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Let us know if you have special information that should be posted here.To update information or sumit an event for the calendar, |
CALENDARTo update information or submit an event, email ACTA. East Weaves West: Korean Women Make Art Through January 21, 2007
Photo: Craft and Folk Art Museum This exhibition presents textiles by Korean women living in the U.S., whose work integrates influences from both Korean and American cultures. The artwork will demonstrate how two cultural backgrounds are bridged together in the form of folk art as three contemporary Korean-American artists use traditional craft to create contemporary work. On display will be elements of Pojaki (wrapping cloth), Minhwa (folk painting), Hanji Kongye (paper arts) and Chun Gotgogi (cloth flower arranging). The exhibition artists and their artwork captures the essence of cultural process and its transcending nature through geography and time. Admission: $5 Museum Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. For more information visit the Craft and Folk Art Museum’s website.
Apache Life, Spirit, and Art
For more information visit the Riverside Metropolitan Museum’s website.
Art of Being Tuareg: Sahara Nomads in a Modern WorldThrough February 25, 2007
Admission: Free Museum Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thursday 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Photo: Fowler Museum For more information visit the Fowler Museum’s website.
Body Ornamentation: Artistic Representations of Self
Through March 27, 2007 There is no known culture in which people do not paint, pierce, tattoo, reshape, or simply adorn the unique canvas which is the human body. Diverse cultures throughout the world decorate their bodies in countless ways and for various reasons. This exhibit presents the beautiful designs and artwork depicted in body painting, tattooing, scarification, and piercing. While seemingly a modern phenomenon, the practice of permanently adorning the body has been prevalent in societies around the globe for thousands of years, and has been traced back to ancient nomadic gypsies in India and the Middle East. While tribal customs of permanent body decoration have almost disappeared, there are some regions on earth (northeastern India, the Amazon, and southern China, for example) where body ornamentation is still practiced in the same way it has been for generations. In other areas there has been a resurgence of interest in the old ways: throughout the American west, women wore chin tattoos celebrating rebirth and maturity and marking them, in the words of Julian Lang in News from Native California, as "people who had a deep connection to and understanding of our most important cultural knowledge." Today, Indian women in northern California are again bearing tattoos as expressions of cultural pride. Elsewhere, new customs and practices have enabled people to continue the tradition of decorating their bodies using different types of implements and different stylistic devices. (Excerpted from an article by Tori Heflin, Curator of Physical Anthropology) Admission: $6 Museum Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily For more information visit the Museum of Man’s website.
Healing: A Cultural Exploration
Photo: Craft and Folk Art Museum January 21 through April 15, 2007 An exhibition shaped from the principle that human beings from all cultures and religious practices possess the universal desire to create harmony and balance in their lives—to bridge the divide between the earthly and the divine in an attempt to control their destiny—in other words, to heal . Healing: A Cultural Exploration examines ritual objects and symbols used around the globe within curative traditions to relieve troubles for individuals, families and communities. Admission: $5 Museum Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. For more information visit the Craft and Folk Art Museum’s website.
Of Grass and Gold: Nomads of KazakhstanThrough April 15, 2007 
Photo: Mingei Museum The land of Genghis Khan and the crossroads for the major religions, Kazakhstan comes to life through artifacts at the Mingei Museum. Gold, silver, and bronze animal figures from archaeological discoveries, including those at frozen burial sites in Berel (a nomadic region on the border of Russia, Mongolia and China), are on display for the first time in this country. The exhibit also tells the stories behind these artifacts’ recovery, which weaves together the history and culture of Kazakhstan along with its mythology and tradition of craftsmanship. Admission: $6 Museum Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information visit the Mingei Museum’s website.
