Programs by Date
January 23 - 30, at 2 PM, 7:30 PM & 8 PM
Swan Lake
San Francisco Ballet’s own Shanghai native, prima ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan, dances the lead role in this sumptuous production of Swan Lake.
At War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Tickets $20 - $275. Visit www.sfballet.org or call 415-865-2000.
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. Jeffrey Heller, president of 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.
March 1- May 31
Elegant Needlework: Embroidery from Shanghai
The Chinese Center of the Main Library hosts a Shanghai embroidery exhibition that showcases vivid and gorgeous handmade works of embroidery art. At the Chinese Center, San Francisco Public Library, 3/F, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277
March 2, at 5:30 PM
Opening Event of the Jews in Modern China Exhibit
A viewing of the exhibit, a reception and a discussion featuring Professor Pan Guang of Shanghai’s Center for Jewish Studies and Professor Thomas Gold of UC-Berkeley. Presented by the American Jewish Committee and Asia Society Northern California
At the Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio, San Francisco. Ticket information to come. Visit www.ajcsanfrancisco.org/china or call 415-777-3820.
March 3 - June 27
Assignment Shanghai: Photographs on the Eve of Revolution
Riveting images taken by a young Life photographer who was sent to Shanghai in 1946 to document the Chinese civil war. Presented by UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
At UC Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Tickets $8 general; $5 seniors, disabled persons, students, and 13–17 year-olds. Visit www.bampfa.berkeley.edu or call 510-642-0808.
March 4, at 6:30 PM
Behind the Scenes of the Shanghai Exhibition: SAA First Thursday Lecture Series
Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories from Asian Art Museum conservator Katie Holbrow and registrar Cathy Mano as they describe the preservation, registration, transport and installation of contemporary artworks displayed in the Shanghai exhibition. 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.
March 4, at 7 PM
Shanghai’s Jews – Art, Architecture and Survival
A captivating discussion about the Jews in Shanghai, covering art, architecture, survival and other aspects of their experience. Presented by the Asian Art Museum, the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the American Jewish Committee.
At the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., San Francisco. Tickets $5 (includes access to all galleries). Visit www.thecjm.org or call 415-655-7800. Video from this program is available in the CJM’s video gallery, at www.thecjm.org/video.
March 4, 11, 18, 25, at 12 PM
Thursday at Noon Film Series – Shanghai: City of the Future
The San Francisco Public Library screens four popular documentary films about Shanghai, Fist of Legend, The Painted Veil, Shanghai Ghetto and Seeking Art in Shanghai.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
March 6, at 9 AM - 5:30 PM
Moderne and Modernity: Visual Narratives of Inter-War Shanghai
What kind of city was Shanghai in the first part of the 20th century? Panelists discuss the city’s dynamic changes then--in its visual culture, new Art Deco architecture, and roles for women—which were as monumental as those of today. This symposium is presented by UC Berkeley Institute of East Asian Studies and co-sponsored by UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, UC Berkeley Center for Chinese Studiesand Asian Art Museum.
At the Museum Theater at the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2621 Durant Ave., Berkeley. Visit http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/2010.03.06.html or call 510-643-6492.
March 7, at 11 AM & 2 PM
Shanghai Film Series: High Times to Revolution
Shanghai emerged in the 1920s as China’s first film capital and today hosts one of Asia’s largest annual film festivals. Showing today at the Asian Art Museum, at 11 AM: Shanghai Triad (1995), an epic of greed, revenge and lust for power set in 1930s Shanghai, by famed director Zhang Yimou (who choreographed the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony); 103 minutes, in Chinese with English subtitles, rated R. At 2 PM: Two Stage Sisters (1964), about the changing lives of China's women in the context of the Chinese opera world; 112 minutes, in Chinese with English subtitles. A program of Target First Free Sunday.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
March 7, at 2 - 4 PM
Remembering Rena
A program honoring the late Rena Krasno, a Shanghai-born Russian Jew whose books, lectures and archival projects documented the Jewish experience in Shanghai and China. Friends, family, colleagues and Shanghai-born Jews now living in the Bay Area will speak. Presented by the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Office, with Pacific View Press and the Sino-Judaic Institute.At the Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.ajcsanfrancisco.org/china or call 415-751-2535.
