Painter in California Praises Shen Yun’s Beauty and Spiritual Depth
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Painter Allison Gobbell and her husband, J.J. Gobbell, attended Shen Yun’s second local performance at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, California, on Jan. 31, 2026. Alice Sun/The Epoch Times
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.— On the afternoon of Jan. 31, painter Allison Gobbell and her husband, J.J. Gobbell, took their seats at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, California, to watch Shen Yun’s second local performance—an experience they had looked forward to for many years.
Having long hoped to see Shen Yun in person, the couple said the performance fulfilled their expectations and more. They were especially moved by the show’s spiritual depth and expressed heartfelt admiration for the artists’ dedication and artistry.
Mrs. Gobbell specializes in contemporary figurative oil painting. She previously worked in Los Angeles as a lead scenic painter, contributing to film, television, and commercial productions. She is also a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE), and the Carpinteria Arts Center.
As an artist with a keen sensitivity to color, Mrs. Gobbell was particularly impressed by Shen Yun’s visual presentation. “It was beautiful. It was wonderful,” she said. “I loved how colorful it was. The costumes were gorgeous, really well done.”
She also praised the live orchestra, calling it “impeccable,” and said she enjoyed the storytelling, especially the moments of humor woven into the dances.
The New York–based Shen Yun Performing Arts is a leading classical Chinese dance and music company. Since its founding in 2006, the company has presented an entirely new program each year, captivating audiences around the world.
After the Chinese Communist Party came to power, much of China’s traditional culture was systematically suppressed. Today, Shen Yun artists are dedicated to reviving 5,000 years of China’s divinely inspired heritage and sharing with audiences the beauty of China before communism.
Mr. Gobbell said the performance offered him glimpses of China’s rich history, as well as portrayals of the dangers of communism and the struggles of the Chinese people in their pursuit of freedom. “It was a great experience,” he said, adding that the beauty of the dancing left a strong impression.
The spiritual dimension of Shen Yun resonated strongly with the Gobbells. Mrs. Gobbell reflected that the performance conveyed a warm and meaningful message. “That we’re all divine creations and waiting for the Creator to repair this earth,” she said, noting that this belief “has a lot of parallels with Christianity.”
Mr. Gobbell echoed his wife’s view. “There are a lot of parallels with Christianity,” he said, “especially in people’s yearning for God and wanting to be right with God and right with each other.”
China was once known as the “Land of the Divine.” For millennia, its people believed that by keeping their hearts pure and adhering to strict moral standards, they would receive blessings from the divine.
Mrs. Gobbell said she felt a deep sense of respect for the moral values conveyed on stage. “It’s such a good reminder for righteous acts,” she said. “I think people in the West can sometimes give up on that. There’s a purity in it. It’s really encouraging.”
Mr. Gobbell said he especially appreciated the recurring theme of good triumphing over evil. “In today’s world, it sometimes feels like evil is glorified,” he said. “So seeing that desire for good to overcome evil—it’s refreshing.”
One such story that stood out to Mrs. Gobbell depicted Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty. She said she was particularly touched by a scene in which the emperor dressed in plain clothes and went among the people to help them.
Mr. Gobbell also shared that their daughter is a professional ballet dancer. Although she was not in town, he said he texted her during intermission, encouraging her to see the show. “I told her we’d pay for you to come see this anytime you want,” he said, “because the dancing’s incredible.”
Upon learning that Shen Yun currently has eight companies touring worldwide, the Gobbells were surprised and expressed heartfelt appreciation for the artists’ dedication and exceptional artistic level. Mr. Gobbell praised the performers, saying they are “doing a really good thing” and that the performance is “refreshing” and “wonderful to see.”