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
Ongoing 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 JanuaryGabor Simon & Danubius January 19, 2007 – 7:30 p.m. Gabor Simon will teach the Croatian and Hungarian Dances from around Baja, Hungary. Afterwards Danubius will play for dancing. Gabor is in the United States through October 2007 as visiting artist with the Eszterlanc Hungarian Folk Ensemble. Gabor holds two degrees in Hungarian folk dance instruction, from the Hungarian Dance Academy in Budapest, and also from the Eotvos Jozsef Teacher Training College, Faculty of Pedagogy in Baja, Hungary. His professional activities within Hungary include membership in three dance ensembles as well as serving as artistic director and choreographer of the Gorom Folk Dance Ensemble of Kalocsa and the Danubia Folk Dance Ensemble of Baja. Gabor was a member of Budapest Folk Dance Ensemble under the direction of Zoltan Zsurafszky, and toured with the production of “Csardas: the Tango of the East,” in 1998. Danubias presents Eastern European and Balkan music to San Francisco Bay Area audiences ranging from restaurant patrons to folk dancers. The traditional forms of the music are preserved, and at the same time given new life with our arrangements and interpretation. A Danubius performance combines hard-driving Southern Romanian tunes, Hungarian Gypsy restaurant favorites, Bulgarian dances and Macedonian melodies, juxtaposed to make a tapestry of sound while preserving the character of each distinct musical style. Admission: $15 For more information visit the Croatian American Cultural Center’s website.
Workshop on Southern California Indian Basketry January 20, 2007 In this one day workshop Lorene Sisquoc introduces participants to the materials and techniques used in Southern California Indian basketry. Participants can create a round reed creek-side basket. Cost: $75/Materials fee of $12 For more information visit the California Indian Basketweavers website.
Los Cenzontles January 20, 2006 – 8:00 p.m. A celebration of the variety and imagination of Mexican music, this show weaves together a wide range of brightly colored threads, from tropical sones jarochos of Veracruz to contemporary ballads, from traditional mariachi with foot-stomping zapateado dancing to heart-wrenching rancheras from the Mexican countryside. One of the special features of a Los Cenzontles show is the musicians' depth of knowledge of the traditional rural music and dance forms that lie at the roots of mariachi. One of the few groups currently exploring this unique branch of music, their performance features violins, guitarron (large bass guitar), vihuela (small guitar), and male and female vocal duets accompanying dancers, as heard on their recent album, Pasajero: A Journey of Time and Memory. The group's parent organization, Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center, in nearby San Pablo, has a two-decades-old history of teaching traditional arts as a means of strengthening youth, their families, and the local community. Admission: $18.50 For more information visit the Freight & Salvage website.
Traditional Native American Storytelling January 20, 27, and February 3, 2007 This course taught by Sandra L. Dixon examines the foundation of traditional Native American storytelling through analysis of comparative traditional forms with emphasis on its importance to religious and social values. Participants gain a historical, cultural and traditional overview of storytelling and are introduced to Native American storytellers. Registration: $260 for 2 units course credit For more information visit the California Indian Basketweavers Association website. FebruaryConversations on Art: The (Fabric)ation of Memory February 4, 2007 – 2:00 p.m. This panel discussion explores intergenerational dialogue through the medium of textiles. Jane Przybysz, Executive Director of San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, will moderate.. Panelists include Magnes REVISIONS artist Amy Berk; Consuelo Underwood, Bay Area textile artist and associate professor of fine arts at San Jose State University; and Beth Dungan, independent curator. Admission: $12 non-members For more information visit the Magnes Museum’s website.
Spirit Keepers Lecture: Local Efforts of Cultural Preservation
February 7, 2007 - 6:30 p.m. This is a panel presentation by local cultural preservation professionals from government agencies and Cahuilla reservations. Preserving their cultural heritage is a high priority for Cahuilla reservations, but this effort is also an integral part of the activities of federal and state agencies. Participants can learn more about how these entities preserve native history and culture through care of the environment, protection of archaeological sites, and promotion of traditional skills. Admission: Free For more information visit the museum’s website.
KODO: One Earth Tour 2007
Photo: UCLA Live February 9-11, 2007 Translating as "heartbeat" or "children of the drum," Kodo generates waves of intense rhythmic percussion to create a primal musical experience. Formed in 1981 by a community of people who sought to preserve the traditional Japanese performing arts, these percussionists from Japan's Sado Island display strength and stamina. Admission: $17-28 For more information visit UCLA Live’s website.
