A&E Calendar
December 22, 2000
A regional roundup of events of special interest to Asian Americans
 |
| NORTHERN CALIFORNIA |
ARTS
An American Diary The San Jose Museum of Art presents an exhibition of works by Roger Shimomura, including American Diary: December 7, 1941 created in 1997. The exhibit runs through Jan. 7, 2001. (110 S. Market St., San Jose)
Between the Thunder and the Rain This exhibit features Chinese paintings from the Opium War through the Cultural Revolution to explore the array of artistic achievements created during the many tumultuous periods that defined modern Chinese history. The 121 paintings —including hanging scrolls, handscrolls, horizontal scrolls, fans and albums — reveal a rich mix of works offering a complete survey of the issues, styles and personalities of the era. The exhibit runs through Jan. 14, 2001. (Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco)
Bruce Lee The Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco and the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts honor Bruce Lee with an exhibition of over 240 treasures, including diaries, personal letters, drawings and Lee’s own writings. The exhibit is on display through Feb. 18, 2001. (Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco at the Holiday Inn, 750 Kearny St., 3rd floor, San Francisco. 415-986-2825)
Carmen Lomas Garza: A Retrospective On Jan. 21, 2001 Carmen Lomas Garza: A Retrospective will premiere at the San Jose Museum of Art prior to embarking on a two-year national tour. The first retrospective of this San Francisco-based artist will feature work from the mid-1970s to the present. Populated with people and highlighting events from her childhood in a rural South Texas barrio — birthday festivities, faith healings, community dances and making banderitas (special occasion tissue paper cut-outs) — Garza’s works honor universal commonalties of family and community while remaining dedicated to her Mexican-American heritage. (110 South Market Street, San Jose. 408-271-6840. www.sjmusart.org)
Chicanos en Mictlán This exhibit examines how two small community art centers, Galería de la Raza in San Francisco and Self Help Graphics in Los Angeles, introduced Day of the Dead observances to California in 1972. It is the first survey exploring the reciprocal relationship between Chicano artists and the Day of the Dead, as well as the statewide impact of the observance through art work, photography and altar installations. The showing runs through Dec. 31. (The Mexican Museum, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, San Francisco. 415-202-9700)
Mise-en-Scéne Mise-en-scène: New LA Sculpture, an exhibition of 31 works by six up-and-coming Los Angeles artists, will open Jan. 27, 2001, in the Logan Galleries on the San Francisco campus of the California College of Arts & Crafts and will continue through March 10. Presented by the CCAC Institute, the exhibition features works in sculpture, drawing, video and film by Liz Craft, Evan Holloway, Jason Meadows, Jeff Ono, Paul Sietsema and Torbjörn Vejvi. (1111 Eighth Street, San Francisco. 415-703-9500)
Secret World of the Forbidden City The Oakland Museum of California hosts ths major exhibition of more than 350 Chinese Imperial Court treasures from the Qing Dynasty through Jan. 24, 2001. (1000 Oak St., Oakland. 510-238-2200.)
Supply: An Installation by Indigo Som Indigo Som, an emerging artist residing in Berkeley, will “draw” on the walls of the Foyer Gallery at the Sonoma Museum of Visual Art with office supplies such as scotch tape, liquid paper, highlighters, ballpoint pens, copy paper, post-it notes, as she explores the “office-y” feel of the space and draws on her history as an office worker. Exhibition runs Dec. 27 through Feb. 28, 2001. (S•MOVA, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 707-527-0297)
EVENTS
Godzilla West Presents: Friday Night Live Godzilla West presents Friday Night Live, a fresh new open mike venue, which will feature Asian Pacific Islander monologue artists and comedians as well as spoken word artists, musicians and dancers. The vision is to create a nurturing space where artists of any medium can come to express and create. The open mike will take place on the first Friday of every month at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. For more information call 510-208-6080. (388 9th Street, Suite 290, Oakland)
Tetrasomia The New Pickle Circus will unveil its wonders at the Cowell Theater between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, 2001 with the San Francisco School of Circus Arts. Under the artist direction of famed Chinese circus director Lu Yi, an international cast of nouvelle circus acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and contortionists will interpret Empedocles’ vision of this dynamism. Tickets available through BASS at 510-762-2277 or at tickets.com. (Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard, San Francisco)
MUSIC
Berkeley Images In association with San Francisco Performances, Maestro Kent Nagano will continue the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra’s 2000-2001 season with a Berkeley Symphony commission, Berkeley Images by young French composer Jean-Pascal Beintus. Berkeley Images premieres on Jan. 31, 2001 at 8 p.m. at the Zellerbach Hall on the U.C. Berkeley campus, and Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. at Yuerba Buena Center for the Arts. This work was originally inspired by a collection of Margaretta K. Mitchell’s photographs of several Berkeley sites which celebrates the originality and spirit of freedom which emanated from Berkeley during the early part of the 20th century. For details please call 510-841-2800.
