Arts & Entertainment Calendar
A regional roundup of events of special interest to Asian Americans

Regions: Northern Calif., Southern Calif., East Coast

Arts
Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms A comprehensive international exhibition that explores the artistic traditions of Punjab under Sikh rule mainly from 1799 to 1839. On view through Jan. 9. (Asian Art Museum. For more information, call 415-379-8787.)

Book of Perceptions Poetry by Truong Tran and photographs by Chung Hoang Chuong will be presented by the Kearny Street Workshop through Dec. 22. (Chinese Cultural Center, 750 Kearny St., Third Floor, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-543-0520.)

Eiszeit A video installation by Kota Ezawa and Karla Milosevich is on display through Jan. 12. (Vitra, 557 Pacific Ave., San Francisco, 415-296-0711.)

From Chinese Ink to Abstraction The Chinese Cultural Center presents the work of Lampo Leong, Binghui Yan, Yu Zhang, and Chongbin. Show runs through today. (Chinese Cultural Center, 750 Kearny, Holiday Inn, Third Floor, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-986-1822 or www.c-c-c.org. on the web.)

Keiko Naka Art Exhibition Japanese artist Keiko Naka will present her renaissance-inspired works from Jan. 10-Jan 28. (Gallery on the Rim, 386 Ellis St., San Francisco. 415-771-7065.)

New Drawings by Stephen Namara The show will run through Jan. 22. (Dolby Chadwick Gallery, 266 Sutter St., San Francisco. For more information, call 415-956-3560.)

Rien Car Nation An exhibition of recent mixed media works by Hanoi artists Vu Dan Tan & Le Hong Thai will be on display through Jan. 29. (Pacific Bridge, 95 Linden St., No. 6, Oakland. For more information, call 510-451-8840.)

Dance
Millennium Celebration The Diablo Ballet will present new works by Val Caniparoli, K.T. Nelson and Nikolai Kabaniaev Jan 15 at 8 p.m. (Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. 510-642-9988.)

Sharing the Spirit This blend of music, dance and entertainment for the whole family will include a West African dance class, Laotian music and dance, a Mexican posada, hip-hop, poetry, storytelling, face painting, prizes, refreshments and more. This Saturday's event is free and open to the public. (The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, 339 11th St., Richmond. For more information, call Elizabeth Soberanis at 510-234-4864.)

Someday@Christmas Labayen Dance/SF's holiday concert on Saturday and Sunday features the premiere of Enrico Labayan's "The Wall" to the aborigine music of Soames and Flack, and "Someday @Christmas" to the music of Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. Admission is $10 (Labdanspace, 66 Sanchez St., San Francisco. For more information, call 415-431-2441.)

Yu San The San Francisco Circus will present this new production that celebrates the holiday from Friday through Jan. 2. (Theater Artaud, 450 Florida St., San Francisco. 415-621-7797.)

Events
Japanese New Year's Bell Ringing Following Japanese custom, a temple bell will be struck on Dec. 31. Free with museum admission. (Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-379-8879.)

Readings
Ben Fong-Torres Former Rolling Stone editor and writer, Ben Fong-Torres will read from his book Not Fade Away: A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll. Fong-Torres will appear throughout the Bay Area beginning Jan. 12. (A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. 415-441-6670.)

Intersections II: five nights of Literature and music The second annual literary and music performance series, beginning Jan. 17, features nationally-known poets, prose writers and jazz musicians, including Jon Jang. (San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market St., San Jose. 408-271-6840.)

Storytelling for Children Each Sunday, the Asian Art Museum Storytelling Corps examines selected art objects on display and hosts a retelling of stories relating to artworks. This is an educational outreach program for children and adults. Programs last 45 minutes and begin at 1 p.m. Groups should gather at the stairs in Gruhn Court. (Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, entrance at Eighth Avenue and Kennedy Drive across from the Music Concourse, adjacent to the de Young Museum, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-752-2635.)

