2014

VOL. 32, NO.1

SPRING

You are invited to

2.15 | ENJOY DANCE AND ART AT THE SPRING FESTIVAL

2.15 | CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION OF FONG CHUNG-RAY

5.3 VISIT NAPA IN

Napa

SEARCH OF ROOTS

FOLLOW THE WOMEN EXHIBITION FROM SHANGHAI TO RIO

WOMEN

Detail from mosaic by Alan Shepp at The Hatt Mill Building in downtown Napa.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS MESSAGE

Dear Friends and Members, Happy New Year! Please come along for an exciting intercultural and interactive journey in the Year of the Horse. On May 3, the Him Mark Lai Learning Center invites you to join a trip to discover the hidden history of Chinese contributions to the Napa Valley. One highlight is a mosaic that is the rst public art in the country to visualize the anti-Chinese movement in the late 1800s. You can see part of the mosaic on the front cover of this newsletter. 2014 brings exhibitions in the gallery by two pioneering artists whose work challenges stereotypes, Fong Chung-Ray and Summer Lee. By visiting during our Spring Festival on February 15, you can enjoy dance, performances and martial arts performances in the auditorium, and then the Opening Reception for the Fong Chung-Ray exhibition in the Gallery. This summer, your children can enroll in CCC s rst Mandarin Summer Camp for elementary school students, produced in partnership with Language Alive. In this camp, your kids will enjoy learning Mandarin through arts & crafts, drama, and magic. We welcome you on a journey of intercultural discovery and engagement. Art and culture create conversations that dissolve racial and gender preconceptions, and help us to envision a multi-cultural and just society. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you soon. Mabel S. Teng

Sherman Tang
President of the Board of Directors

The Chinese Culture Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Sherman Tang as 2014 President of our Board of Directors. Sherman is a well-known community leader, having recently advised the 1882 Project that successfully secured passage of two resolutions in the 112th Congress expressing regret for the Chinese Exclusion Laws. He joined the Board more than 4 years ago, and has a profound interest in Chinese arts and cultural activities. 2014 is an exciting year for the Foundation, with the Him Mark Lai Learning Center expanding its educational activities and our art exhibitions making international impact. I feel privileged to be part of the Foundation.
112 2014

53NapaNapa 215

A SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO THE LEADERSHIP

We would like to convey our deepest gratitude for your contributions. Our most sincere appreciation for outgoing President Gin Y. Ho and Co-chairs Helen Y. H. Hui and Minna Tao for their steadfast leadership. Special thanks are due to Susan C. Tom and Esther Li for their generosity and momentous efforts in organizing Harmony & Bliss for the last three years. To Shannon Yip, thank you for organizing the Spring Dance. To Vice Presidents Thomas J. Klitgaard, Jonas B. Miller, Dennis A. Lee and Shannon Yip, the Foundation couldnt achieve our success without your wise counsel. Praise is due to both Tatwina Lee and Mei Lam for their exceptional effort with C-cubed, Friends of the Foundation. The Chinese Culture Foundation is dedicated to sparking intercultural discovery through art, education and engagement. We greatly appreciate all your effort and guidance. You are true champions for the Community!

INTRODUCING THE 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gin Y. Ho, Co-chair Minna Tao, Co-chair Sherman Tang, President Shannon Yip, Executive VP Thomas J. Klitgaard, Esq., VP Dennis A. Lee, Esq., VP Jonas B. Miller, VP Warren Seeto, VP Susan C. Tom, Secretary Esther Li, Treasurer Ben Choi Helen Y. H. Hui, Esq. Ryan Lee Maggie Mui Colin C. Wong Garry Wong Cecilia Sze

2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF
Mabel S. Teng, Executive Director Abby Chen, Artistic Director & Curator Darin Ow-Wing, Director of Education and Engagement Francis Wong, Special Projects Manager Jenny Leung, Program & Exhibition Manager Gharrity McNett, Executive Assistant & Facility Manager Colin Chan, Program & Outreach Associate Yu Sheng, Design Associate Shudao Zhang, Program & Administrative Assistant Yun Yuan Zhou, Contractor

DONATION FORM

Be a Cultural Ambassador! Join CCC and donate today!