READINGS AND LECTURES
Feng Shui Dr. Lily Chung, Ph.D. will lecture on her new book Calendars for Feng Shui and Divination on Jan. 14, 2001 at 3 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley. (2066 University Avenue, Berkeley. 510-548-2350)
Teaching Chinese Culture in the U.S. Oakland Museum of California presents this lecture on Jan. 14. Educators from the Bay Area Chinese schools explore issues related to teaching Chinese culture and language. A talent show featuring students from Bay Area Chinese schools ends the day. For information on other events through the month of June call 888-OAK-MUSEUM. (10th St. and Oak St., Oakland)
THEATER
Black Nativity This classic musical weaves Langston Hughes’ poetry with powerful narration and gospel music to recall the traditional Christmas story of the birth of Christ. A jubilant expression of human love, joy and humility, the play is an uplifting, hand-clapping musical experience. The show runs through Dec. 24. (620 Sutter St., San Francisco. 415-474-8800)
Debunking Love The New Conservatory Center presents a world premiere of this comedy, exploring interracial gay relationships through the eyes of a young Asian American novelist. The play runs through Jan. 6, 2001, Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Dec. 31; 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-25. (25 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. 415-861-8972)
My Own Private Sukiprata The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, an Asian Pacific Islander American comedy theater group, presents My Own Private Sukiprata, the second workshop production of original comedic material about a mythical Asian nation. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays, 8 p.m., opening Jan. 17 and closing Jan. 28, 2001 at Theater of Yugen/Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa Avenue, San Francisco. For more information and reservations please call 415-646-0868 or email hornbuck@sfsu.edu.
Side by Side Children and their adult “guests” are invited to join Eureka Fellowship winner Young Kim in Side by Side as part of this month’s Kids ArtSunday at San Jose Museum of Art on Sunday, Dec. 31. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., children under 17 and accompanying adults are welcome to enjoy an afternoon of gallery tours and hands-on art workshop. Admission is free to SJMA members; non-members must pay regular Museum admission to attend Kids ArtSunday activities. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. (110 South Market Street, San Jose. 408-271-6840)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
East Bay Open Studios Pro Arts presents East Bay Open Studios 2001 Entry. This is a great way for people to see your art in your own space. Pick up a form if you do not already have one, or mail a SASE to Pro Arts, 461 Ninth Street, Oakland. The entry deadline is Jan. 25, 2001. Open Studios will be June 9, 10, 16 and 17, with an artist’s reception on Thursday June 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. For details call 510-763-9425 or check out www.proartsgallery.org.
Free Photography Contest The international Library of Photography is pleased to announce that over $60,000 in prizes will be awarded this year in the International Open Amateur Photography Contest. Photographers from the San Francisco area, particularly beginners, are welcome to try to win their share of over 1,300 prizes. The deadline for entry is Jan. 31, 2001. To enter, send one photograph in only one of the following categories: People, Travel, Pets, Children, Sports, Nature, Action, Humor, Portraiture or Other. The photo must be a color or black-and-white print 8” x 10” or smaller. Photos should be sent to: The International Library of Photography, Suite 101-9009, 3600 Crondall Lane, Owing Mills, MD 21117. You can also submit online at www.picture.com.
