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December 2009   Volume 4 Issue 6  
What's New this Month

* Celebrate Pasko, Filipino Christmas, with art activities, talks, and more, on our December 6 Target Sunday

* Round up family and friends for our annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony on December 31. Say goodbye to 2009 and ring in 2010 with an auspicious start!

The critics are talking about Emerald Cities. What do you think? Check out the exhibition and see if you agree

* Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc. What does it all mean? The best way to find out is to dive right in. We're online, and we hope you can join us!

 
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Special Exhibitions


Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam & Burma

Closes January 10, 2010

 

Did you know our conservators spent 7,500 hours restoring the artworks in this exhibition to their current bedazzling state? Emerald Cities is the first exhibition outside Asia to explore the rich but little known arts of nineteenth-century Siam and Burma. Stunning artworks include furniture, paintings, textiles, and more – many were acquired by the museum from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and are on display for the first time ever.The Asian Art Museum is the exclusive venue. For information on tickets and programs, please click here.


Photographic Memories

Closes January 17, 2010

The second installation of this display highlights photographs from the museum’s holdings. 41 pictures on view –– most dating from 1850-1910 –– reflect people's lives in Asia and record the travels people took there – or would like to have taken. Subjects range from portraits of princes to picturesque views of landscapes and palaces.


 
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Performances


The Many Worlds of Turkish Classical Music: A Talk and Musical Demonstration with Three Turkish Masters
Saturday, December 19, 1:00 pm

FREE with museum admission

 

Virtuoso musicians Necati Çelik, Tumuçin Cevikoğlu, and Yavuz Akalin, currently on tour from Turkey, will perform and discuss the essential elements and history of Turkish music. The secular music of the Ottoman courts was compiled not only by Turkish composers, but also by Arabic, Armenian, Balkan, Greek, and Jewish communities, whose cultures the Ottoman Empire included. The music inherited from Ottoman Turkey not only continues to be performed, but is still being developed by modern composers and ensembles.


 
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Lectures & Workshops


Society for Asian Art Member Event: Buddha in the 21st Century with Sandra Cate

Friday, December 11, 2:00-4:00 pm

$15 members, $25 non-members ($15 members, $25 non-members (does not include admission to Emerald Cities)

Reservations are required: saa@asianart.org or (415) 581-3701

 

Contemporary artists working throughout mainland Southeast Asia continue to draw artistic inspiration from the Buddha and His teachings. Focusing on Buddhism in art since 2000, this presentation surveys a wide range of Thai, Burmese, Cambodian, and Lao artists. It explores the spiritual underpinnings of their work and their diverse and often startling representations of the Buddha and of Buddhist doctrine. We see how centuries-old traditions of Buddhist art are finding fresh, provocative new interpretations in old and new media

 

Literary Reading: The Life of a Burmese by Khet Mar

Sunday, December 13, 2:00 pm
FREE with museum admissoin


Khet Mar is a journalist, novelist, poet, and essayist from Burma who started writing in 1989 while Burma was going through political turmoil. Most of her short stories are related to the lives and struggles of Burmese people. In 2008, when Cyclone Nagis hit Burma, she established a group of volunteers for relief efforts and led them in supporting cyclone victims in delta region of Burma. She is a co-founder of Green Heart Environmental Network, which was founded with several writers, poets, designers, and journalists. Author of the novel Wild Snowy Night, her work has been translated into English and Japanese, featured on radio broadcasts, and made into a film. She is currently a writer–in–residence at the City of Asylum/Pittsburgh.

 

Two-day Workshop: Traditional Thai Dance

Saturdays, December 5 & 12, 10:30 am-2:00 pm

$50 for museum members; $84 for public (includes general admission and entry to Emerald Cities for both days);

Space limited, pre-registration is required: publicprograms@asianart.org or (415) 581-3665.

 

Dance instructors from the Thai Cultural Center of the San Francisco Bay Area will lead this class introducing graceful and precise classical Thai dance. Dances will include stories from Thai history, literature, and mythology borrowing largely from Hindu traditions and the customs of ancient royal courts.


Emerald Cities Lectures

Sunday, December 27, 2:30 pm

FREE with museum admission

 

On the fourth Sunday of every month, a highly trained museum docent will present an hour-long lecture on special exhibition Emerald Cities.


 
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Family Programs


Yoga Flow

Sunday, December 6, 2:00-3:00 pm

FREE ADMISSION * Part of the Target First Free Sunday program

 

Get centered with Yoga Flow. Learn basic poses (asanas) for balance, flexibility, and strength, inspired by sculptures in the museum collection. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.

 

Storytelling

Every Sunday, 1:00 pm

FREE with museum admission (kids 12 and under always admitted FREE)

 

The Asian Art Museum Storytellers bring the galleries to life with the myths and folktales of Asia.

 

Art Projects for Home!
Learn more about Asian art and culture with fun, hands-on art projects. Simply click here and download easy guides for making your own Thai shadow puppet, finger puppet, Japanese teahouse model, and more!

Weekend Drop-In Art Activities

Enjoy the holiday season with art activities! No registration required – drop-in, make, and take a piece of art home with you. For available dates, please check our e-calendar.


 
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Special Events


Pasko!

