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April 20 - 26, 2001

Community Calendar
Announcements and Events for the Community
Elaine Chao Visits the Valley
(in National News)

Beware Rogue Immigration Consultants!
(in Bay Area News)

Aftermath of the Spy Plane Standoff
(in Business)

San Francisco International Film Fest
(in A&E)

Emil Amok: The Puckheads Think They're Funny
(in Opinion)

A regional roundup of events of special interest to Asian Americans

NATIONAL

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Voices Award Lee & Low Books, the award-winning publisher of multicultural books for children, is pleased to announce the second annual New Voices Award. The award will be given for a children’s picture book story by a writer of color. The award winner will receive a cash grant of $1,000 and our standard publication contract, including an advance against royalties. An honorary award winner will receive a cash grant of $500. Manuscripts will be accepted through Sept. 30, 2001, and must be postmarked by that date. Submissions should be sent to: New Voices Award, Lee & Low Books, 95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. For details on eligibility, please e-mail info@leeandlow.com


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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cultural Equity Grants The San Francisco Arts Commission is offering a grants program to support the development, sustainability and growth of arts organizations deeply rooted in, and able to express the experiences of, historically underserved communities, such as African American, Asian American, disabled, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, gay/lesbian, and women. The deadline for Level One grants (up to $18,000, one year) is June 18. Proposals that build on the accomplishments of a previous CEI-supported initiative have a slight advantage. Applicants need to meet a minimum threshold of organizational capacity. For a list of proposal workshop times and dates, please leave name and address by calling 415-252-2553, or e-mailing sfacceg@thecity.sfsu.edu. Visit the Web site at http://sfac.sfsu.edu, or the offices at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suites 60 and 240, San Francisco.

Free Poetry Contest Open to San Francisco Residents The International Library of Poetry has announced that $58,000 in prizes will be awarded this year in the International Open Poetry Contest. Poets from the San Francisco area, particularly beginners, are welcome to try to win their share of over 250 prizes. The contest is open to everyone and entry is free. To enter, send one original poem, any subject and any style, to: The International Library of Poetry, Suite 19910, 1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117. The poem should be 20 lines or less, and the poet’s name and address should appear on the top of the page. Entries must be postmarked or sent via the Internet by April 30. Enter online at www.poetry.com.

The Media Fund The National Asian American Telecommunications Association (NAATA) is pleased to announce new deadlines for the Media Fund. Open Call for Production Funds ends Aug. 24. This round of funding is for applicants with public television projects in production and/or post-production phases. Projects in research and development or script development phases need not apply. Awards will average $20,000 to $50,000. Exceptions may be made. Open Door Completion Fund has no deadline. This round of funding is for applicants with public television projects in the final post-production phase. A full-length rough cut must be submitted. Awards average $20,000 and NAATA funds must be the last monies needed to finish the project and deliver the broadcast master. For more information, check out www.naatanet.org or contact the Media Fund department at 415-863-0814 x106 or mediafund@naatanet.org.


ARTS

Centennial of Peking University Nan Hai Arts Center is proud to present Exhibition of Calligraphy and Painting in Celebration of the Centennial of Peking University, to mark the founding of the Peking University Education Foundation. Artists include Guan Shanyue, Bai Xueshi and Liu Dawei, and calligraphers include Shan Pang. The exhibition is open through April 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Nan Hai Arts Center, 510 Broadway, 3/F, Millbrae. For more information, please call 650-259-2100.

Live Forever Korean Artist Lee Bul shows a new body of work, Live Forever: New Work by Lee Bul, that expands upon her investigation of the body in a technologically-mediated society. Related to the 1999 Venice Biennale installation of karaoke booths, Lee fabricates a new series of pod-shaped karaoke capsules produced at the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia. In San Francisco, Lee produces a new video work which explores her interest in lounge bands that inhabit that strange nomadic realm of hotels. The video Live Forever is exhibited with the complete series of vide productions Amateurs + Anthem + Live Forever. Finally, with a commitment to the process of art-making and commissioning new work, the Art Institute exhibits an extensive body of sketches of the project in progress. The show runs through May 19 at the Walter & McBean Galleries, San Francisco Art Institute, 800 Chestnut Street, San Francisco. Visit www.sfai.edu for complete exhibition and public program information.

