CHARACTER STUDY; WITH INK, BRUSHES AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, CALLIGRAPHERS KEEP ANCIENT ART ALIVE.Byline: Jenifer Hanrahan Daily News Staff Writer Cha-Ming Huang poured ink into a wooden well with hands that registered barely a quiver. He dipped his brush and, keeping his elbows off the table, gracefully swept his hand across the scroll, leaving elegant black strokes that read: ``Your future is unlimited.'' They say in China that calligraphers
legendary fountain of eternal youth. [World Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 432] See : Unattainability . At 95, Huang remains one of the best-known Los Angeles-area Chinese calligraphers, a master of the discipline that blends an artist's flourish with the strict rules of penmanship. Huang is one of about a dozen area calligraphers whose work will be on display from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Chinese New Year Chinese New Year (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: Chūnjié), or Spring Festival Calligraphy calligraphy (kəlĭg`rəfē) [Gr.,=beautiful writing], skilled penmanship practiced as a fine art. See also inscription; paleography. European Calligraphy In Europe two sorts of handwriting came into being very early. and Painting Exhibition at the San Fernando Valley Chinese School In Western countries, a Chinese school is a school established explicitly for the purpose of teaching the Chinese language (of the various Chinese dialects, nowadays Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese Chinese are almost always the ones taught) to American-born Chinese (ABC), . ``It's to let the young generation of Chinese understand the Chinese culture - and for Americans to understand the Chinese culture,'' said George Yau, who is organizing the event. The art exhibit is timed to coincide with the Chinese New Year that begins Wednesday. Drawing on skill Chinese calligraphy, made up of more than 6,000 characters, is more than merely the communication of an idea. The intricate, nuanced placement of angles and lines can be appreciated without knowing the meaning of the symbols. As many as 30 brush strokes Brush Strokes was an Esmonde and Larbey sitcom set in South London and depicting the (mostly) amorous adventures of a good-looking, wisecracking house painter, Jacko (Karl Howman). form each word, allowing artists to develop their own signature style using the five basic strokes - the ``heng,'' a horizontal stroke from left to right; the ``chih,'' a vertical stroke; the ``tien,'' similar to a dot; the ``pieh,'' a right-to-left stroke that dips and narrows to a pointed tip; and the ``na,'' a downward stroke Downward stroke can mean:
Chinese calligraphy is only one of many forms of the craft, which include Arabic, Hebrew and Japanese versions. The word calligraphy means ``beautiful or elegant handwriting,'' and it can be adapted to any language. In this country, calligraphers make a living penning wedding and banquet invitations and envelopes, awards, signs and logos. They use not only brushes and inks, but oil paints, watercolors, bamboo, pens, even tongue depressors. ``It's become a very eclectic art,'' said Richard Pio, president of the Society for Calligraphy, a Los Angeles-based organization of hobbyists and professional calligraphers. While the finished product is important, so is the execution. Molly Gaylor, a free-lance calligrapher cal·lig·ra·phy n. 1. a. The art of fine handwriting. b. Works in fine handwriting considered as a group. 2. Handwriting. who writes awards and scrolls for Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County, requires complete silence when she works. ``I never stop in the middle of a text, because it will look different when you come back,'' Gaylor said. ``Your rhythm will have gone.'' Like a pianist learning the rudiments of music before being able to play with finesse and emotion, a beginning calligrapher must learn the structure of the letters or characters before developing a personal style. ``People think it's going to be a real quick thing to learn,'' said Linda Anderson, membership chairwoman of the Society for Calligraphy. ``You have to practice every single day.'' As Huang works, his hand moves across the sheet of absorbent absorbent /ab·sor·bent/ (-sor´bent) 1. able to take in, or suck up and incorporate. 2. a tissue structure involved in absorption. 