January 28, 2019 through March 15, 2019
Gallery 206 – College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Reception: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 | 3 – 5 pm
Visitors to the newest College of the Canyons Gallery 206 exhibition, “Vibrant Bounty: Chinese Folk Art from the Shaanxi Region,” will be carried away to Shaanxi Province, one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, for a broader understanding and appreciation for another culture. The public will not want to miss the priceless artifacts and paintings that tell the stories of a far away, but not altogether different, people.
“With this exhibition, we can reach beyond our region and promote the value and understanding of art in an international context,” said Pamela Lewis, director of the COC Art Gallery. Paintings and artifacts of rural China reveal a national spirit that is as charming as it is vital. The peasant or farmer paintings on display are closely related to the traditional Chinese arts of embroidery, batik (a fabric dying method), paper-cut, and wall painting. The artists use “shui fen” on thick paper to create the paintings. This technique includes paint powder and water, similar to gouache or tempera.
The artifacts included in this collection depict Chinese rural life and show traditional Shaanxi customs. They range from children’s clothing and toys to New Year’s prints and decorative household items, often embroidered with lucky figures and animals. Both the art and the objects featured in this exhibition introduce an area, which, like the American Midwest, is dominated by agriculture and populated with working people. Fundamental similarities between America and this far away province of China become recognizable by observing these artifacts and artwork. “I’m thrilled to bring folk art from China to our campus community –- and so grateful to COC’s International Services and Programs as well as the Patrons of the Arts for the support that made this possible for us,” said Lewis.
This exhibition is organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) and underwritten in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. ExhibitsUSA creates access to an array of arts and humanities experiences, nurtures the understanding of diverse cultures and art forms, and encourages the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities.
Gallery 206 is a new extension of the main Art Gallery on campus. COC’s Gallery 206 is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information please contact Pamela Lewis at pamela.lewis@canyons.edu.
