New York: Art Exhibition Touches Visitors’ Hearts During America the Beautiful Festival

(Minghui.org) The New Century Corporation held the third annual America the Beautiful Festival in Deer Park, Orange County, New York from June 14-15, 2025, to celebrate the upcoming Independence Day. The event featured The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition, a live music concert, large scale theme park, and food, snacks and handicrafts.

June 14, 2025 was the U.S. Army’s 250^th Anniversary and Flag Day. The event organizer, Ms. Pang Jing, said, “We chose this day to hold the event to express our respect and appreciation for America’s traditional values. The theme for this year’s music is closely linked to ‘America the Beautiful’ and we also express our utmost respect to soldiers, veterans and first responders.”

On the afternoon of June 14, the West Point Band’s lead singer, Army Sergeant Major MaryKay Messenger, kicked off the celebration by singing the national anthem.

West Point Band’s lead singer, Sergeant Major MaryKay Messenger, sang the national anthem at the third annual America the Beautiful Festival.

Appreciation for the Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition

The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition was part of the festival.

Another highlight of the America the Beautiful Festival was The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition, which features oil paintings by ten Western and Chinese artists. The earliest artwork was painted in 2004. Many of these pieces won international awards and have been exhibited in more than 50 countries and 900 cities around the world, receiving wide acclaim. The artists practice Falun Dafa, and through the paintings convey their understanding of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, their thoughts about life, and the determination and compassion displayed in the face of the persecution in China.

Eighteen paintings were displayed, and there were four categories: “The Heavens and Humankind as One,” “Adversity,” “Courage,” and “Justice.” The paintings exhibited the peacefulness and beauty of practicing Falun Dafa, the firm faith of the cultivators despite adversity, and the persecution that practitioners face in China—also that righteousness always prevails, and the principle that doing good is rewarded.

Through their paintings the artists exposed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, which has gone on for 26 years and is still ongoing. A continuous stream of visitors viewed the paintings—some said the artworks were “warm and intimate,” “touching,” and “powerful.” Many people were moved to tears. One person said, “I’ve always heard Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted, but these paintings made me truly feel the persecution.”

Retired Army Brigadier General: Americans Have the Responsibility to Stop This Kind of Persecution Behavior

Retired Army Brigadier General Don Bolduc visited the The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition on June 15.

Retired Army Brigadier General Don Bolduc attended the America the Beautiful Festival and visited the The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) International Exhibition. He said, “The art exhibition shows the true experience of the people who are being persecuted under the Chinese Communist regime.”

Mr. Bolduc stressed that the United States has a responsibility to uphold the universal values that are protected by its Constitution and Declaration of Independence and stop the persecution of people that are happening all over the world. He said, “The United States should continue to be a leader in upholding the values and principles of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and justice. This is the responsibility of Americans.”

He also said, “We should stop the persecution of people all over the world, no matter where it is happening. The art pieces that are being exhibited here did a particularly moving portrayal of the ongoing cruel tortures in China. The people there are not able to enjoy the freedom to have their own religions and beliefs and they are also not able to have the freedom to speak their minds. However, these are the fundamental rights that we cherish and sometimes take for granted in the United States.”

Mr. Bolduc called for more people to pay attention to this matter and also called for the government to take practical action. He said, “We should raise our own knowledge and awareness. Only in this way can we be able to truly help these people who are suffering from persecution. This is the responsibility that the United States should take up.”

He also said, “This arts exhibition is very strong and powerful. As Americans, we should take the lead. Therefore, I call for Congress and the President to state out clearly, when they are interacting with the CCP, about their behaviors that are infringing on human rights in China and asked them to stop them immediately. This way of treating people is incorrect.”

Finally, Mr. Bolduc said, “If China is willing to treat their people in a humane manner, instead of torturing people of different beliefs in their pursuit for power, it will become a more successful country.”

Former Corrections Officer Calls on the United States to Take Positive Action

Mr. Lawrence visited the Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance Arts Exhibition on June 15.

Mr. Lawrence, a former New York State corrections officer, said this exhibition made him realize the CCP’s total suppression of religious beliefs, “I know that the CCP does not allow the realization of any form of religions. The people can only worship the government. This really makes people feel uneasy.” He thinks the U.S. government should take positive action and exert more pressure on the CCP.

One of the paintings resonated strongly with visitors. It depicts a female practitioner and her son detained in China by the Chinese Communist authorities due to their belief. The mother and son now live in New York. The helpless expression in the eyes of the four-year-old boy moved the hearts of many. Ms. Mariah, a medical assistant who works at a medical center, stood in front of this painting for a long time and was moved to tears. She said, “This is a very good art exhibition. These stories are very powerful.”

A local resident, Mr. Bill, visited the exhibition and said he hopes, “All Americans can come and see this.” He called out the “horrific extent of the CCP’s atrocities.”

Ms. Ali Krikorian, who works at a museum, shared her personal experience. Her husband also came to the U.S. to escape persecution, so she empathizes with the victims of persecution in China. “It is really difficult to find a safe place. What makes it more sad is that in 2025, these things are still happening.”

Ms. Ali Krikorian empathized with Falun Dafa practitioners.

She said that Falun Dafa is a cultivation practice that is “peaceful, wonderful and non-intrusive.” She also said, “(This practice) obviously does not hurt anyone. It’s the CCP who is hurting people. This is really very scary.” Ms. Krikorian stressed, “The United States should provide a safe space to let people have the freedom to practice their beliefs as long as they do not cause harm to anyone.”

Ms. Wendy Wang, a guide at the exhibition, said, “This art exhibition is not only an artistic display, it is even more a window for many people to truly understand Falun Dafa for the first time, and understand the persecution of human rights that is happening in China too.

“The value of these paintings are not just limited to the visual beauty, but also the emotions and thoughts that they carry with them,” said Ms. Wang. “These works come from the artists’ understanding of the true meaning of life and show the spiritual realm of the cultivators too.”