Make Checks Payable to the Chinese Culture Foundation. Mail to: 750 Kearny St. 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108

Name : Address : City / State / Zip : Email : / Phone : /

For credit card options, please call Gharrity McNett, 415-986-1822, x31. Your contribution is tax-deductible and will go toward community programs. I would like my donation to go toward: Him Mark Lai Learning Center-to encourage learning and youth engagement Art- to spark intercultural discovery and support the most innovative artists Community events-to benet Chinatown All of the above Join as a Member. 3-year support $105, 2 year support $70, 1 year support $40.

HIM MARK LAI LEARNING CENTER PRESENTS

DOORWAYS TO EXPERIENCE CHINESE AMERICAN HISTORY

THE HIM MARK LAI LEARNING CENTER was founded at the Chinese Culture Foundation by Mrs. Laura Lai and Dr. Rolland and Kathryn Lowe, with support from Tatwina and Richard Lee. Him Mark pioneered the study of Chinese American history and served on the Board of Directors for the Chinese Culture Foundation. Along with his wife Laura, he documented not only what happened to Chinese Americans, but also gave voice to their experiences and what they did to resist, thrive, and contribute to America.

Chinatown Tours

DYNASTY TO DEMOCRACY OR TALE OF TWO CITIES

Roots California Educational Tour

MAY 3

DISCOVER CHINESE HISTORY IN NAPA VALLEY!

We offer two tours to choose from: Democracy focuses on history; Two Cities focuses on culture. We guarantee that both tours provide fascinating new insights into the life, art, history, and contributions of Chinatown to America. Over 4,000 students and visitors participate every year. Private groups and schools are both welcome. Scholarships available. Please contact us to schedule a tour.

Depart 9:00 am from CCC. Return 6:30 pm $99 per person includes transportation, wine tasting & tour. Cost of lunch separate

Napa Valley produces some of the best wines in the world, yet very few people are aware that Chinese built much of Napas original agricultural infrastructure. Tour and wine tasting at Beringer Vineyards View artwork about the history of Napa Valley Visit the Old Bale Mill

: Beringer 150 19 19 539 630 $99

4000

The Old Bale Mill in Napa

Mural of the International Hotel, site of housing struggles in the 1970s

Roots Seminar

CHINESE CULTURE SOUTHERN STYLE

ROOTS EXTENDED SEMINAR

This presentation will open your eyes to the unique development of southern Chinese culture. Victor Lim graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Asian Studies and Asian American Studies, and currently serves as a legislative aide for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
MARCH 1, 2:00-3:30PM

In collaboration with the Marin Chinese Cultural Association and the College of Marin, we are proud to present an extended 6 hour seminar and walk detailing many of the human rights struggles and achievements of Chinese in America. Two Thursdays, Mar. 6 & 13

Marin
Dynasty to Democracy Tour

Chinese Culture Center Auditorium, 750 Kearny, 3rd Floor Suggested donation $1 to $5

:
(
31 23 $1-$5

TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFO ON HIM MARK LAI ACTIVITIES:

College of Marin 3613 912

colin@c-c-c.org 415.986.1822, x32

colin@c-c-c.org 415.986.1822,x32
The Him Mark Lai Learning Center is supported by The San Francisco Foundation, Greater Bay Area McDonalds Restaurant Owners, Lowe Family Trust, Laura Lai, Tatwina and Richard Lee, and C-cubed.

TEAM FOCUS
Abby has been on staff since 2006 with more than 10 years of experience curating visual arts, lm, and performing arts programs. She leads the Foundations artistic vision and planning, including exhibition, public art, collection, publication, and strategic partnerships. During her 7-year tenure, Abby helped to shape the CCFs unique curatorial positioning, which highlights the art making process, and provides channels to emerging and mid-career artists of Chinese descent living in the U.S. Under her leadership, the organizations visual art programs have expanded in scope and breadth into an open yet focused platform that encourages imagination and risk-taking. 2006 CCF

Abby Chen
Artistic Director and Curator

Im excited and honored to facilitate the development of the new Him Mark Lai Learning Center, and hope to continue Him Marks legacy of giving voice to the Chinese American community. Darin Ow-Wing has 30 years of experience in youth development and education in Chinatown. He joined the Board of Directors of CCF in 2010, assisting in program development. He transitioned to staff in 2012 in order to help establish the Him Mark Lai Learning Center. Darin Ow-Wing
Director of Education and Engagement

30 2010

Manni Liu has over 20 years experience curating Asian Art. A former executive director at the Chinese Culture Foundation, Manni brings a wealth of history and understanding about the Foundations direction and vision. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Ecuador, Liu speaks Cantonese, English, and Spanish. She received her B.A. in Art History from the University of California at Los Angeles and her M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies from University of Southern California. Manni Liu
Guest Curator

20

Become a cultural ambassador!

