THE APPA Newsletter
March 29, 2005
National Library Week
www.ala.org/ala/pio/factsheets/nationallibrary.htm
See This Weekend
MISSION STATEMENT:
Promote full utilization
of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment
of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and
culture and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.
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ed. by Douglas Ikemi
(dkikemi@pacbell.net)
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The internet site is at:
www.apa-pro.org
Our own domain name,
apa-pro.org, stands for Asian Pacific American Professionals. www.apa-pro.org/
gives you a menu of AP organization websites.
Back issues of the
newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 are available on the
website if you want to look up some past event.
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Please send in
information on cultural events and news items. Thanks to those who have.
Long range calendar
items:
Chinatown Farmers Market
Every Thursday, 3:00pm to 7:00pm Chinatown Business Improvement District
http://www.ChinatownLA.com/ For
Information (213)_ 680-0243
Feb 6-May 1 Japan after Perry:
Views of Yokohama and Meiji Japan The opening of Yokohama to trade with the United States and
Europe in 1859 ended more than two centuries of Japanese isolation and
transformed the rural fishing village into a thriving international port.
Curated by Ann Yonemura, Senior Associate Curator of Japanese Art of the Freer
Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, this exhibition documents
this early history of JapanÕs gateway to the world, artists produced colorful
woodblock prints of city scenes, urbane residents, and harbor views, capturing
this tumultuous era of JapanÕs transformation into a modern industrial state
and international power. Organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the
Smithsonian Institution, Japan After Perry: Views of Yokohama and Meiji Japan
showcases 24 woodblock prints from the collection gift of Ambassador and Mrs.
William and Florence Leonhart. The presentation at the Japanese American
National Museum commemorates 150 years of U.S.-Japan relations. http://www.janm.org/events/2005/02/
March 17-June 19 The Art
of the Japanese Sword: The Yoshihara Tradition exhibit at the Pacific Asia
Museum
April 7 National Museum Presents!
Evening
of Poetry at the Japanese American National Museum
The
first of two evenings celebrating National Poetry Month features poets Junichi
Semitsu and Amy Uyematsu.
Sponsored
in part by the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department. 7:30-9:00PM, www.janm.org
April 8 Screening of Vietnamese Film Thung Lung Hoang Vang
(Deserted Valley) Vietnamese International Film Festival Day at UCLA
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Thung Lung Hoang Vang (Deserted Valley) ,
directed by Pham Nhue Giang (90 min, Vietnam)
4:30pm-5:00pm - Q & A Session with the Director Pham Nhue
Giang - Tiep xuc v™i khan gia
Ackerman Grand Ballroom
UCLA Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Parking in UCLA's Lot 6 costs $7.
April 8 Concert - Spandana : An Indian Classical Sitar
(Instrumental ) Concert
At Tom Bradley International Hall
UCLA Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music
and Culture Amongst Youth ( SPICMACAY ) presents Spandana - an Indian Classical
Sitar Concert by Sitar Virtuoso Purbayan Chatterjee. He is accompanied by
Arup Chatterjee on Tabla.
The concert will be preceded by a Lecture-Demonstration by
Purbayan on the same day, tentatively fixed at 10:00 a.m. at the Schoenberg
Music Building at UCLA.
Purbayan is acclaimed by the top-most maestros in India as well as
connoisseurs of the music world as one of the best young instrumentalists in
Indian traditional music. His style of playing is the most aesthetically
satisfying combination of the best facets of "Dhrupad" and
"Khayal". The depth, discipline and richness of the
"Dhrupad" form is interspersed with the exuberance and lyricism of
"Khayal". In a unique display of maturity Purbayan is able to combine
technical brilliance and virtuosity of the highest level with depth and
serenity.
Of late, Purbayan has been experimenting with several of genres of
music - some within the traditions of Indian Classical music, others not. His
duets with renowned violinist Kala Ramnath and the extremely talented sarod
player Partho Sarathy have won rave reviews all over the world. He also
performs for a unique group called "Raga Afrika" which is a
collaboration with some world famous South African musicians - among then jazz
guitarist Odutayo Kunle and Lucas Khumalo and percussionist John Hassan and
Frank Paco.
