Solo Exhibit by Patsy Surh O'Connell

Exhibition: August 29 - September 6, 2025

APCC Jade Choe Gallery • 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA

Meet the artist: September 4, 4:00-6:00 PM

Eternal Bloom - A Peony Tribute is a lyrical homage to a woman's life and memory, conveyed through the symbolic image of the peony.

This exhibition transcends personal recollection, unfolding a narrative of love, pain, healing, and hope through paintings rooted in Korean aesthetics and emotional sensibility.

The artist, having navigated life as an immigrant between Korea and the United States, explores themes of identity and displacement, anchoring her emotional journey in the presence of her mother. The peony becomes a visual bridge-connecting self and community, past and present, East and West-guiding viewers into moments of quiet reflection and universal empathy.

Here, the peony is not merely a flower—it is a vessel of collective memory, echoing the lives of countless women. The exhibition invites visitors to ask: What do we choose to remember? And how do we honor it?

The artist is using primarily ink on rice paper to connect with her Asian heritage, which features uniquely immersive paintings born of Korean sentiment and diaspora experience.

Curator's Statement - Kellis Parlett

"Eternal Blooms: Peony Homage" begins as a deeply personal tribute but blossoms into a universal reflection on family, womanhood, and resilience.

Through the enduring symbolism of the peony, the artist honors her mother's life with themes of love, strength, and hope, creating an emotional bridge between generations and cultures.

Executed in the traditional Korean painting style on Hanji (Korean mulberry paper), the works display refined brushwork and a delicate balance of form and space. The use of Asian techniques and materials imbues the pieces with quiet intensity and timeless beauty.

The artist, a first generation Korean American and founder of this very Asian Pacific cultural center, has been a trailblazer in the local arts community.

Now 83 years old, she continues to lead with grace and purpose, serving as an inspiring role model for both Korean and American communities alike.

Importantly, all proceeds from this exhibition will be donated to the APCC Scholarship Fund, extending the impact of this exhibition beyond the gallery and into the future of the community.

"Eternal Blooms: Peony Homage" is both a visual love letter to the artist's mother and a powerful testament to the enduring beauty and strength of women everywhere.

All the proceeds will be donated to the

APCC Wally's Scholarship.