He Qi MSP Show Dec. 7

I'm sitting in a Swedish kitchen at Gustavus Adolphus College, just prior to the first of five Christmas concerts. The reason I'm here instead of Colorado is, our favorite FINK artist-in-residence, Dr. He Qi, is having three of his works featured. They have been blown up 20 x 20 and are at this moment hanging above the 200+ voice choir and 100+ orchestra. It's a marvelous launch for his American career. We feel extremely blessed.

Tuesday night is the reception at the Premier Gallery, where his 8 originals (that he has done for our Bible Song Sunday School), and 28 hand-made silks are on display through the end of January.

Get over there if you can. It's a cheap date... unless, of course, you invest in one of his works.

(By the way, his originals that sold for $2600 six months ago are now running between $9900 and $13,000, so you may want to get out your checkbook if you love his work as much as I do.)

Visit him at www.heqiarts.com, or order posters and signed prints at www.missionaryarts.com.

This is what "The Rake" says about our friend He Qi's American debut show this week.

Chinese painter He Qis cubist visions of Christianity
If you've got some religion in you, but find the standard holiday depictions just a tad predictable (Mary in the blue robe, Mary taking orders from angels, Mary in the bathtub), check out Chinese painter He Qis cubist visions. Chinas most popular Christian artist has a wild and playful style that is more hedonistic than holy. His off-balance, raw, emotive characters are straight out of Picasso, channeled through traditional Chinese folk art techniques, and infused with gorgeous, saturated color. Its glorious stuff, even to non-Christian eyesnot least the idea of an Asian Christ. Cool! 141 S. Seventh St., Minneapolis; 612-338-4541; www.premiergallery.com 
Event date(s): 12/03/2004 - 01/31/2005