Please contact jenny@c-c-c.org to volunteer

CCC ARTS GO GLOBAL

WOMEN : INTRODUCING FEMINIST ART WORKS FROM SHANGHAI TO MIAMI WOMEN

...instead of suggesting that Chinese feminist art is out there we hope to underscore that it is over here too; and thereby encourage viewers to have an active relationship with the works as deeply connected to a range of geographiesincluding the ones in which they reside. Alpesh Kantilal Patel (Curator: Miami Beach Urban Studios)
The WOMEN, exhibition curated by the CCF began as the rst-ever gathering of feminist and LGBT artwork in China. Bringing much needed attention to LGBT issues and activism in China, it was rst presented in Shanghai in 2011. In 2012, WOMEN traveled to San Francisco, where artists from diverse communities were incorporated into the exhibition, signifying the breadth of the movement across multiple cultures. The success and growth of this exhibition from art to movement continues in Miami, where more artists have joined the exhibition. The CCF is proud to lead this international traveling exhibition in support of global feminist and LGBT communities, and to bring greater awareness across borders.
WOMEN2011 2013 Miami Beach Urban Studio WOMEN

Moth by Muxi, 2011

MOTH GOES MADRID AND RIO DE JANEIRO

WOMEN
Moth will appear at the Diversity in Animation Festival in Rio de Janeiro in February 2014. Moth is a lm animation about gender by the artist Muxi that was rst shown in the WOMEN exhibition in Shanghai and the CCC Gallery in 2012. Shortly thereafter, it was selected to show at Frameline in San Francisco, the longest running LGBT lm festival in the world. After a tremendously positive reception at Frameline, the LesGaiCineMad Festival selected Moth for showing in Madrid in October 2013. CCF is proud to have been a conduit for sharing WOMENand the LGBT experience in China with friends across the world.
WOMEN WOMEN Frameline LGBT Diversity in Animation

MANDARIN SUMMER CAMP

Enjoy learning Mandarin by acting in skits, creating art, and learning magic. Our play-based curriculum allows kids to have fun learning Mandarin.
CCC MANDARIN SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION & REGISTRATION www.c-c-c.org/camp colin@c-c-c.org 415-986-1822. x32

July 14-25 9:00am-3:00pm Extended care available Ages 6 to 10 $235 / wk

At the Chinese Culture Center 750 Kearny Street, 3rd Floor San Francisco

FONG CHUNG-RAY:
A MASTER WITHIN THE CONTINUUM OF CONTEMPORARY CHINESE ART
by Manni Liu, Guest Curator
SAN FRANCISCO, J U LY 2013

ROCKEFELLER RECIPIENT COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO

Fong Chung-Rays importance in the history of Chinese modernism lies in his relentless pursuit of a new visual language that combines Chinese and Western sensibilities in abstract forms.

Recently some colleagues from the Chinese Culture Center and I visited Fong Chung-ray in Walnut Creek, California. While the sweltering outdoor temperature read 101 degrees Fahrenheit, Fong entertained us in the coolness of his studio with stories of his life as an artist and the trajectory his art took that made him one of the most prominent gures of modern Chinese art. In spite of the hot weather that day, Fong at 79 years of age, exuded harmony and serenity as he spoke -- temperament that can found reected in many of his paintings. His studio housed many paintings that were created within the last few years. This vast number of new artwork is a testimony of Fongs ceaseless need to create art and of his constant search for artistic expressions that bring satisfaction to his creativity. His long career began in Taiwan and continued when he immigrated with his family to San Francisco in 1975.

