Arts Etc. – 10/21/09 Update

October 21st 2009

Highlights

• Concerts of ethnic music abound this month. Ragamala presents “Utsav 2009”, Seattle’s Annual South Asian Performing Arts Festival Oct. 30 at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue, Oct. 31 at Kirkland Performance Center in Kirkland and Nov. 1 at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue. The festival features exciting performances by talented artists from the Seattle area and beyond. Visit www.ragamala.org for ticketing and details.
• EARSHOT JAZZ always features a wide variety of fine music from jazz, ethnic and global categories in their annual fall festival and this year’s line-up is no exception. Includes a line-up of jazz film as well. Runs from Oct. 16 to early Nov. in venues around town. Some highlights are jazz pianist Helen Sung (see related article in this issue) in Kirkland on Oct. 24, Ikue Mori & Zeena Parkins of Phantom Orchard and Peggy Lee & Saadet Turkoz on Oct. 24 at The Chapel, Khoomei Taiko (Mongolian/Japanese traditions) at Town Hall on Oct. 25, Marc Cary Trio with Foday Musa Suso featuring Sameer Gupta on drums & tabla on Oct. 31 at Seattle Art Museum, Jay Thomas East/West Double Trio with Seattle/Japanese players Nov. 1 at Tula’s and Paul Kikuchi’s Portable Sanctuary at the Chapel on Nov. 7. Call (206) 547-9787 or visit www.earshot.org for details. Also members of Khoomel Taiko will be giving workshops on Oct. 24 from 1 – 5:30 p.m. at 1414 S. Weller St. Kaoru Watanabe and Shoji Kameda will offer a taiko workshop from 1 – 3 p.m. A young Khoomei master will demonstrate throat singing and horsehead fiddle techniques from 3:30 – 5 p.m. A joint lecture/demonstration will conclude at 5pm. For more information or to register contact Stan Shikuma at [email protected] or call (206) 919- 1465.
• As part of the Crossroads of Asian Music and Poetry Conference, the East Asia Center presents a concert entitled “Asian Musical Crossroads: China and Inner Asia/China and Southeast Asia” on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Brechemin Auditorium located on the UW campus in the UW School of Music Building. Features musical performances by Chi Li (erhu, Chinese two-string fiddle), Hsin-chun Tasaw Lu (Burmese mandolin), Peter Marsh (Mongolian horse-head fiddle), and Helen Rees (dizi and xiao, Chinese flutes). A rare chance to see how musical traditions between borders cross-fertilized musical frontiers between China and its’ neighbors.  (206) 543-6938 or visit www.depts.washington.edu/xroads.
• Dr. Audrey Young (see related article this issue) reads from “House of Hope and Fear” (Sasquatch), a memoir of her personal journey from idealistic post-grad to the trenches of Harborview Hospital intensive care. Oct. 27 at 6:30 pm. Seattle Public Library, Montlake Branch. 2401 – 24^th Ave. E. (206) 634-3400. Co-presented by University Book Store and Seattle Public Library.
• The delicate poetic thread of Diem Chau’s stichery weaves its’ way through narratives of family and friends in a new show of her  fabric/ceramic creations entitled “New Work”  paired with the “Accumulations”, new paintings  of poetic layering by Thuy-van Vu (her work currently on view at Wing Luke Asian Museum as well) opening Nov. 5  from 6 – 8 p.m. Artist talk on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.  On view through Nov. 21. At G. Gibson Gallery located at 300 South Washington St. (206) 587-4033 or visit www.ggibsongallery.com Chau’s work is also featured in the Oct. issue of American Craft Magazine.
• THAO Nguyen is a talented local singer/songwriter with a new release entitled “Know Better Learn Faster”. She performs live with her band, The Get Down Stay Down on Oct. 22 at Chop Suey.1325 E. Madison. (206) 324-8005 or www.chopsuey.com

