My Torch

About the Book

About the Author

Despite being detained in several South Vietnam concentration camps by the communist regime from 1975 to 1981, Bright Quang maintained his love for art and poetry.  Indeed, the Vietnamese communists imprisoned him because of his art and poetry.  Bright Quang came to the United States on November 22, 1993 under the Humanitarian Operation program (H.O. /20), which was designed to enable former Vietnamese political prisoners to immigrate to the United States.  He now resides in Redwood City, California.  A graduate of Tran Quoc Tuan High School 1968, Bright Quang was admitted to the Hue College of Art and earned a degree in art 1971.  In the United States, he earned an AA degree in 2001, and a Bachelor¡¯s degree at California State University, Hayward, in 2003.  At Hayward, Bright Quang specialized in sculpture using plaster, copper, brass, wood, stone, wire, and cement to create figures of human beings and animals. 

Bright Quang was awarded the International Poet of Merit Silver Award Bowl in 2001 by the International Society of Poets, 1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117-6282, Tel (410) 356-2000, and in 2000 he published a book of poetry fables called T¨¬nh N¨¡ng Kh?ng Long, or Dinosaur Love, with over twenty two thousand lines of poetry.  The publisher was Manifesto, UNESCO BP3-91167, Longjumeau Cedex 9, in France.  He published Poetry & Art at Canada College 1998, as well as a book of poems, My Innermost Song in downtown San Jose in June 17, in 2000.

Since coming to the United States, Bright Quang has exhibited artworks in a variety of locations.  First, he exhibited his art at Canada College, 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard, Redwood City, CA 94061, and Tel. (650) 306-3100 from October 13, 1998 to November 15, 1998.  At this time he donated his statue named CONTROL to Canada College.  Second, he exhibited, by invitation, A BRIGHT FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION at the Lake Wales Cultural Center of Lake Wales, Florida, from October 15, 1998 until October 2000.

The Coastal Arts League and the Peninsula Sculptor¡¯s Guild of California invited him to present this exhibit.
 Bright Quang exhibited his artworks in downtown San Jose, in June 17, 2000.  These works included over fifteen artworks of marble, wood, brass, and cement.   Fourth, his artwork YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAIR was exhibited in the Lake Wales Cultural Center of Lake Wales, Florida State; he was sponsored by his Sculptor's Guild 1780 Ralston Ave, Belmont, California.  Fifth, his artwork The FROG and the RISING UP has been exhibited at the following locations by these five organizations:

Santa Cruz Art League Gallery, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz
Cardiff House, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz
Arts Council of San Mateo County Manor House Gallery, 1780 Ralston Ave, Belmont
Coastal Arts League Gallery, 300 Main St, Half Moon Bay
Corridor Gallery San Mateo Government Center, 400 County Center, Redwood City.

Sixth, Bright Quang exhibited his pieces of artwork of bronze of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, and a Portrait of President George Washington in Hayward Arts Council, Hayward, 22654 Main Street, Hayward, California in November 2003, Tel: (510) 538-2787.  
1972 Bright Quang opened a studio in Quang Ngai, and then moved to Saigon. There he created works of art such as old fishermen, farmers of different shapes and sizes.  He also created animals, such as elephants, oxen, buffaloes, horses, lions, birds and fish; pots and candleholders were also his specialties.