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Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow, July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda | Pot of Soot at the End of the Rainbow

July 9 - August 20, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro The F, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro The F, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 30w in

NS004

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro The A 75, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro The A 75, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 30w in

NS007

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro The E, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro The E, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 30w in

NS005

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro The W, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro The W, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 30w in

NS008

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro XVII (new), 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro XVII (new), 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro XVI, 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro XVI, 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro XXXI, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro XXXI, 2022

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS037

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro VI, 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro VI, 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS018

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro XIV, 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro XIV, 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro XIX, 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro XIX, 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS019

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro Kami CV

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro Kami CV
(summer), 2021

sumi on paper

76.50h x 21w in

NS011

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro Kami CII

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro Kami CII
(spring), 2021

sumi on paper

76.50h x 21w in

NS013

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro Kami CIV

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro Kami CIV
(autumn), 2021

sumi on paper

76.50h x 21w in

NS012

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro XVIII, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro XVIII, 2022

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS036

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro VII, 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro VII, 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS023

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro X, 2020

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro X, 2020

sumi on wood

6h x 12w in

NS024

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroshiro A+W I, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroshiro A+W I, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 30w in

NS001

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroshiro A+W II, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroshiro A+W II, 2022

Sumi on wood

30h x 20w in

NS002

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro T+S IV, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro T+S IV, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 20w in

NS006

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroshiro T+S III, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroshiro T+S III, 2022

Sumi on wood

40h x 20w in

NS003

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro Striving IV, 2021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro Striving IV, 2021

sumi on paper

45h x 29w in

NS009

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro Striving II, 2021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro Striving II, 2021

sumi on paper

45h x 29w in

NS010

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro DIII, 2021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro DIII, 2021

sumi on wood

12h x 24w in

NS032

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro DVI, 2021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro DVI, 2021

sumi on wood

12h x 24w in

NS030

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro DVII, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro DVII, 2022

sumi on wood

12h x 24w in

NS029

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro DI, 2021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro DI, 2021

sumi on wood

12h x 24w x 1.25d in

NS033

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro DIV, 2021

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro DIV, 2021

sumi on wood

12h x 24w in

NS031

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, KuroKuroShiro DVII, 2022

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

KuroKuroShiro DVII, 2022

sumi on wood

12h x 24w in

NS028

Press Release

Cris Worley Fine Arts in Dallas is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition, Nishiki Sugawara-Beda: Pot of Soot at the End of The Rainbow, which opens July 9th and runs through August 20th with an artist’s reception on Saturday, July 9th. The artist will also discuss and demonstrate the ancient technique of Sumi ink at 4pm on the evening of Saturday, July 9th. Please contact the gallery to RSVP, as availability is limited.

The artmaking process of Nishiki Sugawara-Beda requires prior mental preparation to achieve a meditative quality in her paintings. The enigmatic series of KuroKuroShiro (Black, Black, White) captivates the viewer by the interplay of the washes of light ink and bold brushwork alluding to the old masters of monochrome ink painting. Her inspiration is Zen artist and monk Sengai Gibon (1750-1837) recognized for a quick and evocative manner to express his religious views and playful attitude. Gibon’s statement that his “play with brush and ink is not calligraphy nor painting” reflects the Buddhist concept of emptiness as an expression for the ultimate truth. Sugawara-Beda explores the idea of emptiness, which is prolific and absolute, as the abstracted shapes generate multiple meanings from the essence of formlessness.

By using ink Sugawara-Beda discovered a more authentic expression of her personal feelings, a process that she described as kokoro no naka kara or ‘from the heart.’ The idea of bridging the spiritual world with the material one gives form to what arises from within. For example, she produces her own material of sumi ink made from soot and animal glue to return to the origins of traditional ink making and creates a link with the spirit of the object. Through a personal journey in this creative process, she connects with the heart and then transmits that feeling to paper and wood substrates. This approach appeals to Sugawara-Beda who cultivated her mindfulness to mark-making by engaging in such traditional Japanese activities as chadō (“the way of tea”), ikebana (“arranging flowers”), or shodō (“the way of writing” or calligraphy).

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda was born in Japan and currently lives and works in Dallas, Texas where she teaches as an Assistant Professor of Painting at Southern Methodist University. She received her B.A. in Fine Arts from Portland State University and her M.F.A. in Painting from Indiana University. Sugawara-Beda has received several awards including: a Seed Grant; Diversity Fellowship; International Enhancement Grant; Idaho Arts Fellowship; Sam Taylor Fellowship; Tusen Takk Foundation residency; and Otis and Velma Davis Dozier Travel Fund have supported her artistic research. Her work is exhibited in international galleries and institutions and is in the public collections of Dennos Museum Center (Traverse City, MI); Diamond Society Hotel Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan); Morris Graves Museum of Art (Eureka, CA); National College of Naturopathic Medicine (Portland, OR); Opp Construction (Grand Forks, ND); Regent Properties (Dallas, TX); and Tusen Takk Foundation (Leland, MI).

Cris Worley Fine Arts is a Dallas, Texas based contemporary art gallery located in the Dallas Design District. With over 20 years of experience, Cris Worley is dedicated to promoting innovative work by contemporary artists at various stages of their careers.

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