On October 19, members, friends, neighbors and colleagues gathered to welcome artist and calligrapher, Master Mak Ming Chan. Master Chan was born into a scholar's family in Guangdong province, and studied calligraphy from a young age under Grand Master Mai Hua San. He moved to Hong Kong in the 70s, where he won many prizes for his art work and became renowned in his own right. Today, his art is appreciated all over the world, from the home of Taiwan President Jeou to the Museum of Art in Hong Kong to the new Chinatown campus in San Francisco. Each of us may have unknowingly had his art in our home, as he designed the stamp for the US Postal Service for the Year of the Snake in 2001.
Master Chan, along with member Michelle Wong as his capable
translator, showed us the evolution of Chinese characters through the ages—from
the curvy pictorial designs 3000 years ago to the more box shaped words created
in the Han and Tang dynasties to the simplified characters marched in with the
People’s Liberation Army in 1949.
He wrote examples of each style, demonstrating the importance
of holding the brush (three fingers, vertical), the importance of the first
stroke (the dot from which the stroke emerges), the necessity of moving with
the writing. The fluidity with which he worked was like art in motion. As resident retired architect Billy Lee pointed out, “He doesn't seem to
watch, yet the spacing between the characters is perfect.”
Master Chan with Happy Winner George Chadwick
(all photos courtesy of Billy Lee)
Master Chan graciously donated a piece of art to one lucky
winner—member George Chadwick. People
also asked to have special pieces done for them. If you missed the chance to do
so—and would like a wonderful art piece for your home—you can find Master Chan at 3028
Taraval Street, San Francisco. Tel: 415-682-7637. (www.makming.com)
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