ARTIST REFLECTS ON THE BIG 7-0
Chinese American artist Flo Oy Wong started her creative career at the young age of 40, following her occupation as a teacher. Wong turns 70 this year, and a retrospective at the Soma Arts Cultural Center, 864 Brannan St. in San Francisco, features a multimedia installation for her disabled sister, as well as two pieces inspired by the Wen Ho Lee case. Other works reflect on her family’s humble beginnings running a restaurant in Oakland’s Chinatown, her “paper daughter” heritage, and how to be a hip grannie. However, one thing still appalls her. “I saw the Vincent Chin movie, and it still scares me to this day how men with bats just used his head like a baseball,” she lamented. “His story is very important. The Chinese don’t like to talk about their secrets — but now I’m also telling all of mine.”
‘THAT’S WACK’ SAYS ‘WACKNESS’ DIRECTOR
Jonathan Levin and I agree that Jewish and Asian mothers are the same: nothing’s ever good enough, but at least it drives you to succeed. The Wackness director was mobbed at Saturday’s afterparty at the Clift Hotel following the screening at the S.F. International Film Festival. “This is weird,” he chuckled. “Nobody ever cares about me at these shows — they only care about Mary Kate [Olsen].” Some congratulated Levin on being the most popular guy in the room, while others marveled how the director got Olsen to make out with actor Ben Kingsley. Levine is mum on the matter, but was loose-lipped about a tie purchased that day on Haight Street. “I think it’s a confederate flag or something,” he laughed. “I didn’t pack anything to wear.”
APRIL 30 DECLARED MARGARET CHO DAY IN SF
You heard right: Margaret Cho arrived with a VH1 entourage in tow to film the proclamation ceremony hosted by Mayor Gavin Newsom, declaring April 30 “Margaret Cho Day” in San Francisco. Conveniently enough, it was also “Baskin-Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night” nationwide — and if only there were free Joy of Gay Sex guides available, hump day would have turned into a literal Cho comedy skit.
GLAAD AWARDS TO HIT SAN FRANCISCO
Last Saturday’s GLAAD Media Awards 2008 in Los Angeles saw Janet Jackson getting the Vanguard Award from Ellen DeGeneres, and GLAAD staple Entourage’s Rex Lee will be on hand this Saturday when the GLAAD Awards invade San Francisco. Michelle Krusiec’s Dirty Sexy Money co-star Candis Cayne will be attending with a load of other celebrities bound to turn up at your local bar after the ceremonies die down. Last year, the party coincided with the Dalai Lama’s tour — and madness ensued in an elevator when six of his monks collided with a bevy of Hollywood celebrities from The L Word. What will go down this year when Sharon Stone gussies up for the show?