Story Time and Garden Walk for Children Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens invites children ages 4 to 8 and their parents to listen to a story at 10:30 a.m., followed by a walk in the gardens at 11 a.m. This is a free event, open to the public and held on the first Sunday of the month. (Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-661-1316 or visit www.strybing.org on the Web.)

Theater
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator The Young Performers Theatre will present this sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Show runs Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 18-19 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. There will be a special showings this Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are $5 for those under 13 and $8 for ages 13 and up. (Fort Mason Center, Building C, Third Floor, Room 300. (For reservations, call 415-346-5550.)

Under Western Eyes Inspired by Joseph Conrad's spy novel, this Asian American political thriller, written by Karen Amano, is playing at 8 p.m. through Sunday. Tickets are $10-$20, sliding scale. (The Thick House, 1695 18th St., San Francisco. For more information, call 415-587-4465 or visit www.thickdescription.org on the Web.)

Arts
An American Diary: Paintings by Roger Shimomura A traveling exhibition of paintings and prints by sansei (third-generation Japanese American) artist Roger Shimomura ends today. (Japanese American National Museum, 369 East First Street, Los Angeles. 213-625-0414.)

Chinese Americans in San Gabriel Valley This exhibit of artifacts, interviews and photos focuses on both recent Chinese immigrants and long-time citizens of Chinese descent. Through Jan. 10. (Evergreen Art Gallery, 760 W. Garvey Ave., Monterey Park. 213-626-5240.)

Gods and Goblins: Japanese Folk Painting from Otsu Paintings of foolish monkeys, wrestling gods, playful goblins and humorous caricatures make up the first major West Coast exhibit of folk art from the town of Otsu, Japan. Ongoing. (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. For more information, call 619-338-9888.)

Sundays Live Cellist Cecilia Tsan with pianist Robert Thies and clarinetist Gary Bovyer perform Brahms' Clarinet Trio on Sunday at 6 p.m. (Leo S. Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-485-6873 or 213-485-9572.)

Urishi/Lacquer An exhibition of 70 pieces of urishi (Japanese lacquer) by Nagatoshi Onishi. (Exhibit at the Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. For more information, call 619-239-0003 .)

Village Customs Landscape Painting Traditional Chinese painting forms along with a bolder palette inspired by Western oil paintings by artist Du Xuesong are on view. Exhibit runs through Jan. 16. Admission is $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, children under 12 free. (Contemporary Gallery at Pacific Asia Museum. 46 North Los Robles Ave. Pasadena. For more information, call 626-449-2742).

Events
Kodo The taiko drumming ensemble will perform on Jan. 28 to kick off the 20th Anniversary of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. (Japan America Theatre, 244 South San Pedro St., Los Angeles. 213-680-3700.)

Theater
Here and Now The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will present the performing arts company on March 11. Tickets are $16. (Japan America Theatre, 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles. 213-680-3700.)

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.)

Arts of Pacific Asia show New York City's oldest and largest exhibition of fine antiques and art from the Asia will run March 23-26. (69th Regiment Armory, Lexington Avenue and 26th Street, New York. 301-455-2886 or 301-924-5002.)

China: Fifty Years Inside the People's Republic A photography exhibit of the past 50 years in mainland China features 160 works by 33 photographers. Through Jan. 2. (The Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., New York. 212-288-6400.)

Family Portraits Images of New York Chinatown's diverse families are featured in this ongoing exhibit. (Museum of the Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry St., Second Floor, New York City. 212-619-4785.)

Time Migration Featured artists include Gregory Barsamian, Daisuke Furuike, Steven Geiger, Shu-min Lin, Don Ritter, Ya-lun Tao, Ted Victoria and Goang-ming Yuan. (Taipei Gallery, McGraw-Hill Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York City. 212-373-1854.)

Where is Home? Chinese in the Americas Artifacts and personal testimony documenting the Chinese diaspora as it relates to women, faith, youth and home is on view in this ongoing exhibition. (Museum of the Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry St., New York City. 212-619-4785.)