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

Regions: Northern Calif., Southern Calif., Rest of the West, Midwest, East Coast

Fragments of Memory San Francisco downtown gallery HANG will exhibit the works of artist Elizabeth Tana from May 1-23, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. (566 Sutter St., San Francisco)

From Sojourners to Skateboarders-Chinatown in Transition Over 35 Bay Area photographers have submitted their visions of Chinatown as inspired by writer Genny Lim’s poems for this exhibition that runs through May 6, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. (Chinatown Community Arts Gallery, Holiday Inn, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco.)

International Art The Pacific Bridge Contemporary Southeast Asian Art will present Hands On: Cuba, Vietnam and California by artists Idilio Arnaud Lopez, Do Quoc Vi and Joel Bennett. An opening reception will be held on April 29 from 7-10 p.m. The exhibition will be on display through May 27. (95 Linden St., #6. Oakland. 510-451-8840.)

Printed Convictions The Mexican Museum will present a retrospective of the work of Juan Sanchez from May 13- Sept. 17. The solo exhibition will highlight 48 peices that address the challenge Purerto Ricans face in examing their identities in the United States. (The Mexican Museum, Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, San Francisco. 415-202-9700.)

Sasha Yungju Lee An exhibition of Lee’s work, which focuses on how women’s roles are portrayed by the mass media, will be on display from May 5 through June 7. (Triton Museum of Art, 1505 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara. 408-247-3754.)

The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation The California Suiseki Society of Northern California will present their exhibit of Japanese stone on April 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. (Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue, Oakland. For more information, call 925-827-9575.)

Dance

Tchaikovsky—The Mystery of Life and Death The Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, critically acclaimed as Russia’s most innovative contemporary ballet company, will make its Bay Area debut with Eifman’s stunning full-length ballet on May 2-4 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35-55. (Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., San Francisco. For tickets, call 415-392-4400.)

Events
Borrowed Scenery Macy’s 54th Annual Flower Show begins April 16 and ends April 29. Macy’s Union Square will serve as the setting for a flower and garden display that will incorporate pagodas, stone lanterns, water basins, arbors and bridges. (Macy’s Union Square, 251 Geary St., San Francisco.)

Cinco De Mayo San Francisco The Mission Economic Cultural Association will present their annual celebration featuring music by Mariachi Los Cachorros, Banda Joven, Grupo Destino and Grupo Arias. There will also be a children’s area, international food and a parade. On May 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $5. (Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. For more information, call 415-826-1401.)

Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival The 17th annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival takes place April 29-30 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival is in honor of Cupertino sister-city Toyokawa, Japan. For more information, call 408-257-7424. (Memorial Park, Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino.)

Himalayan Fair Authentic Himalayan arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance highlight this annual outdoor celebration of the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan on May 20 and 21. A $5 donation is recommended. For more information call 510-869-3995. (Live Oak Park, 1300 Shattuck Ave., North Berkeley.)

May Bouquets Decorate an uchiwa (Japanese fan) or make a dandelion corsage for a great mom. Explore the year of the dragon through Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean crafts. 12-4 p.m at the Oakland Museum of California. Included with museum admission, $6 for adults, $4 seniors and students. For more information, call 1-800-OAK-MUSE or e-mail shirleen@museumca.org. (Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Streets, Oakland.)

Film
San Francisco International Film Festival, Pacific Film Archive Screenings The Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley will be screening 38 features and 20 short films from 26 nations as part of the 43rd annual festival. Screenings continue through May 4. General admission is $9 per program. For scheduling and more information, call 415-931-FILM or visit www.sfiff.org online. For PFA screenings, call the PFA box office at 510-642-5249. For tickets for all festival venues, call TicketWeb at 510-601-8932 or visit the SFIFF Box Office in the lobby of AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres in San Francisco. (New PFA Theater, 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley.)

Terminal USA Director Jon Moritsugu tells a story of an unusual Asian American family of a drug-dealing son, a whore of a daughter, a skinhead-obsessed son and psychotic parents. Screens from May 16 to May 22 at 7:30 p.m. For more information call 510-848-1143. (Fine Arts Cinema, 2451 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.)

Music
Annual World Music & Dance Festival This two-day, free event on May 20-21 features well-known and emerging artists performing traditional and new music and dance from across the globe. (The Cannery, 2801 Leavenworth St., San Francisco. 415-771-3112.)

