his family and arrangements.
Copyright Cedar Rapids Gazette, January 24, 2015.