Stein Galleries to feature paintings by Brian Chu, Shiao-Ping Wang and George Rose

“Drumming” (acrylic on canvas) by Shiao-Ping Wang

Wright State’s Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries will open the Spring Semester with two concurrent exhibitions: recent paintings by Brian Chu and Shiao-Ping Wang and self-portraits by George Rose.

Brian Chu and Shiao-Ping Wang, who are married, will give an informal gallery talk on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m. in the galleries in the Creative Arts Center. A reception will follow from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

All galleries events are free and open to the public.

“Brian Chu and Shiao-Ping Wang: Recent Paintings” will be on display from Jan. 13 to March 1.

While each painting is an independent work and not part of a greater whole, the two bodies of work in Chu and Wang’s exhibit provide an overview for the unique development, temperament and philosophy of each artist.

Chu and Wang, who emigrated from Taiwan, both studied painting at Queens College in New York with renowned teachers Gabriel Laderman, Louis Finkelstein and Rosemarie Beck.

“Spring” (acrylic on canvas) by Shiao-Ping Wang

Despite their similar background and training, they branched out to develop very distinct styles of painting and independent success.

While both artists were trained as representational painters who work from observation, Wang’s work turned toward abstraction in 2002, responding to ideas and feelings rather than the observable world. Using primarily acrylic paint, she uses and explores patterns to express things with no tangible form, such as memory and sound. She received a fellowship at Vermont Studio Center in 2007 and the Spotlight Award for Best Painter in the Seacoast in 2008.

“I believe patterns reflect and reveal meanings and cultural traditions. Using patterns, people of all cultures have always created ornaments on various surfaces and in diverse materials, perhaps aiming to engage their eye when looking at everyday objects,” Wang said.

“Breeze” (oil on canvas) by Brian Chu

By contrast, Chu’s work is representational and focused on the world he sees. Using oil paint, his subjects include people, objects and landscapes. His process is often spontaneous, and his paintings have a worked surface that he creates using his brushes, palette knives and sticks. Like his wife, he has taught at several institutions, including the University of New Hampshire, where he is currently an associate professor of art.

‘George Rose: Self-Portraits’

“George Rose: Self Portraits” will be on display from Jan. 13 to March 29.

Stein Galleries will also feature a collection of self-portraits by painter George Rose from Jan. 13 to March 29.

The galleries will host a reception with Rose on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 4:30 6:30 p.m.

Rose’s paintings are well admired for their vibrant intensity and inventiveness. In his time as an art professor at various universities from 1965 to 2000, he gained the esteem of several other painters such as Hugh Yorty and Stanley Lewis.

Rose instructed as a visiting artist and lecturer at various schools most notably Indiana University, Dartmouth College, American University, Yale University, New York Studio School and the Chautauqua Institution.

His work has been widely shown in the Midwest in solo and group exhibitions and received an Ingram Merrill award in 1993. He is retired from teaching but continues to paint and resides in Maryville, Mo.

George Rose’s paintings are well admired for their vibrant intensity and inventiveness.

Both exhibitions are supported by Wright State’s College of Liberal Arts, the Ohio Arts Council and individual supporters of the Galleries.

Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

All visitor parking areas on campus are free, and parking at the Creative Arts Center is unrestricted after 5 p.m. on Fridays and weekends. A dedicated parking space for galleries patrons is available during school hours.

More information on the Stein Galleries is available at wright.edu/artgalleries.