Visual Arts

• Barbara Horiuchi’s powerful, large sumi ink paintings explore the repercussions of trauma born from issues of injustice and her personal familial experiences with immigration and the historic experience of Japanese American internment during WW II and attempts at recovery. On view at Monarch Studio through Oct.  312 S. Washington St., Suite A. (206) 682-1710 or www.monarchstudio.com.
• Seattle Theatre Group brings back local performance group Degenerate Art Ensemble (see related article in this issue) for a new production “Sonic Tales” on Oct. 30 – 31 that promises to rock the house with fresh music, costumes, set-design, butoh-inspired choreography and twisted humor.  They sold out last year so get your tickets early. At the Moore Theatre downtown. (877)STG-4-Tix or (877)784-4849. Tickets in person at Paramount Theatre Box Office.
• Art Partners presents Chinese artist Zha Sai who will engage in exhibitions, lectures and demonstrations with Northwest artists in October. Her woodblock prints  distill the purity and abstraction of nature into a sharp relief.  She will be a Visiting Artist at Cornish College of the Arts and show at the gallery through Oct.  31. 1000 Lenora St. Concurrently she has a show of woodcuts entitled “Rhythm of Shadows” that reflect the natural beauty of her home in Wuhan, on the banks of the Yangtze River through Oct. 31 at Davidson Galleries located at 313 Occidental Ave. S. (206) 624-1324.  For complete details, go to thhp://www.zhasai.net.
• Saya Moriyasu shows at the Telephone Room Gallery, an exciting new alternative art space in Tacoma as part of a group show entitled “Vampires And Zombies” on view throughout the month. Go to www.thetelephoneroomblogspot.com.
• Meiro Koizumi is a contemporary Japanese artist who will be in residency in Puget Sound in the fall. Viewers have a chance to see various aspects of his work around the area as curated by independent curator Yoko Ott. The show at Hedreen Gallery/Lee Center for the Arts at Seattle University is a career retrospective of his video work on view through Jan. 9.  901 – 12^th Ave. (206) 296-2244. This show runs concurrently with a new installation the artist is contemplating on Japanese American agriculture and the internment experience. On view from Nov. 10 – Jan. with  an opening event on Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. At Open Satellite in Bellevue located at 989 – 112^th Ave. NE #102. (425) 454-7355. In addition, he gives an Artist Lecture on Nov. 19 at 7pm at Henry Art Gallery in the auditorium. For complete details, go to http://opensatellite.org/exhibition-2009-11MeiroKoizumi.
• “China Design Now” is an immersive multi-sensory experience reflecting the new Chinese urban environment through Jan. 17. Continuing through Nov. 15 is “APEX:Joseph Park”, a series of paintings by Seattle artist Joseph Park  based on a range of photographic sources. Portland Art Museum at 1219 SW Park Ave. (503) 226-2811 or visit www.portlandartmuseum.org.
• “So Long” is a multi-media installation by Brent Watanabe that explores computer controlled generated animations, robotics and sound.  Artist talk on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. On view through Dec. 30. At Jack Straw Productions at 4361 Roosevelt Way NE (206) 634-0919 or www.jackstraw.org.
• “Dig: SOIL Invitational 2009” is a suvey of artists from the Northwest and abroad invited by SOIL members. The work of  Toshi Asai and Ellen Ito is included. Through Oct.  31. 110 Third Ave. S. in the Tashiro Kaplan Building. (206) 264-8061 or www.soilart.org.
• KOBO at Higo presents the following. A jewelry trunk show by Potluck Paris on Sat., Oct. 10 from 1 – 8 p.m. features some unique European jewelry made from the blending of recycled metals.  Sculptural lighting by Hiih Lighting is set through Nov. 15.This firm from Portland brings together the function of light the craft of paper and the art of sculpture. Toshi Asai from Nagoya, Japan shows oils, pencil on paper and mixed media, “Pop art with a punk twist” (Regina Hackett review) from Nov. 7 – 29. Opening reception is Nov. 7 from 6 – 8 p.m. Ken Taya returns with Enfu, his “Hybrid Nippop” work portraying a parallel world where both Japanese and American worlds co-exist. Dec. 3 – Jan. 3, 2010 with an opening reception set for Dec. 3 from 6 – 8 p.m. Ceramic artist John Dix now based in Japan will be showing his woodfired ceramics  during Jan./Feb. of 2010. 604 S. Jackson. (206) 381-3000 or [email protected].
• ArtXchange Gallery  presents opening Nov. 5 and on view through Dec. 31, gouache on paper and paintings on wood panel by Bui Vong Khanh. The exhibit traces the evolution of Kkanh’s work from post-graduate to the present through his transition from various media. The artist has a playful take on traditional and modern motifs of Vietnamese culture. 512 – 1^st Ave. S. (206) 839-0377. www.artxchange.org. Also gallery artist Deborah Kapoor has her work on view at Simply Desserts in Fremont. 3421 Fremont Ave. N. Ongoing.
• Puget Sound Sumi artists hold their annual exhibition entitled “Autumn Visions” at the Northwest Craft Center & Gallery.  On view through Nov. 12. 305 Harrison St. at Seattle Center. (206) 728-1555 or visit www.northwestcraftscenter.com.
• A show entitled “Constellations” by installation/print artist Maki Tamura is at the Kittredge Gallery at UPS on view through Oct. 1500 N. Warner St. CMB 1072 in Tacoma. (253) 879-3701.
• “Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition: Indigenous Voices Reply” juxtaposes historic objects and photographs from the 1909 Exposition with contemporary artwork by Native artists exploring how the representation of indigenous people and cultures has changed over 100 years. It should be noted that indigenous people from the Philippines were in the original 1909 show.  On view through Nov. 29.  Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington. 17^th Ave. NE and NE 45^th. (206) 543-5590 or www.burkemuseum.org.
