Diana Isaac Residents’ Visit to FGS South Island
On the 20th June 2018, led by their Nursing Attendant Michelle, 16 elderly residents of Christchurch Diana Isaac Retirement Village visited Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch. On hand to receive the visitors was Art Gallery Coordinator Vicky Han who took the visitors for a tour of the Temple building. This was followed by the tour of the Dean Buchanan “Horizons” Oil Painting Exhibition, the Photography Exhibition by Dutch Photographer Rudy Heijmen, the ‘Love and Compassion’ Comics Exhibition by Feng Zhi Kai and Feng Yi Yin, and the ‘Hand Crafted for the Love of Clay’ Exhibition by Averil Cave.
In her introduction, Vicky described Artist Dean Buchanan as a local artist who loves New Zealand’s rugged landscapes and who is also an ardent mountain climber himself. Each year, Dean, accompanied by his friend, would scaled the mountains and waters of New Zealand’s North and South Island. At the summit of the mountain, Dean could take in a full wide view of the land in front of him, and at the same time, the distant horizon where the water met the sky. All these inspirations were then captured by Dean on his paintings, and these paintings now formed the main theme of this Exhibition. At the Buddha Hall, the visitors were explained the significance in the offering of flower and lighted candle in the prayer to Buddha, and the meaning of ‘giving’ in Buddhism. At the same time, Vicky took the opportunity to tell them the life story of Buddha. This being their first visit to the Temple, the visitors were very impressed with its solemnity, and were full of praise for the elegant FGY Art Gallery with its many and varied Exhibitions. They remarked that Dean’s art pieces were semi abstract and filled with bright colours, very different from those traditional art works found in the pages of the Calendar. They were very impressed with Dean and promised to bring their families back for another visit.
At the Time Corridor, the elderly visitors toured the ‘Love and Compassion’ Comics Exhibition by Artists Feng Zhi Kai and Feng Yi Yin; and the ‘Hand Crafted for the Love of Clay’ Exhibition by Artist Averil Cave. They were amazed by Averil’s ability to fire two of her hand-held clay artworks into colours resembling that of sea shells. When held in the hand, the art pieces were as light as paper. Later, the visitors adjourned to the Water Drop Café for their afternoon tea. Having enjoyed a joyous afternoon, the visitors hoped to revisit FGS South Island again and to have their sumptuous lunch in the Water Drop Café.