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Asian
Art Museum The Asian Art Museum will be open to the public, Wednesday - Sunday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, in Golden Gate Park through October 7, 2001, and is scheduled to open in its new, expanded facility at San Francisco's Civic Center in the fall of 2002.
TAOISM AND THE ARTS OF CHINA Taoism (or Daoism, the belief in "the Way" of the universe) stands at the core of Chinese culture, having a profound influence on such diverse realms as politics, warfare,
medicine, painting, martial arts and even Zen Buddhism. This unprecedented exhibition brings together 150 works of art ranging in date from 500 BCE to 1800 CE that explore
these extraordinary ancient teachings. Included are extremely rare and precious scroll paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, textiles, ritual objects, and books gathered from more than 50 lenders in nine countries. GODS, DEMON SLAYERS, AND PRINCES: SCENES FROM THE LIVES OF KRISHNA AND BALARAMA On view in the museum's Indian Gallery, this selection of paintings drawn from the permanent collection focuses on Krishna and Balarama, forms of the Hindu god Vishnu. Excerpts from several well-known religious texts are used in the exhibition labels to indicate the close relationship that sometimes existed between paintings and literature. They also give viewers a sense of the artistic expression that was, and continues to be, inspired by devotion to Krishna and his older brother. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION The Asian Art Museum's permanent collection encompasses more than 12,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years and representing the countries and cultures of Asia.
Outstanding selections from the collection are currently on view, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Himalayan, Southeast Asian, and Islamic works. The
Southeast Asian galleries feature new acquisitions-including Indonesian and Cambodian bronzes-as well as old favorites from both mainland and island Southeast Asia. The
Japanese galleries contain an impressive collection of hanging scrolls, handscrolls and painted screens, as well as bamboo baskets, textiles and ceramics. The Himalayan
galleries boast intricately woven thankas and mandalas, numerous gilt bronze and copper statues of deities, ritual instruments made of bone, and ornate jewelry. Chinese Healing Arts and Taoism This introductory, practical course explores traditional Chinese healing arts and their relationship with Taoist ideas. Learn about the body's qi (chi) and balancing yin and yang through massage, acupuncture, tai chi and qi gong, herbal remedies and nutrition. Taught by licensed practitioners: Dr. Chang Yi Hsiang, Alex Feng, Gilles Marin, Gale Todoki, Nahm Singh, and Jonathan Wheeler. Three-Day Ceramics Workshop Take your inspiration from the ceramics on display in the museum and create your own raku-fired piece. On March 17, meet inside the museum for a docent tour and hands-on
study of the museum's ceramic teaching collection. Discuss traditions in the medium over hosted tea and cookies. On March 18 and 25 at the studio incorporate your design
ideas in a handbuilding project. No experience necessary. Instructor: Dottie Low. Co-presented with Sharon Art Studio. The museum offers free public tours of its permanent collection galleries and special exhibitions daily during museum hours (except where noted). Tours begin at the base of the stairs in Gruhn Court. All tours are 45 minutes except where noted. For more information, call 415-379-8839. March 2001 Norouz: Iranian New Year Norouz, the Iranian new year's festival, has been celebrated on the first day of spring for the past 3000 years. Deeply rooted in Zoroastrianism (the ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran), Norouz is a joyful celebration during which elders, nature, and the seven holy creations and holy immortals are paid homage. Bring your family to participate in this millennia-old tradition. Noted musician Hafez Modirzadeh will perform traditional Iranian music as well as new compositions. Storytelling for Families Each Sunday, the Asian Art Museum Storytelling Corps offers an entertaining and educational outreach program for children and adults. Small groups examine selected art
objects on display and enjoy a lively retelling of stories relating to the works. Programs last about 45 minutes. FILM SERIES: TAOISM IN POPULAR CULTURE (continues through April) Chinese film often draws upon commonly held beliefs. In this series, Taoism is reflected through different genres (narrative, martial arts, and animation). Yellow Earth is regarded
as a breakthrough film of new Chinese cinema. Chen Kaige's film (cinematography by Zhang Yhimou) won several prestigious awards including awards for best director, best
picture, and best cinematography at international film festivals. Using a simple story set in the 1930s, a soldier is collecting folktales and changing the lyrics to reflect
revolutionary goals. In the process, the soldier observes generations-old traditions including a Taoist community ritual praying to the Rain Gods. Directed by Chen Kaige,
China 1984, color 35mm, 89 min. Co-presented with the National Asian American Telecommunications Association (NAATA). Docent Lectures Taoism and the Arts of China The Enduring Elegance of the Sari Chinese Ceramics at the Asian Readings from the Tao The Taoteching (Daode jing), written some 2,500 years ago by a man known only as Lao-tzu (Laozi), "the Old Master", encapsulates the wisdom of Taoism. Bill Porter's
translation of this most revered of Chinese texts breathes new life into the poems and corrects errors in previous interpretations. This edition also includes the text in the
original Chinese and selected commentaries by monks, priests, nuns, and philosophers over the past 2,000 years. Since 1972 bill Porter has lived in Taiwan and Hong Kong and has traveled extensively in China. Taoism Education Open House Spend an evening discovering the Tao, with Chinese herbal remedy tasting, a tai chi workshop, and docent tours of the special exhibition, Taoism and the Arts of China. Taoism Blessing Ritual Taoist master Chang Yi Hsiang will perform a ritual ceremony to bless the Taoism and the Arts of China exhibition, the museum, and participants. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremony through chanting and to view the lion dance as an integral element of Taoist ritual. Li (ritual) is one of the six Taoist Arts. Dr. Chang has performed many rituals at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Buddhism: Contemporary Practice in the West and a Collection of Prayer Beads With Anne Dorsey Anne Dorsey, long-time student of Buddhist practice, art, and history, will give a workshop on the growing interest in Buddhism in the West. She will also have on display
her extensive collection of Buddhist prayer beads from all over Asia. Ms. Dorsey will discuss the core Buddhist practices and why they have such powerful appeal for modern
westerners. She will also explore the history and use of prayer beads, which in many Buddhist cultures are the ultimate ritual implements, repositories of the most profound personal devotionalism. --------------------
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