No one can deny that buttons are an important clothing device. But, can they rise to the level of art? Organizers of an exhibit in New York think so.

Peter Souleo Wright organized “The Button Show” at Rush Arts Gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Eleven artists used the small, ordinary objects to create sculptures, portraits and wearable art. Some of the works are political, some are personal and others are just fun.

Wright said each artist reimagines and repurposes the buttons to make art. “What I tried to do with this show,” he said , “was to look at artists who were promoting that level of craft.”

He said he wanted the button art to be comparable to a painting “because of the amount of detail and precision in the work”.

Artist Beau McCall produced “A Harlem Hangover”. It looks like a wine bottle that fell over on a table. A stream of connected red buttons hang over the side, like wine flowing down. Similar red buttons form a small pool on the floor.

McCall layers buttons of different shapes and sizes to create the bottle. The stitching that holds them together is also part of the artistic design.

For San Francisco-based artist Lisa Kokin, buttons are highly personal. After her father died in 2001, she created a portrait of him using only buttons. That memorial to her father led to other button portraits, including those of activists Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez.

Others use buttons for details. Artist Amalia Amaki of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, placed them on and around old photographs. Los Angeles artist Camilla Taylor attached buttons to three large sculptures that look like headless animals with long , narrow legs.

“The Button Show” ends at March 12. The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation paid for the exhibition. The foundation was created in 1995 by the Simmons brothers: artist Danny, hip-hop producer Russell and rapper Rev. Run. The foundation seeks to bring the artists to urban youth and to provide support for new artists.

1.Why did Wright organize “The Button Show”?

A. To show the importance of buttons.

B. To support the new artists.

C. To raise the button show to the level of art.

D. To create sculptures and portraits.

2.Whose works are personal?

A. Peter Souleo Wright.B. Beau McCall.

C. Lisa Kokin.D. Amalia Amaki.

3.If you want to see “The Button Show”, you should ________.

A. buy tickets before March 12

B. phone Peter Souleo Wright before March 12

C. go to Rush Arts Gallery

D. go to the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundationn

US President Barack Obama visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing on Nov. 18th, 2009. The Great Wall was the second sightseeing program for Obama during his visit to China.

Built originally as the biggest defense work in ancient China, the Great Wall today has become one of the must-see places for visiting foreign leaders to the country in the past sixty years.

“ I’m inspired by the majesty(雄伟壮观) of the Great Wall and gratefu1 for the warmth of the Chinese people,” Obama said after his half-hour tour.

“It's magical,” Obama said when walking along the Great Wall, “it reminds you of the sweep of history and our time here on earth is not that long. We better make the best of it.”

“I brought back the admiration(钦佩) for the Chinese civilization(文明), I bring here the greetings of American people.” Obama said when climbing a watchtower to enjoy a distant view at the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

Obama is the fifth US president to visit the Great Wall. Richard Nixon visited the Great Wall in 1972, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1998, In 2002, former US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura toured the same sections Obama did.

1.What did Barack Obama do on November 18th, 2009?

A. He visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

B. He discussed the program with others.

C. He wrote a letter to Chinese people.

D. He called his friends when he climbed a watchtower.

2.What does the underlined word mean in Chinese?

A. 必需的B. 必看的C. 游客多的D. 著名的

3.Obama said that he was inspired by ________.

A. the warmth of the Chinese people

B. the sweep of history

C. the Chinese civilization

D. the majesty of the Great Wall

4.In the last paragraph, ________ people visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

A. fourB. fiveC. sixD. seven

5.What's the best title for the passage?

A. Barack Obama Visited the Great Wall

B. History of the Great Wall

C. US Presidents who once visited the Great Wall

D. Get to Know the Chinese Civilization

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