Williamsburg will be bringing in the Chinese New Year in February with visiting artists from China.
Landmark Art and Cultural Exchange is working with the Linda Matney Gallery in Williamsburg and Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News to present art pieces from seven well-known Chinese artists during February, according to a news release from Landmark.
The art will vary in medium from oil painting to acrylic, and five of the Chinese artists will be at the gallery to mingle with visitors.
The artists will display their work beginning Feb. 2 at the gallery in Williamsburg and at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, 101 Museum Drive. Chinese students from Hampton Roads Academy have volunteered to serve as translators. Local artists from Christopher Newport University and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center will present their work as well, according to Baylee Wang, CEO of Landmark.
Landmark came up with the idea for this event after the exchange sent a representative to China in 2017.
Wang traveled to the country and saw work from several Chinese artists. She knew Williamsburg would be a great place to feature them.
“We want to connect people so they can learn about history or the current Chinese perspective,” Wang said.
The company planned the show over the last few months, with the goal of bringing more Chinese culture to the eastern Virginia area. Landmark has never displayed work directly from China before, and saw an opportunity for a cultural connection, Wang said.
The show will run through March. It includes special events designed to create cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through art and travel, the release said. The special events are:
Feb. 2, The Art of Asia exhibition opening at Peninsula Fine Arts Center
Feb. 3, Transposition exhibition opening at the Linda Matney Gallery
Feb. 8, lecture on Chinese art and artists at Peninsula Fine Arts Center
Feb. 14, Chinese New Year celebration at Peninsula Fine Arts Center
The Chinese New Year celebration at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center will be free and open to the public. The event will feature prizes, food and wine.
The Linda Matney Gallery is located 5435 Richmond Rd. For more information, visit the Linda Matney Gallery website.
