Spring and Summer 2009

FOCUS ON CHINA AND KOREA Conferences, Workshops, Lectures, and Discussions Performances, Films, Exhibitions, and the Arts Education & Travel * Announcements * Resources   Home Page * General/East Asia Calendar * Focus on Japan

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, AND DISCUSSION GROUPS

SMITH COLLEGE, NORTHAMPTON, MA
A lecture by Sonia Ryang (University of Iowa) takes place in the Neilson Browsing Rm, Neilson Library, at Smith College on Fri, Apr 10, 4:10pm. Her current project is a book tentatively entitled Explorations in the Political: Ethnological Study of North Korea. The title of this talk is TBA. For more information, contact: Jina Kim. Email jkim@email.smith.edu.

WESLEYAN U, MIDDLETOWN, CT
The Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 343 Washington Ter, presents these lectures at 4:30pm:

• Thu, Apr 2: Revolution, Reform, and Faith in the Life of Chinese Actor Ying Ruocheng (Claire Conceison, Tufts University and Harvard University)
• Thu, Apr 9:  My Camera Doesn’t Lie: New Chinese Documentary Film Series (Xinyu Lu, Fudan University)
• Thu, Apr 23:  About Freedom (Zhang Jie, Writer)
• Thu, Apr 30:  Bringing What We Know About China to the Social Sciences: Fieldwork, Research Re(Design), and Theory Building (Kevin O’Brien, University of California, Berkeley)

For more information, contact: Shirley Lawrence. Tel 860-685-2330; Email slawrence@wesleyan.edu; Web www.wesleyan.edu/east/mansfieldf/.

PRIMARY SOURCE, WATERTOWN, MA
Understanding Modern China, a summer institute especially suited for educators in grades 6−12, is held at Primary Source, 101 Walnut St. The program focuses on how historical events helped shape modern China. An afternoon orientation is scheduled for Tue, Jun 2, and a follow-up session on Tue, Oct 20. Institute dates are Mon, Jul 6 − Fri, Jul 10. Registration deadline is Fri, Apr 24. To learn more, contact: Abby Detweiler. Tel 617-923-9933 x20; Email abby@primarysource.org; Web www.primarysource.org.
            China in the World is an online seminar that takes place Thu, Apr 2, 4-5pm. Participants join the Curriculum Specialists at Primary Source as they discuss ways of teaching modern Chinese history in the high school or college classroom. Register at www.cheng-tsui.com/webforms/sign_china_world. For more information, contact: Julie Newport. Tel 617-923-9933 x18; Email Julie@primarysoucre.org. 

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, BOSTON, MA
Cancer’s Revelations: Malignancies and Therapies in a Recent Chinese Novel is the title of a talk by Sabina Knight (Smith College). The lecture is on Tue, Mar 17, 4pm, at the Harvard Medical School, Osher Institute, Landmark Center, 401 Park Dr, Suite 22A. For more information, contact: Andrew Ahn. Tel 617-384-8550; Email andrew_ahn@hms.harvard.edu.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IL
Chicago Public Schools hosts the 2009 National Chinese Language Conference at the Marriott Magnificent Mile Downtown Hotel, Thu, Apr 30 − Sat, May 2. The conference theme is “Making Connections, Building Partnerships.” Focus is on expanding support for Chinese education and to promote global understanding and skills among U.S. students. The National Consortium for Teaching about Asia hosts an exhibit booth in the Chicago Marriott Downtown Hotel. In addition, NCTA personnel present during the Teaching Culture across the Curriculum panel. More information about the conference is available at http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/awards/chinese/nclc and http://asiasociety.org/ education/announcements/nclc/index.htm.

§*FCCEAS/NCTA, NYC 
The Five College Center for East Asian Studies is conducting a bus trip to New York City entitled From the Museum to the Classroom, on Sat, Apr 4. The program, open to present and past FCCEAS/NCTA seminar participants and their colleagues, includes docent-led tours of exhibitions at the Asia Society Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Participants can also enjoy a visit to Chinatown on their own. Registration deadline is Fri, Mar 27. For more information, contact: Arlene Kowal. Email arlnkoala@aol.com.

SMITH COLLEGE, NORTHAMPTON, MA
Post-Mao Dreaming: Chinese Contemporary Art is at the Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) through Sun, May 31. This exhibition features works produced between 1971 and 2005, a time when Chinese artists began to reclaim their individuality. To learn more, contact: SCMA. Tel 413-585-2760; Email artmuseum@smith.edu; Web www.smith.edu/artmuseum/.

CHINESE PERFORMING ARTS, MA
The Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts presents Meng-Chieh Liu, piano on Sat, Mar 21, 8pm, in Jordan Hall, Boston. Meng-Chieh Liu (The Curtis Institute of Music) performs the Schubert Sonata. He is a chamber musician as well as solo artist. To learn more or for tickets, call the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts at 781-259-8195 or visit www.ChinesePerformingArts.net.

WESLEYAN U, MIDDLETOWN, CT
China-Balancing the Changes is on view at the Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 343 Washington Ter, Wed, Apr 1 − Sun, May 24. These photographs by Sharon Crain present the changes (such as blue padded suits to high fashion and clay stove noodle shops to stainless steel grilled western fast food) she witnessed in China since her first visit in 1977. A gallery talk with Center Curator Patrick Dowdey and Sharon Crain takes place at noon on Wed, Apr 1.
            A Chinese music concert is held on Sun, Apr 26, 7pm, in the World Music Hall. Hearing China is a performance presenting diverse styles of Chinese classical and contemporary music by the Wesleyan Chinese Music Ensemble.
A performance of Korean Drumming is held in the World Music Hall on Sun, May 10, 7pm. It is performed with several different kinds of drums.
For more information, contact: Shirley Lawrence. Tel 860-685-2330; Email slawrence@wesleyan.edu; Web www.wesleyan.edu/east/mansfieldf/exhibitions.

