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CALENDARTo update information or submit an event, email ACTA. Makishi: Mask Characters of Zambia
Photo: Fowler Museum Through April 29, 2007 This exhibit features twenty-four masks drawn from the Fowler Museum’s collections, showing the drama and complexity of the remarkable masquerade traditions of the Chokwe, Mbunda, Lunda, Luvale/Lwena, and Luchazi peoples who live in the “Three Corners” region of northwestern Zambia, northeastern Angola, and southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. For more information visit the Fowler Museum’s website.
Guatemala! Celebrations of Weaving
Through April 29, 2007 Guatemala! Celebrations of Weaving showcases textiles made by women of the Mayan villages in Guatemala. The exhibit includes examples selected from 30 villages located throughout the country. For ages before the Spanish arrived in Guatemala in 1524, the Ancient Mayan people wore clothing that they made on backstrap looms. This tradition has survived with their descendants in the mainly rectangular handwoven garments worn today. These include a woman's upper body garment called a huipil, skirts that can be wrapped around the body or tubular ones that can be stepped into, utility cloths called servilletas for everyday use and for ceremonies, and men's or women's headcloths called tzutes. They also make men's kilts (rodilleras), men's pants, women's shawls (rebozos and perrajes), sashes, and hair ribbons, all woven by hand. Men from some villages also knit wool carrying bags for themselves and for their sons. The clothing items shown in this exhibit were chosen principally for their beauty. Some were woven for daily wear, but most are special garments made to wear to fiestas, to funerals, for masses and weddings, and for cofradía, the religious ceremony unique to Guatemalan Indians. The women spend extra time and effort on clothing that they and their family members can wear to these events, making it more elaborate than clothing for everyday wear. Admission: $6 Museum Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily For more information visit the Museum of Man’s website.
Four Generations of Zapotec Weaving: Tradition & Transition
Photo: San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles Through May 4, 2007 Now on display is a unique collection of rugs made by the Chavez family, fourth-generation weavers from Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec community near Oaxaca City, Mexico, famous for its handmade rugs. Eric Chavez is a pioneer in the rediscovery of lost natural dyeing techniques and in using traditional motifs with a contemporary flair. The resulting patterns and colors are subtle yet graphic designs that merge a traditional craft with a sophisticated artistic sensibility. Admission: $5-$6.50 For more information visit the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles’ website.
Masters of Bamboo: Japanese Baskets and Sculpture from the Cotsen Collection
Photo: Asian Art Museum Through May 6, 2007 In comparison with Japan’s other decorative and applied arts, such as ceramics or textiles, bamboo basketry is a relatively small-scale art form that requires decades to learn. A unique aspect of this form of decorative art is that almost every step of production is accomplished by a single person. However, it is difficult to achieve technical mastery of the bamboo medium without spending the initial years of one’s training under the guidance of a skilled artist. For this reason, at some time in their careers most major bamboo artists have been associated with one of a handful of artistic lineages that have served as the centers of artistic bamboo training for generations. Masters of Bamboo: Japanese Baskets and Sculpture in the Cotsen Collection is an exhibition that draws on the richness and breadth of the approximately nine hundred works Mr. Lloyd E. Cotsen generously donated to the museum in 2002. The exhibition is organized around the network of master-disciple relationships through which makers of these baskets are interconnected. The exhibition features one artwork each by 76 bamboo artists representing most of the major lineages in the three key geographic regions – asWestern Japan, Eastern Japan, and Kyushu – over the past 150 years. Many of the artworks in the exhibition are on view publicly for the first time. During the exhibition you can enjoy a variety of programs showcasing bamboo art as well as other aspects of Japanese culture. Please visit the Asian Art Museum’s website to learn more. This project has been made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts’ Living Cultures Grants Program, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation. Admission: Museum admission, $12 For more information, visit the Asian Art Museum’s website.