In keeping with the tradition, which began in 2002 at UCLA,
SPICMACAY already has in the foray the next concert for the summer planned out.
On the 29th of May, 2005, at 3:00 pm there will be a Hindustani Classical Vocal
Recital by Smt. Padma Talwalkar, at the Tom Bradley International Hall, UCLA.
Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
International Room, 3rd Floor
Tom Bradley International Hall
417 Charles E. Young Drive West
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: Free
Tel: 310-794-5840
www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/spicmacay/ucla.htm
April
9 From Tokyo Rose to the Patriot Act: Propaganda and its Impact on Civil
Liberties In this third of five sessions, we continue our examination of
selected propaganda artifacts displayed in the exhibition Common Ground: The
Heart of Community featuring Dr.
Arthur Hansen, the National MuseumÌâåÕs Senior Historian and Professor of
History/Asian American Studies at California State University, Fullerton. He
will join Dr. Mitchell T. Maki, Acting Dean, College of Health and Human
Services at California State University, Los Angeles to reflect on propaganda
prevalent during the resettlement era post-World War II. They will consider
what lessons we can learn from the past to address current attempts to defend
the incarceration of Japanese Americans and justify assaults on civil
liberties. 2PM at the Japanese American National Museum, www.janm.org
April 10 CuratorÕs Lecture with Ann Yonemura. Ann Yonemura,
curator of Japan After Perry and Senior Associate Curator of Japanese Art at the
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, discusses the
exhibitionÌâåÕs extraordinary, colorful woodblock prints in the context of the
momentous historical events that propelled Japan into the modern age. 2PM at
the JANM, www.janm.org
Cosponsored by the Pacific Asia Museum.
In conjunction with the exhibition Japan after Perry: Views of Yokohama and Meiji Japan
April 10 Hanamatsuri Festival at the JACCC Plaza, George J. Doizaki Gallery, Garden Room A.
Hanamatsuri, the celebration of Buddha's birth, is a joyous and widely
celebrated occasion in Buddhist temples throughout the world. A lecture on Buddhism and a ceremony will
commemorate the event.
11am- 4pm (George J. Doizaki Gallery) An exhibition of Children
poster and haiku poems
11am 12 noon (Garden Room A) Lecture on Buddhism by Dr.
Duncan Williams "War/Peace/Buddha's
wish"
1 4pm (JACCC Plaza) Hanamatsuri Ceremony and Gagaku and
Bugaku performance
For
more information contact the Visual Arts Department at 213-628-2725, ext. 127
or email: kosaka@jaccc.org
April 14 Gasa-Gasa Girl: A Mas Arai Mystery by Naomi Hirahara at
the JANM, www.janm.org. 7:30PM. Naomi Hirahara follows up her acclaimed first
mystery novel Summer of the Big Bachi with another Mas Arai adventure. The
story follows Mas AraiÌâåÕs daughter, Mari, who from the time she was a child
was completely gasa-gasa (never sitting still, always on the go). Mas, a
gardener and Hiroshima survivor haunted by his past, never had much time for
his family. Now, Mari is asking for his help and Mas finds himself in New York
City and in the middle of a murder mystery. A light reception with the author
will precede the program and book signing at 6:30 PM.
April
16,17 Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-santaclarita17feb17,1,4180718.story
April 16, 17 Avaz International Dance Theatre "The Golden Mask of Guran" premiere.
Location: Aratani/Japan America
Theatre. Avaz International Dance Theatre combines contemporary movement with Iranian classical and folk dance
traditions to tell the story of
The Golden Mask of Guran, a mix of historical reality, fairy tale and myth from Ferdowsi's Shah-nameh,
the epic history of pre-Islamic Persia. Presented by Avaz International Dance
Theatre; choreography and costume design by Jamal and original music composed
by Ahmad Pejman. Tickets: $50 VIP
with Reception on Saturday, April 16. $35 General Admission, $32 JACCC Members.