Divine Movement
For more information call (714) 612-1242.
Kwashi and His African Beats Together with Agbi LadzepkoSaturday, February 10, 2007 Join Kwashi Amevuvor, a master artist in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program, together with his apprentice Agbi Ladzepko, will perform in this special program featuring Ghanian Ewe Drumming. For more information, please call (323) 231-9715.
Southern California Indian Material Culture February 13 – March 27, 2006 This hands-on series is designed to enrich one's knowledge of local tribes' cultures, traditions, histories and contributions. Replicas created by participants go into a "cultural teaching kit" that can be used in various settings. Workshops include "Toys and Games, Plant Fibers/Cordage, Music and Instruments. Content includes several History/Social Science Standards for grades 3-5. Registration: $260 for 2 units course credit For more information visit the California Indian Basketweavers Association website.
San Jose TaikoFebruary 13, 2007 – 11:30 a.m. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, San Jose Taiko has expressed the beauty and harmony of the human spirit for thirty years through the voice of the taiko (Japanese drum) as they strive to create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music. The resulting sounds are contemporary, exciting, new, and innovative, bridging many styles, while still resonant of the Asian soul in America. Admission: $3 For more information visit the Artsopolis website.
Full Circle: Ballet Afsaneh & Carmen Carnes Dance EnsembleFebruary 16, 2007 - 8:00pm From the regal dances of the Pamir Mountains to the ecstatic whirling of the Dervishes, Ballet Afsaneh and Carmen Carnes Dance Ensemble present a unique and timely collaboration featuring live musical accompaniment by master Persian instrumentalist Ostad Nejad, a former master in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program. Full Circle is an evening of dances drawn from the rich traditions of the Silk Road. Full Circle explores dance as sacred ritual and as a vehicle for transcendence: locating the ancient within the contemporary and the sacred in everyday life. Admission: $25 For more information visit Ballet Afsaneh’s website.
Bamboo Art of JapanFebruary 16 – 25, 2007 Japanese basket artist Kibe Seiho—visiting from Kyushu Island's Oita Prefecture—demonstrates bamboo weaving techniques typical of Kyushu bamboo artists, including the so called “plover plaiting” or chidori-ami. Kibe actively exhibits in the Japan Craft Arts Association, and has won numerous awards for his work. Appropriate for all ages, AsiaAlive is an ongoing drop-in interactive program that features live artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, videos, and books. This project has been made possible in part by a Living Cultures grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation. Support for ongoing programs on Japanese bamboo arts is provided by the Lloyd E. Cotsen Endowment. Admission: Free with museum admission of $10 For more information visit the Asian Art Museum’s website.
Lian EnsembleFebruary 17-18, 2007 Sounds of L.A. is an annual concert series that explores our city's varied musical geography, celebrating the work of masters as well as up-and-coming musicians from around the globe. The Lian Ensemble fuses the traditions of mystical Persian music with the contemporary sensibilities of postmodern jazz. The nine-member group of virtuoso multi-instrumentalists presents a mix of melodies and musical styles played on traditional and modern instruments including flamenco guitar, Cuban box drum, and Middle Eastern lute and flute. Percussionist Houman Pourmedhi is a master in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program. For more information visit the Getty Center’s website.
San Francisco Tamburitza FestivalFebruary 17 – 18, 2007 Tamburaški Orkestar Momci will be featured. Hall of Fame Tamburitza player, Ken Kosovec formed Tamburaski Orkestar Momci with Joe Matievich David and Dennis Skaro, Frank Corak, David Kosovec, and David Ranilovich. The Festival will include a welcome dance, concerts and tamburitza workshops. Admission: $15 For more information visit the Croatian American Cultural Center’s website.
Vietnamese Spring Festival & ParadeFebruary 18, 2007 Vietnamese Cultural Festival and Parade celebrates the traditions and festivities of the Vietnamese culture through authentic food, lion dances, entertainment and a parade with local marching bands and a variety of floats and entries. Admission: Free For more information visit the Artsopolis website.