• “Layers” is the title of a show by glass artist Boyd Sugiki remains on view through Jan. 3. This Northwest artist created a series inspired by Istanbul’s skyline of historic domes and minarets alongside modern buildings. Curator Kathleen Moles leads a walkthrough of the show on Oct. 15 at 1:30pm. Sugiki will give an artist talk on Oct. 25 at 2pm. Museum of Northwest Art at121South First St. in La Connor, WA (360) 466-4446 or visit www.museumofnwart.org.
• Seattle Asian Art Museum has on view until Feb. 21, 2010, “Transforming Traditions: Japanese & Korean Art Since 1800” and “Live Long and Prosper: Auspicious Motifs in East Asian Art”. Mimi Gates, former director of SAM and now the museum’s Director Emerita, inaugurates the new Center for Asian Art and Ideas at SAAM with a “Saturday University” series of lectures by professors who specialize in different aspects of Asian Studies from art to history to political science. Starts Oct. 3. Log on to www.seattleartmuseum.org/calendar/calendar.asp for details and call (206) 654-3121 for tickets. 1400 East Prospect in Volunteer Park. (206) 654-3100 or log on to www.seattleartmuseum.org.
• Wing Luke Asian Museum – “Across the Spectrum: Stories from Queer Asian Pacific America” will be on view through Feb. 14 of 2010 in the Boeing Company Community Portrait Gallery. Join the conversations about life, love and community. “Deporting Cambodians: How Immigration Policy Shapes Our Communities” is on view through Oct. 18, “Parallel Lines: 8 Contemporary Seattle Artists”, a group show curated by Tracey Fugami through Nov. 29. The show draws comparisons between artists Tram Bui, Mark Takamichi Miller, Jason Huff, Akio Takamori, Patti Warashina, Saya Moriyasu, Thuy-Van Vu and Joseph Park. “Float in the air art workshop” is led by exhibit artist Jason Huff who teaches this 2 hour family workshop on Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m where you will learn to design and build your own mobile. To register, call (206) 623-5124×14. Artist and historian Susan Kunimatsu leads a discussion on “Art and Identity” by Asian Pacific American artists with curators/gallery owners Karen Higa, Ken Matsudaira, Cora Edmonds and Tracey Fugami, Curator of “Parallel Lines” on Nov. 13 at 6:30pm. Two expert Japanese musicians Miki Maruta (koto) and Kaoru Watanabe (fue) will talk about their instruments and perform on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Teteuchi Story Theatre. 719 S. King. (206) 623-5124 or www.wingluke.org. Just opened is “Asian Voices”, a YouthCAN exhibit.  “Animation & Comics” opens Aug. 15 from 4 – 6 p.m. in KidPLACE. A related activity is “Exhibits Exposed: Animation & Comics” in which you’ll see how images can have a life of their own in the comic world. August 22 at 2 p.m. Get ready for “Yellow Terror: The Collection and Paintings of Roger Shimomura” opening Sept. 10 with the show ongoing through April 18, 2010 in the Special Exhibition Hall.  The museum sponsors an “Asian American Visual Artists Reception” on Friday, Oct. 9 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in their Community Hall. A chance to network with Asian American artists, curators and arts professionals in a catered event by Salina Restaurant. This is a ticketed event. For updates, email [email protected] Save the date! Wing Luke Asian Museum. 719 S. King St. (206) 623-5124 or www.wingluke.org.
• The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) features the exhibit, “The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest on view till Jan. 16, 2020. 2700 – 24^th E. (206) 324-1126.
• The work of Patsy Surh O’Connell, Deng Juo and Fumiko Kimura is included in a group show entitled “Ink Connection: China, Korea and Japan” at the Gallery at Tacoma Community College Oct. 12 – Dec. 15. Opening reception is Oct. 15 from 4 – 7 p.m.
• What does graffiti inscribed on canvas beds by American military on ships heading towards Vietnam during the war era tell us about that time in history? Find out by seeing “Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam”, a new show opening Sept. 17 and on view through Dec. 13. Washington State History Museum. 1911 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma. (253) 272-3500 or www.washingtonhistory.org.
• Korean American Artists Association of Washington – International Korean Artists and KAAAW members show at the New Dimension Gallery in Bellevue through Oct. 31.  (253) 226- 2742.
• “Requiem: By the Photographers Who Died in Vietnam and Indochina” is a pictorial documentation of the history of the Vietnam War from the early 1950s through to the fall of Saigon in 1975. An international traveling exhibit that makes its’ Northwest debut at this museum. With a series of lectures and films . Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem, Oregon. 700 State St. www.willamette.edu/museum_of_art/.
• The work of Portland painter Robert Dozono is featured in large canvases put together with collage elements drawn from non-recyclable waste found in areas around Portland. Through Oct. 31 at Black Fish Gallery. 420 NW 9^th Ave. (503) 234-2634.
• Phil & Kaja Foglio from Seattle  present “Reflections of an an Asian American Community Girl Genius – Manga Artwork” opening Sept. 20 . Also showing “Bill Naito – A Portland Story” on Oct. 8.Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center www.oregonnikkei.org.121 NW 2^nd Ave. In Portland. (503) 224-1458.
• Asia Society Museum in New York City presents the first U.S. museum survey of contemporary art from Pakistan entitled “Hanging Fire-Contemporary Art from Pakistan” now through Jan. 3, 2010. 55 works by 15 artists in various media. Curated by Salima Hashmi. For details, go to [email protected].

