Asian Art Museum: Book Reading & Dance Tutorial with Harry Shum Jr & Shelby Rabara + Fostering Positive Asian American Identities with Dr. Sarah Lee

Lot of events down at the Asian Art Museum. For the full scoop (including Chuseok) check out https://calendar.asianart.org/sundays/

Book Reading & Dance Tutorial with Harry Shum Jr & Shelby Rabara

Join authors and real-life parents Harry Shum Jr and Shelby Rabara as they bring to life Martee Dares to Dance, published by Gloo Books.

Harry Shum Jr (Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, and Everything, Everywhere, All At Once) and co-author, acclaimed actor and dancer Shelby Rabara (Steven Universe, Goliath, 17 Again) share their new picture book Martee Dares to Dance through a reading, dance tutorial, moderated Q&A, and book signing.

Celebrating both dance and diversity, Martee Dares to Dance is the story of a brave young Filipino boy finding the courage to dance to his own beat.

Free copies of the book are available for signing to the first 200 families.

Tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis; please stay tuned for details.

Community Talk: Fostering Positive Asian American Identities with Dr. Sarah Lee

Learn quick, easy, research-based ways to engage and nurture the Asian American experience in your home.

Hear from Dr. Sarah Jaewon Lee, Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development at the University of Washington, in an interactive workshop teaching effective ways to foster positive Asian American identities in children. Drawing from her own background as a Korean American, Dr. Lee offers effective strategies to create nurturing environments for young Asian Americans.

And If You're In Maryland...

Go check out the Han-Mee Artists Association show featuring Korean American artists through July 25 @ the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery.

Kollaboration LA 2012 (This Friday)

LOS ANGELES, JULY 2012 – Kollaboration Los Angeles, the largest showcase for Asian Pacific Islander (API) talent in North America, announced David Choi and father Ray Choi as special guest performers today for its show at the Ford Amphitheatre on Friday, July 13.

This will be the very first time the talented father/son duo will be performing together. Both are highly accomplished musicians, and this is a once in a lifetime chance to see the pair debut a collaboration of their different styles. David has completed a worldwide sold out tour and released 2 albums of original work, singing in the contemporary acoustic pop genre, while Ray has swept grand prize at various national competitions in autoharp and maintains a highly distinguished autoharp craft.

Kollaboration Los Angeles is also pleased to announce its celebrity judging panel, including:
· Jen From Head to Toe, celebrated Youtube makeup guru;
· Dante Basco, actor known for his role as Rufio in the Peter Pan movie Hook;
·Jaeyoon Choi, Mnet America’s Head of Programming and Production and producer of shows such as the Mnet Asian Music Awards and 2NE1 TV;
·Traci Kato-Kiriyama, writer, artist, and creator of Little Tokyo’s Tuesday Night Project.

Other special guest performers taking the stage include comedian and founder of Kollaboration, Paul “PK” Kim, and comedian Jimmy Ouyang, who has been featured on CBS’ “2 Broke Girls.” The seven rigorously selected competitors vying for a chance to compete in November’s nationwide finale show are:
·Nate Tao, an L.A. based singer/songwriter known for his smooth, yet powerful R&B pop vocals;
·Ms. Laney, a versatile vocalist and performer who utilizes her classical background in pursuance of both opera and contemporary music;
·Jeremy Crooks, a YouTube sensation hailing from Irvine, CA who received national attention dancing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show;”
·Brooke Taylor, an R&B vocalist featured on Power 106 with DJ Felli Fel, Big Boy’s Neighborhood, and The Steve Harvey Show;
·Dave & the Cousins, an up-and-coming indie folk band led by singer/songwriter Dave Cho that can be spotted playing on the well-known Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica;
·Kaitlin Obien, a nationally recognized speech and debate artist who combines her oratorical skills and love for the ukulele to become a versatile musician;
·St. Andrew, a classically trained pianist that infuses 20 years of his classical artistry into his pop music.

