This is my second year as a member of the Sumi-e Society of America (SSA) which is celebrating a milestone anniversary. As part of the celebration, SSA held its 60th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Chinese American Museum in Washington, DC, through June 2 to July 1, 2023. In conjunction with this event, the painting and calligraphy judge/juror of the exhibition, Dr. Kit-Keung Kan, held a three-day painting workshop.

I had the honor to participate in this year’s exhibition with two paintings. I also had the great fortune to actually visit DC not only to see the in-person exhibition, but to attend the workshop offered by Dr. Kit-Keung Kan. Dr. Kan is an internationally acclaimed artist but also has had a full career in physics. From the workshop, it was not only the unique painting techniques that Dr. Kan taught but, more importantly, it was his kind, patient and inclusive demeanor that left a profound, lasting impression. This kind yet disciplined spirit that comes from within is reflected in his paintings as well as his calligraphy. I hope you will take a minute to check out his paintings on the web. His waterfall paintings are exquisite among others.

A little bit of history of SSA. It was founded by Professor Motoi Oi who was born in Japan in 1910. He traveled to the United States (for his honeymoon) in 1954 and began teaching sumi-e in California. He returned to Tokyo in 1956, teaching sumi-e classes to American G.I.s and embassy personnel. In 1958, he emigrated to the USA and settled in New York where he worked as a printmaker, painted and wrote several books on Sumi-e painting. He taught art at Queens College, New York City and the Brooklyn Institute of Art and Science. In January of 1963, several people were invited to the home of Professor and Mrs. Motoi Oi. All but one of them, who was an attorney, were students of sumi-e, an art form which was just appearing on the American scene. Professor Oi outlined a plan for a society that would bring the knowledge of Japanese brush painting to the attention of Americans and foster cultural relations between the United States and Japan. It was his desire to make it possible for those who had become proficient in the art to exhibit their works in surroundings appropriate to the nature of the painting. It was on that afternoon that the Sumi-E Society of America was born. On April 12th, 1963, it was incorporated, and well on its way. The Nippon Club in New York City hosted the first exhibition, November 21 to December 4, 1963, by 36 artists, including 7 guest artists from Japan. The exhibition catalog lists 71 members in the new society ranging from California to Canada, Florida, Texas, and many in and near New York. The Consulate General of Japan and the Japan Society offered awards and Motoi Oi’s demonstrations were sold to help fund the Society. (Background history provided by SSA.)

Pursuant to its mission, the recent SSA activities in DC provided valuable educational opportunities. I am happy to have made the trip to DC and look forward to participating in future learning opportunities. I also hope that young aspiring sumi-e artists and sumi-e enthusiasts will join this wonderful organization so that Professor Oi’s legacy and his passion to foster cultural relations between countries through the art of sumi painting will be passed onto future generations.

“Five More Minutes” (Blue Heron Arts Company award)

“A Cordial Hello.”