March 10, at 7 - 9 PM
A Young Man
in Shanghai: Troubles and Triumphs
Audrey Friedman Marcus discusses the Shanghai experiences of her late husband, Fred Marcus, who fled from Germany at age 15. His recently published diary depicts the challenges and struggles that he and some 20,000 fellow Jewish refugees encountered. Presented by the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Office and the Bureau of Jewish Education of San Francisco.At the Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.ajcsanfrancisco.org/china or call 415-751-2535.
March 12, at 9 - 10:15 AM
Walk-through of the Shanghai Exhibition Galleries
Dany Chan, curatorial assistant for Chinese art, gives context and commentary while guiding you through the Shanghai exhibit. 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.
March 12 - 14, at 12 - 4 PM
AsiaAlive: Propaganda Poster Art
Former propaganda poster artist Ren Ming discusses his experiences during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, in this presentation by the Asian Art Museum.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
March 14, at 2 - 4 PM
Shanghai 2010: A Documentary
Explore Shanghai at a pivotal time in its history: now, as it prepares to host the largest World Expo in history. The film, produced by D3 Productions, Inc. of Oakland and presented by the San Francisco Public Library, looks at the construction of elaborate Expo pavilions, typical Shanghai eats, and the jazz scene reminiscent of the 1930s.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
March 14, at 2 - 4 PM
Founders of the Shanghai Jewish Community: The Sephardic Story
Shanghai-born Leah Jacob Garrick discusses the history and legacy of Sephardic families who were significant in shaping Shanghai's business world and architecture and also formed the foundation of the city's Jewish community. 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 415-751-2535.
March 14, at 8:15 PM; March 15, at 9 PM
Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest
The 28th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival presents Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest (Parts 4 & 5), the most ambitious work of acclaimed Shanghai artist Yang Fudong. Based on real-life 3rd-century Taoist intellectuals, the films are a metaphorical fantasy of seven people who withdraw from contemporary urban society. Yang's work is a dreamlike, thought-provoking discourse on men and women, history and modernity, and individuals and society.
At Viz Cinema, 1746 Post. St., San Francisco. Visit http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/2010/ or call 415-863-0814.
March 21, at 4 - 6 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 Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave., Berkeley. Visit www.lehrhaus.org or call 510-845-6420.
April 1, at 5 - 9 PM
MATCHA: Shanghai Jazz
In this Asian Art Museum presentation, Chinese jazz vocalist Coco Zhao performs original compositions and Shanghai jazz favorites, joined by San Francisco musicians.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
April 1, at 6:30 PM
The Birth of Jazz in Asia: SAA First Thursday Lecture Series
Cory Combs of SFJAZZ discusses the origins of jazz in Asia, with a special focus on Shanghai. 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.
