BETHLEHEM, PA.- The art of Asian aesthetics, philosophy, nature, religion and influences of color and form are celebrated in this juried exhibition, November 14, 2007 to January 18, 2008, at Ambre’ Studio, 310 West Broad Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Opening Reception and Award Ceremony: Thursday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Meet and Greet the Artists Reception: Sat, Nov 17, 2007, 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Works include paintings by Commonwealth Lecturer for the State of Pennsylvania and Consulting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Dr. Jill L. Furst, Ph.D. Furst will speak Saturday, November 17, 1 p.m. and Sunday, December 9, 2 p.m., with special gallery hours 1 to 4 p.m.

Among the eleven artists in the exhibit are Nancy Alter, Ambler, Pennsylvania, president of the board of directors, Cheltenham Art Center; Jean Plough, Philadelphia, whose award winning work has been exhibited at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D. C. plus scores of other galleries; Maryann Matlock-Hinkle, an adjunct instructor at Pennsylvania Fine Arts Academy, Moore College of Art, Woodmere Art Center and Wayne Art Center; Laura Borneman, of Philadelphia, who was awarded the 2006 Fred and Naomi Hazell Faculty Fellowship, the Fleisher Art Memorial Charles Toppan Prize for Non-curricular Drawing, Pennsylvania Academy, the Michael G. Capuzzi, Jr. Memorial Endowment, Pennsylvania Academy, the Don Sabbath Award, Pennsylvania Academy, and the Robert A. Ricker Memorial Landscape Prize, Pennsylvania Academy.

Furst, who will lecture on Zen and Art of Nothingness, is a professor of Art History at Moore College of Art and Design, consulting scholar in the American Section at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, and appointed to the Indian Arts Research Center, School of Research, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Gallery owner Evelyn Beckman notes that Ambre’ Studio will be decorated with gold screens and abstract expressions to interpret and enhance the minimalism of Asian aesthetics. Dates to remember listed below.

Sat. Nov. 17, 2007, 1 PM Gallery Talk, Dr. Jill L. Furst, Commonwealth Lecturer for the state of Pennsylvania and Consulting Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, “The Importance of Painting Nothing- Japanese prints, painting, & Zen”

Sun. Dec. 9, 2007, 1-4 PM Special gallery hours, 2 PM Gallery Talk, Dr. Jill L. Furst, “The Hand, the Breath, and the Brush- Chinese Painting”.