Brushing up on tradition

Huntington Beach Library exhibits calligraphy and paintings by two artists of Chinese descent. When Jennifer Ho moved to Huntington Beach nearly two years ago, she became quite devoted to the Huntington Beach Central Library.

Tom Chow also had made visits to the library, traveling the short distance from his home in Seal Beach.

Today, the two are not visitors but featured artists at the library, with their works appearing in a show called “Serendipity in Ink.”

This showcase of Chinese painting and calligraphy -- 66 pieces in all -- runs through Jan. 29 in the library’s corner gallery. Sales from the show benefit the library.

“The one thing that motivates me for doing a show such as this is to bring a cultural understanding,” said Dorothy Yim, the organizer of the show and representative for both artists. “By having an exhibit of this nature here, it might give people who normally wouldn’t visit an art gallery or attend an Asian event the chance to see an art form rooted in deep tradition from another culture.”

Ho said she immediately liked perusing the library after moving to Surf City. She became involved with art shows and joined the Huntington Beach Art League.

“When I started coming here, I wanted to do things that would help benefit the library,” Ho said. “It’s such a beautiful library. I wanted to help out any way that I could.”

Ho and Chow got the chance to showcase their work in the exhibit when another scheduled library event was canceled. The two were able to bring together their valuable pieces in time for the library’s first gallery display of 2006.

“It was a lot of hard work in a short period of time, but with the wonderful help of the Friends of the Library, library administration and others, Tom and I were able to set up the exhibit,” Ho said. “We’re very excited to be here.”

Ho, born in mainland China, is a Chinese artist who has been traditionally trained in the styles of the Ming and Ching dynasties and is noted for her delicate brushwork.

A retired high school and community college art and former art apprentice to the cousin of the last Emperor of China, Prince Pu Hsing-Yu, Ho has taught Chinese painting on television and directed galleries in Hong Kong and China. She also sings Italian opera and Chinese folk songs.

She also serves as a global medical volunteer with Operation Smile. She left Saturday for a 10-day medical mission to Mexico. Recently, she was given an award for outstanding service by the mayor of the city of Cerritos.

Chow, born in China in 1942, came to the U.S. in 1961 and is a longtime resident of Seal Beach. He has practiced Chinese painting with several teachers in Hong Kong and the U.S. and is a member of the American Society for the Study and Practice of Calligraphy.

His work has received numerous awards. He’s held exhibits on Asian calligraphy for 22 years and has taught Chinese painting for more than 26 years.

He said philosophy and discipline come first, but he also encourages his students to do creative brush paintings.

“I’ve always enjoyed what I do,” Chow said. “The main task of the Chinese brush painter today is to be the guardian and propagator of a great, long tradition. Learning the philosophy and discipline are important with these art forms, but creativity also is important.”

Ho and Chow will hold three demonstrations as part of the benefit show.

Chow will demonstrate Asian brush painting from 10 a.m. to noon both Saturday and on Jan. 28 at the corner gallery.

At Ho’s demonstration on Jan. 28, she will use oil and Chinese brushes with ink and watercolor on cotton paper to depict bamboo, which is considered the beginning and end of brush art and takes a lifetime for an artist to master.20060119it9hfhncPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Shantien “Tom” Chow of Seal Beach stands in front of some of his colorful creations in the art gallery at the Huntington Beach Central Library. “Serendipity in Ink,” a painting and calligraphy show that features works by Chow and Huntington Beach resident Jennifer K. Ho, will be featured through Jan. 29. 20060119it9hg9nc(LA)Jennifer K. Ho’s “Calligraphy I” is on display in the “Serendipity in Ink” exhibit.