Principal Edith Bell and Mr. Zhang Hai-Song (President, Atlanta Artists Association) present 一馬當先 “Leading the Way” to Stan Morrell of Stone Mountain Park, joined by CCS community members.
There is something that happens when a master artist picks up a brush in front of a room full of people. The conversation quiets. The air shifts. Everyone leans in — because they sense they are about to witness something that cannot be replicated, only experienced.
That is exactly what happened when Principal Edith Bell invited Mr. Zhang Hai-Song, President of the Atlanta Artists Association, to demonstrate the ancient art of Chinese ink painting at a recent CCS community gathering. What he created that day — from a single brush, a quiet intention, and decades of mastery — became something far more than a painting.
一馬當先
"Leading the Way" — Yī mǎ dāng xiān
A four-character Chinese idiom meaning “to be the first horse to lead the charge.” It carries the spirit of courage, momentum, and forward motion — the conviction of one who leads not by command, but by example. It is one of the highest compliments one can give to a partnership.
The Painting That Told a Story
Mr. Zhang Hai-Song’s ink painting — titled 一馬當先, “Leading the Way” — depicts a horse in full gallop, rendered in the fluid, expressive strokes of traditional ink wash. In this ancient form, nothing is accidental. Every movement of the brush carries meaning. The horse, a symbol of strength and unstoppable forward motion, emerged from the page as something visceral and alive.
The choice of subject was not arbitrary. Principal Bell understood that a gift like this needed to carry weight — not just as an object, but as a statement. And 一馬當先 says exactly what needed to be said: that this partnership is moving forward, that the momentum is real, and that CCS intends to lead with purpose.
“The horse has always represented the spirit that goes first — the one who sets the direction for everyone who follows.”
— Traditional meaning of 一馬當先
A Gift Presented to Stone Mountain Park
The completed work was presented to Stan Morrell of Stone Mountain Park — a fitting recipient for a painting that speaks of forward momentum and shared vision. CCS and Stone Mountain Park have cultivated a relationship built on community, cultural programming, and a shared belief that heritage experiences belong in spaces where Atlanta families gather.
For Stan Morrell and the team at Stone Mountain, this gift was more than a gesture of goodwill. It was an acknowledgment — from one institution to another — that what has been built between these two organizations is worth celebrating, worth continuing, and worth leading.
What this moment means for CCS
CCS does not simply teach Mandarin — it transmits culture. The ink painting tradition Mr. Zhang demonstrated is the same art form our students encounter in calligraphy and painting classes every Saturday. When Principal Bell chose this gift, she was not just honoring a partnership. She was showing the world what a Taiwan-rooted school looks like when it shows up: with depth, with craft, and with the quiet confidence of 30 years behind it.
The Artist: Mr. Zhang Hai-Song
Mr. Zhang Hai-Song serves as President of the Atlanta Artists Association, bringing decades of mastery in traditional ink painting to Atlanta’s cultural landscape. His work bridges the ancient and the contemporary — rooted in the classical Chinese brush tradition while speaking to audiences far beyond any single community.
That Principal Bell called on Mr. Zhang for this occasion reflects something important about how CCS builds its community. Not through marketing alone, but through relationships — with artists, institutions, and partners who share a commitment to bringing culture to life.
What Comes Next
The ink dries. But what it represents does not. The collaboration between CCS and Stone Mountain Park continues to grow — events, cultural programming, and shared stages where Atlanta families can experience the living traditions of Taiwan heritage firsthand.
A galloping horse does not slow down. And neither do we.
If you would like your child to learn the art traditions behind moments like this one — calligraphy, ink painting, and the language that makes these traditions come alive — we welcome you to explore what CCS offers every Saturday in Duluth, Georgia.
Learn more at atlantaccs.org or call us at (770) 448-0049. All families welcome.