BACK TO TOP
|
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
ARTS
Gifts of Pride and Love A major nationwide traveling exhibition of Kiowa and Comanche cradles runs through Jan. 4 at the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. The show features 38 historic lattice cradles and two new cradles created for this exhibition. For more information, call 310-825-4361. (UCLA Fowler Museum, Royce Hall, Los Angeles)
Knowable Objects The ten artists in the exhibition share an involvement with the commonplace of everyday life and the possibility of transformation, impelling materials and subjects beyond their original intent. Woo Song Bang, Liza Hennessey Botkin, Liz Chilsen, Hyun Sook Cho, Connie Goldman, Judith Foosaner, Anita Getzler, Debbie Han, Kyung Joo Kim and David Spagnolo. The exhibition commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles. (KCC, 5505 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. 323-936-7141)
Superflat Superflat surveys a tendency in Japanese art, animation, fashion and graphic design towards two-dimensionality through work by 19 artists. The inaugural exhibition at the MOCA Gallery at the Pacific Design Center opens Jan. 14, 2001 and remains on view through May 6, 2001. Organized by artist Takashi Murakami with MOCA, the exhibition will feature painting, photography, works on paper, video, computer animation, fashion, cartoons and sculpture by some of the most provocative artists working in Japan. (8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, Los Angeles. 213-621-2766)
The Journey: Passages of a Chinese American Joan Yen is a contemporary artist, a third generation Chinese American who attempts to retain her identity while being immersed in American society. Her bright, bold and abstracted work blends symbols, images and thoughts that reflect her ancient Chinese heritage and very modern American existence. Yen’s show at the Pacific Asia Museum runs through Jan. 7. For more information please call 626-449-2742 (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles, Pasadena)
BACK TO TOP
|
| REST OF THE WEST |
ARTS
Blue-and-White Japanese Porcelain Approximately 100 pieces of exquisite Japanese porcelain will grace the gallery at the Seattle Art Museum in Hirado Porcelain of Japan from the Kurtzman Collection. The exhibition runs through July 8, 2001. Museum hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Thursdays until 9 p.m. (1400 E. Prospect St., Volunteer Park, Seattle)
Signs of fortune, Symbols of immortality This installation of Japanese hanging scrolls, screens and textiles features works from the 17th through 20th centuries. Museum hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Thursdays until 9 p.m. (Seattle Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Volunteer Park, Seattle)
The Art of Protest A cross-cultural exhibition of works from Seattle Asian Art Museum’s collection that use a wide range of media and visual imagery to make social comment, address political issues and advocate for change. For more information call 206-654-3100 (SAAM, Volunteer Park, 14th Avenue at East Prospect St.)
BACK TO TOP
|
| THE SOUTH |
EVENTS
Oshogatsu You are invited to the Japanese New Year Celebration at The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. This joyous event welcomes in 2001 with traditional Japanese activities, including rice-pounding and making of mochi rice cakes; viewing of the sado tea ceremony; kakizome, the writing of New Year’s resolutions; hanetsuki, which is similar to badminton. The event will take place on Jan. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 561-495-0233. (Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Rd, Delray Beach, Florida.)
BACK TO TOP
|
| THE MIDWEST |
ARTS
Canceled: Exhibiting Experimental Art in China Canceled highlights Father and Son in Ancestral Temple, a video installation by Song Dong that was included in a 1988 exhibit canceled by the Chinese government just prior to its opening, and also showing a video by Wu Wenguang that documents the show’s closing, through Jan. 7. (David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, 5550 S. Greenwood St., Chicago. 773-702-0200. smartmuseum.uchicago.edu)
READINGS AND LECTURES
Taoism and the Arts of China This exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago is the first ever devoted to Taoism. Show runs through Jan. 7, 2001. (Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan Avenue, Chicago. 312-443-3600. www.artic.edu)
BACK TO TOP
|
| EAST COAST |
ARTS
Can We Feed Ourselves For more than 20 years Hiroji Kubota has traveled and photographed the countries and cultures of Asia, continually finding compelling evidence that Asia is facing an imminent crisis of food production, population explosion and environmental destruction. Opening on Jan. 31, the Asia Society presents an exhibition Kubota’s photographs. Can We Feed Ourselves? A Focus on Asia: Photographs by Hiroji Kubata will be on view at the Asia Society at Midtown, 502 Park Avenue, New York City. For more information call 212-288-6400 or go to www.asiasociety.org.
