All good things must come to an end, including this wonderful exhibition. Please journey to the second floor during your visit to see these incredible textiles. The tools are simple, the technique is complicated, and the results are extraordinary. Batik is a famous artistic tradition of the Indonesian island of Java, where the process of creating patterned cloth with hot wax has reached the highest level of complexity.

What is Asia? Its influences are everywhere and we each encounter it differently, be it through lineage or pop culture. Some of the Bay Area’s most exciting artists—Elisheva Biernoff, Lisa K. Blatt, Ala Ebtekar, James Gobel, Tucker Nichols, Larry Sultan, Andrew Witrak—will answer this question in Proximities, a series of three intimate exhibitions. This is the first installment, about landscapes imagined and real. The second and third will open later in the year. Mark your calendar for the May 30 Proximities celebratory event (details below).

What's your strategy for seeing the legendary terracotta warriors before they return to China? Have you secured your tickets yet? "Amazing," "awesome," "highly recommended," "wow," "mindboggling"—the people have spoken. Many who have been to the vast burial complex in China, home to thousands of terracotta warriors, have marveled at just how close they can actually get to the figures in our exhibition. And let's not forget the 100+ ancient artifacts also on view. Two tips: 1) come on a Thursday evening after 5:00 pm, pay just $10 AND avoid the big crowds 2) download our free app to make the most of your experience.

May 18 is going to be a biiiig day. For starters, it's Art Museum Day. This means FREE general admission for everyone (if you want to see terracotta warriors, the cost is just $10). Partake in hands-on art activities, a Southeast Asian dance-and-music showcase, special screenings, and other activities in conjunction with the annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC), right outside our doors.

 

Soak up the sun in the neighborhood during AHSC. There'll be food trucks, arts-and-crafts booths, a culinary showcase with Martin Yan, Faces of Asia parade, a children's area, a Thai monk blessing, live jazz, and much more than we can describe here.

 

Just up the street at the Phoenix Hotel, ArtPadSF will be happening. This popular art fair transforms hotel rooms into gallery spaces. The Asian Art Museum is a partner and presents two special events on this day: an artist-led tour of the neighborhood that starts in the museum and ends at ArtPadSF, and a thoughtful dance performance. Scroll down to the bottom of this e-newsletter for discounted admission to ArtPadSF.

Artists Drawing Club is a new monthly series that happens on Thursday nights. An artist uses the museum as a project platform, inviting visitors to see the museum, its collection, and the world around us through a unique perspective. This month, Weston Teruya creates ephemera that represents Hawai'i "expats'" ties to their old home. These collected fragments of a dislocated culture are installed in the museum and reinterpreted by guides throughout the night. Facebook event page here.

We're so excited about Proximities 1 that we're going to throw a fun event after it opens. Guest curator Glen Helfand will make remarks, and there will be short, lively discussions in the galleries between our curators and Bay Area artists. New media artist and composer Surabhi Saraf, equipped with technology and her music background, will create multi-channel surround sounds and visuals. Fresh art, the summertime, the museum at dusk...it'll be a lovely evening. Facebook event page here.

 

All month – Free guided tours. Search our new website to find the right tour for you

Through 5/5 – AsiaAlive: Life After Death
5/3 – In-Gallery Talk: Terracotta Warriors with Curator Li He (tour will be given in Mandarin Chinese)

5/5 – Asian Pacific Heritage Month Celebration on Target Sunday (plus puppet making!)

5/23 – Movie Night: House of Flying Daggers

SFIFF, the longest running film festival in the Americas, kicked off last week. Of the many films that might interest you, there's Chimeras, a revelatory documentary about two political pop artists. The hugely successful middle-aged painter and sculptor Wang Guangyi and the gifted young photographer Liu Gang grapple with their place and purpose in a new China. Click here for the trailer. Tickets available at festival.sffs.org.

The Bay Area's premier contemporary and modern art fair relocates to beautiful Fort Mason Center, piquing the interest of collectors with the presence of approximately 70 galleries from around the country. The weekend also includes special artist presentations, talks by curators, and the MRKTworks auction. Enjoy a complimentary one-day pass by clicking here. 

Referred to as “a touch of Art Basel Miami in San Francisco,” ArtPadSF ignites with intimate scale and unique terrain. The boutique art fair attracts those seeking art, community, and innovation. Enjoy galleries, programming, tours, rooftop screenings, and installations. Receive a $10 one-day pass or $20 three-day pass by clicking here; use the promo code ARTPADSFFRIENDS.

 

In partnership with ArtPadSF, we present these two offsite programs on May 18: Artists Drawing Club: Tender Landscapes with Radka Pulliam, and BAILOUT! (an excerpt) by Navarrete x Kajiyama Dance Theater.

We've teamed up with Viking River Cruises to bring you a spectacular giveaway contest. Win an Asian Art Museum membership and a Viking River Cruises Imperial Jewels of China Cruise tour for two. The phenomenal itinerary presents China's key highlights. Click here to get started, and please remember to read the fine print first. Good luck.