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Community Corner

North Suburban YMCA Community Gallery Showcases Asian Artistic Traditions

This month the Community Gallery at the North Suburban YMCA celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by featuring the work of two accomplished artists who work in traditional Asian media. Highland Park painter Jan Keller Schultz shares an ancient form of ink painting known as sumi-e, and Zhaoyu Vance Wan shows his bold, graphic paintings of Chinese calligraphy. Their art is for sale, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Y’s Strong Kids Fund.

Jan Keller Schultz’s ink paintings portray a variety of eclectic subjects, including landscapes and nature studies that evoke a cohesive sense of peace and directness. “While many sumi-e artists use medium to large painting surfaces, I prefer to paint on smaller surfaces and focus on details,” explained Schultz. She is a member of the Sumi-e Midwest as well as the Sumi-e Society of America.

 

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Vance Wan grew up in China where he studied Chinese brush painting, seal carving, oil painting and Western classical music.  His work reflects a mix of traditional Chinese images and contemporary expressionism, created on handmade rice paper and canvas. “I seek to find balance in movement,” he said. “I have an image in my mind when I listen to a musical composition.  The music, in passing through my mind and senses, is transposed in a new form to the paper or canvas before me.” A reception for Vance Wan will be held at the Y from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17th; the public is invited to attend.

 

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In addition to their displays in the Community Gallery, both artists will be participating in the ‘Taste of Asia’ celebration presented by the Northbrook Community Relations Commission on Sunday, May 18th from 12:30-4pm at the North Suburban YMCA. Jan Keller Schultz will have a table showcasing additional samples of sumi-e artwork and Vance Wan will be giving art demonstrations. The Y is located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook. This free event is open to the public and will include live performances, Asian food available for purchase, and other presentations celebrating the diverse cultures of the Asian and Pacific-American community.

 

 

The Community Gallery is dedicated to the promotion of artists living and working in the Northern Suburbs, and presents monthly exhibits that are open to the public. For more information about upcoming exhibits at the Y’s Community Gallery, visit www.nsymca.org or contact Cathie Winnie, Visual Arts Director, at 847 272 7250 x. 1233.





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