April 4, at 11 AM & 2 PM
Shanghai Film Series: Shanghai Cinematic Legend Ruan Lingyu
Shanghai emerged in the 1920s as China’s first film capital and today hosts one of Asia’s largest annual film festivals. Showing today at the Asian Art Museum, at 11 AM: A Spray of Plum Blossoms (1931), a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, starring cinematic legend Ruan Lingyu; 110 minutes, silent movie with Chinese and English intertitles. At 2 PM: Center Stage (aka The Actress) (1992) the true story of Ruan Lingyu (played by Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung) and her tragic suicide at age 25; 154 minutes, in Chinese with English subtitles. A program of Target First Free Sunday.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
April 6, at 6:30 PM
Open Books: Anchee Min
Anchee Min talks about her just-released Pearl of China, a novel tracing a lifelong friendship between famed writer Pearl S. Buck and the fictional Willow, from a poor Chinese family. Pearl’s family flees China before the 1949 Communist revolution, while Willow’s husband becomes Mao’s top aide; political and personal turmoil threatens their friendship. Min, who as a child in Shanghai had to denounce Buck, wrote the bestselling memoir Red Azalea. Presented by the San Francisco Public Library and Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
April 10, at 2:30 – 4 PM
Pearl of China: A Book Talk by Anchee Min
Author Anchee Min discusses her newly released novel, about a lifelong friendship between famed writer Pearl S. Buck and the fictional Willow, from a poor Chinese family. Pearl and her family flee China before the 1949 Communist revolution, while Willow’s husband becomes Mao’s top aide; political and personal turmoil threatens their friendship. Min, who as a child in Shanghai had to denounce Buck, wrote the bestselling memoir Red Azalea. After her talk, Min will sign books.
At the Chinatown Branch Library, 1135 Powell St., San Francisco. Free. Visit At the Chinatown Branch Library, 1135 Powell St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
April 15, at 6:30 PM
Jews of Shanghai: One Woman’s Miraculous Life
As a fourth-generation Shanghai Jew, Leah Jacob Garrick talks about the migration of Iraqi, Russian and European Jews to Shanghai from the 1840s to the 1930s. Presented by the Asian Art Museum and the Society for Asian Art in collaboration with the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Office.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Email saa@asianart.org or call 415-581-3701
April 16, at 2 - 4 PM
Where is Shanghai? A View and an Understanding of Contemporary Shanghai Painting
Dr. Lisa Claypool of Oregon’s Reed College discusses the art of Shanghai painting, in this presentation by the Society for Asian Art.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco Tickets: $15 SAA members and $25 non-SAA members, after museum admission. RSVPs required; email saa@asianart.org or call 415-581-3701.
April 22 - July 25
Xian Rui 2010 – O Perspective by Shuang Stella Zhang
The U.S. debut of O Perspective, an inner material landscape created with everyday objects, presented by the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco. The artist drew inspiration from her multi-continent living experience.
At the Hilton Hotel, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.c-c-c.org or call 415-986-1822.
April 29, at 7 - 9 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 the Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio, San Francisco. Visit www.lehrhaus.org or call 510-845-6420.
April 30 - October 17
Shanghai: High-Rise Architecture and the Remaking of China’s Gateway to the World
Ten architectural projects, at the center of the dramatic transformation of Shanghai’s skyline during the past two decades, are illustrated with models, drawings, photographs, and video components. Presented by the San Francisco Airport Museums.
At San Francisco International Airport, International Terminal Main Lobby. Free. Visit www.sfoarts.org or call 650-821-6787.
May 1 - August 5
100th Anniversary of the U.S. Immigration Station, Angel Island
An exhibit on the “Ellis Island of the West,” where, between 1910 and 1940, more than one million immigrants from 80 countries first stepped onto American soil. Presented by San Francisco Public Library and the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., Larkin Street Bridge, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4596.
May 2, at 2:30 PM
Shanghai Film Series: The Jews of Shanghai
Shanghai emerged in the 1920s as China’s first film capital and today hosts one of Asia’s largest annual film festivals. Showing today at the Asian Art Museum, at 2:30 PM: The Port of Last Resort (1998), the little-known story of Jewish refugees in Shanghai, told by former refugees and through rare home movies, newsreels and propaganda films. Nancy Berliner, curator of Chinese art at the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts, introduces the 79-minute film. A program of Target First Free Sunday.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
May 5, at 4:30 - 8:30 PM
Mah Jongg!
Learn to and play mah jongg (either the Chinese or American versions) and watch Tiles That Bind, a short documentary featuring Chinese and Jewish women who reminisce about their mothers playing. Between the tile clacking and stacking, check out the on-site Jews in Modern China exhibit.
Refreshments provided. Sponsored by the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Office.
