FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions*

01. What is Painting On Water™?

Using water as her canvas, the artist, Segami, creates her expression on the surface of water, using the scientific principles of surface tension and viscosity. The artistic image is then transfer from the water surface to a medium, like rice paper, museum board or canvas.

02. What is Suminagashi?

*Suminagashi (Sue-mee-nah-gah-shee) is an ancient art of flowing ink on the surface of the water, originated in China over 2,000 years ago. Like many traditional art forms, it was passed onto Japan and practiced by Shinto priests in the 12th century.

In ancient times, Shinto priests would meditate in front of a pond, often for hours and days. As a way to empty their thoughts, they applied traditional sumi calligraphy ink to the surface of water with a pointed brush, one drop at a time, to create a series of concentric rings, like stones falling into water. The intricate patterns were then transferred to delicate rice paper. The art was then presented to the emperor, nobles and shoguns. Prayers were inscribed on the artwork, which was burned in a religious ceremony as an offering to the gods. It was believed that the rippling effect would carry the prayer and messages throughout the universe.

03. What is the difference between Suminagashi and Painting on Water™?

Suminagashi is the traditional art form, known as Japanese marbling to some. Since the word Sumi means black ink, it is typically monochromatic.

Painting on Water™ is the contemporary art practiced by the engineer turned artist Amy Lee Segami since the 80’s. Her work ranged from monochromatic to colorful, always three dimensional with dynamic feeling of motion.

04. Who is Segami?

Segami (see-GAH-me) is the name of the award-winning artist, Amy Lee Segami. She is credited with transformation of the ancient Suminagashi* (sue-me-NAH-gah-shee) into a contemporary art of Painting On Water™ through her innovation of arts and science, blending with the culture from the East and the West.

Segami did her graduate work under a grant from NASA, using special techniques to visualize the flow of air and water in her experiments. Hundreds of photographs were taken to record the control and reorganization of flow movement. It was in the wind tunnels and the water channels that Segami witness the beauty of fluid structures, such as boundary layers and eddies.

The BBC radio called it a major accomplishment. Crain’s Chicago Business recognized her as the foremost practitioner of the still rare art form and one of the region’s finest leaders in the field. The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) presented her the Chicago Immigrant Achievement Awards** to recognize her remarkable contributions as an innovative artist. Illinois Institute of Technology presented her with the Professional Achievement Award.

She was a recipient of the CAAP grant from Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago and received the Chicago Outstanding Citizen Award for her extraordinary ability to bring science and art together.

In addition to many private collections, her works have appeared in magazines, on CD covers and corporate brochures, and are in the permanent collection of the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution in New York. Her paintings were exhibited from the Harvard campus to the galleries in Sedona, Arizona, with private collections worldwide.

The unique and distinctive style has won Segami numerous awards and inclusion in many juried competitions. She is a former corporate engineer working on research projects, developing products and solving manufacturing problems.

Born in China, she received an American education. Graduating with Pi Tau Sigma honors, Segami earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Aerospace Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology with scholarships she received from NASA and IIT. She was nominated to Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society.

**Past honorees include tenor Placido Domingo, author Bette Bao Lord, actress Maureen O'Hara, Nobel Prize winning physicist Daniel Tsui, former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General John M. Shalikashvili, baseball player Sammy Sosa and therapist Ruth Westheimer.

05. Where can one see samples of Painting on Water™ at the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago main campus?

IIT has a collection of Segami’s work in the high tech conference room on the ground floor of the Galvin Library. The Chairman's office of Mechanical Engineering Department has a medium size of original work. The office for the Dean of Armour College displays the digital Segami images on the monitor.

Since the early 1993, Segami had her own studio and gallery located in the Fine Arts Building, a national historic landmark located in the cultural corridor of downtown Chicago that has been an artists' colony for nearly a century. The building was sold in 2005. Now, Segami presents her work on the internet and thru selected exhibitions. As of Fall 2007, Segami set up a new studio at the Zhou B. Art Center, located in Bridgeport, due west of the IIT campus. Every 3rd Friday of the month, Segami joins the tradition of Open Studios. By invitations only. Sing in the mailing list to for future events.

Join the eNewsletter to receive invitations to special open studio events, lectures and exhibitions.

06. Can private collecters own the Segami original works?

Yes. Segami believes in sharing the art work as soon as possible. Not wait till she is gone. Join emailing list and specify the interest groups for special release announcement.

07. What is the best way to collect Segami’s work?

Go to the art gallery site and preview the artwork. Then email the studio to inquire the pieces that you are interested in.

08. How much does Segami’s art work cost?

Very affordable. As Segmai believes that there is always a way. One can choose to collect her Original work or prints, or both. Her work reminds you the freedom of transformation, courage to change and adapt. Above all, the value of incorporation with two extremes.

Due to the nature of the work, size does matter here. For original work,

Small: 10 by 16 inches, starting at USD$600

Medium: up to 24 by 36 inches, starting at USD$3,000

Large: 30 by 40 inches, starting at USD$15,000

Coming soon, Segami eShop offers range of prints.