RISD MUSEUM, PROVIDENCE, RI
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum of Art presents Shih Chieh Huang / Connected: Eject before disconnecting through Sun, Jun 21. This exhibition features the artist’s low-tech installations that incorporate everyday objects. For more information, contact: RISD Museum of Art. Tel 401-454-6500; Web www.risdmuseum.org.

BOWDOIN COLLEGE, BRUNSWICK, ME
Ink Tales is showing at Bowdoin College through Sun, May 10. This exhibition features Chinese paintings from the collections of both Colby and Bowdoin Colleges. More information is available at www.colby.edu/art/InkTales/.

PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM, SALEM, MA
Mahjong: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection is on view at the Peabody Essex Museum through Sun, May 17. The exhibition features approximately 100 works, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs from the last four decades.
Auspicious Wishes and Natural Beauty in Korean Art is housed in the newly redesigned and reinstalled Yu Kil-Chun Gallery. This exhibition focuses on the use of symbols and natural materials in Korean aesthetic tradition.
Perfect Imbalance, Exploring Chinese Aesthetics is still at PEM and continues through Fri, Jan 1, 2010. It consists of 30 objects from the Neolithic era to 2004, including paintings, jade, textiles, porcelain, and prints.
For more information, contact: Peabody Essex Museum. Tel 978-745-9500; Web http://pem.org.

WILLIAMS COLLEGE, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA
Liu Zheng: The Chinese is showing at the Williams College Museum of Art, 15 Lawrence Hall Dr, through Sun, Apr 26. This exhibition features 120 photographs of people from all walks of life, such as homeless children, coal miners, monks, and the emerging middle class. Contact: Museum of Art. Tel 413-597-2429; Web www.wcma.org.

ASIAN CULTURAL CENTER, BRATTLEBORO, VT
Duan Wu Festival of China is held at the C.X. Silver Gallery, 814 Western Ave, West Brattleboro, on Sun, Jun 28, 1-4pm. Participants learn the story of poet Qu Yuan and the Duan Wu Festival. The ornament making activity is best for ages 9 to adult. To learn more, contact Adam Silver, Asian Cultural Center of Vermont. Tel 802-257-7898, x1; Web www.asianculturalcentervt.org.

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, MA
Gentlemen of Suzhou is on view at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, 465 Huntington Ave, through Sun, Jul 12. This selection from the MFA’s permanent collection provides an overview of Suzhou painting and calligraphy from the 15th to 17th centuries. Contact: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Tel 617-267-9300; Web www.mfa.org.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL, CAMBRIDGE, MA
The 30th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is held on the Charles River on Sun, Jun 7, 12-5pm. The program includes dragon boat races, live performances, Chinese arts and crafts, and Asian foods. For more information, email bostondragonboat@gmail.com or visit www.bostondragonboat.org.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NYC
Art of the Korean Renaissance, 1400−1600 is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd St, through Sun, Jun 21.This international loan exhibition includes 50 works of art from the first 200 years of the Choson dynasty.
            Arts of the Ming Dynasty: China’s Age of Brilliance is at the Museum through Sun, Sep 13. This exhibition presents the diversity of art created under China’s Ming dynasty (1368−1644). It includes paintings, calligraphies, textiles, ceramics, lacquers, cloisonné, jades, and bamboo carvings.
To learn more, contact: MET. Tel 212-535-7710; Web www.metmuseum.org.

KOREA SOCIETY, NYC
The Korea Society presents the traditional and contemporary arts of Korea through its traveling exhibitions and performing arts programs. Gods, Demons, and Generals: Icons of Korean Shamanism, Living Through the Forgotten War: Portrait of Korea, and Korean Comics: A Society Through Small Frames are among the 10 exhibitions available for travel to institutions in North America. Loan periods are 4 to 16 weeks. To learn more, contact: Jinyoung Kim. Tel 212-759-7525 x316; Email jinyoung.ny@koreasociety.org.
The Sound of Ecstasy and Nectar of Enlightenment: Buddhist Ritual Song and Dance from Korea is performed by the Young San Preservation Group. Tour specification is October − November 2009. For more information or to schedule a performance at your institution, contact: Jennifer Kim. Tel 212-759-7525 x309; Email jennifer.ny@koreasociety.org.

ASIA SOCIETY, NYC
Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove is on view at the Asia Society, 725 Park Ave, through Sun, Apr 26. The exhibition examines the 3rd century group of Chinese learned men who have been the subject of ink painting and decorative arts in East Asia.
Yang Fudong: Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest is showing, through Sun, Sep 13. This is the first U.S. museum presentation of the complete 5-part cinematic masterpiece by Shanghai-based artist Yang Fudong.
For more information, contact: Asia Society. Tel 212-288-6400; Web www.asiasociety.org.

CHINA INSTITUTE, NYC
Noble Tombs at Mawangdui: Art and Life in the Changsha Kingdom is showing at the China Institute, 125 65th St, through Sun, Jun 7. This exhibition includes artworks of bronze, jade, lacquers, and silk, as well as paintings, and utensils, from the collection of the Hunan Provincial Museum. Contact: Sara Tam, China Institute. Tel 212-744-8181 x146; Email stam@chinainstitute.org.