The 2012 Kollaboration Los Angeles show will be held in the historic Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, which has housed performances for renowned artists such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction. The 1,200 capacity outdoor venue offers a unique live performance experience under the summer night sky and allows picnicking for maximum entertainment. Tickets prices start at $15 for General and $40 for VIP. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). For groups of 8 or more, please call 323 769-2147 .

ABOUT KOLLABORATION
Kollaboration is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and Movement founded in 2000 by Paul "PK" Kim. Under the guidance of Executive Producer Roy Choi and a leadership network of students and professionals all over the United States and Canada, Kollaboration Global promotes the mission of “Empowerment through Entertainment” in the Asian Pacific Islander community. Kollaboration has produced over 60 shows to a total audience of over 50,000.

Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai + Target Free Thursday Works-in-Progress: Formosa by Kelly Tsai"

Target Free Thursday Works-in-Progress: Formosa by Kelly Tsai

Thursday, March 15 at 6:30pm
Location: Museum of Chinese in America

Giant Robot: Printed Matter 10

Go FB. Go.

Patrick Nagatani Magic

I don't know much - about anything - but I do know that this sounds like a cool exhibit.

Created by the University of New Mexico’s University Art Museum, the Desire for Magic: Patrick Nagatani exhibition was conceived as the first comprehensive look at the many and varied projects the artist has worked on since 1978.

The exhibition is an unique opportunity to see both the extensive range of Nagatani’s directorial approach and the breadth of his color photography as he addresses issues surrounding the human condition; politics and the fragile, ever-changing environment; concerns about identity and self; and the invention and interpretation of history.

Check it out in full.

Northern Spark: Wing Young Huie, Wang Ping, Vong Vang, Liu Xuguang, And Glow In The Dark Ping Pong

Sounds like an interesting concept if you're down in The Cities over this coming up weekend.

Northern Spark is a new MN Festival modeled on a nuit blanche or “white night” festival—a dusk to dawn participatory art event along the Mississippi and surrounding areas. It will take place the evening of June 4 (sunset 8:55 pm) till the morning of June 5, 2011 (sunrise 5:28 am).

Northern Spark will include a diversity of art forms and projects including multi-story projections, audio environments with vistas, floating works on barges, houseboats and paddleboats, headphone concerts, and the use of everything from bioluminescent algae and sewer pipes for organs to more traditional media such as banjos and puppets [...]

It is in this context that more than 200 artists are presenting 100 installations and performances for Northern Spark from the top of the Foshay Tower to boat rides along the Mississippi to light sculptures and projections to performances galore, including car horn and brass band fanfares, color guards, river dancing, sewer pipe organs, lullabies, and storytelling. Perusing this site will introduce you to the rich variety of offerings that will bloom for one night only. It is not our goal to take over the night like some giant big top tent, but to join it. We meet the city halfway. As you walk or ride a bike or take the bus from one venue to another, see and appreciate your surroundings with new eyes and ears. Celebrate one of the great rivers of the world through two magnificent cities and enjoy the next artistic intervention you come across. It’s an adventure. You make your own journey.

Check more out down at the site.

Danny Shinya Luo: Awesome Watercolors

Got this sent in and wanted to post on up.

Los Angeles, CA (April 1st, 2011) - La Luz de Jesus Gallery, the birthplace of the Pop-Surrealism school of Post-Pop California Art announced that they will be opening an exhibition for critically acclaimed local artist, Danni Shinya Luo.Her exhibition, titled "Chaotic Harmony" is a seminal exploration of how nature and emotions interact - often with seemingly opposite goals. This rousing tribute to all things female and primal is an experiment in empowerment, which confirms that hopes and dreams cannot be suppressed (the artist is a Chinese immigrant, whose sometimes edgy subject matter would likely be outlawed in her native country). The exhibition opens April 1st, 2011 and runs through May 1st. "Shinya's art is really indicative of the type of programming La Luz de Jesus was established to promote," says gallery owner Billy Shire. "As a Chinese woman, she's an overwhelming underdog, which is empowering -the work moves beyond the superficial and sheds valuable light onto what it means to be young." "It's not easy being a young woman in this society, never mind an immigrant" says director Matt Kennedy. "What Shinya's art does is show other young women that its possible with hard work and the right education to take control of their lives, be who they want to be, and tackle whatever taboo they wish." "I am very honored to have been invited back in this capacity," says Miss Luo. "I constantly strive to outdo myself conceptually and technically, and I'm thankful to my parents for the many sacrifices they made in coming to the United States, providing an environment that encouraged education and self-fulfillment. I'm proud of the work I've done and I'll be grateful to all of my family and friends when they attend the opening reception." At the age of 11, Danni Shinya Luo moved from Shanghai, China to California's San Gabriel Valley in 1995. She had a natural affinity for illustration and learned watercolor painting as an understudy to Chinese grand master Ding Ha. In 2003, she entered the world famous Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, graduating with honors in 2006. In 2010, she earned a place in art history when her artwork for X-23 #1 became the first mainstream superhero comic book cover created by an Asian woman. The success of that comic led to other covers for Marvel Comics. San Francisco publisher Last Gasp will be releasing a volume of her pin-up illustrations this fall.