3. a substance that absorbs or promotes absorption. paper without pausing, even though the marks are permanent and errors can't be corrected. ``The calligraphy helps me concentrate and helps my mind,'' Huang said in his native Cantonese. Back to basics In some ways, calligraphy is a fading art form. Computers, which now offer dozens of fancy fonts, have taken their toll. The Society of Scribes, a calligraphers' guild in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , has seen its membership dwindle dwin·dle v. dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles v.intr. To become gradually less until little remains. v.tr. To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease. from a peak of 1,800 members in the '70s to its current 500 members. The Los Angeles-based guild experienced a similar drop. But in recent years, perhaps because the novelty of computer drawing programs has begun to wear off, some calligraphers are noticing a resurgence of interest in their unique craft. ``You cannot really duplicate hand-lettering. It has a grace and a spirit that a machine can't duplicate,'' said Mary Anne Wolfe Anne Wolfe (born March 14, 1953) is a United States politician. She was the 2004 Democratic Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District. She is married and lives in Mahwah, New Jersey. , workshop chairwoman for the Society of Scribes in Manhattan. ``Any hand-lettering, if it's executed well, will have life. Anything done by a machine is essentially type. There is no spontaneity in it.'' Deep relaxation, almost akin to meditation, drives many of the 40 hobbyists who make up the Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Chinese Brush Painting The art of brush painting using brush and ink is of Chinese origin, but has developed extensively throughout the region. This article outlines the basic foundation, history, and techniques of this art, and then directs the reader to national schools: Chinese brush painting, Korean and Calligraphy Association. Una Kuan of Westlake Village, a program coordinator for the U.S. Bureau of the Census Noun 1. Bureau of the Census - the bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United States Census Bureau , learned calligraphy as an elementary school student in Taiwan, much the same way American students learn print and cursive writing. She took up Chinese calligraphy two years ago as a way to get back in touch with her heritage and as a diversion from daily stress. ``Spiritually, I wanted some balance. I felt like I was getting more and more busy,'' said Kuan, who is in her early 50s. ``When I write (calligraphy), my mind is so pure. I just enjoy the beauty of the flow of the forms. It gives me self-satisfaction.'' Huang credits calligraphy with helping to keep him healthy. At 90, he self-published a collection of 30 years of his work for his family members. At age 92, he returned to his familial home, endured a 15-hour bus ride and climbed a steep hill to burn incense and pray at the grave sites of his ancestors. At 94, he toured Europe with his family. Says Huang:``I am going to do calligraphy as long as I am able.'' If the art of calligraphy looks like a breeze, think again. In fact, you might want to give it a try yourself. The Thousand Oaks Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy Association meets every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Chinese Christian Church, 218 W. Janss Road., Thousand Oaks. A package of four Chinese calligraphy classes costs $50. (805) 497-9712. The San Fernando Valley Chinese Cultural Association Chinese Language Program offers Chinese calligraphy classes for adults and children from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at James Monroe High School James Monroe High School may refer to:
For beginners who want to learn English calligraphy, several adult education programs offer classes, including: Everywoman's Village, 5650 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, is currently offering a class in calligraphy. Cost is $99 for class, plus a $5 lab fee and a $6 registration fee. (818) 787-5100. Pierce College Community Extension in Woodland Hills will offer a calligraphy class starting Feb. 24. The class runs 9:30 a.m. to noon on six Tuesdays. Cost is $54, seniors $49, $12 for materials. (818) 719-6425. Mission College Community Extension in Sylmar will offer a calligraphy class starting Feb. 24. The class runs 7 to 9 p.m. on six Tuesdays. Cost is $59 and $3 for materials. Seniors receive a 10 percent discount. (818) 364-7386. - Jenifer Hanrahan The Facts What: The San Fernando Valley Chinese New Year Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition. When: Today, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: San Fernanado Valley Chinese School at James Monroe High School, 9229 Haskell Ave., North Hills. Admission: free. Sponsors: Thousand Oaks Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy Association and the San Fernando Valley Chinese New Year Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition. CAPTION(S): 6 Photos, Box Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Painting Poetry When Cha-Ming Huang puts brush to scroll, mere words become lyrical artwork (2--5--Color) ``The calligraphy helps me concentrate and helps my mind,'' says 95-year-old Cha-Ming Huang. (6) Chinese calligraphy, as done by Cha-Ming Huang, is made up of more than 6,000 characters. With as many as 30 brush strokes forming each word, artists develop their own signature styles. Tina Gerson/Daily News Box: If the art of calligraphy looks like a breeze, think again. In fact, you might want to give it a try yourself. (See Text) |
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