Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden
Photo: Japanese American National Museum
Through January 6, 2008
Japanese American National Museum
369 East First Street
Los Angeles, California
Gardens were among the first forms of Japanese culture to gain popularity in the United States. Since their introduction to the American public at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Japanese-style gardens have proliferated across the country.
Landscaping America reveals the personal stories, historical journeys, creativity, and community processes that underlie the surface of the "Japanese garden." This multimedia exhibition highlights how West Coast Japanese Americans drew upon their agricultural and ethnic backgrounds to carve out a viable vocational niche in gardening, and in the process, reinterpreted Japanese garden traditions, and contributed to the diversity of the American landscape.
Curated by ACTA Board Member Sojin Kim.
Museum Admission: $8 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students and children
Museum Hours: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm Thursday, Closed Monday
For more information visit the Japanese American National Museum’s website.
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Korean Buddhist Art
Photo: Asian Art Museum
December 22, 2007 – January 19, 2008
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California
The Asian Art Museum presents an artist residency by three Korean
monk/artists: Seol Min seunim (a female monk and master painter formerly
called Jae U seunim), Myung Chun seunim (also a renowned artist), and
Sung Ryun seunim. The program will consist of painting demonstrations
and hands-on activities for the public. Visitors may create their
own woodblock prints of a Buddhist sutra, the “Heart Sutra,” (Banya
Simgyeong in Korean), as well as create rubbings of the Buddha and
a stone pagoda. The program will culminate on January 20, 2008,
with a sacred eye-opening ceremony of two hanging scrolls that the
monks are donating to the museum. (Note: Seunim is a gender-neutral Korean term
that means monk, priest, or nun.)
For more information visit the
Asian Art Museum’s website.
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Picturing the People
Through January 27, 2008
Autry National Center
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, California
Picturing the People, a provocative exploration of photographs of
and by indigenous peoples includes images from the mid 19th century
through today and features a groundbreaking generation of indigenous
photographers. Alongside the photographs from the Autry’s
Braun Research Library will be the touring exhibition, Our
People, Our Land, Our Images: International Indigenous Photographers. Together
these two bodies of work explore the relationship of historic and contemporary
images of Native people and colonial perceptions.
Museum Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Museum Admission: $9 adults, $5 students, $3 children
For more information visit
the Autry National Center’s website.
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Kumeyaay : Indigenous People of Southern California
Ongoing
San Diego Museum of Man
Balboa Park
1350 El Prado
San Diego, California
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.
December
Kathak Workshop for Men and Boys
Kathak
Photo: Chitresh Das Dance Company
Sunday, December 9, 2007 – 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
American Musical Theater of San Jose
1717 Technology Drive
San Jose, California
Introductory study of Kathak dance with Pandit Chitresh Das; this
opportunity is being targeted to male students. The aim of the
class is to expose more men to the rich tradition of Kathak, a classical
art form that blends athletic, rigorous movement with subtle gesture. This
one-hour intensive class will focus on the rhythm, mathematics, and
coordination in Kathak. No previous dance experience necessary. Participants
are asked to wear five pound ankle weights (optional).
Space is limited. Pre-registration recommended.
Admission: $25
For more information visit
the Chitresh Das Dance Company’s website or call (415)
333-9000.
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Sangeet School of World Music Recital
Sunday, December 9, 2007 – 3:00 pm
201 Bridge Street
San Gabriel, California
Sangeet School of World Music’s students perform classical Indian
ragas on sitar, vocal, guitar, cello and bass.
Admission: Free
For more information, contact Sangeet School of World Music via
email.
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3rd Annual Singing the Birds: Bird Song and Dance Festival
Photo: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Saturday, December 15, 2007 – 11:00 am – 8:00
pm
Pavilion Auditorium
Sunrise Park
Palm Springs, California
Presented by the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s Education Department,
the 3rd Annual Singing the Birds: Bird Song and Dance Festival will
celebrate the tradition of Cahuilla bird singing and dancing. Through
the ages, bird singing and dancing has been a vital part of Native
culture for tribes in Southern California and other regions of the
Southwest. This day-long, free event will feature honored bird
singing groups, a tap-out dance competition, and a non-competitive
children’s dance exhibition for ages 12 years and younger. Cash
prizes (provided by Presenting Sponsor Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians) totaling $10,000 will be awarded. Native vendors will
offer food, beverages, and other merchandise for purchase.
More than 150 singers and dancers will be performing throughout the
day, including Avikwaame Bird Singers & Dancers (Mojave), Morongo
Bird Singers, Red-Tail Hawk Singers & Dancers (Mojave), Kupa Bird
Singers (Cupeño), and the Inter-tribal Bird Singers of Southern
California. There will be a special appearance by the Chumash
Storytellers & Singers to highlight the upcoming Southern California
Indian Storytelling Festival to be held in May 2008.