Nice.

Lee Ufan + Guggenheim

I got invited out to the Guggenheim later this month and while I'm still thinking about going, while you might not be able to attend the press event, you can still think about your schedule this summer (because even though spring just got here we can't help thinking about those hot days that afterwards).

Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity
June 24–September 28, 2011
This exhibition is made possible with lead sponsorship from Samsung.

Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity is the first North American museum retrospective devoted to artist, philosopher, and poet Lee Ufan, who has been active in Korea, Japan, and Europe over the last forty years. The exhibition charts the artist’s creation of a visual, conceptual, and theoretical language that has radicalized and expanded the possibilities for sculpture and painting. Lee is acclaimed for an innovative body of work that emphasizes process, materials, and the experiential engagement of viewer and site. The exhibition features some ninety works from the 1960s to the present—including a new site-specific installation—and will be installed throughout the museum, beginning with the rotunda floor and extending up the six ramps of the building and into two Annex galleries. The selection of paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and installations includes Lee’s most iconic works, many presented in America for the first time.

Lee Ufan was born in Korea in 1936. He earned a degree in philosophy from Nihon University, Tokyo, and has from the earliest stages of his work been critically engaged with the writings of Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Michel Foucault, and Nishida Kitaro. In the late 1960s, Lee came to international prominence as the visionary theorist and most representative practitioner of the influential Japanese art movement Mono-ha (School of Things), applying the theories of structuralism and phenomenology to construct a model of otherness that was highly critical of modernism and in dialogue with international Post-Minimalist practices.

Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity is organized by Alexandra Munroe, Samsung Senior Curator of Asian Art at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Sandhini Poddar, Assistant Curator of Asian Art, and Nancy Lim, Asian Art Curatorial Fellow, provided curatorial support. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

Rise Up: United Prodigies Showcase Fund Raiser

Come be a part of our new UP Movement!!!

United Prodigies (UP) is a NEW grassroots movement founded by a group of passionate community members. UP focuses on raising awareness about social issues in our community, promoting education, and supporting youth to raise their voices up through arts and activism.

In efforts to do that, we are having a HUGE CELEBRATION inviting some of the MOST talented artists to come perform.

We welcome people of ALL AGES to come join United Prodigies in celebrating our first Launch Event at Hamline University. This will be an opportunity for you to network and embrace local artists and of course to come see what programs UP will be providing in the near future and how they plan on making a difference in the community.

Time
Saturday, March 19 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location
Hamline University: Student Center Ballroom
1536 Hewitt Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104

Featured performers are:

The Return of Delicious Venom
with Ly Vangsoua Thao
Ariston Band
Jeff and Cicily
Tousue Vang
Matt "Phrazed" Yang
Blackbird Elements
DEI
Bao Xiong
PK Yang
Pong Vang
Free Souls
Speakers of the Sun
Gaoiaong Vang
Chilli Lor
Kindbeats: DJ Creashinn and DJ Phil
Nina Thao
and more...


If you have any questions contact:

PK Yang (763) 607-9199
Email: Unitedprodigies@gmail.com

We are always available to answer your questions!

We are so excited to see you all there!!!