Performing Arts

• “Sinulangan” is Pinoy sa Seattle’s Third Annual Anniversary Cultural Show on Oct. 23 at 7pm at the Filipino Community Center located at 5740 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
• RAjahDAT.NET presents “Fallfest ‘09” with Ekolu and the Island Bound Band on Oct. 24 at Landmark Convention Center/Plaza Grand Ballroom in Tacoma. 47^th St. Helens Ave. (253) 272-2042.
• The 5^th Avenue Theatre stages the Lloyd/Webber biblical musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (see related article in this issue) through Nov. 1 with a large local Asian American cast and Anthony Federov and Jennifer Paz in the leads. 1308 Fifth Ave. (206) 625-1900 or www.5thavenue.org.
• There will be a free demonstration on how to make Fugetsu-do Manju (a traditional Japanese sweet) by Brian Kito on Oct. 21 & 25 at the Seattle Store all weekend. Samples  only will be available at the Bellevue Store  on Oct. 25. (206) 624-6248.
• “Glow-In-The-Dark Spookfest” promises fun with families with kids during Halloween. Treats, games, prizes and crafts will be provided. Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m. ID/Chinatown Community Center at 719 Eighth Ave.S. (206) 233-0042.
• “DARE”, the China Acrobatic Troupe will be in performance Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 at UW’s Meany Hall. For tickets, call (206) 287-9998 or visit www.AAPAT.org or www.dareacrobats.com.
• Popular singer/songwriter Vienna Teng returns to Seattle to perform on Oct. 30 at Edmonds Center for the Arts at 410 Fourth Ave. N. in Edmonds. (425) 276-9595 or visit www.ec4arts.org.
• The Japanese Cultural & Community Center presents Japanese Culture Day on Nov. 1 from 1 – 4pm. Featured will be a kokeshi doll exhibit, martial arts, tea ceremony, Japanese dancing, koto, shamisen, taiko, Children’s activities etc. 1414 S.Weller. (206) 568-7114 or visit www.jcccw.org.