Bee Project #5 Headlands Center for the Arts will present an evening program performed by muscian/composer Miya Masaoka on May 18 at 8 p.m. Masaoka uses the sounds of insects as a basis for her musical compositions, videos and time-based live art pieces. (944 Fort Barry, Marin Headlands. 415-331-2787.)

Center of Sound Festival #1 The Fred Anderson Trio, featuring renowned saxophonist Fred Anderson, bassist Tatsu Aoki, and drummer Hamid Drake, will be performing at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center May 12 (with the John-Carlos Perea Quartet with Hafez Modirzadeh) and May 13 (with Jeff Chan’s big fUn philharmonic). Shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets $15, $12 in advance, 2-for-1 for students with valid I.D. For tickets and info, call 1-877-243-3774 or e-mail info@asianimprov.com. Presented by the Alliance of Emerging Creative Artists, Asian Improv aRts, and the OACC. (Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St.)

Chee-Yun The California Symphony will present violinist Chee-Yun on May 7, 7:30 p.m.; and May 9, 8 p.m. Tickets are $35-45. Call 925-943-7469. (Dean Lesher Regional Cetner for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.)

Gamelan Sekar Jaya Dunsmuir Historic Estate will kick off its Family Sunday Season with Balinese theater and ritual music performed by Gamelan Sekar Jaya. May 7 from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 adults, $4 for seniors, $1 for children age 6-13. Guided tours of the 1899 Dunsmuir Mansion and grounds are included in the price of admission. For more information call 510-615-5555 or visit www.dunsmuir.org online. (2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland.)

Himalayan Concert The Himalayan Fair Committee presents a benefit concert for grassroots projects in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet on May 7, featuring performers Ali Khan, Ancient Future, Stephen Kent, Vivian Guzman, and Techung. For more information call 510-848-6767 ext. 609 or visit www.himalayanfair.net online. (King Middle School, 1781 Rose St., Berkeley.)

Hundred Birds Facing Phoenix The San Francisco Arts Commission, Melody of China, and the Chinese Culture Center present a concert of Chinese traditional, folk and improvisational music on May 7 at 2 p.m. This year’s concert features musicians from China as well as Wu Wei, a mouth organ soloist from Germany. Tickets are $10. (Chinese Cultural Center Auditorium, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco. 415-957-1146.)

Huun Huur Tu The harmonies of these four throat singers from Tuvan, Siberia will come to the Bay Area April 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley and then April 28 through 30 (4/28 & 29 at 7:30 p.m., 4/30 at 2 p.m.) at the Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael.

Mitsuko Uchida San Francisco Performances’ 20th season piano series concludes with a Herbst Theater recital by pianist Mitsuko Uchida on May 14 at 7 p.m. She will perform the works of Chopin, Webern, Mozart and Schubert. Tickets are $36 and $24. (Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, San Francisco. 415-392-4400.)

Music in a Movement The Oakland Cultural Center opens its new exhibit and performance series Music in a Movement, which documents and celebrates Asian Pacific Islander music from the 1970s and its influence on the political scene of that era, on May 6 at 12 noon. (OACC, 388 9th St., Suite 290, Oakland. 510-208-6080.)

San Francisco World Music Festival Building bridges through exposure to the diversity of musical culture, this first annual event will feature over 20 different performance groups over the course of the 3-day Memorial Day weekend, and will also include classes, workshops, discussions, and ongoing performances through May 28. For tickets and information call the Clarion Music Center at 415-391-1317 or the Cowell Theater Box Office at 415-441-3687.

San Jose Taiko This group will have its annual Spring Concert, “Rhythm Spirit 2000,” at the San Jose Repertory Theatre April 28 and 29 at 8 p.m. and April 30 at 3 p.m. Call 408-291-2255 for tickets.

Readings/Lectures
Bharati Mukherkee & Zainab Ali Intersection for the Arts presents as part of its Tuesday Night Reading Series two writers: accomplished novelist and short story writer Bharati Mukherjee and emerging fiction writer Zainab Ali on May 16 at 8 p.m. Suggested donation of $5. For information call 415-626-2787. (Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia, San Francisco.)

Growing Up Asian in Chinatown The Oakland Museum of California presents reminiscences by the Wong family: reporter Bill Wong, poet Nellie Wong, artist Flo Wong, Lai King Wong and Lai Webster. Included with museum admission, $6 for adults, $4 seniors and students. For more information, call 1-800-OAK-MUSE or e-mail shirleen@museumca.org. (Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Streets, Oakland.)