Co-Sponsored by HSA Hmong Student Organization of Hamline.

Roger Shimomura: An American Knowckoff

I don't know about you, but the above pic from Roger Shimomura's exhibition down at The Flomenhaft Gallery and his artists statement tell me all I want to know -- which is that you should really get on down and check this out.

"I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, a city where ethnic diversity is standard fare, however, for over the last 40 years, I have lived my life in the Midwest where the Asian American presence is still somewhat of a rarity. Since living in Kansas, I have found it to be routine to be asked what part of Japan I am from, or how long I have lived in this country. Just as common, subtle references continue to connect me to stereotypical "oriental" traits, both physical and behavioral. Far too many American-born citizens of Asian descent continue to be thought of as only "American knockoffs".

This latest series of paintings is an attempt to ameliorate the outrage of these misconceptions by depicting myself battling those stereotypes, or in tongue-in-cheek fashion, becoming those very same stereotypes."

Get some more information down at the gallery's site.

KSW + Transforming Fictions + Reception

Let's get it on.

DATE: Friday, September 24
TIME: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
LOCATION: de Young Museum Kimball Education Gallery
ADDRESS: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., SF
COST: FREE
WEBSITE: kearnystreet.org

DESCRIPTION:

Meet and interact with Kearny Street Workshop artists-in-residence at the de Young: Ala Ebtekar, Julie Chang, Pireeni Sundaralingam, and Erika Chong Shuch. The TRANSFORMING FICTIONS reception will be held during Friday Nights at the de Young. Featuring light refreshments while they last and a performance by resident artist Pireeni Sundaralingam with Colm O' Riain.

About TRANSFORMING FICTIONS:

Four interdisciplinary artists working with Kearny Street Workshop in the de Young Artist Studio will make work individually while benefiting from the creative stimulus of other artists working in different formats nearby. In a workshop environment, visual artists Ala Ebtekar and Julie Chang, scientist/poet Pireeni Sundaralingam and choreographer Erika Chong Shuch will develop new projects that draw from their own ideas and those of their neighbors.

More info at kearnystreet.org

Maya Lin: America’s Best

Got this sent in my way and now I pass it on to you because if nothing else you should really know who's America's Best.

The San Francisco Arts Commission’s What is Missing? Sculpture by Acclaimed Artist Maya Lin Recognized as One of America’s Best Public Artworks at the 2010 Americans for the Arts Convention in Baltimore

San Francisco’s Main Library card catalogue installation by artists Ann Chamberlain and Ann Hamilton also honored.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 30, 2010 – Luis R. Cancel, director of cultural affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission, is pleased to announce that What is Missing? by world-renowned artist Maya Lin was selected as one of the best public artworks in the United States at the 2010 Americans for the Arts convention held in Baltimore from June 25–27. Located at the California Academy of Sciences, the sculpture is part of Lin’s last memorial and the first component of a multi-sited, multimedia artwork dedicated to raising awareness about the current crisis surrounding biodiversity and habitat loss. During the annual Public Art Year in Review session, two independent art experts, artists Helen Lessick and Fred Wilson, presented 40 of their top choices for the most innovative permanent or temporary public artworks created or debuted in 2009. What is Missing? was chosen from more than 300 entries from across the country. In addition, a 1996 installation by Ann Hamilton and Ann Chamberlain comprised of catalogue cards at San Francisco’s Main Library was selected as one of the best public art projects in the last 50 years.

“We are incredibly proud to receive this honor as it demonstrates our commitment to enriching our City by commissioning new artworks by some of the world’s most celebrated artists,” said Mr. Cancel. “Maya Lin’s last memorial, What is Missing?, is a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose should we continue to consume energy and natural resources at our current rate. At a time when the Gulf of Mexico is being ravaged by an unprecedented oil leak, her message of sustainability and habitat protection is especially critical.”

This is the 10th year that Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, has recognized public art works. The artists and commissioning organizations involved in creating and supporting these public art works will receive letters of recognition and congratulations from Americans for the Arts. Last year, the Arts Commission’s The Language of the Birds by Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn, located on the corner of Columbus and Broadway, received the same honor. San Francisco Arts Commission projects have consistently been selected by the Public Art Network and Americans for the Arts as among the best in the United States.

