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Asian
Art Museum
Educational Program Highlights
The Asian Art
Museum is scheduled to open in its new, expanded facility at San
Francisco's Civic Center in the Fall of 2002. Listed below are highlights
of some of the rich cultural programs which were offered in 2001.
Stay tuned as more exciting programs are offered as the Museum moves
to its new exciting headquarters in Fall, 2002!
| Special Exhibitions | Highlights
from the Permanent Collection |
| Courses | Docent
Tours | Family Events | Film and Video |
| Lectures | Literary
Arts | Special Events |
SPECIAL
EXHIBITIONS
TAOISM AND
THE ARTS OF CHINA
February 21 - May 13, 2001
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.
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GODS,
DEMON SLAYERS, AND PRINCES:
SCENES FROM
THE LIVES OF KRISHNA AND BALARAMA
January 9 - October 7, 2001
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
Currently on view
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.
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COURSES
Chinese Healing
Arts and Taoism
Saturdays, March 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM,
Classroom
$125 general; $100 members, students, and seniors.
Space is limited. To register call 415-379-8805.
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
Saturday, March 17, 10:00 AM to 12:00 NOON, Asian Art Museum (meet
at glass doors)
Sundays, March 18 and 25, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sharon Art Studio
$95 includes materials. Space is limited. To register call 415-379-8895.
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.
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DOCENT
TOURS
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
11:00 AM Arts of Korea and China 11:30 AM Taoism and
the Arts of China
12:00 AM Arts of Southeast Asia (Thursdays and Saturdays)
Arts of the Himalayas (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
12:30 PM Buddhist Art
1:00 PM Arts of India
1:30 PM Taoism and the Arts of China
2:00 PM Arts of Japan
2:30 PM Buddhist Art
3:00 PM Taoism and the Arts of China
7:00 PM Taoism and the Arts of China (March
7 only)
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FAMILY
EVENTS
Norouz: Iranian
New Year
Sunday, March 18, NOON to 3:00 PM, Gruhn Court
Free with museum admission. For information, call 415-379-8879.
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
Sundays, 1:00 PM, Groups gather at the foot of the stairs in Gruhn
Court.
Free with museum admission. For information, call 415-379-8710.
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.
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FILM
AND VIDEO
FILM SERIES:
TAOISM IN POPULAR CULTURE (continues through April)
Yellow Earth
Sunday, March 4, 2:00 pm, Trustees Auditorium
Free with museum admission. For information, call 415-379-8879.
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).
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LECTURES
Docent Lectures
The Community Speakers Program presents free slide lectures at the
museum. You can also request a docent to give a slide lecture in
your community center, school, or office. For information, call
415-379-8839.
Taoism and
the Arts of China
Wednesday, March 7, 12:30 PM, Trustees' Auditorium
The Enduring
Elegance of the Sari
Saturday, March 17, 12:30 PM, Trustees' Auditorium
Chinese Ceramics
at the Asian
Saturday, March 24, 12:30 PM, Trustees' Auditorium
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LITERARY
ARTS
Readings
from the Tao
Bill Porter
Sunday, March 11, 2:00 PM, Trustees' Auditorium
Free with museum admission. For information, call 415-379-8879.
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.
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SPECIAL
EVENTS
Taoism Education
Open House
Wednesday, March 7, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, First Floor
Free First Wednesday. For information call 415-379-8895.
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
Sunday, March 25, 2:00 PM, Gruhn Court
Free with museum admission. For information, call 415-379-8879.
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
Friday, March 30, 1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM, Classroom
$15 Society for Asian Art members; $18 Asian Art Museum members.
Space is limited. Advance registration is required.
For information, call 415-379-8805.
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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General Information: 415/379-8800 or www.asianart.org
Public Relations: 415/379-8787 or pr@asianart.org
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