At the Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., The Presidio, San Francisco. Free, but reservations required no later than April 27; rsvp to Lauren Bellings, 415-447-8888 or lauren@laurenlai.com, or Linda Frank, 415-263-8926 or linda@franknet.net , and please give names of any people coming with you, whether you are coming as part of a table group, and whether you can help teach.
May 6 – June 5
Sister Cities-Dreaming Alike Oceans Apart
Li Xiaofei of Shanghai and Lynn Marie Kirby of San Francisco present videos of adolescents in their two cities talking about their lives, social relations and expectations for the future, and a collaborative, comedic video based on their e-mail correspondence as translated by Google translate. Also on display are Li’s abstract, large-scale color photographs and Kirby’s Listening in Shanghai project, in which she has taken notes about sounds when she encounters people or sites, rather than recorded them. Presented by the Togonon Gallery.
At Togonon Gallery, 77 Geary St., 2nd Flr., San Francisco. Visit www.togonongallery.com or call 415-398-5572.
May 8, at 12 - 6:30 PM
Chinatown Music Festival
Presented by the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, this free outdoor concert highlights talent in Chinatown and marks Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Performers include pianist and composer Jon Jang, homegrown band Jest Jammin' and Melody of China, an ensemble that uses traditional Chinese instruments.
At Portsmouth Square, Kearny and Clay streets, San Francisco. Free. Visit www.c-c-c.org or call 415-986-1822.
May 9, at 10:30 AM - 4 PM
Spring Family Festival
Perfectly timed on Mother’s Day, the Asian Art Museum’s Spring Family Festival is a day of parent-child activities and entertainment. There are music and dance performances and hands-on arts and crafts making. Museum storytellers engage kids with classic tales from Chinese literature, such as Journey to the West. The China Dance School & Theatre performs pieces from Shanghai and other areas of China. The troupe also demonstrates two of the most popular traditional Chinese dances, the ribbon and the fan dances—and visitors have the chance to try the moves themselves.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
May 12, at 7 - 8 PM
A Conversation with Contemporary Artist Zhang Huan
Join internationally-renowned, Shanghai-based artist Zhang Huan and Asian Art Museum director Jay Xu as they talk about Zhang’s colossal Three Heads Six Arms (2008), which makes its official world premiere today at Civic Center. Standing between City Hall and the Museum, the 15-ton, 26-foot-tall copper sculpture was inspired by Zhang’s finding desecrated religious statues for sale in markets in China. The program will be conducted in Chinese, with English interpretation provided. Co-sponsored by San Francisco Arts Commission and the Asian Art Museum.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfartscommission.org or www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
May 19, at 6 PM
Shanghai and Beyond: Understanding the Power of Art and Visual Culture
The Asian Art Museum’s Shanghai exhibition is the cornerstone of a year-long celebration of the Shanghai-San Francisco 30-year Sister City relationship and Shanghai’s hosting of World Expo 2010. Museum director and Shanghai native Jay Xu discusses the artworks in the unprecedented exhibit and the city's transformation through the lens of art and visual culture. He also reflects upon the power of cultural diplomacy to bridge cultures and countries. Presented by the Commonwealth Club of California’s arts, Asia-Pacific and humanities forums.
At the Commonwealth Club, 595 Market St., San Francisco. Tickets : $12 Commonwealth Club and Asian Art Museum members (must call 415 597-6705 to purchase); $20 non-members; $7 students. Visit https://tickets.commonwealthclub.org.
May 22, at 2 - 4 PM
Shanghai Film Program
San Francisco Public Library screens the popular Shanghai classic Street Angel (馬路天使) (1937), which the 2005 Hong Kong Film Awards ranked 11th among the 100 best Chinese movies. Zhou Xuan (周璇) and Zhao Dan (趙丹) star in the drama/comedy; 90 minutes, in Mandarin with English subtitles. Q & A
to follow screening. At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4596.
