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A Grain of Sand Through the eyes of two contemporary sumi-e artists |
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Susan Christie Hiroki Murata |
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June 3 - 29, 2005 |
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About the Show You stand in front of a lake watching the sunset. You squint to focus on the reflections. In an instant, you no longer see a lake, not even water; all you see are millions of dancing lights spreading out in all directions to fill your universe. A Grain of Sand, a two-person show of sumi-e (Oriental ink painting) by Hiroki Murata and Susan Christie may evoke a similar experience. In this show, Murata and Christie focus on parts of grander scenes. In Murata's paintings, a night sky is seen as specks of illumination, a desert becomes shifting shadows, structures are abstracted as intricate patterns of wood-grains. Working in a completely different style, Christie turns her subjects into mesmerizing abstractions. Waterscapes become dancing shimmering streaks of brilliance. Her painting invites viewers to look beyond the surface. Together, the works of these two artists offer a glimpse of the evocative power of their medium. Murata and Christie approach their subjects with very different styles. Murata studied traditional Nihon-Ga (Japanese painting) at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His work shows an unusual combination of originality, discipline and deliberate purposes. Christie learned sumi-e and calligraphy with prominent Japanese and Chinese painters in the US and China. Christie's paintings are spontaneous and dynamic. Her style has evolved from classical to experimental, becoming more abstracted in recent years. |
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Susan Christie Susan Christie (b. 1942) was first attracted to sumi-e while attending the University of Minnesota. In 1970, she began her decade-long study of classical sumi-e and calligraphy. Christie eventually took over the teaching after Ms. Ito moved to Washington, D.C. Between 1980 and 1984, she studied with several other painters, including Chin Khee Chee. She began exhibiting her work and teaching sumi-e at the Minnesota Museum of Art and the Minneapolis Museum of Art. She studied the "Anatomy of the Mountain" with Wucius Wong and worked with him in the production of a video on his work for the Minneapolis Museum of Art. 1984 brought an invitation to Hangzhou, China, as part of the first group of Westerners to attend the Zhejiang Academy of Art, one of China’s two oldest art schools. There, Christie studied with some of the most important Master Painters and Calligraphers in the country, including Zhuo He Jun, Wong Dong Ling, Wenda Gu. On her return trip, Christie made an extended stay in Japan where she visited Kyoto and stayed in a Buddhist Temple. Over the next few years, some of the artists Christie met in China traveled to Minneapolis and painted with her. Among them, Zhuo He Jun was especially influential for Christie’s work. Soon after returning to America, Christie made her first visit to New Mexico, which added a new dimension to her work. She studied American art history extensively and traveled to museums all over the country, as her paintings evolved from traditional towards abstraction. In 1994, Christie moved to New Mexico and began an intense schedule of solo exhibitions, while spending summers away in Montana concentrated on painting. In 2001, she moved to Ennis, Montana where she continues to work and teach. Click on images to view selected pieces To order call 505-988-8072, see Inquiry/Order
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Susan Christie Cascade Sumi ink on paper 54"x 27"
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Susan Christie Universe of Water I Sumi ink on paper 14"x 43" Sold
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Susan Christie Universe of Water II Sumi ink on paper 14"x 43" Sold
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Susan Christie Brush Ink & Paper Sumi ink on paper 7.5"x 5.5" Sold
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Susan Christie Thinking of Zhuo He Jun Sumi ink on paper 8.5"x 5.5" Sold
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Susan Christie Reflection I Sumi ink & Chinese colors on paper 12"x 8.5"
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Susan Christie Reflection IV Sumi ink & Chinese colors on paper 12"x 8.5"
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Selected Exhibitions (Susan Christie)
1995 "Works from 1990-1995", Solo exhibition, Douglas-Baker Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 1997 "The 34th Annual Sumi-e Society of America Juried Exhibition", The Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN 1997 "Trees, Volume I", Solo exhibition, Douglas-Baker Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 1998 "Monothon 12", Site Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM 1999 "Monothon 13", Site Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM 1999 "Second Annual foca Artists Exhibition", LewAllen Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 1999 "101 Cups, 101 Artists" invitational, Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 1999 "In a Blue Moon", Solo exhibition, Douglas-Baker Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 1999 "Between the Trees", Solo exhibition, Hand Artes Gallery, Truchas, NM 2000 "Monothon 14", The College of Santa Fe Visual Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM 2000 "Third Annual foca Artists Exhibition", LewAllen Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2001 "Monothon 15", Site Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM 2001 "On the Edge", Solo exhibition, Segreto Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2002 "Monothon 16", Site Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM 2002 "Bella Figura", Segreto Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2003 Annual Juried Exhibition and Auction, The Art Museum of Missoula, MT 2004 "Tranquil Light II", two-person exhibition, Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Selected Publications (Susan Christie) 2002 "Japanese Ink Painting: Beginners Guide to Sumi-e" by Susan Frame features a number of original paintings by Susan Christie.
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