8PM on the 16th, 3PM the 17th.
More info on tickets: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700
April 16 Lecture - Swordplay: Making and Breaking the Japanese
Sword At Pacific Asia Museum
This lecture, with Professor Bruce Coats of Scripps College,
Claremont, will examine the fabrication of Japanese swords and the Shinto
rituals involved in their production. This program is part of the April Teacher
Program and is sponsored by the Freeman Foundation. Free with museum admission.
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Pacific Asia Museum
46 N Robles Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
Cost: $ 7 adults, $ 5 students
http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/calendar/jsword.htm
April 23 Pandit Shivkumar
Sharma and Zakir Hussain, santoor and tabla
Location: Aratanai/Japan America Theatre. Featuring two of the greatest artists on their
respective instruments. Pandit
Shivkumar Sharma is the leading exponent of the santoor -
the oldest known stringed instrument in India - and Ustad Zakir Hussain is an international phenomenon
and undoubtedly the most popular
tabla maestro. This concert is a joint presentation of Sangam Entertainment Group, Ektaa Center, SWAR and Artwallah.
For information visit
www.ektaacenter.org. Tickets: $75 VIP tickets, $48, $28
More info on tickets: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700
April
24 The Boat to
Heaven "Shoro
Nagashi" (2003) 1 hr.
49 min.
Location: Aratani/Japan America Theatre, Directed by Mitsutoshi
Tanaka
Based on "Shoro Nagashi," an autobiographical novel written by Masashi Sada, well known Japanese folk singer/songwriter around the end of WWII. A bittersweet
love story, the film celebrates
the pain of life and death. Proceeds will support the scholarships and grants awarded by the Aurora
Foundation which is dedicated
to foster goodwill between
the people of the US and Japan.
Screening times: 12noon
and 4pm The screening times have been changed from previously published.
Tickets: $10 General Admission, $9 JACCC, Aurora Club Members, Students,
Seniors (60+) More info on tickets: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700
April 24 Books and Conversations Restless Wave: My Life in Two Worlds: A
Memoir by Ayako Ishigaki, by Yi-Chun Tricia Lin and Greg Robinson 2PM at the JANM,
www.janm.org.
Ayako
Ishigaki (1903Ð1996) had a remarkable career as a journalist, biographer,
television personality, and activist. She chronicled her extraordinary life in
a stirring and exquisitely written book spanning decades, countries, and
cultures. Restless Wave has been reissued with an afterword by Yi-Chun Tricia
Lin and Greg Robinson that sheds additional light on IshigakiÕs life and work,
much of which took place in Little Tokyo. Lin and Robinson will discuss this
pioneering book and the woman who wrote it.
April 30 VC FilmFest
2005: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
At the Directors Guild of America, David Henry Hwang Theatre, and
Aratani/Japan America Theatre
VC FILMFEST: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Festival
presents its 21st edition as the premier presenter of the best and brightest of emerging and veteran
Asian American, Asian Pacific Islander and Asian International cinema,
anime, documentaries and drama. Highlights of the 2005 edition include
over 100 new and exciting film and video works by Asian and Asian Pacific
American filmmakers. A Festival Retro series, Asian American and Asian International
cinema spotlights, and Showcase program: VC Digital Posse 2005 are just some of
the highlights on tap for VC FILMFEST 2005. Special panels and nvited guests
will be on hand to participate in the Festival. Closing Night will be
highlighted by the presentation of the Festival Golden Reel Award and the Linda
Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award. Complete program information will be
available April 2005.
the Directors Guild of America
David Henry Hwang Theatre
Aratani/Japan America Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $10 General Admission
Tel: (213)680-4462 x68
June 22 Grand Kabuki of Japan At Cerritos Center for the
Performing Arts
In celebration of the Japanese American Cultural and Community
CenterÕs (JACCC) 25th Anniversary, the JACCC is presenting the Grand Kabuki on
June 21-24 at the Cerritos Center of Performing Arts. JACCC invited the
Society to join their ÒCommunity NightÓ performance on June 22nd, starring:
NAKAMURA GANJIRO III, Living National Treasure
NAKAMURA KANJAKU
NAKAMURA KIKAKU Time:
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12700 Center Court Drive
Cerritos, CA 90703
Cost: Tickets start at $65.
