Quanzhou (Jack) Zhao (Live Ink Painting and Calligraphy Demonstration)

As a preview to the exhibit Quanzhou (Jack) Zhao ink paints caligraphy. Interpreting the Natural: Contemporary Visions of Scholars’ Rocks Art Complex Museum Duxbury MA 2026 Guest Curator, Donna Dodson September 20, 2026 – January 17, 2027 Reception: Sunday, September 20, 2026, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Donna Dodson, brings together ten artists whose practices engage with the ancient Chinese tradition of appreciating naturally occurring stones as vessels of contemplation, metaphor, and imaginative space. The exhibition explores how today’s artists reinterpret the spirit of scholars’ rocks through a range of materials, scales, and conceptual approaches. Rather than replicating historical forms, the featured works consider how nature is shaped; physically, culturally, and spiritually. Some artists emphasize geological presence and raw materiality, while others evoke symbolic landscapes, cosmology, or interior states. Together, these contemporary responses extend a centuries-old dialogue between art and nature, inviting viewers to slow down and recognize the power of the organic world to prompt reflection and wonder. This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on an enduring artistic lineage, bridging tradition and innovation. Participating artists Kate Gilbert, Paul Harris, Danielle Krcmar, Lisa Tang Liu, Cathy Della Lucia, Andy Moerlein, Wen-hao Tien, Alice Wu, Yu-Wen Wu, Quanzhou (Jack) Zhao