Sunday, December 6, 11:30 am-4:00 pm

FREE ADMISSION * Part of the Target First Free Sunday program

 

Celebrate Pasko, Filipino Christmas, and discover parol, the illuminated star and symbol of community which helps define Filipino Christmas festivities. Sit in on a talk about the art of parol with MC Canlas of the Bayanihan Community Center and the Filipino–American Development Foundation from 11:30 am–1:00 pm, then learn how to make your own parol at a workshop led by members of the Bayanihan Community Center from 1:00–4:00 pm. Also on hand are artists Christian Cabuay and Ray Haguisan putting a contemporary spin on the ancient Tagalog script, Baybayin. You won't want to miss this! 
 

24th Annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony

Thursday, December 31, Art Activities: 10:00 am-2:00 pm, Ceremony: 12:00 pm

FREE with museum admission (kids 12 and under always admitted FREE)

 

Gather your loved ones to literally "ring in" the New Year at the Asian Art Museum. Based on the Buddhist custom of striking a temple bell 108 times on New Year's Eve to wipe away the bad experiences, wrong deeds, and ill luck of the past year, tolling the bell welcomes the start of a joyous and prosperous fresh start. Be part of this very special, popular event -- strike the 2100-lb., 16th-century Japanese bronze bell to ensure a smashing 2010! Numbered tickets to ring the bell will be distributed at the Admissions Desk starting at 10:00 am (one ticket per family or group; first come, first served). Click here for details on ticketing.


 
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Membership


Special Offers


Gift Memberships
This holiday season, give the gift of membership. A basic one includes yearlong unlimited free admission (including entry to special exhibitions) for two people, a subscription to members magazine Treasures, 10% off in the Museum Store, members' only previews, and more.
Gift memberships are available at all levels. You can purchase them online, onsite, by phone, or email. Spruce up your gift with a lovely rice paper portfolio pack for an additional $10.


Member Promotion

Cirque du Soleil is pleased to announce that it will hold the US premiere of its latest big top touring production, OVO, in San Francisco through January 24, 2010.  OVO will perform under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Members can now receive a special discount on the Thursday, December 17 show. Receive 15% off CATEGORY 1 tickets and 25% off CATEGORY 2 and 3 tickets. To redeem this offer, please click here.

 

Member Events

24th Annual Japanese New Year Bell-Ringing Ceremony -- Members’ Bell Ringing

Thursday, December 31, 2009, 9:30 am (doors open at 9:00 am)
RSVP by emailing members@asianart.org

Avoid long waits and big crowds by being the first to ring our 2100-lb, 16th-century Japanese bronze bell. Members can take the first swing at wiping away all bad deeds of 2009 and saying hello to 2010.

 

End-of-Year Donation

The holidays are already here and the year is almost coming to a close. Please consider making an end-of-year donation gift. It's fully tax deductible and a great way to support the Asian Art Museum's collection, programs, and exhibitions. 

Donate Now.


 
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The Collection

Chinese artwork


 
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Special Offer

Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin Street, SF, 94102
(415) 474-5569
www.burmesekitchen.com

After treating your eyes to beautiful Thai and Burmese art, head up the street to treat your other senses to a Burmese meal at Burmese Kitchen. Fragrant and hearty, Burmese cuisine balances many different flavors. The menu features tea leaf salad, pumpkin stew, a variety of curries, rice dishes, noodle soups, and more, as well as lunchtime combo meals. Asian Art Museum visitors can get 10% off their meal. Simply show your museum ticket to redeem the discount. Enjoy!

 
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In This Issue
What's New this Month
Special Exhibitions
Performances
Lectures & Workshops
Family Programs
Special Events
Membership
The Collection
Special Offer
Did you know?
Connect!
Facility Rentals
Did You Know?


...that during our Japanese Bell-Ringing Ceremony, the bell is struck 108 times to curb the 108 mortal desires, which according to Buddhist belief, torment mankind? It's an auspicious way of symbolically welcoming the new year and hoping for a positive start. You're all welcome to participate in our ceremony!


 
Connect!


We believe in community. Watch us on
YouTube or Flickr, be our friend on Facebook, or find out what we're doing on Twitter. Or, check us out on our own community page where you can leave comments! Please join us in these various ways of staying connected.


 
Facility Rentals


Click here for information on hosting a wedding or corporate event at the Asian Art Museum.


 
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Photo of Bhutan landscape by Shuzo Uemoto; Guru Nyima Özer. Late 19th century. Ink and mineral colors on cotton. Do Khachu Gönpa, Chukka; Dish with eight-pointed star, 1640-1670. Iran. Fritware with underglaze decoration. Gift of Cheney Cowles in honor of Phoebe McCoy, 2007.32; photo of monks by Saly Lee; Japanese lacquer lecture photo courtesy of Sugimura Akira; Magu, diety of immortality. China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Ink and colors on silk. Gift of Michel Weill, 1995.49; photo for Kite Runner courtesy of San Jose Repertory Theater.  

Major support for ASIANotes has been made possible by The Wallace Foundation.

 Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102     (415) 581-3500    
www.asianart.org
Copyright © 2009 Asian Art Museum | Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2009 Asian Art Museum | Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. All rights reserved.
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