Silent Voices Speak Silent Voices Speak features Remembering the Holocaust, a powerful art exhibition of paintings by German-born artist Barbara Shilo, which are based on the actual black and white documentary photographs taken in Europe between 1933 and 1945. The second exhibition, curated by Eric Saul, is entitled Visas for Life. This exhibition of private photographs tells the story of diplomats who rescued more than 250,000 lives during the Holocaust. Silent Voices Speak runs through May 15 at the Herbst International Exhibition Hall in the San Francisco Presidio. Show hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. To volunteer, register for docent training, or get more information, call 415-928-2992.

Taoism and the Arts of China This exhibition explores one of China’s primary indigenous philosophies and religions, an understanding of which is critical to comprehending Chinese culture, historically and today. Approximately 150 works of art are used to explore conceptual and artistic achievements in the history of Taoism, including paintings, sculpture, calligraphy, textiles, ritual objects and rare books borrowed from nearly seventy lenders in over ten countries. Significantly, 33 works are borrowed from institutions in the People’s Republic of China, only two of which have been previously exhibited in the West. The show runs through May 31. For museum hours and general information, call 415-379-8800 or go to www.asianart.org. (Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco)

West and Far East/ Harmony in Spirit Gallery Piazza Arts & Culture celebrates its 11th Year Anniversary Exhibition with works by artists Doug Coffin, Chizuru Miyasako and Koichi Tanikawa. Doug Coffin is Potowatomi/Creek Native American. His art is a synthesis of colorful, modern design and traditional symbols. A native of Hiroshima, Japan, Chizuru Miyasako was born in 1947. She is a successful painter, an author with over 20 books to her credit and a well respected critic and essayist. Her most outstanding works are bright color artwork that give us visual pleasure, and wonderful peace of mind and freedom. Koichi Tanikawa was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1938. He carries the dual challenge of being a remarkably accomplished artist and a recognized art critic and author. Tanikawa’s works can be found in the collections of the Tokyo and New York Metropolitan Museums of Art. The exhibition continues through June 10 at Gallery Piazza Arts & Culture, Sausalito Piazza Building, 819 Bridgeway, Sausalito. For more information, call 415-331-6711.


DANCE

Dance Around The World Festival The Limón Dance Company celebrates its tenth consecutive year of events in San Jose with Dance Around the World Festival. The program brings together emerging artists and professionals to celebrate the diversity of world dance. This tribute to the heritage of dance features five world premieres choreographed by present and former members of the Limón Dance Company. This culturally enriching evening will be presented April 27 at 8 p.m. and April 28, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Tickets range from $12 to $18. Mexican Heritage Plaza is located at the intersection of Alum Road and South King Road, East San Jose. Box office numbers are 408-928-5564 or 1-800-MHC-VIVA.


EVENTS

Asian Crisis Asia Pacific Cultural Center — Oakland and the pan-Asian world music group Asian Crisis will presents a very special concert on Saturday, April 27, at 8 p.m., at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 388 9th Street, Suite 290, Oakland. Through the International Service Society, a non-profit humanitarian service organization, this year’s New Beats concert will also serve as a venue for collecting contributions to help relieve families of earthquake victims in Gujarat, India. This 3rd annual New Beats concert will feature a South Asian hip hop quartet from the Rukus Avenue Records label Karmacy, Asia Pacific’s resident project Asian Crisis, as well as DJ Musa, who will be spinning South Asian break beats at a post-concert party. The annual New Beats concert series serves as a vehicle to present Asian Pacific American musicians who are contributing to the growth of continually diversifying mainstream musical aesthetics. New Beats emphasizes the exploration of multicultural heritage as expressed through musical performance by people of color living in contemporary urban America. General admission is $10. For more information, please contact Meena Makhijani at 510-459-7347. For general concert information or information about the Asia Pacific Cultural Center — Oakland, please call 510-208-6080 or visit www.asiapacificculturalcenter.org.

