Dance of the Brush at City Hall Gallery

This January and February, the Lakeway City Hall Art Gallery will host a captivating journey into the world of Chinese brush painting through the eyes of artist Gail Threinen. Her exhibit, “Dance of the Brush,” promises to transport you beyond the familiar rules of Western art, inviting you to experience the expressive energy and philosophical depth of a centuries-old artistic tradition.

Forget about vanishing points and perfect proportions. Forget about recreating every minute detail with photorealistic precision. Chinese brush painting thrives on a different set of artistic principles. In ancient China, calligraphy reigned supreme, considered the pinnacle of artistic expression. The very language reflects this: there’s no word for “painting” in Mandarin as such, instead, they say “I wrote” these pictures. This intimate connection between calligraphy and brush painting is evident in Gail’s work. Each stroke carries the power and grace of written characters, imbued with a rhythmic dance across the handmade xuan paper.

This is not an art of rigid realism, but of capturing the essence, the spirit of its subject. A bamboo branch may whisper with wind, a mountain may tower in quiet majesty, a lotus flower may unfold its delicate beauty – all through the evocative power of ink and brushwork.

Join us at the Artist Reception on January 16th at 5pm.