May 22, at 6 - 9 PM
Sister City Video Art Screening
The work of a pair of video artists—Lynn Marie Kirby of San Francisco and Li Xiaofei of Shanghai—is screened in this program organized by SOMArts Cultural Center and the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center.
At SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. (between 8th & 9th), San Francisco. Free. Visit http://blog.somarts.org or call 415-863-1414 ext. 110.
May 23, at 1 – 4 PM
Shanghai Cultural Festival
San Francisco Public Library’s festival includes presentations of Shanghai opera, indigenous folk dancing, modern martial arts and a fashion show from 2-4 pm. From 1-4 pm, artists will demonstrate Shanghai’s unique twists on traditional Chinese crafts such as calligraphy, paper cutting, pastry-dough sculpture and poured-sugar sculpture.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
May 28 - June 13, Fridays through Sundays, at 12 - 4 PM
AsiaAlive: Through the Artist's Lens
In demonstrating their processes of making art, local art instructors Imin Yeh, Danny Thanh Nguyen and Adrienne Skye Roberts share how they led the teens in the museum's Art Speak program to create original works inspired by the Shanghai exhibit.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
May 29, at 2 - 4 PM
Elegant Embroidery and Kesi Demonstration
Cao Meiji, one of China's top embroidery artists, comes from the Chinese silk capital of Suzhou to demonstrate embroidery and kesi (cut silk). She will give an overview of techniques, showing a variety of stitches, designs, and styles. She will also screen a short DVD and will teach some simple embroidery methods. Attendees will have a chance to try their hands at it; materials and tools will be provided.
At the Chinese Center, San Francisco Public Library, 3/F, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
June 8 - August 27
Economica: Women & the Global Economy
This exhibit illuminates how women interact with money – as earners, consumers, caretakers and decision makers in households, corporations, governments, multinational banks and elsewhere. Featured are the works of a photographer from Shanghai and other international artists. Presented by the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery and the International Museum of Women.
At City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco. Free. Visit http://www.sfartscommission.org/gallery or call 415-554-6080.
June 3, at 5 - 9 PM
MATCHA: The Shanghai Dress
Tonight's Asian Art Museum MATCHA is inspired by the stylish and sexy qipao, the signature dress of 1930s Shanghai that's featured in the movies In the Mood for Love and Lust, Caution. Shanghai-born and Bay-Area-bred custom designer Jane Zhu narrates a show of her gorgeous qipao and explains the history and intricacies of the iconic garment. Zhu's creations, a favorite of brides and spotlighted in Vogue, Elle and other publications in China, have visible zippers and other updated and chic details. Museum visitors can also learn to make traditional Chinese buttons.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
June 6, at 11 AM & 2 PM
Shanghai Film Series: The Jews of Shanghai
Shanghai emerged in the 1920s as China’s first film capital and today hosts one of Asia’s largest annual film festivals. Showing today at the Asian Art Museum, at 11 AM: A Place to Save Your Life (1994), about Jews living in Japanese-occupied China; 52 minutes, in English. At 2 PM: Shanghai Ghetto (2002), narrated by Martin Landau, which examines Jewish refugees' relationships with local Shanghainese and with the occupying Japanese troops, plus the fate of their relatives who remained in Europe; 95 minutes, in various languages with English subtitles. A program of Target First Free Sunday.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
June 8 - July 10
Gold Standard: Nine Asian/American Modernist Artists
Vintage paintings and works on paper by nine Asian and Asian-American artists who fused traditional Asian art and Western avant-garde elements. These modernists, who worked in California in the 1960s and 1970s, include Ruth Asawa, George Miyasaki and three natives of Shanghai. Opening reception on June 12, at 5-7 pm. Presented by the Togonon Gallery.
At Togonon Gallery, 77 Geary St., 2nd Flr., San Francisco. Visit www.togonongallery.com or call 415-398-5572.