Get Out of Camp Produced by the National Japanese American Historical Society, this interactive exhibit gives the audience an experiential overview of what World War II was like for Japanese Americans, using replicas, photographs and music. The exhibition is on display through July 31, and is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (NJAHS Gallery, 1684 Post St., San Francisco, 415-921-5007)

Intersections III Intersections III: Five Nights of Literature and Music, the third annual literary and music performance series by the San Jose Museum of Art, will be held on five consecutive Monday evenings: May 21, 28 and June 4, 11, 18 at 7:30 p.m. Organized by Quincy Troupe, Intersections III features stimulating, eclectic and unpredictable performances by some of our nation’s most brilliant and adventurous artists. Among this year’s performances are: Nobel laureate poet Derek Walcott; preeminent American poet Adrienne Rich; best-selling novelists Maxine Hong Kingston and Bebe Moore Campbell; jazz innovators Henry Threadgill, Muhal Richard Abrams and Hamiet Bluiett; Pulitzer Prize 2000 poet C.K. Williams; playwright and poet Amiri Baraka; and newer voices such as novelist Lois-Ann Yamanaka, Alfredo Véa; and poet Arthur Sze. All programs will be presented at the San Jose Repertory Theater, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. For advance ticket purchase or a brochure, call 408-271-6840, or go to www.sjma.com. For more information, go to www.sjmusart.org, or call 408-271-6840.

Satsuki Arts Festival & Bazaar Satsuki Arts Festival & Bazaar this year will be held on Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 at the Berkeley Buddhist Temple, 2121 Channing Way (at Shattuck), Berkeley. Satsuki Arts Festival & Bazaar is a weekend celebrating multicultural entertainment and the blossoming of azaleas (satsuki), featuring performances on Sunday by Julio Bravo (salsa) and Delta Wires (R & B) bands; Kulintang Dance Theatre; Naginata (long sword) martial arts; Kaulana Na Pua Hawaiian Dance; booths selling ethnic foods, arts & crafts, plants & flowers; and games for children. The event is free and open to the public. For further information, call 510-841-1356.


FILM

Mandala As part of the Real to Real: Buddhism and Film series presented by the San Francisco Zen Center and the Asian Art Museum - Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture, Mandala address the nature of buddhism in the modern world. The film is directed by well-known South Korean director Im Kwon Taek, and will be presented by Buddhist scholar Robert Buswell. The screening is at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 18 at the Asian Art Museum, Trustees Auditorium, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. For more information on the series, please call 415-863-3133.


MUSIC

Venice to Xanadu Humanities West presents Venice to Xanadu: Marco Polo’s Silk Road on Friday May 4, 8 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., and Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Avenue near McAllister in San Francisco. Until recently, these visual images, music and dance have been inaccessible to all but the most intrepid travelers and scholars. This program is presented in cooperation with the Silkroad Foundation, the University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim and its Ricci Institute, and the Mechanics’ Institute Library. Tickets are $25 and $55 and are available through City box Office at 415-392-4400. For more information on the concerts and lectures, visit www.humanitieswest.org/silkroad.html.


READINGS AND LECTURES

Bolo! Bolo! On Saturday, May 12, 7 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Avenue, Berkeley, editor Zenia Wadhwani and three other authors will read from Bolo! Bolo!, a new 370-page anthology including over 70 works of poetry, fiction and non-fiction by over 50 second-generation South Asian Canadian and American writers. Call 510-548-2350 or e-mail books@ewbb.com for more information.


