The Opening Reception of "Movements of Threads" at City Arts

     Thank you so much to those of you who came to the opening reception of my show at CityArts!  I had  the most wonderful time meeting a lot of you and receiving many positive comments.  Thank you to CityArts for having my show!  Special thanks go to CityArts artistic director Emily Brookover who worked hard for this demanding show as well as three other shows, Michael Jensen who helped me exclusively with installing the works with the most gentle and patient spirit, and Jan Taylor who helped me with many details of the works and lifted my heart.  I also want to thank Marilyn Grisham and Mike Miller for always giving me helpful advice, and Lindsay Benacka, the former CityArts artistic director who invited me to do this show about two years ago.

     I am glad the music performance by Daniel Racer, Kay Buskirk, and Cindy Thompson went well, too.  They said they were going to be a part of the arts..., and they were indeed with their graceful sound and presence!  I am so humbled that and original classical music was composed and performed based on my art, this is still beyond surreal.  If you missed it, they are going to provide a CD to listen to at the gallery, which will be ready sometime next week. They are also thinking about performing it at formal recitals in the future.

The musicians rehearsing in the morning of the opening reception.  

"Gift" and me with a big name tag

The reception was only two hours, but I heard about 800 people came.  Many more threads were added to my piece.  Thank you, Wichita!

I still think painting is my main discipline.

"Bloom" and the musicians

From the second floor balcony

"Akari" and "A Thread X A Thread"

"Gift" and "A Thread X A Thread"

     I often feel I don't have much talent, but I can do things like putting paint on canvases, braiding strands and tying knots.  I thank God who can use such small things and make a bigger picture.  This show will be on view through June 24th.  Hope you can visit the show if you haven't, while it's still there!

Movements of Threads
Place:  Main Gallery, CityArts
Date:  May 26 - June 24, 2017

Installing the Show at CityArts, Wichita, KS

Installing of my CityArts show went well with massive help from CityArts staff.  I am so glad that they prepared a scaffolding lift!  14 feet is pretty high!

He did a lot for me.  I would say he is one of the most patient persons I have ever known.

My new installation "Gifts" being installed by the artistic director.  It looks really nice.  The red color is powerful!

Four installations and the paintings are up now.  Tomorrow is the opening reception.  Music is performed twice during the reception.   Hope I will see you there!

  

This show is supported by an Artist Grant from Wichita Arts Council.

  

Movements of Threads
Place:  Main Gallery, CityArts
Date:  May 26 - June 24, 2017
Opening Reception:  May 26, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Preparing for my Upcoming Show "Movements of Threads"

     My show at Main Gallery in CityArts is coming soon.  The space is big, and I am so freaking nervous!  In this show, I am showing paintings and also four installations that I worked on for the last several years.  Three of the installations are ones that I have not shown publicly in Wichita.  Here are some photos in preparation for the show.

     I am doing a lot of braiding for my new installation called "Gift."  It's over one mile long now.  I hope it will be around two miles by the time I finish.

     Working on my small painting series called "Iridescence".  Making layers with painting, drawing, splashing, peeling, scraping, blowing...  Fun to have unexpected images at the end.

     Detail of "Iridescence #65"

     In this picture, I'm working on one of my larger paintings in my series called, "Sojourning."  Each painting takes lots of time.  Hope they will be ready for the show!!

     I am also attending the weekly musicians' rehearsal.  A music piece composed by Daniel Racer, a composer and Professor at Friends University, inspired by my installations in this show.  This collaborative experience, which started about two years ago, has been an adventure to me. It totally makes me feel excited and humbled.  It is going to be performed for the first time in public at the opening reception by Cindy Thompson (Oboe), Kay Buskirk (viola), and Daniel Racer (double bass).  

     The other day, I spent a day at the library of Kansas State University, writing the artist statement for the show.  It was cold and rainy.  Perfect weather for this. Also I really loved this alcove study space.

     I am so thankful that this show has been supported by Artist Grant from Arts Council of Wichita.  

Movements of Threads
Place:  Main Gallery, CityArts
Date:  May 26 - June 24, 2017
Opening Reception:  May 26, 6:00 - 8:00 pm