Tai Chi Minneapolis

Tai Chi Brush Paintings First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis October 18 - November 15
Marilyn Allysum
Marilyn is a consummate artist in three different disciplines.

1. As an innovative and exciting Chinese Brush Painter. She has developed her own inimitable style. The phenomena of the natural world is reproduced subtly, with effortless effort, and intuitive improvisation, the brush describing and creating in one swift flowing spontaneous movement, entrancing the beholder.

2. As an award winning musician, multi-instrumentalist (piano, flute, gu zheng/chinese harp, accordion), vocalist, and composer. She has released two highly acclaimed musical C.D.’s in the past 5 years.

3. Since 1970, Marilyn has been a practitioner of the Ancient Healing Arts of Tai Chi and Qi Gong, and as Director of Tilopa Tai Chi Center has taught extensively since 1977. She has been hosted by numerous colleges and organizations throughout the United States

As a young child drawing was a focused part of each evening. At age 18 an exhibition of Asian Art gave her direction. She was taught in Classical techniques of Chinese Brush Painting, whereby the brush becomes an extension of the whole being. Her brush movement stems from the deep well-spring root received by 30 years of T’ai Chi Ch’uan and meditation practices. No sketches or preliminary drawing is done on the painting threshold - the artist prepares oneself, then allows the nature or spirit of the subject to spring forth. The essence of the delicate brush and paper does not allow one to modify, or adjust the stroke without spoiling the effect of the whole picture. As expressed in the Manual, The Way of Chinese Brush Painting by Mai-mai Sze “each brushstroke should be a living idea. Brushwork is thus the direct expression of the mind in action. Its function is to make visible the invisible. The power to do this is often referred to as pi li (brush strength), a term embracing skill and dexterity and, of equal if not greater importance, the mental and spiritual motivation.” In order to manifest a rhythm of balance and harmony, it is necessary to cultivate “stilling the heart” - a state of inner quietness that relates to the silence of the Tao and its processes.