"From Trees to Forest" - CCACC Art Gallery Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary with a Special Exhibition

The CCACC Art Gallery is proud to present "From Trees to Forest", a special exhibition celebrating the gallery's 10th anniversary. Opening on July 11, 2026, the exhibition brings together more than forty artists who have exhibited at the gallery over the past decade. It is both a celebration of the gallery's remarkable journey and a reunion of the artists who have contributed to its growth.

Founded in 2016 by the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), the CCACC Art Gallery was established to promote artistic exchange and serve the community through the visual arts. While rooted in the Chinese American community, the gallery has always welcomed artists of all backgrounds and artistic disciplines. Through carefully curated exhibitions, the gallery has become an important platform for emerging and established artists in the Greater Washington metropolitan area, fostering dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

Over the past ten years, the gallery has presented an average of two solo exhibitions and one to two thematic exhibitions annually. Thematic exhibitions typically feature four to eight artists, allowing visitors to explore a shared concept through diverse artistic perspectives. The gallery has also collaborated with numerous local Chinese art organizations, including the CCACC Calligraphy Society, the Chinese Cultural Arts Alliance, Hanmo Yunshan Society, and the Photography Society.

The artists featured in " From Trees to Forest" were selected from those who previously held solo exhibitions or participated in thematic exhibitions at the gallery. Representing a broad range of artistic backgrounds and experiences, they work in a variety of media, including oil painting, watercolor, drawing, Chinese ink painting, calligraphy, ceramics, sculpture, paper-cutting, and mixed media. Together, their works reflect the artistic diversity and cultural richness that have defined the gallery over the past decade.

Art serves as a universal language, connecting people across cultures through shared ideas, emotions, and creativity. Whether representational or abstract, each artwork reflects the artist's unique vision while also drawing from their cultural heritage. This exhibition invites visitors to appreciate not only the visual beauty of the works but also the cultural perspectives and personal stories behind them.

Among the featured works is Spring River, Flower, Moon, Night, a running-cursive calligraphy piece by Mary Ma, based on the celebrated Tang Dynasty poem by Ruoxu Zhang. Even for viewers who cannot read Chinese, the expressive movement of the brush and the rhythmic composition offer a visual experience comparable to dance, revealing the beauty of calligraphy beyond language.

Another highlight is The Loving Tree by Dutch artist Mark van Praagh. The tree's delicate canopy is composed entirely of an imagined script, while its trunk evokes both the human form and expressive calligraphic brushwork. The work encourages viewers to appreciate the visual qualities of writing as an art form, regardless of linguistic meaning. Together, these works demonstrate how calligraphy can transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries through its aesthetic power.

As the CCACC Art Gallery celebrates this important milestone, it remains grateful for the continued support of artists, visitors, volunteers, and community partners. Looking ahead, the gallery will continue to expand opportunities for artistic expression and cultural exchange, while welcoming new artists and audiences to participate in its next chapter.

The exhibition will be on view July 11 through October 31, 2026, at the CCACC Art Gallery in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A public opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 11, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A free paper-cutting workshop led by artist Shanye Huang will take place on September 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Written by CCACC Art Gallery