THEATER

Penthesilea In the heart of the Trojan War, both the armies of the Greeks and Trojans are besieged by an uninvited guest. The Amazons, led by their queen, Penthesilea, have seemingly declared war on all men. One of Germany’s most controversial Romantic writers, Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811), rewrites this classic myth of war, sex, and violence and brings the action to a most bloody and unexpected conclusion. Produced by Theater Rhubarb and directed by Jeffery Nishimura and Mark Nishimura, Penthesilea will run May 5 to 25 at Studio 210, 3435 Cesar Chavez Ave. near Valencia St., San Francisco. For times and ticket information, please contact Theater Rhubarb at 415-751-0439, JMNish@aol.com or www.theaterrhubarb.com.


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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

ARTS

Knowable Objects The ten artists in this 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 are all part of the exhibition that commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles. (KCC, 5505 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. 323-936-7141)

More Than a Game The Japanese American National Museum presents this ongoing exhibit that tells the story of an immigrant group’s journey in America through the universal theme of sport, using artifacts such as team uniforms, photographs, news clippings, interactive kiosks and videos. (Japanese American National Museum, 369 East First St., Los Angeles, 213-625-0414)

Munakata Shiko Through June 30, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art presents a retrospective of Munakata Shiko’s work. Shiko is considered one of the greatest Japanese artists of the twentieth century. He received the Imperial Order of Culture from the Japanese government, achieving a higher status than Living National Treasure. Receiving first prize at the São Paulo Bienal in 1955 and the Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale, Shiko was the first Japanese artist to receive international recognition in the post-war era. Through his work, he brought about the general acceptance in Japan of woodblock printing as a fine art; until his time, wood block printing had been considered a production craft. The exhibition includes 128 prints, calligraphy, paintings, and ceramics primarily borrowed from the holdings of the Munakata Museum in Kamakura, established as a foundation in the artist’s residence and studio after his death. For more information on museum programs, please call 323-857-6035.


THEATER

A Dirty Secret Between the Toes Lodestone Theatre Ensemble presents the world premiere of A Dirty Secret Between the Toes, a comedy by Annette Lee about racism, class warfare and a forbidden passion for horticulture. This hilarious comedy is a follow-up to the successful production of American Monsters. The production is a presentation of the East L.A. College Artists-in-Residence Program and will run at the East L.A. College Little Theatre, 1301 Cesar Chavez Avenue in Monterey Park. Directed by co-artistic director Chil Kong, the play runs April 20 - May 13, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m., Saturday matinees at 2:00 p.m. (except on April 21) and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. General ticket prices are $13. Senior and student ticket prices are $11. Group ticket prices (10 or more) are $9. For tickets and general information, call the Lodestone Theatre hotline at 323-993-7245, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please note the contents of this play include mature adult themes. Viewer discretion is advised.


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REST OF THE WEST

ARTS

Blue-and-white Japanese Porcelain Approximately 100 pieces of exquisite Japanese porcelain grace the gallery at the Seattle Art Museum in Hirado Porcelain of Japan from the Kurtzman Collection. The exhibition runs through July 8. Museum hours are Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 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. to 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 uses 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.)


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EAST COAST

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Opening for Managing Director Fine Arts Center New WORLD Theatre at University of Massachusetts, Amherst invites applications for the position of managing director. The individual will direct administrative operations, including creating and working closely with artistic director and staff. Qualifications: MA or equivalent in theatre, business, arts admin., arts, education, or related field plus two-four years experience in arts admin. and/or management. Send letter of application, resume, and three letters of reference by June 3 to: Search #R13449, Employment Office, 167 Whitmore Administration Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-8170. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.


ARCHITECTURE

Tadashi Kawamata: Boston Project, Plan in Progress As part of a collaboration among several Boston area colleges and universities, the Harvard University Art Museum will bring acclaimed Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata to the Sert Gallery at the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, to transform it into a working studio where approximately twenty students will be assigned specific design tasks in the research and planning of one or more site-specific public structures to be built in the Boston area next year. Through April 30, the gallery is showcasing drawings, photographs, posters, catalogues, and video documentation of earlier Kawamata projects, while also serving as a working studio for the research and planning of these future projects. For more information on the project, call Matthew Barone at 617-495-2397. For general information about the museum, call 617-495-9400.


