Beauty in the Brushstroke: Chinese Brush Painting by Lynn Vergano
WHEN: March 9 – May 1, 2011
WHERE: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown
The Morris Museum is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition, Beauty in the Brushstroke: Chinese Brush Painting by Lynn Vergano. Award-winning New Jersey artist Lynn Vergano explores the centuries-old, disciplined art form of Chinese brush painting in depicting subjects drawn from nature, such as landscapes, plants and animals. Over forty works are featured in this exhibition, including traditional silk scrolls as well as contemporary framed paintings. Several special programs are planned for this exhibition (see details below); the exhibition reception takes place Sunday, March 27, from 2 – 5 p.m. and is free with museum admission. Scroll down for special programs related to this exhibit.
About the Art
The materials used for Lynn’s art—the rice paper, watercolors and inks—are handmade by skilled artisans in Asia. The presentation of the works on view at the museum combines western gilded frames with eastern silk scrolls, which Lynn travels to Asia to have mounted. Included in the exhibition are exquisite fans, which Lynn created after studying the exacting art of fan painting in Asia, as well as unique, handcrafted ink sticks, artist’s tools, paints and carved stone seals.
About the Artist
Lynn Vergano’s work has been exhibited globally, in galleries from Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand to Istanbul, Turkey, Sao Paulo, Brazil and Venice, Italy. Her paintings have been displayed nationally in the World Trade Center, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Capital Children’s Museum in Washington, DC, Bergen Museum, Monmouth Museum, Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY, and many others. She has lectured, exhibited, judged, and served on the panel at international conferences at the United Nations, and numerous art centers and non-profit organizations across the country. Lynn was honored in 2008 with the “Women of Achievement Award by the American Association of University Women – New York City”. Lynn Vergano’s painting Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon (above) was awarded Best in Show in the National Arts Club 109th Exhibiting Artist Members’ Exhibition, and her Cat Trio (top) won the Heydenryk Award at the 108th Exhibition. Both paintings will be publicly exhibited together for the first time in the Beauty in the Brushstroke exhibition.
Regarding the development of her interest in Chinese brush painting, Lynn says, “I studied at Pratt Institute and graduated with a Master’s degree from New York University, and my first paintings were in the classic Western tradition. But the simplicity and discipline of Chinese brush work attracted me. It seemed, like Asian philosophy, to go to the core of things.” Lynn studied traditional western oil portraiture with Kenneth Cushman, and Chinese brush painting with Dr. David Kwo. Lynn Vergano’s lineage also includes a family of artists: her grandmother sang opera and her mother was a professional dancer who worked in film and taught in her dance studio for over fifty years The hand-painted birds and boughs on the walls of her grandmother’s Victorian house proved to be an early inspiration for Lynn’s work. The early immersion in the arts and appreciation for beauty in the natural world were provided by the person Lynn considers her first and best teacher—her mother. (Above: Quietude)
Lynn Vergano is currently a resident of Bedminster, NJ; she lived in Randolph, NJ for over 25 years, where she raised her four sons, Scott, Stephen, Sandy and Sefton.
OPENING RECEPTION
Sunday, March 27 | 2 – 5 PM
Free with museum admission
Visit the exhibition galleries, and meet artist Lynn Vergano. Light refreshments will be served. Registration required: e-mail programs@morrismuseum.org or call 973.971.3718.
MEET THE ARTIST & BOOK SIGNING WITH LYNN VERGANO
Sunday, April 10 | 1 – 4 PM
Free with museum admission
Artist Lynn Vergano will answer questions about her technique and subject matter, and sign copies of her book, Paintings.
SENIOR FRIDAY: CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING BY LYNN VERGANO
Friday, April 15 | 1 PM
Free with museum admission
Visit the Morris Museum for an early afternoon of art and conversation with museum staff. This program will include a highlights tour through the exhibition, engaging conversation in the galleries, and light refreshments. Pre-registration is not required.
CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING GALLERY TOUR & ARTIST TALK
Thursday, April 21 | 6:30 PM
$5/members; $7 non-members
Award-winning artist Lynn Vergano leads a tour of her Chinese Brush Painting exhibition. Lynn will discuss the history and philosophy of the art form and how her own style has evolved. Please e-mail programs@morrismuseum.org or call 973.971.3718 to reserve your space.