The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum inspires people to learn about the
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other Native cultures. They
keep the spirit alive through exhibitions, collections, research, and
educational programs.
Admission: Free
For more information visit the
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s website.
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Drone Magic: 6th Annual San Francisco International Bagpipe Festival
Saturday, December 15, 2007 – 4:00 pm
Croatian American Cultural Center
60 Onondaga Avenue
San Francisco, California
Drone Magic is a unique festival with bagpipe music from around the
world and with several pipers performing music and traditions of their
own heritage. From dark laments to fiery dance music, listen
to the piping traditions of Spain, Bulgaria, Scotland, Greece, Sweden,
and Hungary.
As always, the Gala Concert will feature a variety of piping traditions
found around the Winter Solstice. Enjoy Swedish, Hungarian, and
Croatian traditional Christmas pipe music as well as New Year celebrations
from Scotland and the Hungarian Csángó people of Moldavia – don't
forget to bring your bells, horns, rattles, and other noisemakers to
join the merry-making!
The afternoon activities include mini concerts and exhibitions of
paintings, photographs, bagpipes, and videos. Mark Walstrom will
open the Festival with a presentation of his bagpipe collections; Ferenc
Tobak and his Family Band will perform Hungarian music on bagpipe and
other instruments. Our feature presentation of the afternoon
will be the Women Pipers Concert.
This year's Festival includes the California debut of talented Hungarian
painter, Mihály Jakab. Jakab brings folk motifs into
his contemporary oil paintings of traditional musicians in much the
same way Béla Bartók used folk melodies to compose modern
music
Also including:
- Photographs by Ferenc Tobak taken in Eastern Europe of Hungarian, Romanian
and Gypsy village musicians.
- Bagpipe exhibit showing a variety of instruments from around Europe:
from Italy to Estonia and from Ireland to Romania.
- Videos will be shown throughout the afternoon and will include “Bulgarian
Pipers” by Bruce Cochran, films from Mark Walstrom's collection,
and samples from Ferenc Tobak's latest research trip.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the
Festival
Admission: $15, children free
For more information visit Living
the Tradition’s website.
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Rumi: An 800th Birthday Celebration with the Lian Ensemble
Saturday, December 15, 2007 – 6:00 pm
James Bridges Theater at UCLA
Enter UCLA at Wyton Drive and Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, California
A celebration of the 800ths birthday of Mevlana Rumi. An evening
of poetry, music, and film from Persia. Presentation and reading
to music by the Lian Ensemble and Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz.
Admission: $25
For more information call (310) 226-2999.
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Posada: Mexico’s Christmas Party
Saturday, December 15, 2007 – 7:00 pm
Museum of Latin American Art
628 Alamitas Avenue
Long Beach, California
Posadas are Latin America’s yearly Christmas tradition. These
parties commemorate and recreate Mary and Joseph's difficult journey
from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. Posada means
lodging or shelter in Spanish.
Enjoy delicious tamales, champurrado, pan dulce, and other holiday
dishes. Listen to beautiful Villancicos (Mexican Christmas carols)
interpreted by the award-winning Estudiantina Guadalupana from San
Luis Potosi, Mexico. Sing along to traditional Christmas songs
in Spanish and break a huge piñata.
Admission: $20 adults, $10 children, $60 family of five
For more information visit
the Museum of Latin American Art’s website.
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Kwanzaa in the Park
Thursday, December 27, 2007
World Beat Center
Balboa Park
2100 Park Blvd.
San Diego, California
As an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions
throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa brings a cultural message
which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in
the fullest sense.
Admission: Free
For more information visit
the World Beat Center’s website.
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Year of the Rat Children’s Oshogatsu Workshops
Thursday, December 27, 2007 – 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Friday, December 28, 2007 – 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505
Between 2nd and 3rd Streets
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California
Celebrate the coming of 2008 during this one-day workshop learning
about the symbols and traditions surrounding Oshogatsu, or Japanese
New Year. Learn about this special holiday celebration through
hands-on craft activities and workshops as well as demonstrations led
by local artists and community members. Workshops are designed
for children ages 7 to 12.
Registration is limited to 30 participants per session; pre-registration
is required and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
Admission: $30 per child
For more information, or to register, please contact Jessie Kikuchi via
email or at (213) 628-2725 ext. 142 or jkikuchi@jaccc.org.
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Joya No Kane: 22nd Annual Japanese New Year’s Bell-Ringing Ceremony
Sunday, December 30, 2007 – 7:00 pm
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California
In this ancient tradition, temple bells are struck 108 times so the
ills of the old year might be left behind. Led by Zen Buddhist
bishop Gengo Akiba, take a turn ringing the museum’s sixteenth-century
bronze bell. Numbered tickets to ring the bell will be distributed
starting at 10:00 am.
