Page 7 - MidWeek - August 17, 2022

Apart-time Honolulu resident who has been an avid art collector for 30 years, Sue Silverstein finds the work of Jane Lin Tseng to be unique and nothing like anything in her collection.
Garden) in Nu‘uanu. I came upon of series of paintings that immediately caught my atten- tion. They were very skillfully painted but the canvas they were painted on mystified me. Was that really a tree leaf being used for a canvas?
paintings,” she explains. “They are a blessings from Buddha.” Tseng had some previous experience with art — Chi- nese calligraphy and ink paint- ing. But, painting watercolors onto leaf skeletons brings her the greatest satisfaction now, allowing her to imprint her mental images onto this unique support. Much of her inspira- tion comes from master Lee Sun-Don, a Buddhist leader. Many of her paintings depict Buddhist images, as well as
WHAT’S YOUR SIGN show, focusing on things relating to zodiac-horoscope signs, the mystical, fantastical and whim- sical. It runs noon-5 p.m. Tues- days-Saturdays through Aug. 26. The event’s closing recep- tion is set for 5-8 p.m. Aug. 26. Forshang Garden, a property on the U.S. Historic Register, is open to the public at 2616 Pali Hwy. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. sec- ond Saturdays. Tseng’s work adorns the walls of the public viewing space on the first floor.
MaryAnne Long is an art- ist, art instructor, art collec- tor and curator. Contact her at malong@hawaii.rr.com or longlostart.weebly.com.
I met Tseng by accident when I was touring the famed Walker Estate (now Forshang
Prominent on the property is a magnificent bodhi tree, a
While spending many hours at home during the pandemic,
“The bodhi tree is too soft and wet for traditional uses, but its strong leaves have a pur- pose for me as canvases for my
AUGUST 17, 2022 MIDWEEK 7
Painter Has ‘Tree’-mendous, Distinct Style
“Her work touched my mind and heart,” says Silverstein. “Using bodhi leaf skeletons as the canvas for her watercolor paintings is something I have never seen anyone else use. There is variety in her work, such as animals, people, alo- ha themes, etc. Best of all, she has a friendly personality that draws people to her.”
Tseng, who was born in Tai- wan, lived many years in the San Francisco Bay area, and moved to Honolulu in 1999. With her husband, David, they manage the Forshang World Foundation, an organization whose purpose is to promote the teachings of Forshang Bud- dhism to the people in Hawai‘i and across the United States.
(Left) Jane Lin Tseng paints on a bodhi tree leaf skeleton. (Right) She considers this painting of her sister’s cat to be her favorite work.
PHOTOS COURTESY JANE LIN TSENG
religious symbol in Buddhism due to its prominence in the story of Buddha’s discovery of enlightenment (total peace and happiness found in the greater reality).
Tseng taught herself not only how to prepare the bodhi leaves as canvases, but to also actually paint on them.
familiar animals, people, etc. Tseng is exhibiting her work for the first time in a public gallery at The ARTS at Marks Garage at 1159 Nu‘uanu Ave. She is among 40 artists in the
HOME FINANCING
OPTIONS
SEMINAR
Presented by: Rachel Willis
FHA CONVENTIONAL USDA VA HOME LOANS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18TH 6:00PM - 7:30PM
REGISTER TODAY AT: ALIGNEDMORTGAGE.COM OR CALL: (808) 436-5791
AlignedMortgageHI
94-539 PUAHI ST. | WAIPIO, HI 96797 | BRANCH NMLS #1696573
A DIVISION OF AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION NMLS #1850
MAHALO & STAY SAFE HAWAII
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Lic. BC-34038
Your Project
is Our Business
Design Build Contractor • Custom Kitchens & Bath Renovations & Additions • ADA-Friendly & Compliant Bathrooms
EXTERIOR SIDING INSTALLATION & REPAIR
Contact Us for a FREE Consultation
Tel: (808) 478-6718 | Email: ceb808@gmail.com
cuttingedgebuildershawaii.com