Symbols of Identity – Jewelry of Five Continents
Photo: Mingei International Museum Through May 31, 2007 The exhibition is composed of examples of adornment from cultures in North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe fashioned from silver, gold, enamel, gems, beads, wood, shells, ivory, and bone. Always intended to be beautiful and valuable, jewelry can have other meanings as well. It often identifies its wearer's culture, beliefs, religion or station in life. Magnificent silver crowns and torques from Guizhou, China, Yemeni necklaces, bracelets and earrings, Norwegian agnus dei pendants, and a multi-strand necklace from the Samburu culture of Kenya all indicate a woman's marital status. Yemeni amulet cases and a Mexican milagro necklace are protective charms. An Omani pendant with a verse from the Koran and Fatima's hands and a necklace with three crosses from Brazil reflect the wearer's religion, while also providing protection. A Yemeni landlord's necklace contains an abacus, and another necklace has grooming utensils suspended on it, attesting to their owner's station and profession. Traditional work and contemporary design are both on view. Examples of turquoise from the American Southwest, Ladakh and Tibet – belts, necklaces, rings, bracelets, hats and breastplates; an Ainu necklace from Japan and a group of Inuit objects, including a delicate bracelet portraying indigenous creatures, are in the exhibition. A William Spratling-designed necklace fashioned from pre-Columbian beads, looking as if it could have been made yesterday, is displayed next to contemporary jewelry designed by San Diego designer craftsmen Arline Fisch and Helen Shirk. Shell jewelry from Oceania and intricately worked silver jewelry from Ethiopia are also on display. Museum Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission: $6 For more information visit the Mingei Museum’s website.
If Baskets Could Talk . . .
Photo: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Through June 2007 “If Baskets Could Talk…,” explores basketry materials and construction, styles and uses, and the meanings of the woven symbols. If baskets could talk they would tell us many things… who gathered their materials and carefully prepared them, who patiently wove them with intricate designs, what they were made to hold and carry, what their beautiful and creative designs mean. Baskets can talk to us with special voices that speak to our eyes, our minds, and our hearts. We can look and learn about the things that were important to their people, how they lived and worked, and how they celebrated and expressed their connection to their environment. The baskets in this exhibit all come from Southern California and especially from Cahuilla territory. All tribes had social and economic relationships with their neighbors, inter-married, and shared traditions. This is reflected in their basketry as well… through use of the same materials, weaving techniques, design motifs, and their uses. For more information, visit the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s website or call (760) 323-0151.
Kumeyaay : Indigenous People of Southern California
Ongoing When Father Junipero Serra entered the San Diego area in 1769, he encountered a thriving population, peaceful and hospitable. After conscripting native people to build Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the Spanish called them Diegueños after the mission, but the people had their own name: Kumeyaay. Traditional Kumeyaay lifeways are presented in displays detailing food supplies, dress and adornment, games, and ceremonies. The Kumeyaay arts of pottery and basketry are highlighted, and the exhibit has been expanded with a new display of a traditional Kumeyaay house. Admission: $8 Museum Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily For more information visit the Museum of Man’s website. AprilQuest: An Interdisciplinary Concert of Dance, Poetry, and Music
Photo: Asian Improv aRts Wednesday, April 18, 2007 This free afternoon concert will feature “Quest,” an interdisciplinary dance theater work by taiko artist and dancer/choreographer Melody Takata. For Ms. Takata, “Quest” is the search for her Nikkei voice through the deconstruction and reconstruction of the symbolic language of Nihon buyo (Japanese classical dance), odori (folk dance) and taiko (drumming) through which she demystifies the exotic illusion of Japanese American culture and celebrates the importance of cultural community. “Quest” also includes the creative contributions of saxophonist Francis Wong and poet/performer Genny Lim. Also featured on this program will be a special collaborative ensemble bringing together saxophonist and SFSU Music Professor Hafez Modirzadeh, electric bassist John-Carlos Perea, and Francis Wong. This event is a part of a week-long series co-presented by Asian Improv aRts and the SFSU Jazz and World Studies Program. Also on Wednesday, April 18, 2007, from 6:10 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in Room 146 of the Creative Arts Building will be a panel discussion, “Living Culture: Tradition and Innovation,” featuring UC Riverside ethnomusicologist Deborah Wong, Melody Takata, and archivist Anna Naruta. Admission: Free For more information, including a complete schedule of the week's events, visit Asian Improv aRts’ website or call (415) 908-3636.
Los CenzontlesThursday, April 19, 2007 Sunday, April 22, 2007 Los Cenzontles present traditional Mexican song and dance throughout the Bay Area. For more information contact Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center at (510) 233-8015 or via email.
Cambodian New Year CelebrationSaturday, April 21, 2007 Programs will include traditional folk dances, traditional ceremonies, stage performances, traditional games, ethnic good, live bands, and games for kids. Khmer Arts Academy, a previous Living Cultures Grants Program grantee, will be one of the performers. Tickets: $30 per vehicle For more information visit the Cambodian Coordinating Council’s website.