June 11,
at 6 – 10:30 PM
2010 Ethnic Dance Festival Benefit Gala
The Chanticleer ensemble sings Spring Dreams by acclaimed Chinese composer Chen Yi, as Crystal Lee performs choreography by China Dance School and Theatre, created specifically for this gala. Taught pronunciation by Chen and others, Chanticleer will sing in Shanghainese. The all-male ensemble, part of the official San Francisco delegation going to the World Expo, will present concerts in Shanghai in late June. Tonight’s gala, featuring stunning dance and music pieces, benefits the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
At the Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon St., San Francisco. Tickets: $50, $125. Visit City Box Office or call World Arts West, 415-474-3914.
June 24, at 6 - 7:30 PM
ShanghaiPRIDE 2009: Shanghai’s First Gay Pride Festival
In 2009, a volunteer group called ShanghaiLGBT planned and pulled off what became internationally recognized as Shanghai’s first gay pride festival. The week-long celebration sparked controversy in the Chinese and international communities, and after arguments with the police, fear of cancellation and a surprise turn by China’s state-owned media, the festival was a milestone that lay the groundwork for future pride celebrations in China—which many people thought would never happen. Hannah Miller, founder of ShanghaiLGBT and organizer of ShanghaiPRIDE 2009, talks about Shanghai’s gay scene and what a visible LGBT community means for China’s future.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
June 24, at 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs
Trina Robbins reads from her new book Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs, about people who performed in San Francisco’s flourishing Chinese nightclubs in the late 1930s to the late 1960s. Joining her are members of Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe formed in the 1950s by professional Chinatown nightclub dancers. Presented by the Asian Art Museum and the Art Deco Society.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
June 26, at 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Art Speak Exhibition Opening
Meet a talented, new generation of artists at the first-ever Art Speak exhibition! The Shanghai Lounge at the Asian Art Museum will be happening—with cool, emerging artists, cutting-edge art and an AsiaAlive artist demonstration by Gene Yang.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
June 26 & 27, at 12 - 4 PM
AsiaAlive: Comics
Award-winning comic artist Gene Yang talks about his creative process and love for the comic medium, in this presentation by the Asian Art Museum.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
June 26- September 11
Shanghai Lounge
Drop by the Shanghai Lounge at the Asian Art Museum to view creations by Art Speak youth from San Francisco and Shanghai.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
Thursdays, July 1- August 26, at 11 - 11:30 AM
Shanghai Stories
The famous storytellers of Shanghai kept traditions alive with old tales from Chinese literature. Meet the Monkey King from the epic Journey to the West, as well as other beloved figures from classic Shanghai stories, as narrated by Asian Art Museum storytellers. At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
July 1,
at 5:30-6:30 PM
Shanghai Nights: Contemporary Ink
Can ink painting be modern? Chinese artists have debated this since the 1930s. Contemporary artist Zheng Chongbin says yes. Discover (and ask him) why in this discussion led by senior curator of Chinese art Michael Knight. Also tour the special Shanghai exhibition—with docents or the audio guide narrated by Joan Chen—and refuel with Shanghainese treats at the café.At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
July 8, at 5:30-6:30 PM
Shanghai Nights: Shanghai Deco
Michael Knight, senior curator of Chinese art, discusses the origins, evolution and characteristics of Art Deco, Shanghai style. Before 1949, Shanghai Deco was all the rage, its influence seen on everything from apartment buildings to furniture to clothes. Also tour the special Shanghai exhibition—with docents or the audio guide narrated by Joan Chen—and refuel with Shanghainese treats at the café. At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
July 10, at 2 PM
East Meets West Chamber Music Concert
The concert by Bridge Chamber Virtuosi features the U.S. premiere of Shanghai Trilogy, composed by Joan Huang for a combination of Western instruments, the pipa and multimedia. Presented by the Asian Art Museum.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free with museum admission. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
July 11, at 10:30 AM - 2 PM
Comic Drawing Workshop with Gene Yang
Original drawings of Sanmao, China's longest-running comic strip, are in the Shanghai exhibit. In the Sanmao tradition, award-winning artist Gene Yang teaches you how to make comics to express your stories and ideas.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Registration fee: $30 museum members and youths under age 17; $47 general (includes museum admission and entry to Shanghai exhibit). Lunch available at Cafe Asia, or bring bag lunch. Pre-registration required; e-mail publicprograms@asianart.org or call 415-581-3665.
