Art Gallery 21 Presents Chinese Artist’s Tools Re-Examined by Tin Ly in Wilton Manors
Art Gallery 21 is pleased to present a new art installation by local Wilton Manors artist, Tin Ly, titled Traditional Chinese Artist’s Tools Re-examined, showing at the Island City Cultural Center (600 NE 21st Court, Wilton Manors, FL 33305) starting February 18th during select times on the weekends through March 12, 2023.
This new art exhibit features Ly’s never-before-seen clay sculptures for contemplation accompanied by a series of small water-medium paintings. In addition, artists Nga Nguyen and Ellen Blanco are bringing an element of diversity with their art as a complement to the exhibition.
The exhibit will be open free to the public Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 8 PM and Sunday from 12 to 6 PM from February 18 to March 12, 2023 at Art Gallery 21 inside the Island City Cultural Center in Wilton Manors. Partial funding is provided by Broward Cultural Division and none of this would be possible without the ongoing support of the City of Wilton Manors
Photo of featured artist Tin Ly, Vietnamese artist who lives and does art in Wilton Manors, FL. He has lived in South Florida for more than 40 years.
In its ten years of existence, Art Gallery 21’s mission has always been to shine a light on underserved artists, cultures and communities through innovative art exhibits and events. “We’re excited and proud to help exhibit a culturally fascinating Asian art sector that isn’t shared very often— Tin Ly is a wildly talented multimedia artist that does both water color art and sculptures and we can’t wait for the public to witness his beautiful exhibit!” said Constance Ruppender, co-founder and president of Art Gallery 21.
Art Gallery 21 has remained an on-going Broward Cultural Division grant recipient for its innovative approach to working with and spotlighting local, thought-provoking art. The gallery received its first grant award in 2018 along with the Old Dillard Museum for introducing The Quilts of Gee's Bend during Black History Month highlighting unique African American arts and handcrafted historic quilts. Following that, the non-profit art gallery hosted Art of Barbie in 2019, also funded by Broward Cultural Division, which drew an audience of youth, from school age children to teens, with its "selfie spots'' and the combination of art and technology to create a one-of-a-kind experience being part of Barbie's one-sixth scale world. Just last year, the gallery shined light on talented local Latina/Latino artists (adults and youth), many of whom had worked beneath the radar for far too long, with The Art of Sensuality. The exhibit garnered local attention as it sparked debate about censorship and community values and proved to be a catalyst for conversation among local art advocates.
With this latest art exhibit, Art Gallery 21 members discovered that right here in the island city lived an extraordinary artist of Asian descent. Upon meeting with Tin Ly, it was discovered that he is a humble and kind human being who happens to possess a talent unlike any that the gallery has seen in its history of bringing art experiences to the local community. "I began to work with clay four years ago. In the process, I have learned the advantages and limitations of clay as an art medium. I preferred my work to be high-fired to cone 10 (in a gas kiln), which produced a range of glaze-colors of subdued tonalities” Lyn said.
As a young boy attending school in Cholon (Chinese sector of Saigon, Vietnam), Lyn learned calligraphy with the simple traditional writing tools such as soft goat-hair brushes, ink stick, and ink stone. “I was fascinated with the different effects of such simple tools and objects that could create varied writing styles of strength, nuance and vitality. How do I re-interpret and transform these writing tools to reflect the understanding of my cultural heritage?”
In this new art exhibition, Lynn created a series of clay objects that transformed the traditional Chinese artist’s tools, such as paint-brush, water-dropper, brush-washer, and brush-rest into unique sculptural objects for contemplation. In addition, a series of small water-medium paintings will harmonize the exhibition.
The Island City Cultural Center, home to Art Gallery 21, is easily accessible to public parking and street parking and is 100% ADA compliant.
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Art Gallery 21, Inc. is a Florida-registered 501c3 non-profit organization working in partnership with Wilton Manors Leisure Services Department to bring art and cultural experiences to the residents and visitors of the Island City. Located at the Island City Cultural Center at 600 NE 21st Court in Wilton Manors, Fla., Art Gallery 21 has become the city’s go-to art destination for locals and visitors alike. The Art Gallery 21 is a volunteer-based non-profit that has been bringing thought-provoking art to the local Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors community for over 10 years.