Special Presentation on Chinese-American Art by Professor Gordon H. Chang October 10, 2009

Patrons, students, and researchers of Chinese-American culture of Northern California will have a chance to listen to a lecture by Professor Gordon H. Chang on Chinese American Art History at the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco on October 10, 2009 at 1:00pm.

In partnership with San Francisco State University, the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco is proud to host a lecture by Gordon H. Chang with opening remarks by Mark Johnson. The lecture is free to the public and will focus on Chinese-American Art. In addition, Professors Gordon H. Chang, Mark Johnson, and Paul J. Karlstrom are editors of the ground-breaking book: Asian American Art: A History, 1850-1970. This book is the first comprehensive study of the lives and artistic production of artists of Asian ancestry active in the United States before 1970. An introduction of the book will be included. After the lecture, there will be a short Q&A session for the audience.

The lecture is given in conjunction with the exhibition, Chromatic Constructions: Contemporary Fiber Art by Dora Hsiung. Hsiung, a contemporary Asian-American artist, has been adapting traditional yarn wrapping techniques of China and other countries for more than 30 years. Her works of art are a hybrid of traditional weaving, contemporary aesthetics, innovative off-loom weaving techniques, and striking choice of colors. On view now to January 10, 2009 are fifty of Hsiung's wall hangings, installations and sculptures, many large-scale, will be at the Chinese Culture Center (CCC) in San Francisco as the second exhibit in its Xian Rui (Fresh and Sharp) exhibition series. The Xian Rui series is designed to bring visibility to the work of exceptional, but under-recognized Chinese artists in the US and to give viewers a renewed appreciation and fresh perspective on contemporary Chinese culture. This exhibition series is funded by the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, which provides 3-year funding for 2008-2010 Xian Rui series. This exhibition is co-sponsored by the Hilton Hotel S.F. Financial District.

Abby Chen, CCC's Program Director, will give attendees a specially curated tour of the exhibition. Following the tour, there will be an optional hands-on crafts workshop.