For more information about What is Missing, visit the “Press Release” section at www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection or contact Kate Patterson at kate.patterson@sfgov.org.

To learn more about What is Missing? and to watch some of the videos visit www.whatismissing.net.

Cool.

Wing Young Huie's Photo Salon

And if you need some constructive criticism:

Are you stuck creatively or do you just need a clean, well-lighted place to talk about photography? Welcome to Wing's Photo Salons. Open to all photo enthusiasts, whatever your experience level, interests, biases or age. Cameras in all formats are welcome.

This is a communal gathering to get feedback on your past, current or future photo projects. Whether your interests are landscapes, human, documentary, or conceptual, these Salons will engage and enrich your understanding of photography. Wing will also facilitate discussions (and an occasional slide lecture) that will address the aesthetic, cultural, ethical, personal, political, business, and technical aspects of photography.

Bring up to 5 jpgs on a jump drive for group feedback.

Topics include: how to get a project started, find subjects, keep going in spite of self-doubt, overcome inhibitions and approach strangers, develop a personal style, edit and exhibit your work. Drop in, hang out, and bring photos!

Salons are the first Saturday of each month, 10 - 1, $20 per session

Salons happen at:

Wing Young Huie Photography and Gallery
2525 Franklin Avenue East, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612.375.0191

www.wingyounghuie.com
info@wingyounghuie.com

Maya Lin, What Is Missing? And Celadon Greens

There's a good article down at the WSJ on Chinese American artist Maya Lin talking about her work at MOCA and her new project "What Is Missing?" - multimedia portrait of the planet that she hopes will help put a focus on species threatened with extinction (with a new site whatismissing.net going live on April 22nd):

The project harks back to the stark honesty of Ms. Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which brought her fame (and controversy) almost three decades ago. The monument makes it impossible to ignore the 58,261 names of U.S. soldiers engraved on the shiny black granite. Likewise, it should be difficult to turn away from the sounds and images of a depleted ecosystem.

Read it in full here.

A Visual Art Workshop with Truong Tran

Sat Feb 20, 10am-2pm
Mina Dresden Gallery
312 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Spend a Saturday learning how to reuse, reimagine and repurpose found objects with artist Truong Tran. The workshop will start at Mina Dresden Gallery, where students will see Truong’s work and he will describe his artistic process. After inspiring myriad of creative ideas, he will lead students on a treasure hunt through the streets and thrift stores of the Mission.
Registration fee: $40

http://kearnystreet.org/2010/02/art_of_found_objects/

Art: Evan Le

"Vu" by Evan Le. View it in full along with his other works down at his MySpace page.

All About Maya Lin

If you wanted to know what Maya Lin is up to these days - best known for being the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C - here's the article. From her most recent works to her environmental passions, to giving back to the community it's definitely a good read.

Patty Chang's "The Product Love"

I've never seen her previous work, but this sounds interesting:

In a 2000 video, “Death of the Game,” she recreated a fight scene from a 1970s martial arts movie and gave herself the macho Bruce Lee role. In “Contortion,” made the same year, she played a Chinese acrobat twisted into a physically impossible pose. Her ambitious 2005 video “Shangri-La” was set in a Chinese tourist town that advertises itself as the original model for the Asian never-never land cooked up by the English writer James Hilton in his 1933 novel, “Lost Horizon.”

Her new video works at Mary Boone draw on two particularly productive sources of cultural fiction, Hollywood and academia. The larger piece, “The Product Love,” is a 42-minute, two-part installation based on a real event: the meeting of the Chinese-American film actress Anna May Wong and the German critic and theoretician Walter Benjamin in Berlin in 1928.

Playing through June 7th at the Mary Boone Gallery.

Flickr, Jean Shin, And Common Threads

If you ever wanted to know what went into the setup of an exhibition at a major art museum, now's your chance to see it up close and personal at the Smithsonian's American Art Flickr page where you can catch artist Jean Shin install her works for her exhibition Common Threads.