Film/Media

• Enjoy a fun night at the movies and benefit IDHA at the same time. “Zombies & Wild Things” is the title of a film program that features “Where The Wild Things Are” and “Zombieland” on Oct. 22. Complimentary drinks and appetizers at 6:30 p.m. with films screening at 7 p.m. $15. Columbia Cinema at 4816 Rainier Ave. S. (206) 721-3156.
• The Rainier Valley Cultural Center screens the classic Kon Ichikawa film, “Kwaidan-Ghost Stories from Japan” with a discussion afterwards on Oct.22 at 6:30 p.m.  1515 S. Alaska. (206) 723-7333.
• Acclaimed director Mira Nair has two films in the area. She has a short film as part of the  “New York, I Love You” collection of shorts by various directors now screening in Seattle and the forthcoming feature-length bio/pic. of American aviator Amelia Earhart coming soon.
• Many say the Godfather/pioneer of today’s Anime/Manga tradition is the Japanese manga artist Osamu Tezuka. One of his classic cartoon series characters, “Astro Boy” has achieved “Superman” status in most countries in Asia. Now it is being brought to the big screen in a new adaptation October 23.

Written Arts

• “China in the Twenty-First Century: Everything Changes, Everything Stays The Same” is the title of a talk by UW Professor Stevan Harrell, a part of the “Saturday University: Asia in Focus” Series presented by Seattle Art Museum, The Center for Asian Art and Ideas and the East Asia Center and China Studies Program at UW. Oct. 24 at 11a.m. preceded by a tai chi class at 8:30 a.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum. For details, visit [email protected].
• Columbia City’s 2009 Seattle Book Fest takes place Oct. 24/25. It is a revival of the old Northwest Book Festival. With more than 50 authors and 80 exhibitors.  10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Columbia City Event Center. (206) 721-3156 or http://www.seattlebookfest.com.
• Jake Adelstein reads from “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan” (Knopf) on Oct. 22 at 7pm. University Book Store in the “U” District. 4326 University Way NE, (206) 634-3400.
• Irene Khan reads from her book, “The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights” (W. W. Norton) on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Khan is the first Muslim, the first Asian American and the first woman to head Amnesty International, a major organization that fights for the rights of global political prisoners. 1119 Eighth Ave. in Seattle. (206) 652-4255 or www.townhallseattle.org.
• For Oregon-based Asian American writers interested in submitting to an upcoming Oregon anthology of Asian American writing, deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, 2009. To send submissions or ask questions about workshops, email [email protected].
• UCLA Asian American Studies Center has published a new textbook entitled “Untold Civil Rights Stories” which discusses the social struggles Asian Americans have faced before and after 9/11. Co-edited by Russell C. Leong and Stewart Kwoh. For details, call (310) 825-2968 or log on to www.aasc.ucla.edu/aascpress.

Arts News/Opportunities

• From Nov. 19 – Jan. 9, the Center for Contemporary Art (CoCA) will present the 2009 Annual, a juried exhibition with a $500 first prize. CoCA is seeking work from emerging and established artists. See www.cocaseattle.org/annual_call.html for more information, including submission requirements.
• The Friends of International Children’s Park seek professional artist(s) to submit an application for an opportunity to design a public art piece to be installed in the redeveloped International Children’s Park located on 7^th Ave. S. and S. Lane St. located in the Chinatown/ID community. For details, log on to www.friendsoficp.org or call (206) 838-8721.