Olana: Psalms of Ascent will be the artist's first exhibit in the City of Brotherly Love

Contact: Susan Hooks, White Stone Gallery, 215-482-7700

PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- Makoto Fujimura, an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist using the ancient Japanese materials and technique of Nihonga, will be exhibiting at White Stone Gallery in Philadelphia. Olana: Psalms of Ascent (April 3 – June 21) will be the first Philadelphia exhibit for Fujimura, represented by Dillon Gallery in New York City. White Stone Gallery is located at 4219 Main Street, in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. Gallery hours are listed at www.whitestonegallery.com.

Photo by Brad Guise

Robert Kushner stated in an Art in America review, "The idea of forging a new kind of art, about hope, healing, redemption, and refuge, while maintaining visual sophistication and intellectual integrity, is a growing movement, one which finds Fujimura's work at the vanguard." Critic David Gelernter wrote, "Makoto Fujimura's paintings are a joyful gusher from a well that had long run dry... a superb artist who does honor to the Japanese traditions he uses, and helps fan life back into several magnificent western traditions -- traditions as new as abstract expressionism, as old as Christian art."

For the White Stone Gallery, Fujimura will exhibit devotional imagery made in the last two years. Says the artist, "These works are done in layers of thin minerals; small paintings often taking more than a year to complete. I began them as a personal devotional journey between art and faith, a type of 'Psalms of Ascent' for me. I realized recently that current world conditions call an artist to operate in the area of uncertainty to provide perspectives on hope and longing."

Part of the series relies on his visit to Olana, the former estate of the Hudson River Painter Fredrick Church, in upstate New York. Fujimura considers the Olana series to be his homage to Hudson River painters. Valerie Dillon of Dillon Gallery, says, "the 'Olana - Matthew Six' painting is one of his most impressive works to date."

The exhibit will run April 3 - June 21, with an opening reception on April 17 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. White Stone Gallery represents fine art that expresses faith.

Makoto Fujimura served on the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2008. He was awarded the NEA Chairman's Medal in 2009. His latest book is a collection of essays entitled Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art and Culture (NavPress, 2009).