The San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins
Photo: Croatian American Cultural Center April 16-22, 2007 This year marks an expansion of the San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins. It is now a week long festival, featuring three theme-based concerts in addition to the culminating “Grand Day of Mandolins,” scheduled for Sunday, April 22, 2007. Please visit the Croatian American Cultural Center’s website for updated concert information, workshop schedules, ticket prices, and availability.
10th Annual Monterey Park Cherry Blossom FestivalSaturday, April 21, 2007, 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Planned and coordinated by community volunteers, the Cherry Blossom Festival strives to provide a cultural arts event that offers a forum for learning, entertainment, fun, and support of community. So take the time to see, hear, and taste a bit of the Japanese and Japanese American culture through a first-hand experience of watching traditional Japanese dancing, hearing the resounding beats of the taiko drums, observing the mastery and various skills of martial arts, participating in the ancient art of the tea ceremony, or buying hand-made crafts or food with an Asian flair. Other highlights of the Festival include games & crafts for children, and numerous cultural displays. Admission: Free For more information, including a performance schedule, visit the Cherry Blossom Festival’s website.
Dia De Los Niños – Children’s Day
Saturday, April 28, 2007 Celebrated April 30th in Mexico, Dia del Niño is a national holiday that pays homage to children in society. It is a day that endoreses their outbursts, innocence, and wellbeing. Arte Américas will honor children with workshops, activity booths, and more. For more information contact Arte Américas at (559) 266-2623 or visit their website. May18th Annual Pacific Islander FestivalMay 5-6, 2007 Featuring the cultural traditions of Tonga and our Tongan community. Presenting cultural demonstrations and inter-island community competition: coconut frond plaiting, “fire lighting,” coconut husking, along with traditional protocols, lei making, kappa making demonstrations, music, chants, dance and storytelling, exhibits and artifacts from throughout the Pacific Islands: Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Hawai’i, Aoteroa (New Zealand), Tahiti, Cooks, Guam, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands. Authentic stage performances of songs, dances, chants of Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia. Nine “Island Villages” with live hands-on demonstrations of traditonal arts and crafts and Pacific Island cuisines. This project has been made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts’ Living Cultures Grants Program, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation. Admission: Free For more information contact the Pacific Islander Community Council at (714) 968-1785.
The 11th Annual California Herdeljezi Roma FestivalSaturday, May 5, 2007 Evening Program: 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Live music and dancing with artists Rumen Sali Shopov, Kitka, Brass Menazeri, Amanet NYC, Vadim Kolpakov, and Vasily Yankovich. Traditional Romani dancing, vocal, and instrumental workshops. “Contrasting Romani Dance to the ‘Gypsy’ Stereotype” presentation with Carol Silverman, Sonia Seemn, and Amy Luna. Authentic Romani/Balkan foods, traditional handicrafts, CDs, literature, and much more on sale throughout the daytime program. Daytime Program: $12-$18 All proceeds benefit the Roma of Kosovo. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to register for workshops, visit Voice of Roma’s website, contact them via email, or call (707) 823-7941.
Dia De MadresSaturday, May 12, 2007 Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center presents a Mother’s Day event. For more information contact Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center at (510) 233-8015 or via email.
Song of GenerationsSaturday, May 12, 2007 Three generations come together for this concert to celebrate the diversity of Iranian-American and Central Asian cultural heritage. Presentations by the Nejad World Music Daf Ensemble, the Youth Ensemble Orchestra, and the newly formed Senior Orchestra. The Ballet Afsaneh professional company will perform traditional Persian and Central Asian dances, along with the student ensembles of the Afsaneh Dance Academy. Tickets: $30 general admission, $20 children and seniors For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit Ballet Afsaneh’s website or call (408) 927-7004.
9th Annual Mother’s Day Rebozo Festival
Kathak Solo by Charlotte Moraga, Principal Dance of the Chitresh Das Dance CompanySunday, May 13, 2007 The highest level of mastery in the Kathak (North Indian Classical Dance) tradition is the solo performance – demanding intense physicality, the ability to spontaneously improvise fascinating and complex rhythms, and to portray dramatic excerpts from Indian mythology in a manner that is both compelling and relevant. Also featuring Sala Nader (tabla), disciple of Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Ben Kunin (sarod), disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Tickets: $20 general, $18 students/seniors For more information, call (415) 435-7552 or email CounterPULSE.
County & Regional CalendarsA calendar of Festivals and Celebrations in San Diego is available from the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
Let us know if you have special information that should be posted here.To update information or submit an event for the calendar, |
Sunday,
May 13, 2007