Priority Order Deadline: April 13, 2005 call (213) 627-6217, ext.
205, or visit www.jas-socal.org.
Tel: (213) 627-6217
July 16 to Oct 16 From
the Fire: Contemporary Korean Ceramics exhibit at the Pacific Asia Museum
September 22-25 Los Angeles Korean Festival Seoul International Park, Korea Town, Los
Angeles http://www.lakoreanfestival.com/main.htm
Nov 18 to Feb 12, 2006
Place/Displace, Three Generations Taiwanese Art exhibit at the Pacific Asia
Museum
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This Weekend (and
earlier)
November
13, 2004 Ð April 3, 2005 John Kwok: Line and Color exhibit. Chinese American Museum, 425 N. Los Angeles
Street, Los Angeles 90012 (In Olvera Street) 213-626-5240. http://www.camla.org/events/calendar.htm
March 31 Concert - Tibetan Buddhist nun Chšying Drolma and
guitarist St eve Tibbets At SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER
The sacred chants of Tibetan Buddhist nun Chšying Drolma
are paired with the ambient sounds of renowned guitarist Steve Tibbetts. This
breathtaking cross-cultural collaboration evokes an otherworldly experience
rich in contemplation and spirituality. Also featuring percussionist Mark
Anderson. 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Cost: $25 General, $20 Skirball Members, $15 Students
Advance tickets: (866) 468-3399 or www.ticketweb.com
Tel: (310) 440-4500
March 31 Asian American
Comedy Showcase at the Japanese American National Museum, 7:30PM. Celebrate
April Fools' Eve with our second annual showcase of Asian American comedians.
Eight emerging comedians will have you laughing Ôtil it hurts. Special guest
emcee: funnyman Rodney Kageyama. www.janm.org
April 1 At Carpenter Performing Arts Center
Seasons of Migration (World Premiere)
Choreographed by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro
Featuring dancers and musicians from the Royal University of Fine Arts,
Phnom Penh
Imagine that heavenly spirits have come to earth to live
among humans and how they are shocked and transformed by the experience.
Seasons of Migration explores the expressive boundaries of CambodiaÕs
exquisite classical dance, rendering contemporary ideas timeless and the
ancient utterly modern.
Cambodian marketplace 6 PM, pre-concert lecture with choreographer
7 PM, performance 8 PMCarpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 Atherton Street
Long Beach, CA
Cost: $30-$38 (562) 985-7000, www.carpenterarts.org
April 2-3 Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival, 10AM - 6PM, at the
Rose Bowl. http://www.pasadenacherryblossom.org/
April 3 Gempou: A Zen
Master of Living Without Arms, Location: Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 2PM. Musical Director Mitsuyo Tamai. A compelling musical in
English and Japanese about legendary
councilor Gempou Yamamoto, his pacific teachings about the "gracious heart of Zen" and
his triumph in achieving peace
without warfare in bringing about the end of World War II. Featuring a 25-member ensemble from
Wakayama Prefecture. Produced by the Santa Monica Playhouse as part of its
International Exchange Program, Model Language Studio of Tokyo and Tamai
Education Group Wakayama.
Tickets: $15 General Admission $12 JACCC Members, Groups of 10 or
more, Students, Seniors. More info on tickets: call the Box Office at
213.680.3700 www.jaccc.or5g
Also at:Miles
Playhouse. Saturday, April 2nd, 2005 at 7:00 PM
1130 Lincoln Blvd. Santa Monica, CA
90401
Santa Monica Playhouse. Tuesday, April 5th, 2005 at 7:00
PM
1211 4th
Street Santa Monica, CA 90401
http://www.santamonicaplayhouse.com/
Hi Doug,
I wanted to pass
along info about the following event at UCLA's Clark Library, located at 2520
Cimarron Street in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.