Multicultural Theatre: Playwrighting & Performance Playwright and actor Dewi Yee discusses multicultural theatre and the art of performance and playwrighting in a lecture at City College of San Francisco. This event, part City College’s Concert/Lecture Series, begins at 7 p.m. on April 27 and is free and open to the public. For information, call 415-239-3580. (Bungalow 222 (adjacent to Diego Rivera Theatre), 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco.)

Theater
Close Encounters of the Third World Four culturally diverse performance groups—Asian American Theater Company, Latina Theater lab, Culture Clash and 18 Might Mountain Warriors—come together to create a lighthearted look at life in America. The show runs from April 27-May 14, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22. (Somar Theater, 934 Bannan St., San Francisco. 415-440-5545.)

Fairytale on the Flip Side Challenging notions of identity, beauty and power, a typical happily-ever-after fairytale is transformed by a group of multicultural teens in the latest production of dance, theater, martial arts and music from the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company. Two shows: May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and May 7 at 3 p.m. Tickets $12, $6 for ages 17 and under. For information and tickets call 510-597-1619. (McClymonds High School, 2604 Myrtle St., Oakland).

Game of Life Performer and writer Suz Takeda performs her play about the search for a Japanese American identity in Oakland. It is part of the Best of Writers Who Act series. Game of Life will debut May 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

Itgirl Emerald Rain Productions, the Bay Area’s rock musical theater company will present the premiere of this comedy-romance about teen idols and corporate conspiracies from April 6 through May 6. It runs through May 6, Fridays and Saturdays at the Renaissance Ballroom, 285 Ellis St., San Francisco. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Admission is $12. For reservations or information, call 510-982-0433.

Not for the Faint of Heart Provocative New York artist Patty Chang returns to her native San Francisco to perform sexually charged, visually arresting pieces May 10. Appearing with her are Tony Labat and Cliff Hengst. For more information call 415-626-5416. (New Langdon Arts, 1246 Folsom St., San Francisco.)

The past Life of Padmasambhava A re-invention of classic Tibetan drama. This techno, tantric play is a powerful blend of universal teachings woven together through world music, sacred ceremony and dance on April 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and April 30 at 2 p.m. It features Tuvan throat singers and Cambodian court dancers, among others. For more information call 415-721-4147. (Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael.)

Arts
Gods and Goblins Paintings of foolish monkeys, wrestling gods, playful goblins and humorous caricatures make up this first major West Coast exhibit of folk art from Otsu, Japan. Ongoing. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

Migration of Faith Tibetan Buddhist art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s permanent collection, featuring 23 rare manuscripts and paintings, will be on display through Sept. 4. Admission is $7. (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-857-6000.)

Mingei of Japan An exhibition of objects of daily use from Japan made from a variety of material is on display including indigo-dyed textiles, brushes and cabinets. Also on display are works from Keisuke Serizawa, among other artists. Through June 2. For more information call 619-239-0003. (Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, Plaza de Panama, La Jolla.)

Shifting Perceptions The Pacific Asia Museum will present a major exhibit by 17 Asian American visual artists that probes the question, “What is Asian American art?” The show will run through Oct. 29. (46 North Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-449-2742.)

The Four Seasons: Visual Haiku The symbolic collages of mixed media artist Julie Smith are inspired by the shapes, colors and textures of Japanese kimonos as well as the simplicity and depth of haiku poetry, on display from April 29 to June 11. For more information call 626-449-2742. (Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Robles Ave, Pasadena.)

Dance
Kodomo No Hi Come celebrate Children’s Day with the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center for a family festival on May 20-21, featuring crafts, dance performances, a demonstration by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a basketball tournament. (JACCC, 244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles. 213-628-2725.)

Events
Kodomo no Hi Come celebrate Children’s Day with the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center for a family festival on May 20-21, featuring crafts, dance performances, a demonstration by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a basketball tournament. (JACCC, 244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles. 213-628-2725.)

Film
Princess Cheung Ping A John Woo romance about an emperor’s daughter who must overcome her fathers’ oppositions to her desires set in the Ming Dynasty. Screens May 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 to $6. It screens as part of the UCLA Film and TV Archive annual presentation of rare, international musicals. For more information call 310-206-FILM. (James Bridge Theater, UCLA at Sunset Blvd. and Hilgard Ave. Los Angeles.)

