Touch of the Brush: The Art of Chinese Calligraphy October 7, 2005, to June 29, 2006 Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature University of Richmond Museums In China, calligraphy has long been considered one of the finest of all art forms. This exhibition presents nine examples of Chinese calligraphy dating from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, as well as several ceramics and other Chinese artifacts from the permanent collection of the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, University of Richmond Museums. Practiced by monks, scholars, and poets, Chinese calligraphy has more than 50,000 characters, written in columns from top to bottom and from right to left.  Understanding the text is not necessary for the enjoyment of Chinese calligraphy, since it is the "touch of the brush," the free flow of line through space, quick or slow, rough or smooth, large or small, wet or dry, curved or angular, that conveys the individual personality of the artist. This exhibition includes hanging scrolls, fans, and inks on paper showing a variety of calligraphic techniques, such as seal script and cursive script. Organized by the University of Richmond Museums, the exhibition was curated by Stephen Addiss, Tucker-Boatwright Professor in the Humanities - Art and Professor of Art History, University of Richmond.