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Chinese Ink Paintings on View at William Paterson University Beginning October 21

--Four artists from Nantong Institute of Calligraphy and Chinese Painting to present landscape paintings, figurative works and traditional still lifes in Ben Shahn Galleries

The ancient tradition of Chinese ink painting will be the focus of an exhibit, “Ink Rhythm from River and Sea: Inheritance and Innovation,” featuring four prominent artists from the Nantong Institute of Calligraphy and Chinese Painting to be held at the Ben Shahn Galleries at William Paterson University in Wayne from October 21 through November 26. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the University’s Center for Chinese Art.

The four artists, Kang Rong, Hou Dejian, Dong Chenwei, and Zhu Jianzhong, will present painting demonstrations in the Galleries on October 21 from 2 to 4 p.m., and participate in a panel discussion, “Modern Themes in Traditional Techniques,” from 4 to 5 p.m. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The exhibit includes a selection of landscape paintings, figurative works, and traditional still life paintings of birds and flowers, all themes which have been explored in artist academies throughout China for more than two thousand years. “The contemporary Chinese academy is the conduit for the continuation of Chinese painting tradition and also the institution responsible for integrating creativity, research and education,” says Zhiyuan Cong, director of the Center for Chinese Art and a professor of art, who curated the exhibit.

Kang Rong, a painter, is the director of the Nantong Institute of Calligraphy and Chinese Painting, director of Geyi Art Museum, and vice chairman of the Nantong Artists Association. He has participated in numerous national and international art exhibitions, and won several awards, including the “Prize of Excellence” in the National Contest on Calligraphy and Paintings in 2000. His work reflects both traditional Chinese art cultivation and more modern educational philosophies

Painter Hou Dejian is honorary director of the Nantong Institute of Calligraphy and Chinese Painting and chairman of the Nantong Association of Fine Artists. His work has been exhibited in national and international group art exhibitions as well as many one-person exhibitions. His painting “Cowboys” received the “Prize for Excellence” at the Fine Arts Exhibition of Jiangsu Province and was chosen for the Second National Sports Painting Exhibition in 1990. He was awarded first prize at the All-China Fine Art Exhibition in 1991.

Zhu Jianzhong is deputy director of the Nantong Institute of Calligraphy and Chinese Painting and vice chairman of the Nantong Association of Fine Artists. His paintings were selected for The Exhibition of Arts of Four Seasons in China, where he won the gold medal in 1991. His work received the gold medal at the Jinling China Exhibition of Traditional Chinese Paintings in 2009.

Dong Chengwei served as deputy director of the Nantong Institute of Calligraphy and Chinese Painting and curator of the Geyi Art Museum. He is now a member of the Jiangsu Provincial Association of Fine Artists. His paintings, exhibited nationally and internationally, were chosen for the First Nationwide Joint Exhibition of Works of Calligraphy and Painting Institutes and won the Award for Excellence in 2003. He has published two instructional books on painting.

The exhibit is one of three shows on view concurrently in the Ben Shahn Galleries. “Objects of Power: Selections from the Joan and Gordon Tobias Collection of African Art,” on view in the Court Gallery, draws on the University’s 700-object collection of African sculpture, masks, jewelry, dress, baskets, and decorative objects. In the East Gallery is a one-person exhibit of works by Karen Guancione.

This exhibit is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Ben Shahn Galleries are wheelchair-accessible. Large-print handouts are available. For additional information, please call the Ben Shahn Galleries at William Paterson University, 973-720-2654.

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