Abstract

La Pasqua - Her Rebirth: An Exhibit Influenced by Chinese Brush Painting Techniques and the Expression of Dance.

Research of Chinese brush painting reveals that Asian artists are more concerned with the internal spirit of the subject than with the form, highlight, or shadow of the subject. The expressive brush strokes are silently carried throughout the paintings to narrate a story. Through observation of dancers, each elegant movement implies a statement, and the combinations of movements compose a story. In comparison, the movement of a brush across the paper is like that of a dancer across the stage; elegantly speaking without sound.

The exhibit is the result of the creative process which combines the artists understanding of the spiritual techniques of Chinese brush painting, the selected images of expressive dance movements, and the possible association of color application. These elements were used to create a visual story of the artist’s journey of a struggle for self-awareness and strength; a journey of rebirth.

The thesis is a documentation of the creative process, a list of the materials and resources used, and an explanation of the paintings in relation to the visual story.

Acknowledgements

The Ballet class of Nancy Carson Fall 2005

The Modern Dance class of Nancy Carson Fall 2005

Anna Brewster

Lauren Cates

Kymberly Foster

Ashley Hardy

Erika Ikerd

Erin Johnson

Samantha Lasater

Lauren Leinbach

Chelsey Ruff

Jami Scherer

Catherine Schultz

Rachel Steinsberger

Debra Worley

Zoey Zapple

Special thanks to Professor Ann Conner for her patience and her guidance; Nancy Carson for providing the dancers; Sherman Hayes and Beth Roberts for their excitement and their brainstorming with me on how to hang the exhibit; George and Carol Kazantzis for helping me test the proper materials over and over. The past year has been filled with never-ending support from all of these special people.