BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART Museum mourns master painter

The board of directors and staff of the Butler Institute of American Art join the world in mourning the loss of one of American art's brightest stars, master painter Chen Chi (1912-2005).
Many people have been inspired to write about Chen Chi, including Pearl S. Buck.
His mastery of the brush, extraordinary depth of feeling and profound philosophy of life were matched only by his optimism, unique sense of humor, devotion to world peace and unending energy.
Butler Director Dr. Louis Zona said, "The world has lost one of the greatest artistic talents of the last century with the passing of Chen Chi. The most important and most influential watercolor artist in America, his adopted land, Chen Chi loved the Butler Institute and the people of Youngstown. He would often tell friends that although he was Chinese by birth and spent over a half century in New York City, he was a Youngstowner in his heart."
Chen Chi was born in the town of Wuxi, near Shanghai, shortly after the 1911 Revolution.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Chinese artists were deeply influenced by the ideas and creativity emanating from the West. In his early work, Chen Chi was strongly influenced by these new currents, which forever influenced his art.
Came to United States
In 1947, Chen Chi left China, migrated to the United States where, until recently, he continued to reside and exhibit his paintings. Thus, Chen Chi's works have been characterized as the epitome of the expression "East meets West."
In April 1999, the Chen Chi Art Museum officially opened in Shanghai, as a place to display Chen Chi's painting as well as to promote an international exchange of art and education. The dedicatory inscription, "Chen Chi Art Museum" denoted both respect and tribute to the artist by his native country. Yet, Chen Chi always referred to the Butler Institute affectionately as "Chen Chi American Art Museum."
Because of Chen Chi's deep concerns for world peace, he was chosen as the first living Chinese artist to be honored with a one-man retrospective in Versailles. This historic exhibition was held in conjunction with the first World Cultural Summit, which took place at the Palace of Versailles in June 2000.
The Butler's current exhibition of its permanent collection of works by Chen Chi demonstrates the artist's wide diversity of styles.
From traditional Chinese watercolor techniques to a boldly Impressionist style in which the subject of the painting often disappears in a swirl of intermingled color masses, these works are at once beautiful and inspiring.
All of Chen Chi's work is derived from intense observation of nature. Some of his paintings are naturalistic, showing the human figure amidst nature.
Others are more abstract, suggesting the changing seasons and the constant presence of the sun and moon.
Other exhibits
By popular demand, the exhibition of pastel works by M. Katherine Hurley has been extended through September. "Near and Far," on view in the Butler's second floor Giffuni Gallery, includes landscapes and still-life subjects.
The Giffuni Gallery is a permanent space in the Butler Institute that is dedicated to the display of pastel works, funded by Flora Giffuni (New York City), founder of the Pastel Society of America.
Through Oct. 2, "Peter Plagens: An Introspection" is on view at the Butler's Trumbull County branch at 9350 E. Market St. in Howland Township. This exhibition of paintings by a renowned art writer and critic is accompanied by a comprehensive catalog available for purchase in the Butler Museum's gift shop.
Running through Oct. 23, the Butler in Youngstown will present an exhibition titled "John Alexander: Recent Observations."
This exhibition of paintings and drawings by a well known New York painter is a 10-year survey, and includes lush landscapes, portraits and florals.
From Sept. 24 through Nov. 5, the Butler's Columbiana County branch at 343 E. State St., Salem, will present "Adam Grant [1925-1992]: A Retrospective." Works in this retrospective exhibition detail the life of this extraordinary Polish-born American who became a renowned figure painter.
He was a master of paint-by-number art, the do-it-yourself hobby kits made in Toledo which soared to international popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, and his designs encouraged many a would-be painter to dabble.
The exhibition is presented in conjunction with 20 North Gallery, Toledo.
Call for entries
From Nov. 11-27, the Butler in Youngstown will present its 69th Area Artists Annual exhibition. This juried show includes works in all media created by artists over age 18 who reside within a 40-mile radius of Youngstown.
Exhibition juror for the show is M.J. Albacete, director of the Canton Museum of Art.
Call (330) 743-1107, Ext. 210, for an entry form.