February Events
February 1 - 28
Contemporary Figurative Painting
A selection of paintings by eight Chinese artists who've exhibited in Shanghai and elsewhere in China. Their art reflects their personal and psychological perspectives on their country's globalization and modern conditions.
At Sandra Lee Gallery, 251 Post St., #310, San Francisco. Visit www.sandraleegallery.com or call 415-291-8000.
February 4, at 6-9 PM
Arts of Pacific Asia Preview Reception
The preview reception for the annual Arts of Pacific Asia show honors Shanghai Celebration partners. Presented by the Asian Art Museum.
At Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Tickets $85 for Asian Art Museum members; $115 for non-members. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3788.
February 4, at 6:30 PM
Preview of the Asian Art Museum’s Shanghai Exhibition: SAA First Thursday Lecture Series
Dany Chan, curatorial assistant of the Shanghai exhibition, gives a preview of the exhibit. Presented by the Society for Asian Art.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $5 after museum admission. RSVPs required; email saa@asianart.org or call 415-581-3701.
February 7, at 3-5 PM
Jews in Modern China: Personal Stories and Reminiscences
Bay Area residents, representative of the Sephardic, Russian, and Holocaust-refugee Jewish communities that settled in China, speak about formerly living there. Presented by Lehrhaus Judaica and co-sponsored by the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Office.
At Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Visit www.lehrhaus.org or call 510-845-6420.
February 8, at 8 PM
The Shanghai and San Francisco Conservatories of Music Collide
This concert, celebrating the longstanding relationship between the Shanghai and San Francisco conservatories, showcases compositions by presidents, faculty, graduates and students of China’s oldest conservatory.
At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St., San Francisco. Tickets $20 general admission; $15 students, seniors, and Friends of the Conservatory. Visit www.sfcm.edu or call 415-503-6275.
February 11, at 12-1:30 PM
City Club Roundtable
Presented by the City Club, leaders of the Asian Art Museum discuss over lunch Shanghai’s art and culture.
At the City Club, 155 Sansome St., 10th Floor, San Francisco. Tickets $35 for City Club and Asian Art Museum members; $45 for non-members. Visit www.cityclubsf.com or call 415-362-2480.
February 11, at 12:30-1:30 PM
Shanghai's Fabric of Everyday life: A conversation with UC Berkeley Professor Renee Chow
Shanghai's explosive growth has led to a loss of the unique urban patterns that supported its everyday life. Chow describes the evolution of urbanism in Shanghai and shares her work on alternative planning strategies that embrace environmentalism, cultural sustenance and the persistence of place. Presented by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, with the Urban Land Institute and locally-based architecture and planning firms.
At SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission St., San Francisco. Tickets free for SPUR members; $5 for non-members. Visit spur.org/events/calendar or call 415-781-8726.
February 11, at 6-8 PM
Swinging Chinatown Opening NIght Gala
From the late 1930s to the early 1960s, the most talented Asian entertainers in the country performed at San Francisco Chinatown's booming clubs. An exhibit of Chinatown nightlife then is preceded by a gala that evokes the excitement and glamour of the old clubs. The Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers, performs. Presented by the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society.
At the Old Mint Building, 88 Fifth St., San Francisco. Tickets $100. Visit www.sfhistory.org or call 415-537-1105 ext. 100.
February 12-15, 19-21
Swinging Chinatown: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs
From the late 1930s to the early 1960s, the most talented Asian entertainers in the country performed at Forbidden City and other booming clubs in San Francisco's Chinatown. This exhibit of Chinatown nightlife then includes vintage photographs, costumes and momentoes from clubs and performers. Presented by the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, with the Chinese Historical Society of America.
At the Old Mint Building, 88 Fifth St., San Francisco. Tickets $5 for San Francisco Museum & Historical Society and Chinese Historical Society of America members; $10 for non-members. Visit www.sfhistory.org or call 415-537-1105 ext. 100.
