Interweaving Traditions: A Last Look at the Chinese Minority Costumes Exhibit January 14, 2012

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is pleased to present the lecture, Interweaving Traditions: A Last Look at the Chinese Minority Costumes Exhibit, featuring Education Coordinator Alex Stewart.
The colorful and intricate costumes of the Miao, Dong and other minority groups of southwestern China set them apart from the Han majority and convey a cultural essence that cannot be captured in words. This presentation will explore the full significance of these ornate outfits by examining how these people settled in the rugged terrain of Guizhou Province, became gradually integrated into the Chinese empire, and managed to maintain customs and fine craftsmanship that dramatically contrast with the Han majority. Exploring the tremendous diversity among Miao groups will provide an overview of some painstaking embroidery techniques that are rapidly disappearing. A close look at the cultural context behind these textiles reveals how they capture the history and culture of groups that traditionally lacked written languages and help to preserve ancient ways of life that are rapidly disappearing.

Alex Stewart has worked at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum since 2005, as docent and then education coordinator. He holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.A. from The George Washington University. He has studied at Nanjing University and traveled extensively in China. Currently, he is preparing for his doctoral dissertation field research on Chinese Muslims while also teaching for the Making of the Modern World writing program at UCSD and running the museum’s Education and Outreach Program.
The lecture will be held in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Extension building at 328 J Street on Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 1:30 – 3:30 PM. Refreshments will be served at the reception held in the Chinese garden at 404 Third Avenue. Admission is $4 and free for members and children under 12. Please RSVP at 619.338.9888 or at info@sdchm.org.
The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is located at 404 Third Avenue in downtown San Diego. For more information, please visit our website at www.sdchm.org.

Official Website: http://www.sdchm.org