You are invited!

I want to personally invite you to visit our opening of "China Minorities-American Perceptions".  Mary Frankel and I will open our show on Friday, March 6, 2015 from 6-8:00PM at the Christ Church Cathedral's Cloister Gallery located at 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002.  We have created over 30 original oil paintings to share our impressions of the minority regions of  Southern China with our fellow Americans.  Here is our flier with more information.

Hope to see you there!   ---Vicky Gooch

What a Journey!

What a journey it has been; first, traveling to the minority regions of China, and second, to return to America and create over 30 paintings with fellow artist Vicky Gooch.

I have a variety of different kinds of friends and acquaintances, and one thing I noticed when I got back is that everyone has strong opinions and feelings about the country of China either way. Let me just say that it was not my intention to make a political statement about China, but rather to give my ‘impressions’ of the China I visited.

In 1944 Aaron Copland wrote the orchestral suite Appalachian Spring.  The war was raging in Europe and Copland wanted to remind people that there was still beauty to be found in the world. Like Copland, it is my wish that you will find beauty represented in the paintings I have created from visiting this ancient, diverse and magical region of the world.

Thank you for going with me on this journey.

Sincerely, Mary Frankel, March 2015

Tomorrow's Child

All we ever know about the future is that it won’t look like today.  One of my perceptions of the minority regions of China was that of an area in the midst of great changes. Airports, train tracks and shiny new highways bring people to and from these mountains now. 

Tourists from all around the world flock to his area to enjoy the scenery and local customs.  At the same time young adults leave for jobs in the cities.  The new and the old mix as grandparents care for small children who stay behind.  It makes me think of our own American farmers who for such a long time now have lost their young people to the appeal of the big city.

We often think of China as being on the opposite side of the globe from us.  The language, both spoken and written is about as different as you can get.  It seems a challenge to move past our preconceived ideas of people with such different ways.   And yet, when we stand close and look into the eyes of a child we see that we all have dreams; dreams for a happy life with peace, prosperity and special people to love.  And we all wonder what the future will hold.

 Detail "Shy Dreamers"

by Vicky Gooch

24" X 18" Oil on Linen

 Detail "Shy Dreamers"

by Vicky Gooch

24" X 18" Oil on Linen

A River Runs Through It – Zhenyuan by Mary Frankel

Day 12 of our journey brought us to Zhenyuan, an ancient town inhabited by the Miao people for 2,000 years.  This tranquil river town is called the ‘Oriental Venice’ and for good reason.  I was quickly charmed as I strolled along the Wuyang River, enjoying the shimmering reflections on the emerald green water. 

Painting this moment in time brings back peaceful and relaxing memories, and if you were comparing Zhenyuan to Venice – she would be the quiet, shy and peaceful older sister.

A River Runs Through It - Zhenyuan (detail)

By Mary Frankel