Alameda Museum Presents 'The Tao of Metal' by Metal Sculptor Feng Jin

Alameda Museum is presenting The Tao of Metal, a solo exhibition of sculpture by Bay Area artist Feng Jin. From March 5 to 30, 2011, the exhibition will feature Jin's new work, including pedestal and large-scale sculpture as well as a site specific installation.

Jin's work offers connections between forms, symbols and architecture through a vocabulary that is emblazed with light and informed by Asian art and history.

Jin uses an actual door as a background and an entry to introduce new form of Chinese calligraphy. The door not only represents in vs. out, open vs. close, acceptive vs. rejective, but is also an entry in leading people to a new way, moving people either forward or backward.

Three-D, freehand-cut banded bronze characters placed on top of used door create a writing in space. And shadow is also considered a part of the creative element that is never included in traditional calligraphy.

This exhibition will also feature Jin's calligraphic series Sculpt-Script Series. This series of work transforming from 2-D calligraphy writings into a 3-D object. Each piece somehow in certain angles look like a real Chinese character, in a sculpture form. Jin has liberated his imagery entirely from the atmosphere of Chinese calligraphy by combining linear invention and lyric finesse.

Feng Jin is an artist strongly influenced by David Smith in his early creative age technically, but he has also came out with his own sculpting style by picking up some very fundamental ideology from his origin.

A signature characteristic of Jin's work is the investigation of Chinese traditional through the influences of sources like Chinese calligraphy in various dynasties, traditional symbols and contemporary ideology.

At a glance his work resemble urban elements and classic symbols that he has seen and familiar in daily life with a vaguely reflection of contemporary insinuation.

Born in Harbin, China of Korean descent, Jin graduated from Central Academy of Fine Art of China, Beijing. He came to the U.S. in 1995 and currently resides in Alameda, and works as a full-time sculptor. Jin has exhibited his work widely, major exhibition include: Alameda Museum, San Leandro Historical Museum and Art Gallery, Los Gatos Museum of Art and Stanford Art Space at Stanford University.

"The Tao of Metal -- Feng Jin Sculpture Solo Exhibition" artist reception: Saturday, March 12, 12 - 4 p.m. at Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Avenue, Alameda, CA  94501. Admission free. For info: (510) 521-1233. Alameda Museum website: www.alamedamuseum.org. Feng Jin's official website: www.dreamcatchersarts.com.

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Vist the Event Invitation for "The Tao of Metal": http://patch.com/E-d58G