The Senior Artists’ Art Exhibit – Collection from the Treasure Chest, held by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum, had its Grand Opening at the museum on October 28. Senior painting artists from both the main-stream and Chinese societies in many cities, turned their rich live experiences into color brushes, and they sketched, outlined and drew their ideologies and expectations about mankind and the world into wonderful paintings, painting the splendid world in their eyes and showed the richness and colorfulness of the spiritual lives of theirs. This exhibit is a rare exchange in painting that is held for the seniors from different ethnicities in Los Angeles.
According to Dr. Brian Tyan, President of the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum, this exhibit showcases 80 paintings by 66 artists from various senior centers and art organizations, including Pasadena Senior Center, Arcadia Senior Center, Kingsley Manor in Hollywood, the Paramonas Art Group, the Ray Pomona Watercolor Art Class, Westminster Garden Retirement Center and the Perennial Art Association of City of Walnut. The oldest participating artist is 97 years.
President Tyan said that although there are many art exhibits in Los Angeles, those exhibit specifically held for seniors across different races and areas are very rare. No matter they are professionals or amateurs, it is obvious from the paintings on exhibit that these silver-haired folks live very spirited and invigorating lives. They transform their unique life experiences, their expectation about human kind and the world, and their ideals into paintings and show their hearts. Seeing their paintings not only can move and inspire people, is significant in education for the mass in the society, but also can help to improve mutual understanding and integration among the various cultures and ethnicities. By holding this art exhibit, it is hoped that more seniors will attend such activities in the future.
Among the many community leaders, art experts and VIPs attending the opening ceremony are Mr. Jorge A Marquez, Mayor of City of Covina, Ms. Mary Su, Mayor of City of Walnut, Dr. Maureen Kellen-Taylor, a visiting scholar of the USC’s Davis School and a senior expert in Gerontology, Mr. Gan Fuzhong, Vice President of the American Calligraphy and Painting Art Academy, Ms. Wu Hua, the Director of Chinese International Painters Association, Mrs. and Mr. Ali Tam, Sr. a Chinese painting teacher at Arcadia Community Center, and Ms Lin Guan-Ying, an outstanding painter of the Perennial Artist Association of City of Walnut.