Chinese art display slated at Montgomery’s 1860 House

‘Ancient Arts in the Modern World’ represents work of four artists.

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   MONTGOMERY — "Ancient Arts in a Modern World" — an exhibition of roughly 25 pieces of Chinese artwork — will make its debut at the Montgomery Center for the Arts today.
   A reception, which the public is invited to attend, will be held 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
   "Asians make up the largest minority group in Montgomery Township," said Frances Chaves, arts center executive director. "Every year we’ve tried to highlight the artists from one of these cultural groups."
   Last year, said Ms. Chaves, the arts center displayed works of Japanese artists. This year, it will focus on showing off pieces from four Chinese artists. The exhibit will be displayed in the center’s 1860 house.
   According to Ms. Chaves, the work of Zhi Lin consists of preliminary studies and completed works in a series on "The Five Punishments" — a commentary on the harshness of justice and injustice in China, both in history and in the present. He is an associate professor at the University of Washington’s School of Art.
   Hong Zhu An, whose work was recently featured at Plum Blossom Gallery in New York City, studied traditional painting and calligraphy from a young age and underwent art training at the Shanghai Art and Craft Institute, said Ms. Chaves.
   "His training, years abroad and intellectual as well as artistic curiosity have led him to explore and challenge established concepts of line, brushwork and texture in Chinese painting," said Chaves.
   Zhenmin Ji specializes in traditional Chinese painting, primarily mountains and rivers, said Ms. Chaves. "The kind of painting is based on inking and he has developed his own technique of splash inking," she said.
   And when describing his work, the artist said, "The beauty you feel of the loftiness or the momentum of the mountain is the general feeling the painting gives you and it is this feeling that I go after in my artistic practice."
   Chao-Han Huang uses both Chinese painting and calligraphy. His works are driven by line and are created on paper made from the bark of Ching-Tan trees and treated with glues, straw and other raw materials, said Ms. Chaves.
   "The horse, which represents beauty, bravery and loyalty, is a favorite subject for Mr. Chao-Nan, who is a retired soldier," she added.
   As part of the exhibition and in celebration of the Chinese New Year, a performance by the Chin Yun Chorus will be held on Feb. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the arts center’s 1860 house. The concert is free and open to the public.
   Gallery hours for the arts center are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The works from the Chinese art exhibit will be for sale, said arts center assistant Amy Warren.
   The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 13.
   For more information, call (609) 921-3272 or go to www.montgomerycenterforthearts.com.