AsianWeek's Calendar of Events
A regional roundup of events of special interest to Asian Americans

Arts
1999 Art China Works by Ai Weiwei, Cai Jin, Chen Haiyan, Guo Jin, Guo Wei, Hong Hao, Lin Yan, Mao Yan, Shen Ling, Son Yonghon, Su Xinping, Wang Qingsong, Wang Yuping, Xin Haizhou, Yang Shaoban and Zang Hao are on exhibit through July 24. Presentation of the show’s catalog and a 30-minute documentary on Liu Wei will be shown today at 6 p.m. (LIMN Gallery, 292 Townsend St., San Francisco. 415-977-1300.)

Cauldron Rene Yung’s drawing-based installation, which explores the need for sustenance and sacrament in daily life through the symbol of the rice bowl, is on display through May 22. (Hosfelt Gallery, 430 Clementina, San Francisco. 415-495-5454.)

Face to Face An exhibition of portraits by child artists around the world will be on display through Saturday. 50 cents-$1. (International Children’s Art Museum, World Trade Center, First Floor, San Francisco. 415-772-9977.)

Flying High: The Art of the Kite Japanese and American kites made from paper and fabric are on display. Through June 14. (Ren Brown Collection, 1781 Highway One, Bodega Bay. 707-875-2922.)

Heroic Warriors: Chinese Hoopsters of the Past This exhibit features photographs and memorabilia tracing the history of the Hong Wah Kues and the San Francisco Saints, both Chinese American professional basketball teams. Rick Quan hosts the opening reception on May 26, 6 p.m. $20. (Chinese Cultural Center, 750 Kearny St., San Francisco. 415-421-6443.)

New Stories from an old chapter Works by renowned Filipino artists Elmer Borlongan, Santiago Bose, Brenda Fajardo, Karen Flores, Mark Justiani and Noel Soler Cuizon are on display. (Pacific Bridge, 95 Linden St. #6, Oakland. 510-451-8840.)

Painting Paradise: The Art of Ting Shao Kuang Prints by the renowned Chinese American artists are on exhibit to honor his contribution of the commissioned piece Beautiful Dreamer to the United Nations. Through May 30. (Main Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. 415-557-4430.)

Resilient Images: Reflections on internment Artworks by Katherine Aoki, Ellen Keiko Bepp, James Cline, Carolyn and James Grew-Sheridan, David Izu, Ken Kaji, Chiura Obata, Ruth Okimoto, Ben Sakoguchi, Jos Sances, Roger Shimomura, Henry Sugimoto, Gayle Tanaka and Takeshi Yamamoto are on exhibit through May 31. (National Japanese American Historical Society, 1684 Post St., San Francisco. 415-431-5007.)

Shioh Kato Recent mixed-media, painting and calligraphy works by the artist are on exhibit starting May 6. (Gallery Piazza, Sausalito Piazza Building, 819 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415-331-6711.)

shipwreck treasures Larry Gotuaco, former president of the Oriental Ceramic Society, lectures on Ming ceramics recovered from a shipwreck off the Busauanga island in the Philippines. May 16, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. $5. (Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., San Francisco. 415-986-1822.)

Visual Artists Critique Group Participants receive feedback on their works through this diverse group, which meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month. Call 415-821-7282 for more information.

Dance
Darbar The Chitresh Das Dance Co. presents an impression of life in India’s historic courts through the storytelling tradition of classical Kathak dance. Friday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. $16, $18, $25, $50. (Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. 415-441-3687.)

Lily Cai The dancer celebrates Chinese culture with traditional costumes, swords, masks and dance in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Saturday, 2 p.m. (Main Library, Koret Auditorium, Civic Center, San Francisco. 415-557-4554.)

Philippine Ballet Theater The resident dance company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines performs for the first time since 1996 in the Bay Area. Sunday, 5 p.m. $10, $30, $40. (Paramount Theater, Oakland. 510-465-6400.)

