Message from the Tao Water Gallery

Jia Tian Shi and Wang Xiao Song – Memories and Love
July 26 – August 8, 2014
Opening
time : July 26, 3-5 pm Saturday
place: Barnstable

Last winter, we received the bad news from Wang Xiao Song, the wife , Jia Tian Shi passed away of cancer at 2012 at age of 42, we were saddened by the loss, wanted to do something for him and his wife and family, but it was too late, we already closed for the winter. Now it is time to show our respect and love for him and his art, this show is specially tribute to him, we will have 9 pieces by him ( all we have )and 11 pieces by Wang Xiao Song, This is what we wrote on our website last winter:

Jia Tian Shi is one of the best painters of still life in our gallery. We have been representing him for more than ten years and their beautiful paintings still hang in both of our galleries. We can’t believe this could happen to Jia. In our memory he was a young, strong , boy, full of energy. We still remember the first time we met him and he took us to a local antique flea market , looking for treasures. When he found something interesting, his eyes sparkled with joy.

When it comes to his art, he was a dedicated painter, a serious artist, in my words “He seems to carve on canvas.” In his paintings, you even can see little scars or carvings on the table, rust hanging on an old instrument, a single thread of fabric underneath an object . . . , amazing details. We cannot imagine the number of hours he stood in front of his easel , the dedication and effort he put into his work!

Jia Tian Shi had an old soul, even he was such young joyful man. We were always touched by the subtle nostalgia in his work. He set his treasures at the center of his canvas, so serious about them that he took everything else out of the picture. He wanted our eyes to focus on the beauty he found in old things. Light shines in his painting, not everywhere, but only on what he wanted us to see. He created an atmosphere, let his viewers feel his warmth, the warmth to the past and time. We are all moved by his work. Many of you became his followers, collectors. For the beauty he reveals to us , for his talent, his hard work, for his creation, we thank him and will remember him forever.

He left us at his peak of career. He was nominated to be the chairman of the artists association in his city, Fu Shun, before he died. He also won several awards at national art exhibitions, and was a professor at the art school in Fu Shun. His works were welcomed internationally, and his shows hung in many galleries , including our own.

Last week, we brought out all we have of his works, took pictures, searched the data on our computers, and assembled as many images as possible. Some are still missing. In his memory, we construct this page as a retrospective of his work.

We hope this show will lead us to remember him and his art, and also to help his wife and his girl get through the most difficult time of their lives.

Please login our website.

Jia Tian Shi http://taowatergallery.com/artist_jia2.htm
Wang Xiao Song http://taowatergallery.com/artist-wangxiaosong.htm