YMCA Community Gallery Showcases Sumi-e Asian Art

During the month of May, the Community Gallery at the North Suburban YMCA celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by featuring an exhibit of art by the Midwest Sumi-e Society. Sumi-e is a 2,000-year old form of Japanese painting that uses brush and ink on paper.

Sumi-e’s early practitioners were highly disciplined Zen Buddhist monks who trained in the art of concentration, clarity, and simplicity. Today, becoming a Master Sumi-e artist requires an investment of effort and time in rigorous training and discipline. For the artists, Sumi-e is more than technique, it is a spiritual journey.

To evoke their poetry of nature, Sumi-e brush painters create beautiful lines and forms with brush strokes, using a number of techniques and methods to bring life to the subject. Themes may include birds, flowers, Asian landscapes, animals and people.

Members of the Midwest Sumi-e Society will participate in the Northbrook Community Relations Commission’s annual Taste of Asia festival on Sunday, May 3rd from 12:30-3:00 p.m. at the North Suburban YMCA, located at 2705 Techny Rd. in Northbrook. This free community event includes a wide variety of live performances, art exhibitions, and delicious foods, including a demonstration of Sumi-e by members of the Midwest Sumi-e Society who will be present at the Taste of Asia for their official art opening.

The artists whose work will be displayed include: Jan Keller Schultz, Monica Cardestam, Ileane Tatar, Dolores Morrison, Gloria Bradle, Steve Grant, Patricia Larkin Greene, Connie Hamilton, Reggie Siske and Kay Thomas. The art is for sale, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Y’s Visual Arts Program.

The Village of Northbrook has also placed a number of pieces of the Midwest Sumi-e Society’s artwork on display at Village Hall during the month of April leading up to Taste of Asia in celebration of Asian Heritage Month.

About the North Suburban YMCA
The YMCA is a not-for-profit entity and relies on donations to make services available for all families and individuals in its 15-city region. All board members are volunteers, who donate their time, talents and financial resources. Located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook, the YMCA has served the northern suburbs of Chicago for over 45 years. The Y is about youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, providing programs and services that address the needs of our diverse community and are accessible to all. For more information or to make a donation, contact Barb Flanagin at 847-272-7250 or bflanagin@nsymca.org, or visit www.nsymca.org.