Events
Asian Pacific Heritage Festival The Bay Area Discovery Museum presents its celebration, which includes Asian folk dancing and Chinese lion dancing, food, and arts and crafts demonstrations. May 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds, Sausalito. 415-289-7297.)

AYPAL The Asian and Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership program presents a weekend celebration of dance, drama, visual arts and spoken word. On May 22 at 6 p.m., AYPAL members will perform folk Cambodian, Polynesia and Mien dance, along with spoken work and hip-hop. On May 23 at 2 p.m., there will be a mural unveiling, book signing, and a video screening on the Korean American experience created by the Korean American Youth Alliance. (Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth St., Oakland. 510-208-6080.)

Himalayan Fair This fair feature Himalayan arts and crafts, music, dance, food and entertainment. $5 donation benefits Himalayan grassroots projects. May 22, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; May 23, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Live Oak Park, Shattuck and Berryman, Berkeley. 510-869-3995.)

Made in San Francisco The first-ever Asian Pacific Heritage Month celebration at City Hall features performances by Kei Lun Martial Arts, Kulintang Arts, Melody of China and Pinay on Friday, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., and White Crane Lion Dance Association, Hanmadung, California Chinese Orchestra, Genny Lim, Eva Tam, Asian American Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (City Hall, One Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, San Francisco. 415-221-2608.)

Multicultural Artists’ Celebration Renowned sculptor Ruth Asawa will be honored by the Multicultural Artists Organization. Performers include musicians Marcus Shelby and Michael Carvin, poet Jan Mirikitani, the Savage Dance Co. and the world premiere of the Multi-Ethnic Symphony Ensemble. May 29, 8 p.m. $25-$50. (Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness, San Francisco. 415-392-4400.)

Satsuki Bazaar This bazaar features Japanese food and sweets, a silent auction, Obon dance accessories, games and crafts. Saturday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-7 p.m. (Berkeley Buddhist Temple, 2121 Channing, Berkeley. 510-841-1356.)

Film
Beyond Barbed Wire Terri Bono and Steve Rosen’s work about the Japanese veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in American history, airs on KTEH May 24 at 9 p.m.; and on KQED May 28 at 9 p.m.

Kelly Loves Tony Spencer Nakasako presents his documentary about a young Iu Mein refugee couple. May 27 at 3:30 p.m. (De Anza College, Advanced Technology Building, Room 120, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. 408-864-8538.)

Mishima This astonishing film, featuring Ken Ogata, Toshiyuki Nagashima and music by Philip Glass, examines the life of the great Japanese author Yukio Mishima, which ends by ritual suicide. Sunday; 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. $6.50, $3.50 children and seniors, $4 matinee for first show. (Roxie Cinema, 3117 16th St., San Francisco. 415-863-1087.)

Yellow Chris Chan Lee will be on hand to present a screening of his film, Yellow, a Korean American comedy about two friends trying to cover a robbery loss at a family convenience store. May 20, 3:30 p.m. (De Anza College, Advanced Technology Building, Room 120, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. 408-864-6538.)

Music

Experiments in New Beats: Asian Hip-Hop Five Bay Area Asian American hip-hop and new music groups will gather for a night of experimental music, emceed by Anita "Reigh" Johnson of Youth Radio and Mingus Amungus. Performers include Overseas Artists, Resin, Ill Figgaz Lique, Zhaldee and Asian Crisis. May 21, 8 p.m. (Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth St., Suite 290, Oakland. 510-208-6080.)

Liu Qi-Chao A virtuoso on several traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu, suona and diza, Liu will demonstrate and explain the history and changes in Chinese music and instrumentation in a free series. May 15, 22 and 29, noon-1 p.m. (Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth St., Suite 290, Oakland. 510-208-6080.)

Ode to Spring The Chinese American International School Chorus performs Chinese pop songs, arias and elemental music with poems. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. $15, $10 seniors and children under 12. (Knuth Hall, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco. 415-865-6000.)