July 15, at 5:30-6:30 PM
Shanghai Nights: Zhang Jian-Jun
In the Shanghai exhibition, Shanghai: Vestiges of a Process is inspired by classical Chinese gardens and fashioned from solar-powered potted “plants” and bricks of now-demolished homes. It is a garden and a conversation starter. What’s next on Zhang Jian-Jun’s list? Join Dany Chan, assistant curator of Chinese art, as she chats over Skype with the artist. Also tour the special Shanghai exhibit—with docents or the audio guide narrated by Joan Chen—and refuel with Shanghainese treats at the café.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
July 21, at 6 PM
Angel Island: The Shanghai Connection
Judy Yung, author of Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America, explains the significant connection between Angel Island and Shanghai, from the Russian Revolution through World War II. Presented by San Francisco Public Library and the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
July 22, at
at 5:30-6:30 PM
Shanghai Nights:
Architecture in Shanghai, Today and
Tomorrow
Besides its neo-classical Bund, Shanghai is building up a futuristic skyline with its pink-and-silver rocket-shaped TV tower and skyscrapers more than 100 stories tall. But what’s happening on the inside? STUDIOS Architecture, an international firm specializing in interiors and master planning, reveals what it’s doing in Shanghai. Curator Dany Chan leads the conversation. Also tour the special Shanghai exhibition—with docents or the audio guide narrated by Joan Chen—and refuel with Shanghainese treats at the café.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
July 22 - February 6, 2011
Retro-Tech
Xu Zhen of Shanghai is among the featured artists in this exhibition, who are grappling with the potential of technology as they rebuild their own world. They re-purpose and manipulate technologies of the past and present in ways that range from playful to ironic to analytical. As they delve into the "craft" of technology, their art often addresses the notion of obsolescence. Other artists represented hail from Switzerland, Puerto Rico, France, Italy and the U.S.
At the San Jose Museum of Art , 110 South Market St., San Jose. Admission: adults, students and seniors $5; museum members and children under 6 free. Visit www.sanjosemuseumofart.org or call 408-271-6840.
July 31, at 2 - 4 PM
Art or Propaganda? An Unconventional Look at the Posters of the Chinese Cultural Revolution
Lincoln Cushing and Ann Tompkins, co-authors of Chinese Posters:Art from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, talk about life in China during the frenetic decade and their remarkable poster collection.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco Tickets: $15 for SAA members and $25 non-SAA members, after museum admission. RSVPs required; email saa@asianart.org or call 415-581-3701.
August 1, at 11 AM & 2 PM
Shanghai Film Series: Shanghai Art Studios
Shanghai emerged in the 1920s as China’s first film capital and today hosts one of Asia’s largest annual film festivals. Showing today at the Asian Art Museum, at 11 AM: The Lost Magic of the Shanghai Art Studios (2007), documenting the creative group that flourished from 1950-65; 56 minutes, in Chinese with English subtitles. At 2 PM: the animated Havoc in Heaven (1961), based on the classic Journey to the West, a film that took two decades to complete because of wartime interruptions; 87 minutes, in Chinese with no subtitles. A program of Target First Free Sunday.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
August 15, at 2 - 4 PM
Shanghai World Expo
Vicki Liviakis takes us to Shanghai in the film Shanghai World Expo. From a quick stop in Denmark to see the national treasure, The Little Mermaid statue, to visits to Japan's high-tech pavilion, the crowd-favorite China Pavilion, “Drive to 2030” SAIC-GM Pavilion, and “Rising to the Challenge” USA Pavilion, you'll see each country’s interpretation of the 2010 Expo theme “Better City, Better Life.” If you can't get to Shanghai, this documentary will bring the World Expo to you. Screening followed by Q & A with host Liviakis and producer Duffy
Wang of D3 Productions, Inc.
