Guan Fei Paints Redlands

On Friday, Aug. 8, the A.K Smiley Public library in Redlands began its three-day art exhibition by artist Guan Fei. The exhibition titled, “Smile and Embrace” is a showcase of various parts of Redlands that Chinese artist, Guan Fei painted over a five-month stay in Redlands. Guan Fei was born in Beijing, China and attended the most prestigious art institute in Beijing where he studied in the program for senior research in oil painting. He has had numerous exhibitions in China, but the “Smile and embrace” exhibition is his first in the United States. During his stay in Redlands, Fei painted various landmarks including downtown, the University of Redlands, the A.K. Smiley library, the post office, and a newly finished painting that he brought into the exhibition on opening day featuring concert-goers at the Redlands Bowl. The exhibition showcases 20 of the 40 paintings Fei completed during his time in Redlands. “He just fell in love with the city. He would walk around, sit and paint what he saw,” Angela Wang, California Center of Culture and Art program director said. The title “Smile and Embrace” is inspired by the Smiley name of the library and for the way Redlands citizens embraced and welcomed Fei when they saw him around town. “I think it’s really interesting, he draws people so well; I really like his style,” Kate Pretorius, a Library volunteer said. Fei plans on taking his “Smile and Embrace” exhibition back to China, taking a bit of Redlands back with him, Angela Wang confirmed. Before he returns to China, however, Fei and other California Center for Culture and Arts artists will host an exhibition in the San Gabriel Valley. Speaking through an interpreter, Fei says that he was inspired to paint many parts of Redlands because it is such a beautiful city and its buildings are so well-preserved. Growing up in Beijing, China, Fei grew up in a family of artists. His parents and grandparents were all artists. Since childhood, he wanted to be an artist and because art came so naturally to Fei, he made the choice to be an artist and was easily accepted into the most prestigious art institute in Beijing. Fei’s next project is to go to New York City and paint a thousand different facial expressions of a thousand different people. He hopes to also take the work to share at an exhibition back in Beijing. Through the California Center for Culture and Art, Fei is the first Chinese artist of many that the center plans to bring to Redlands. The president of the center lives in Redlands and plans to build a center for visiting Chinese artists to gather and showcase their art when they visit. The Guan Fei Smile and Embrace art exhibition runs through Aug. 8-10 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Assembly room at the A.K Smiley Public Library.