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April 30
Five Ways To
Write LA: Asian-American Poets and Writers
A program in the
series ÒPoetry Afternoons at the ClarkÓ
Arranged by
Estelle Gershgoren Novak and Russell Charles Leong
Five literary views by award-winning Korean,
Japanese, and Chinese-American poets and writers, who, by hook or by crook,
were born, immigrated to, write about, or who have been influenced by being
Asian in LA and in the West. Fearlessly, satirically and seductively, their
poems and prose speak about race, gender, spiritualityÑ(and ballroom dance and
poetics too!)
Chungmi Kim (Glacier Lily, 2004)
Jeffery Paul
Chan (Eat Everything Before You Die, 2004)
George Uba
(Disorient Ballroom, 2004)
Amy Uyematsu
(Nights of Fire, Nights of Rain, 1998)
Russell Charles
Leong (Phoenix Eyes and Other Stories, 2000)
Reception to follow program.
Registration deadlineÑApril 22 [might
still be of interest to know about this event]
Registration
feesÑ$5.
Please be aware that space at the Clark
is limited and that registration closes when capacity is reached. No
confirmation will be sent, but we will contact you if we receive your
registration should we reach capacity.
Website with link to printable
registration form:
<http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/c1718cs/calendar.htm#Apr30>http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/c1718cs/calendar.htm#Apr30
***********************************
Also, Sandra Tsing Loh had a very
interesting commentary on KPCC this morning (March 24) about non-Asian
"transethnicity" and perhaps trading in her Asian legacy for an
Armenian one. I couldn't find a
transcript or a pod/broadcast link, but some of your readers might be able to
track it down.
Hope all is well with you.
Paul
April 2 Tokyo Night At Hollywood Athletic Club
Japanese Student Network (JSN)presents annual club event Tokyo
Night.
Join one of the biggest event organized by a student organization
in Southern California.
LIVE Hiphop Performance, line up to be announced
Djs also spinning...
House
Trance
Hip hop
Downtempo
Art Show display in the longe featuring local urban artists
8:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Athletic Club
6525 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA
Cost: presale tickets $20 $25 $30
Special Instructions: over 18 available online www.wantickets.com www.groovetickets.com, www.tkn2005.com
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Links to selected
articles from the LA Times. To actually access the articles, you may have to
sign up for a free account.
March 28 N BRIEF / WASHINGTON, D.C.
From Times Wire Reports
March 25 CALIFORNIA
Cal State Seeks to Boost Its 5.8% African American Enrollment
Officials say not enough is
being done to help students meet system's academic requirements.
By Natasha Lee, Times Staff
Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-calstate25mar25,1,4637047.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
March 24 THE STATE
Nearly Half of Blacks,
Latinos Drop Out, School Study Shows
By Duke Helfand, Times Staff
Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-graduate24mar24,1,7964669.story
March 26 THE NATION
Nazi Probe Extended 2 Years
More documents on U.S.
cooperation with war criminals will be declassified, including recently
disclosed materials on the SS.
By Elise Castelli, Times Staff
Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nazi26mar26,1,1825002.story
march 25 CALIFORNIA
Diplomat's Comment Spurs Protests
Japanese ambassador's
statement on historical ownership of islands currently under South Korean
control stirs emotions on both sides.
By K. Connie Kang, Times
Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-islets25mar25,1,6766330.story
March 24 OBITUARIES
Kenzo Tange, 91; Architect
Blended Traditional Japanese, Modern Elements
By Bruce Wallace, Times Staff
Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-tange24mar24,1,7800262.story
March 24 CALIFORNIA
Dismissal of Spy Case Is Reaffirmed
A federal judge denies
prosecutors' request to reinstate charges that longtime FBI agent Katrina Leung
was a double agent for China.
By Greg Krikorian, Times
Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-leung24mar24,1,359839.story
March 24 IN BRIEF / CHINA
Critic of Crackdown Can Leave
Home, Wife Says
From Times Wire Reports
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-briefs24.4mar24,1,6561863.story