Trained in math and with teaching experience, Arlington artist Wen LePore’s talents are broad and deep. She pursues painting and pottery with humility and intensity, respecting the art for its challenges in mastering technique and form.
We had the pleasure to spend an evening with her in her home and to see her home studio that she personally built as an addition to their house. She may easily win an award for Chinese "hot pot" cooking, in addition to her art.
You can feel and sense the Chinese influence on her interior design. Her palette is often filled with blues and greens that are a part of her style, although there are no permanent constraints on that.
Work on her home walls illustrates ability to handle people and landscapes. Her nice dog also posed as a subject for a painting.
I contemplate the culture and its influence on art, and art and its influence on the culture. Often, artists are intellects who express ideas and values about society that are reflected in how they treat the subject matter in creating art.
Artists like Wei Wei integrate politics into artist expression. We talked about that.
Another idea is expressed in a statement by the Chinese Culture and Art League.
“The Chinese Culture and Art League (CCAL) is a non-profit organization registered in District of Columbia, which was established in January 2010 by a group of devoted Chinese artists in Great Washington metropolitan community, whose mission is to bring Chinese culture and arts to the West and to promote cultural exchange between China and the United States. Our aim is to make people with different culture background better understand each other so as to break down the culture barrier, and turn civilization conflict into peace living in harmony with culture diversity. CCAL welcome all artists who are interested in Chinese culture and art to join us. Working together we can make a better world.”
Wen LePore is currently exhibiting at the newly named Gallery Underground in Crystal City with an opening tonight, March 15, 2013.
Gallery Underground
Crystal City Shops
2100 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
571-483-0652 phone
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