February 12 - September 5
Shanghai
More than 130 works demonstrate the unique flavor and identity of China’s most cosmopolitan city. This unprecedented exhibit explores both internal and external influences that have contributed to Shanghai’s cultural globalization and distinctive brand.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $5 exhibit charge plus Museum general admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
February 13, at 10 AM-2 PM
Lunar New Year Flower Market & Celebration
In its 11th year, the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society’s lunar new year market and celebration includes plants for sale, docent-led tours and entertainment and story-reading for children.
At Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. & Lincoln Way, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfbotanicalgarden.org or call 415-661-1316.
February 17, at 12:30-1:30 PM
Shanghai's Past/Present/Future: Historically Sensitive Development in Shanghai
Allowing a city to grow while preserving its history is a particular challenge in Shanghai, given its booming economy. But two San Francisco-based architecture firms are trying just that. Ellen Lou, Associate Director at Skidmore Owings and Merrill, and Michel St. Pierre, Director of Planning and Urban Design at Gensler, discuss each of their plans for downtown Shanghai, including the historic Puxi district and redevelopment to incorporate the riverfront into the city’s center. Presented by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, with the Urban Land Institute and locally-based architecture and planning firms.
At SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission St., San Francisco. Tickets free for SPUR members; $5 for non-members. Visit spur.org/events/calendar or call 415-781-8726.
February 18, at 10-11 AM
KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM Forum featuring Shanghai
Tune in to KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny, who introduces the Asian Art Museum’s newest exhibition Shanghai and examines the Bay Area’s many cultural and economic ties with China’s largest city.
Visit http://www.kqed.org/radio/programs/forum. To participate, call in at 866-SF-Forum or email forum@kqed.org.
February 18, at 5-9 PM
MATCHA: Eye of the Tiger
Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with demonstrations of tiger-style kung fu by monks from the Shaolin Temple USA in San Francisco.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
February 20, at
12 – 4 PM
AsiaAlive: Shanghai Crafts
Meet 15 master artists from Shanghai as they demonstrate gourd sculpturing, beading, silhouette cutting, embroidery, Chinese knotting, dough sculpturing, silk netting, dragon and phoenix calligraphy and painting and other traditional
Chinese art forms. Organized by the Asian Art Museum and the Chinese New Year Parade Committee.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
February 23, at 9 AM
Walk-through of the Shanghai Exhibition Galleries
Curatorial assistant Dany Chan guides you through the newly opened Shanghai exhibit, the cornerstone of the Shanghai Celebration. Presented by the Society for Asian Art.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $15 for Society for Asian Art members; $25 for non-members. RSVPs required; email saa@asianart.org or call 415-581-3701.
February 23, at 12:30-1:30 PM
Building Green in China: A Presentation by Architect Jeff Heller
The environmental movement in China is relatively young and new. San Francisco's Heller Manus, however, has managed to use green building practices on its multi-use office tower along Shanghai's Huangpu River and on its master plan for Guangzhou's city center. Jeffery Heller, principal at Heller Manus, shares his insights on the intricate design and approval process in China and the differences between working in Shanghai and in San Francisco. Presented by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, with the Urban Land Institute and locally-based architecture and planning firms.
At SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission St., San Francisco. Tickets free for SPUR members; $5 for non-members. Visit spur.org/events/calendar or call 415-781-8726.
February 24 - May 16
Jews in Modern China
Photos and documents depict the experiences of Sephardic, Russian, and European Jews who settled in China over a 100-year period. These are augmented by memorabilia of Bay Area families that once lived there. Presented by the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Office.
At the Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.ajcsanfrancisco.org/china or call 415-777-3820.
February 27, at 3 PM
Chinese New Year Concert & Celebration
San Francisco Symphony ushers in the Year of the Tiger with this lively East-meets-West celebration. Shanghai-born Haochen Zhang, 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist, plays Tchaikovsky. San Francisco Ballet’s Tiit Helimets and Shanghai native Yuan Yuan Tan dance in concert with the symphony, conducted by music director Michael Tilson Thomas. Pre-concert festivities starting at 2 pm include lion dancing, Chinese treats and tea.
At Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Tickets $20 and up. Visit www.sfsymphony.org or call 415-864-6000.