Born in 1934 in Henan, China, Fong Chung-Ray spent his childhood years in periods of turmoil marked rst by the Japanese invasion of China and later by the war between the Nationalists and the Communists. In 1949, Fong joined the Nationalist Army as a cadet and left China for Taiwan with a group of young friends. In 1952, he enrolled in the Art Department of the Political Staff College in Taipei (renamed Political Warfare College in 1970) and began studying art and painting from nature. However, Fong soon found that painting realistic depictions from nature was not satisfying; he felt the need to create something from within rather than from without. This belief further developed after he became acquainted with Western abstract art from books and magazines he encountered at the library, and from reproductions he saw at the U.S. Information Services Center in Taipei. Fong Chung-Rays importance in the history of Chinese modernism lies in his relentless pursuit of a new visual language that combines Chinese and Western sensibilities in abstract forms. Unlike many other Chinese artists in the 1950s and 1960s who continued the traditional inkand-brush renditions of landscapes and birds-and-owers imbued with personal variations, Fong together with members of the Four Seas Art Association and later the Fifth Moon Painting Society, sought to introduce a new visual vocabulary that focused on revelation rather than representation. In Fongs paintings, thoughts and feelings

are abstracted and expressed through layers of paints, shapes and lines. Not content with what he saw at the time in Taiwan, Fong abandoned realistic depictions of the material world and embraced abstract art to convey his inner world. The paintings in this exhibition are recent works created by the artist in the last two to three years. We can safely say that this body of work embodies Fongs mature style. Chinese ink, acrylic, and collage are now combined to produce a rich textured effect. Never afraid of borrowing from tradition but freely keeping the spirit of abstraction, Fong frequently uses Chinese calligraphy in his paintings. It has been pointed out repeatedly by scholars and artists that Chinese calligraphy in itself is a high form of abstract art. Who can refute this statement when looking at the crazy draft script (kuang caoshu) of countless Chinese calligraphers throughout the long history of Chinese art? Fongs calligraphy can be at times uid and elegant when drawn with a brush, and at times blunt and pictographical when etched with a sharp tool. The calligraphy can be poems from ancient

times or excerpts from Buddhist sutras. Combined with color gradations and textured layers, Fong successfully blends a much beloved traditional Chinese art form, that of calligraphy, with the spirit of Western abstraction. His later paintings also feature a technique Fong started using in the 1990s. He would apply acrylic onto thin sheets of plastic, these sheets would be crumbled to create unpredictable patterns, and these patterns in turn are transferred onto the paper or canvas. The patterns often produce a rhythmic vitality in its purest abstract form. From a distance, the subtle hues of brown, blue, green and violet juxtaposes serenity with energy. In the grand context of Chinese modernist art, Fong Chung-ray undeniably has an essential role in shaping its direction. One can nd in many younger Chinese artists, who dabble in combining traditional Chinese art forms with Western techniques, noticeable inuence from Fong, whether they like to admit it or not. Having made his mark in the continuum of contemporary Chinese painting, Fong Chung-rays spirit of experimentation continues to ourish. We look forward to his next body of creative work.

Open from Feb 15 to May 31 @ the CCC Gallery | Tues - Sat 10am to 4pm at 750 Kearny, 3F

Free Admission

215531

104 7503

79 1934 19491952 (1970) 90

=============== NON PROFIT ORG US Postage PAID iprintnmail.com =============== 750 KEARNY STREET, 3RD FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108 OUR MISSION The Chinese Culture

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415. 986. 1822 / WWW.C-C-C.ORG

@CCCSANFRANCISCO

China Dance Theatre

S P R I N G F E S T I VA L
The Chinese Culture Center invites you and your family to celebrate the Year of the Horse

02.15
11AM-3PM

SATURDAY

FREE ADMISSION

750 Kearny St, 3F, San Francisco

215, 113
PERFORMERS
Chinese Dance Martial Arts Ballet Modern Dance and more...

750,

......

EXHIBITION OPENING
Pioneering Artist

FONG CHUNG-RAY:
BETWEEN MODERN & CONTEMPORARY

The Spring Festival and the Fong Chung-ray Exhibition are made possible by Grants for the Arts, San Francisco Arts Commission, Wells Fargo, Hilton Hotel, and Recology.