Bay Area residents are in for some big treats as the world-class Asian Art Museum showcases a major exhibition this summer.
As the current collections of fine Japanese ukiyo-e paintings and stainless steel sculptures of Chinese artist Zhan Wang close next month, the museum will bring on a blockbuster exhibition titled Power and Glory, a collaboration between three of China’s most prestigious institutions: the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) in Beijing, the Nanjing Municipal Museum and the Shanghai Museum. Many of the more than 240 objects — a full range of Ming Court Dynasty arts including stunning porcelain vases, paintings, textiles, lacquer, jade, jewelry and architectural elements — will be on view for the first time in the United States from June 27 to Sept. 21.
At a recent unveiling of the updated Place of Honor, supporters of the Asian Art Museum included Irene and Vernon Wong, Myrna Tsukamoto, Rosalind Wong, Helen Gan, Alice Lowe, Janice Hom and Mayme Chinn. Major donors included Sally Chan, Ted and Doris Lee, Linda and David Lei, and the Robert Ho Family Foundation.
Up and running is the new Chinese American Museum of Northern California, under the direction of Brian Tom and his brothers. Tom has developed a very interesting museum in the old town of Marysville, formerly known as the “Number Three Chinatown” (Sam Fow) in America (San Francisco is “Number One,” or Dai Fow). Unlike most early Chinatowns, Marysville Chinatown is one of few that have endured, and it continues to thrive to this day.
Several hundreds of descendents of early pioneers enjoyed a weekend celebration of Bomb Day activities and the commemoration of the Bok Kai Temple in downtown Marysville, while listening to speakers Steve Yee, developer of the Sacramento Chinese Center, and Chiu Mei Ho from the Chicago Museum.
Congenial host Tom and his lovely wife, Kelley, headed the closing dinner honoring history buff Yee, whose Chinese Museum and Trade Center will commemorate the early Chinese who settled in the Sacramento Valley (Yee Fow, or “Number Two Chinatown”). Assisting Steve is a young and enthusiastic Sacramento Chinese Culture Club. As a descendant of a sixth-generation Sacramento family, I am thrilled there is a Sacramento Chinese Center, Community Hall and Trade Center in the making.
The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, USF-Ricci Institute, USF Music and Arts Department, and others will co-sponsor an all-day free music and culture event on May 8 at the Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., third floor, in San Francisco and on May 9 at the University of San Francisco. The event will cover Chinese-Western music exchange from the 16th to 20th centuries. For information: (415) 422-6401 or ricci.usfea.edu.