
DATE: Thursday, July 31, 1997               TAG: 9707300180

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   53 lines

TWO EXHIBITS CAPTURE FLAVOR OF ASIAN ART FORM

If you enjoy Asian art, you can double your pleasure.

Two exhibits, one at the Suffolk Museum that continues through Aug. 24, and an exhibit at the Shooting Star Gallery that continues through Sept. 15, rely on Asian art styles.

The museum offering, ``Bridge To the East,'' is a one woman show by Lee Gerry Wertheimer, winner of the 1996 Suffolk Art League Juried Exhibition.

She offers several mediums and techniques showing a variety of exotic Oriental art with a Western flair.

Wertheimer is known for her expertise in traditional Chinese and Japanese methods of Sumi-e - ink painting - as well as marbleized handmade rice paper, and Oriental brushwork on Shikishi Board.

``Close adherence to the simple elegance and poetic concepts that underlie the philosophical foundations of Oriental art is of great importance to me,'' she said. ``The combination of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism create a strong base from which form and fancy emerge.''

Wertheimer describes her medium as ``water-based, using permanent Chinese pigments, which I hand grind, to paint with imported handmade Japanese or Chinese rice paper.''

Some of her art work was exhibited at the Fine Arts Pavilion at the 1983 World's Fair in Knoxville.

Wertheimer studied painting and calligraphy in the Peoples Republic of China in 1993. In 1995, Amy W. Fleming, whose works are on display at the Shooting Star Gallery, visited that country.

``It was the realization of a dream,'' she said - ``to visit the country where Oriental brush painting began more than 2,000 years ago. I met Chinese artists who keep this traditional art form alive by creating beautiful Chinese masterpieces.''

In this country, Fleming studied with such renowned Oriental artists as Diana Kan, Ning Yeh, Professor Li-Hsiung Ju, and Ben Kudo.

``I respect and admire the juxtaposition of discipline and spirit in this art form. Each of my senses is fully aware during the process of painting,'' she said, adding, ``I've been told I have a Chinese soul.'' MEMO: ``Bridges To The East,'' is at the Suffolk Museum, 118 Bosley

Avenue, through Aug. 24. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and

1-5 p.m. Sunday. For information, call the Suffolk Art League at

925-0448.

Amy W. Fleming's exhibit at the Shooting Star Gallery, 118 North Main

St., is through Sept. 15. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 1-5

p.m. Sunday, or by appointment. For information, call 934-0855.

Both exhibits are free. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Lee Gerry Wertheimer, left, and Amy Fleming have both traveled to

China to study brush techniques.