Siqing Lu Gold medalist at the Paganini International Violin Competition performs with pianist Sheung-Tsz Ma. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. $15, $25, $35, $50. (Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. 650–259-2100.)

Readings
Mako Yoshikawa The author of One Hundred and One Ways, an erotic tale of geishas, will present her book. Friday, 7:30 p.m. (A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness, San Francisco. 415-441-6670.)

Pramoedya Ananta Toer The preeminent Indonesian author, the winner of the PEN Freedom-to-Write award and author of The Mute’s Soliloquy, will make a presentation. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Free. (USF Lone Mountain campus, Room 141, Turk Street between Parker and Masonic. 415-422-5984.)

Romulus Hillsborough The author of Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai presents his book on Friday, 7 p.m., at Borders, 233 Winston Dr., San Francisco; Saturday, 2 p.m., at Borders, 2925 El Camino Real, San Mateo; May 20, 6:30 p.m., at Borders, 400 Post St.; June 3, 8 p.m., at Borders, 456 University Ave., Palo Alto; and June 5, 1 p.m., at Kinokuniya Bookstore, 1581 Webster, San Francisco.

Theater
Butcher’s Burden Harold Byun’s play tells the story of a butcher’s daughter in pre-war Korea. Directed by Kelvin Han Yee, the cast includes Tamlyn Tomita, Noel Benoza, Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, Genevieve Lee and Greg Watanabe. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; through May 23. $16-$21. (SOMAR Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St., San Francisco. 415-440-5545.)

Dragonwings InterACT presents a play about a young boy sailing from China to San Francisco in the early 1900s to meet his father. The father and son grow to share a dream of building and flying an airplane. Sonny Alforque directs a cast including Kevin-Michael Chu, Brian Doan, Melinda Gee-Wong, A.M. Lai, Lawrence Lew, Simon Magsuci, Trina Powers and Beau Yep. Fridays and Saturdays through May 30, 8 p.m. $12, $10 seniors and children under 12. (Broadway Playhouse, 4010 El Camino Ave., Sacramento. 916-452-6174.)

Workshops
Chinese Exclusion Era Workshop The film producer and author Jeannie Lew discusses her multimedia project, Living Widows and Paper Sons, exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era, and genealogist Jeanie Chooey-Low discusses The Legacy of the Chinese Exclusion Era on Family History. May 22, 2 p.m. (Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 510-238-3818.)

Arts
Grasslands of Mongolia Recognized as one of China’s 100 most outstanding living artists, Mongolian artist Hao YiQiang presents his first American exhibition, which features paintings inspired by the landscape and people of his homeland. Through June 20. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

In Search of Gold Mountain An exhibit about the photographic history of Chinese Americans in San Diego is on view. Ongoing. (San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, 404 Third Ave., San Diego. 619-338-9888.)

Van Gogh and Japanese Print Prints reinterpreted by Van Gogh into paintings, which include Hiroshige’s Sudden Shower on the Great Bridge near Atake and Eisan’s Courtesan will be on display. Prints by Hiroshige, Eisan and Kunisada that Van Gogh reproduced in the background of two portraits of Pere Tanguy are also on display, as well as other Japanese prints known to be in Van Gogh’s personal collection. Ongoing. (Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-857-6000.)

Events
Art and Soul Festival Asian artists with disabilities showcase their talents at this festival promoting educational opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Featured artists include Hong Kong’s Kong Ho and Liu Tung Mui, Taiwan’s Meillian Hwang and the Hong Kong Theater of the Deaf. May 28-June 2. (Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles. 310-385-0297.)