ARTS

Chaos Minimal Surasi Kusolwong presents Chaos Minimal, a performance exhibition at Lombard-Freid Fine Arts, 5531 W. 26th St., New York City, through May. For more information, call 212-967-8040, or e-mail tomfrd@echonyc.com.

Garden of Export Delights Asian American Arts Alliance and the Asian Pacific American Studies Program at New York University present the art of Swati Khurana. This solo exhibition includes sculpture, video and installation to investigating the construction of “India.” NYU A/P/A Studies is located at 269 Mercer Street, Suite 609. Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibition is on view through May 11. For further information, please call 212-998-3700 or fax 212-995-4705.

Living Heritage From now until June 10, China Institute presents Living Heritage: Vernacular Environment in China. Originating in Hong Kong, this exhibition features photographs, furniture and architectural components depicting the living environments from different regions of China. The Chinese house is viewed as a microcosm of Chinese society, representing its organization, economy, technology, traditions, beliefs and aspirations. (China Institute, 125 East 65th Street, New York City. 212-744-8181. www.chinainstitute.org)

Mountains and Valleys, Castles and Tents A new exhibition featuring rare artifacts and documentary materials illustrating Tibetan society and history is on view for the first time in New York at the Paine Webber Art Gallery from April 12 to June 22. Drawn from the unrivaled Tibetan collection of The Newark Museum, Mountains and Valleys, Castles and Tents explores the ancient culture of Tibet through artifacts and ornaments of the aristocracy, herders and traders dating back to the 13th century, as well as a documentary film and photographs from the early 1900s. Paine Webber’s Corporate Headquarters, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, between 51st and 52nd Street, New York City. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission. For recorded information, call 212-713-2885.

Nhat Tran: Recent Paintings Nhat Tran presents recent paintings through May 3, Tues.-Sat. 11-6 p.m. at the Whickiser Gallery, Inc. 568 Broadway, New York. For more information, call 212-941-1817, e-mail wwickiserg@aol.com, or visit www.walterwickisergallery.com.


EVENTS

TOkYO 2001 DIGital LiFE TOkYO 2001 DIGital LiFE is presented by Takarajimasha Publishing, a leader amongst Japan’s cutting-edge glosses. What to expect: a Digital Tea Room — a virtual experience of tradition and innovation; Fashion Brands Exhibit — an experimental photo session of digital imagery; Runway — featuring designers & stylistic trends from the editorial pages of Spring and Cutie Magazines of Takarajimasha Publishing; The Celebration — a gathering of one of NYC’s most colorful array of movers and shakers, live performance, DJs, VJs and cocktails. All participating artists whose genre of work is presented at TOkYO 2001 DIGital LiFE have been curated and are represented by Intergaia. On Thursday, May 17, from noon to midnight, TOkYO 2001 DIGital LiFE will take place at Milk Studio 450 West 15th Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues. For general information, please call 212-946-4548. For invitation requests, please fax 212-243-7807.


FILM

The Masterworks of Hou Hsiao-Hsien The Screening Room is pleased to present a retrospective of acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien, beginning May 4. Voted “Director of the Decade” in the Village Voice Critics’ Poll, Hsiao-Hsien’s films, filled with long held shots and a slow-burn melancholy, have had a profound effect on the fundamental rules of cinema as we know it in the Western world. The retrospective comprises the seven key films of Hsiao-Hsien’s oeuvre, as originally screened during last year’s celebrated show at Lincoln Center: A Time to Live and a Time to Die; Dust in the Wind; The Puppetmaster; Good Men, Good Women; A City of Sadness; Goodbye South, Goodbye; and Flowers of Shanghai. The two-week retrospective will open on Friday, May 4, and runs through May 17. Tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for seniors and children under 12. The Screening Room is located at 54 Varick Street, just below Canal in Tribeca. To reach the Screening Room box office, please call 212-334-2100.


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