Author: Chloe Sundberg
The Briarwood Gallery is hosting a new exhibit entitled “The Constant Change of Time.” Members of the Silk Road Art Guild were the creators of the show. The Guild, established in 2011 by a group of Asian Brush painting students and professionals, is based in Worcester and under the direction of Sharon Smith Viles. The 41 works by 9 artists are done in the spontaneous Asian brush painting style using watercolor, and sumi-e ink on various rice papers. One of the artists, Linda O’Reilly, explained that Eastern Art has an approach to painting that is different from that in Western culture. It should have Chi (Life force). One might spend hours contemplating, then doing (practice) strokes for ½ hour. The stroke comes from the center of you. Her series of scrolls appear to be done on cloth but are done on thin dragon cloud paper with a backing of thick Pi paper. “In Asian painting you are putting your soul on display,” she added.
Eastern themes and subjects in these works are often nature, landscapes, peace, the seasons, plants, birds and contain sea, sky, earth, and mountains. The paintings feature meticulous brush work – fine delicate brush work and then the whoosh – the fast, sweeping, confident motion of the brush that produces that spontaneous style – uses minimal strokes and creates motion, delicacy, and direction so characteristic in Asian brush painting. Charming, peaceful (sometimes), graceful, direct, confident, and so simple and open – yes, Asian-Eastern Art is different – in approach, in technique, in appearance, in focus. That focus, that simplicity, that quiet charm can be almost therapeutic in these tempestuous times. Maybe coming to the gallery could be a spiritual experience for you and help cleanse the mind of “stuff.” Come to the Silk Road show and try it.