Pacific Rim Festival The Arts Council of Pacific Asian Museum and the Pasadena Playhouse District Association present a festival with performances and demonstrations including Burmese and Philippine folk dance, Thai drumming, Chinese paper cutting, Indian hand painting, Korean mask-making and Japanese carp streamer and folk painting. The program also features readings by Adeline Yen Mah, Mako Yoshiwaka, and a slide show by Bijay Niraula. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Free. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

Readings
Chen Chen The author, considered an ideological criminal during China’s Cultural Revolution, discusses her powerful memoir, Come Watch the Sun Go Home, a history that begins with the Japanese occupation of China and ends shortly after the events at Tiananmen Square. May 23, 2 p.m. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

Theater
Beijing Spring Deborah Nishimura, Joel Iwataki and Tim Dang’s musical odyssey commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations. The cast includes Brian Geli, Kimiko Gelman, Ai Goeku, Randy Guiaya, Alvin Ing, Brian Kawasaki, Michael K. Lee and Paul Wong. Thursdays-Saturdays through June 6 at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. $23-$33. (David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 N. Judge Aiso St., Los Angeles. 213-625-7000.)

Arts
A good place to land one’s feet An exhibit documenting Brooklyn’s new Chinese American community, based on oral histories and photographs, is on display. Ongoing. (Museum of Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry St., New York City. 212-619-4785.)

Alfred-Asia Connection–Alfred-Asia Reflection This exhibition features contemporary ceramics by Mao-Chung Lee, Ka-Kwong Hui, Yien-koo Wang King, Fong Chow, Charles Fergus Binns, Val Cushing, Wayne Higby and Theodore Randall. Through June 18. (Taipei Gallery, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York City. 212-373-1854.)

bamboo masterworks The Asia Society presents the first comprehensive exhibition of Japanese bamboo baskets from the Lloyd Cotsen collection. One hundred exquisite baskets will be on display. Through May 30. $2-$4. (Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., New York. 212-517-ASIA.)

Chinese Celadon Ceramics Forty-four glazed stoneware vessels made in China between the Western Han dynasty and the Qing dynasty are on display. Ongoing. (Smithsonian Institution, Freer Gallery of Art, Jefferson Drive at 12th St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 202-357-2700.)

Devi: The Great Goddess An exhibition of 120 paintings and sculptures of the Hindu goddess are on exhibit. Ongoing. (Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 1050 Independence Ave., Washington, D.C. 2092-357-2700.)

Family Portraits Images of New York Chinatown’s diverse families are on display. Ongoing. (Museum of the Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry St., Second Floor, New York. 212-619-4785.)

literati life in the 20th century Calligraphy works by the late Chinese scholar and artist Wang Fangyu as well as works from Fangyu’s personal collection by Bada Shanren, Qi Baishi and Zhang Daquin will on exhibit. Ongoing. (China Institute, 125 E. 65th St., New York. 212-744-8181.)

Where Is Home? Chinese in the Americas Artifacts and personal testimony documenting the Chinese diaspora–as it relates to women, faith, youth and home–are on display. Ongoing. (Museum of the Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry St., Second Floor, New York. 212-619-4785.)

Theater
Taiwan Arts Festival The National Arts Club presents three events celebrating Taiwanese art, dance, film, fashion, music and cuisine. On Tuesday, 6 p.m., there will be a buffet dinner and musical performance by Chong Lin and Welly Yang to celebrate the opening two exhibits, Landform: Contemporary Landscape Art of Taiwan and photographer Si-Chi-Ko’s Taiwan On My Mind, both on view through May 27. On May 21, 7 p.m., the Peggy Wu Jazz Dance Co. performs White Snake, a mythical Chinese folktale at the Taipei Theater, 1221 Avenue of the Americas. On May 26 at 7:30 p.m., acclaimed sculptor and fashion designer Chih-shein Tsai presents original designs, followed by a screening and discussion of Ang Lee’s Pushing Hands. Events will be held at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York City, unless noted otherwise. Reservations must be made. (212-475-3424.)

Readings
Yoko Tawada The Akutagawa Prize-winning author of The Bridegroom Was a Dog will make a rare appearance in the United States and read poetry. May 20, 6:30 p.m. $10. (Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St., New York City. 212-752-3015.)