Car Pooling from L.A. Cities like Los Angeles are the epicenters of great social laboratories where hybrid cultures are born. Six LA artists present their social commentary through different media. Susan Choi, Dean Sameshima, Kyungmi Shin, Tam Van Tran, T. Kim-Trang Tran and Shirley Tse show their work at the Asian American Arts Center through Dec. 30. For gallery hours call 212-233-2154. (26 Bowery Street, New York City)
Korean War in American Art & Culture: Fifty Years Later An exhibition at Guild Hall through Jan. 7 2001. (Guild Hall of East Hampton, 158 Main Street, East Hampton. 631-324-0806. www.guildhall.org)
Power and Desire The cultural richness, visual brilliance and story-telling power of Indian court painting between the 16th and 19th centuries will be revealed in this exhibition that runs through Jan. 7, 2001. The art work comes from the San Diego Museum of Art, Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, considered one of the most important collections of South Asian painting in the United States. For more information, call 212-288-6400. (Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., New York City.)
Quintessentials Small boxed objects by Mette Bowen and wall sculptures by Noriko Sakanishi. Exhibition runs through Dec. 30 at M.Y. Art Prospects, 135 West 29th Street, 10th floor, New York City. For further information contact Miyako Yoshinaga at 212-268-7132 or MYartpro@aol.com.
Tong Zhi/Comrade: Out in Asia America The first one-person exhibition by New York-based, Hong Kong-born artist Ken Chu. Chu has a fascinating background of travel and activism. Tong Chi/Comrade brings the discourse of sexual orientation into our communities, and looks at what might be a safe public space for Asian Americans in Chinatowns, Koreatowns, Manilatowns, Little Tokyos, Little Saigons and Little Bombays across the country. Exhibition runs through April 14, 2001. (Museum of Chinese Americas, 70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor, New York.)
Worlds Revealed The dawn of Japanese and American cultural exchange is charted in this exhibition that showcases more than 200 artworks, cultural objects and documents dating from as early as 1800 when the Salem ships began making trips to Nagasaki and bringing back beautiful arts and crafts. The exhibition runs through March 17, 2001 at the Peabody Essex Museum. (East India Square, Salem, Mass. 978-745-9500)
MUSIC
Juilliard’s Pre-Collage Division Presents On Saturday, Dec. 23 at 5 p.m., Ki-Sun Sung conducts the Pre-College Chamber Orchestra in works by Bach, Corigliano and Tchaikovsky, followed by a performance at 8 p.m. featuring the Pre-College Symphony led by Adam Glaser with a program including works by Britten, Mendelssohn and Borodin. Free tickets can be obtained from the Juilliard Box Office beginning Dec. 8. (60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York City. 769-7406)
THEATER
My Mom Across America written and performed by Tina Lee, and Bruce lee: inside the lost interview performed and created by Soomi Kim. Through Dec. 30 Thursday - Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Nuyorican Poets’ Cafe. (236 E. 3rd St. 212-726-8404)
Princess Turandot Sparks fly when a captivating prince meets a decapitated princess in this fast and furious romp about the restorative power of love. Part of the Blue Light Theater Company’s 2000-2001 season, Princess Turandot is a holiday event for all ages. For tickets call Smarttix at 212-206-1515. (McGinn/Cazale Theater, Broadway on 76th, New York City.)
The House of Bernarda Alba This play by Frederico Garcia Lorca is adapted and directed by Chay Yew. Presented by the National Asian American Theater Company. Through Dec 23, Monday - Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. (508 W. 53rd St. New York City. 718-623-1672)
BACK TO TOP
Send an E-Mail to Our Calendar Editor
Comments
Got something to say?