Admission: $5
For more information visit the
Asian Art Museum’s website.
January
Mochitsuki!: Japanese Mochi Pounding Party
Saturday, January 5, 2008 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California
In Japan, mochi (sticky rice dumpling) is a tasty treat made to commemorate
special occasions, most notably the New Year. The museum’s party
will be led by Kagami Kai, a San Francisco-based group dedicated to
maintaining the Japanese tradition of mochi pounding. To inspire the
communal spirit associated with mochitsuki (mochi pounding), people
of all ages are encouraged to try their hand at swinging the wooden
mallets that pound the wet rice paste and afterwards, taste the result
of their hard work.
Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year; literally, new month) is the most important
time of the year for most Japanese, a joyous period imbued with good
feelings and nostalgia. Once essential to the New Year celebration,
the practice of mochitsuki is now rare even in Japan, as busy people
eat store-bought mochi rather than make their own. Traditionally,
glutinous rice is washed and soaked overnight on the evening before
the pounding.
The next morning the rice is steamed and placed in the usu (large
mortar) where it is pounded with a kine (wooden mallet). Once
the mass is soft and smooth, it is pulled into various sizes and shapes. It
can be enjoyed a variety of ways: fresh, with different sauces, sweet
stuffing, or seaweed. An offering to the kani (deity), called
kagami-mochi, or okasane, is comprised of two mochi cakes usually placed
on a sheet of pure white paper in the center of a wooden tray. Kagami-mochi
at New Year is an auspicious gesture that signifies hope for a happy
and bright year ahead.
San Francisco’s Kagami Kai was started nearly twenty years ago
by Tetsu Takatani upon his arrival to the United States. Longing
for the taste of fresh mochi, he decided to make his own equipment
in hopes of preserving the mochitsuki custom and sharing it with the
Bay Area community. Kagami Kai performs demonstrations locally
throughout the year.
For more information visit the
Asian Art Museum’s website.
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Firecrackers V
Saturday, January 5, 2008 – 2:30pm
Saturday, January 5, 2008 – 7:00 pm
Sunday, January 6, 2008 – 2:30 pm
Mayer Theater
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, California
Best of the Academy of Chinese Performing Arts repertoire.
Tickets: $20, $25, $30
For more information visit
the Academy of Chinese Performing Arts’ website.
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Kotohajime
Sunday, January 6, 2008 – 1:00 pm
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 505
Between 2nd and 3rd Streets
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California
Both solemn and festive, the closing of an old year and the beginning
of a new one are viewed as a time of reflection as well as festivity. Kotohajime
is the JACCC’s annual celebration featuring both traditional
and contemporary performances in observance of the New Year. This
year’s Kotohajime celebration includes a unique collaborative
performance arranged and led by Hirokazu Kosaka. Viewing Los
Angeles as the contemporary Silk Road, where the routes for commerce,
culture, language, and art intermingle as they migrate, the performance
combines an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary arts.
Admission: Free
For more information visit
the JACCC’s website.
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Aztec Stories
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Fowler Museum at UCLA
W. Sunset Blvd. and Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, California
Experience the world of the Aztecs through poetry, oral tradition
stories, and ballads. Storyteller Michael Heralda shares the history,
language, foods and arts from an indigenous perspective. His
performance is complemented by a variety of carved and painted musical
instruments, including clay flutes, gourd water drums, shakers, and
conch shell trumpets – offering plenty of opportunities for audience
participation!
Admisision: Free
For more information visit
the Fowler Museums’ website.
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Buddhist Eye-Opening Ceremony
Sunday, January 20, 2008 – 2:00 pm
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California
Three visiting Korean monks conduct an eye-opening ceremont on two
paintings they donate to the museum – the Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara
by Seol Min-seunim and a guardian figure painting by Myung Chung-seunim. During
the ceremony, the devotional artist symbolically inserts the guardian
king’s spirit into the eye of the painted figure.
For more information visit the
Asian Art Museum’s website.
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Pacific Island Dance
Thursday, January 24, 2008 – 6:00 pm
Fowler Museum at UCLA
W. Sunset Blvd. and Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, California
Learn the meaning behind the hip swaying and hand gestures of Pacific
Island dance during this show curated by World Arts and Cultures student
Desiree L. Gallardo. The show features members of UCLA’s
Pacific Island Student Association, UCLA’s Hawai’i club,
and dancers from some of southern California’s best hula and
Tahitian dance troops.
Admission: Free
For more information visit
the Fowler Museum’s website.
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County & Regional Calendars
A 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,
please email ACTA.
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