Aashish Khan and Swapan ChaudhuriFebruary 18, 2007 – 11:00 a.m. Swapan Chaudhuri and Aashish Khan have a long history. As boys they lived on the same street in Calcutta and used to practice together. From the age of five, Swapan's principal teacher was Santosh Krishna Biswas, an exponent of the Lucknow Gharana. Swapan is in great demand as a soloist and as an accompanist. He plays all over the world, averaging 200 concerts a year. As a soloist and accompanist, Swapan has traveled throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia accompanying maestros such as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, Amir Khan, Vilayat Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Jasraj, Balamurli Krishna, and Amjad Ali Khan. Admission: $25 General For more information visit the Music Circle’s website.
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras: SaboresFebruary 21- 22, 2007 - 8:00 p.m. Sara Baras is a flamenco dancer who won Spain's most prestigious dance award, the National Dance Prize, in 2003. She was also named "Face of Andalusia" in 2002, and recently broke box office records during her five-month run in Madrid. Dedicated to Baras' mother and first dance teacher, Concha Calero, Sabores (Flavors) showcases the many styles and flavors of flamenco. Admission: $30-70 For more information visit the UCLA Live website.
Kenny Endo Taiko EnsembleFebruary 23, 2007 – 8:00 p.m. Kenny Endo blends traditional Japanese taiko with global musical influences. He performs on instruments that range from small hand drums to others standing almost seven feet high. Members of Stanford Taiko join Endo and his ensemble. Admission: $20-$44 For more information visit the Artsopolis website. MarchChitresh Das Dance Company
Chitresh Das Dance Company March 1, 2007 – 7:00 p.m. The Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC) & Chhandam School was founded in 1980 and is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and education of Kathak dance and Indian Culture. Based in San Francisco, the company performs internationally and most frequently throughout the US, Canada and India. The Chitresh Das Dance Company's mission is to produce exemplary traditional, innovative, and collaborative works of North Indian classical Kathak dance; increase awareness of Kathak dance; to train future generations and build local, national and international community support for the Kathak tradition. Chitresh Das is a current master in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program. Admission: Free with museum admission of $5 (after 5:00 p.m.) For more information visit the Asian Art Museum’s website. Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade
Photo: Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade March 3, 2007 The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the few remaining night illuminated Parades in the country. Started in the 1860’s by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival have grown to be one of the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Since 1958, the parade has been under the direction of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Over 100 units will participate in the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. A crowd favorite is the spectacular Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group, White Crane, to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco. Admission: Free For more information visit the Parade’s website.
Preserving the Spirit: Indian Doll MakingMarch 3 - 4, 2007 -10:30 a.m. Traditionally, Indian dolls were made either out of clay, tule, or corn. Eva Salazar (Kumeyaay), a former master in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program (insert link: http://www.actaonline.org/grants_and_programs/apprenticeships/2001/salazar.htm) will teach the art of doll making. This is a two-day course that will incorporate sewing and basket weaving. Admission: $20 For more information visit the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.
Diamano Coura's 12th Annual "Collage des Cultures Africaines"March 8 – 11, 2007 This weekend includes dance and drum workshops, performances, and symposia. This project has been made possible in part by a Living Cultures grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation. For more information visit Damano Coutra’s website.
8th Annual Southern California Indian Storytelling FestivalMarch 17, 2007 The California Indian Storytelling Festival (CISA) and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum partner again to host this cultural event. California Indian storytellers will showcase storytelling festival presentations and performances based on indigenous oral traditions and language. This year’s event will also include basket weaving circles, children’s story time, and Native American vendors. Admission: Free For more information visit the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. 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, |
The “art” of being Tuareg, a semi-nomadic
people of Niger, Mali, and Algeria, has fascinated travelers and scholars
alike throughout history. Art
of Being Tuareg, the first major U.S. exhibition on Tuareg art and culture,
considers the history and evolution of these peoples by exploring silver jewelry,
leather works including purses, bags, and saddles, and other highly decorated
items crafted by them.
February 10, 2007