At San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. Free. Visit www.sfpl.org or call 415-557-4277.
August 19, at 5 - 9 PM
MATCHA: Drunken Dishes
Shanghai is one of China's most famous culinary regions. It sits in the fertile Yangtze River Delta, which yields abundant produce. Meat or fish is typically braised in soy sauce, sugar and a touch of vinegar until rich and velvety. Also in the Shanghainese repertoire are “drunken dishes,” where food is marinated in the famous wine of nearby Shaoxing. Tonight's MATCHA, featuring a talk about Shanghai's cuisine and a cooking demonstration of drunken chicken, is an opportunity for all of your senses to learn more about Shanghainese dishes. Savor Shanghai specialties, toast with a drink from the cash bar and tour the special Shanghai exhibition. Presented by the Asian Art Museum and the Asian Culinary Forum.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Tickets $10. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
September 5, at 11AM & 2 PM
Shanghai Film Series: Shanghai Today
Shanghai emerged in the 1920s as China’s first film capital and today hosts one of Asia’s largest annual film festivals. Showing today at the Asian Art Museum, at 11 AM: Shanghai Bride (2006), a documentary about Shanghai's increasingly materialistic and competitive marriage scene; 51 minutes, in Chinese with English subtitles. At 2 PM: Mr. Wong's World: Saving the Architectural Heritage of Shanghai (2008), about a wealthy Chinese businessman who returns from Canada and embarks on a mission to save old architecture from Shanghai's unpredecented building boom; 80 minutes, in Chinese with English subtitles. Jeffrey Wasserstrom, University of California-Irvine professor of Chinese history and author of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know, will introduce the films. A program of Target First Free Sunday.
At the Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. Visit www.asianart.org or call 415-581-3500.
October 3, at 7 PM (pre-concert talk 6:15 PM)
Shanghai String Quartet
Shanghai String Quartet, which performs globally, melds Eastern and Western repertoires. The concert, the opener of San Jose Chamber Music Society’s 25th season, is preceded by a 30-minute talk and followed by a short audience Q&A with the musicians.
At Le Petit Trianon Concert Hall, 72 N. Fifth St., San Jose. Visit www.sjchambermusic.org or call 408-286-5111.
October 27, at 7 - 9 PM
Chinoiserie: Rococo to Eco Preview Party Benefit
Fashion designer and San Francisco native Derek Lam hosts the preview party for The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, whose theme this year is "Chinoiserie: Rococo to Eco." The party benefits Enterprise for High School Students.
At Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. For tickets and more information, visit www.sffas.org or call 415-989-9019.
October 28 - 30, at 10:30 AM -7 PM; October 31, at 12 - 5 PM
Chinoiserie: Rococo to Eco - The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show
Chinoiserie--Western interpretations of artistic influences from Shanghai and the rest of China--is the theme of this year's San Francisco Fall Antiques Show. A special exhibit will feature intricate furnishings, lacquer ware and porcelain from private and museum collections, and 65 dealers will show fine and decorative arts for sale.
At Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. For tickets and more information, visit www.sffas.org or call 415-989-9019.
Dates to come
San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery Exhibition
In collaboration with the ZERO1 biennial in San Jose, SFAC Gallery presents an exhibit featuring a Shanghai artist working on the edge of art and technology.
At SFAC Gallery in the Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco.
Free. Visit http://www.sfartscommission.org/gallery or call 415-554-6080.
Date to come
Cultural Encounters: Friday Nights at the de Young
The popular Friday-night series hosts an event in conjunction with the Shanghai Celebration. Presented by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
At de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco. Visit www.famsf.org or call 415-750-3531.