Music
Masami Nakagawa Flute Concert This internationally recognized musician will perform a repertoire covering a wide spectrum in both classical and jazz on April 30 at 2 p.m. Admission is $15, free for students and children. Reserve seats by April 28 by calling 213-627-6217. (Huntington Beach Central Library & Cultural Center, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach.)

Theater
Uncle Gunjiro’s Girlfriend Brend Wong Aoki will perform this duet about the true story of the first Asian-Caucasian marriage in California, on April 30 at 7 p.m. at the Japan American Theater, 244 South San Pedro, Los Angeles; and on May 25 at 7 p.m. at the McCullum Theater, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert.

Arts
Asian Art Now The Las Vegas Art Museum will present a new exhibition of contemporary Asian art from May 3-July 9. The show will include works from Japan, Korea and Taiwan. (9600 West Sahara Ave., Las Vegas. 702-360-8000.)

Mountain Patterns: Survival of Nuosu Culture in China Patterned clothing, silver jewelry and lacquered wood utensils will be on display at this exhibit featuring the handiwork of the mountain-dwelling Nuosu people of Southwestern China. The exhibit runs March 2-Sept. 4; admission is $2.50-5.50. (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, NE 45th St. and 17th Ave., University of Washington, Seattle. 206-543-7907.)

Events
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District will celebrate APA Heritage month in May. Included in this year’s program will be an origami demonstration, a performance of traditional Hawaiian dance, as well as a lecture by author Helen Zia on May 17. For more information, call 702-642-9500.)

Film
AxA: Multi-Directions in Asian American Film The last of a three part series presenting a repertoire of films illustrating the diversity and complexity of our Asian Pacific American community, showing May 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Free and open the public. Seating is limited. (Ethnic Cultural Center at the University of Washington, 3931 Brooklyn Avenue Northeast. For more information call 206-623-5124.)

Readings & Lectures
Jessica Hagedorn This New York performance artist and author/editor (Burning Heart, Charlie Chan Is Dead) will visit the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle for a reading and reception May 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. (407 7th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington. 206-623-5124.)

Theater
Finding Home Local Cambodian youth in the Seattle area present a compilation of oral histories, monologues, poetry, and dance to convey their shared and individual experiences of war, relocation and family issues. Two shows: May 5 at 6 p.m., Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Avenue South; May 27 at 2 p.m., Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Avenue. Call 206-623-5124 for more info.

Dance
Bian Dan The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago has commissioned this world premiere work by H.T. Chen & Dancers, which will be performed May 11-13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. (The Dance Center, 4730 Sheridan Rd., Chicago. 773-989-3310.)

Events
Asian American Festival 2000 The Asian American Renaissance is presenting this 4th annual event in St. Paul, Minnesota, to be a one-day festival on May 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is in celebration and recognition of May as Asian Pacific Heritage month. For information call 651-641-4040.

Events
21st Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival The Coalition of Asian Pacific American presents this celebration on May 7 from noon through 6 p.m, featuring musical performances, arts and crafts exhibits, martial arts demonstrations and food vendors. Admission is free. (Union Square Park, 14th-17th Streets between Broadway and Park Avenue South, New York City. 212-989-3610.)

Music
Akiko Yano One of Japan’s most enduring musical artists, Yano will appear on May 26-27 at 8:30 p.m. She gained internation attention for her work with Ryuchi Sakamoto. Tickets are $20; they can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200. (Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., New York City. For more information, call 212-625-3750.)

Readings & Lectures
Book Party The Museum of Chinese in the Americas will celebrated the publication of Chinese Americans: The Immigrant Experience, by Dusanka Miscevic and Peter Kwong on May 9 from 5:30-7 p.m. The authors, as well as photographers Lia Chang and Corky Lee will be on hand to sign the books. Admission is $3. (Museum of the Chinese Americas, 70 Mulberry St., 2nd floor, New York City. 212-619-4785.)

Theater
Li’l Brown Brothers/Nikimalika Ma-Yi Theater Company and Asia Society present this play, written and directed by Chris B. Millado, about the importation of indigenous Filipino peoples to the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904 as part of a “Philippine Exhibit.” Performances begin April 28 at 8 p.m., with the opening May 7 at 7 p.m. Performances are Wed-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. For information and reservations, call 212-581-8896 or 212-517-ASIA. (Grove Street Playhouse, 39 Grove Street, New York.)