Upcoming Events

Asian Arts Initiative 2009 Spring Season

All activities will take place at the Asian Arts Initiative’s new home at 1219 Vine Street in Chinatown, Philadelphia unless otherwise noted.

In Our Theater    In Our Gallery    Upcoming Workshops

                 

Annual Benefit Banquet, Friday April 24, 2009

In Our Theater

An Indian grandmother and the elephant-headed god Ganesh join forces in the West Texas town of El Paso. With a dash of spice, a spoonful of chutney, and lots of homemade samosas, they create a West-meets-East adventure about her favorite grandson and his journey through two cultures.  Created and performed by Neal Dandade and directed by Maria Möller. 



Asian Arts Initiative and Kyo Daiko present
TAIKOPROJECT
in concert

Friday, March 6, 2009
8 p.m.

“Their brand of taiko is loud, fast, and clean—the energy level set at maximum.” – Vancouver Bulletin

Zellerbach Theatre
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
 
Tickets: 215.898.3900 or www.pennpresents.org/tickets/
More info: 215.557.0455 or www.asianartsinitiative.org
 
 “This ain’t your mama’s taiko, but it may be your hip, younger cousin’s” says L.A. Weekly of TAIKOPROJECT, the premiere group of drummers who blend storytelling, video, hip hop, and world rhythms to create a uniquely American take on the Japanese art of taiko. Filled with contemporized tradition, striking music, and energetic movement, this high-action ensemble incorporates unconventional and innovative concepts to deliver an entertaining, power-packed performance. Think of it as the taiko version of Stomp!
 
Founded in 2000 by Bryan Yamami with the concept of bringing together the best young generation of taiko players in North America, TAIKOPROJECT has appeared on films and TV, has toured with wide acclaim nationally and internationally, and has the distinction of being the only American taiko group to win First Place in the prestigious Tokyo International Taiko Contest.
 
This project is made possible in part by a grant from the National Performance Network's Performance Residency Program. For more information about NPN: www.npnweb.org



Identity Papers
a dramatic poem for two voices

Written and performed by Jeffrey Ethan Lee (with Lori-Nan Engler)
Sunday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.
$10 general admission



BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!
(http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/52871) 

Who do we become when brought face to face with violence? Who is the changed one that cries from its depths, "See my naked self and call me back to who I truly am"? Is the beauty of word (guiding thighs) and image (sweet as the smell of the rain polished peach) capable of reeling us in? In this current world where we question our own identities in the aftermath of violence, Jeffrey Ethan Lee’s identity papers offers a testament to the value and power of love and language to help us remember who we are.
—Linda Tomol Pennisi, author of Suddenly, Fruit and Seamless

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Asian Arts Initiative • 1219 Vine Street

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

Friday, April 3 & Saturday, April 4, 2009

Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia
(215)557-0455 or info@asianartsinitiative.org


Friday, April 3, 2009

-    5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Opening reception for Chinatown In/flux exhibition

Saturday, April 4, 2009

-    3 to 7 p.m. Open house
-    7:30 p.m. Performance showcase

All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly recommended for the performance showcase. Donations are always accepted!

Opening Reception (Friday, April 3, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.)

Join us for a gallery reception to launch our Chinatown In/flux: Future Landscapes neighborhood exhibition, which hopes to catalyze community imagination and action toward a positive vision for the future of Chinatown North where Asian Arts Initiative is now located.

Artist installations by Rebecca Hackemann, Nadia Hironaka, Kikuchi + Liu, and Jonathan and Kimberly Stemler at the Asian Arts Initiative and neighborhood sites. Reception will also feature a performance by the Philadelphia Suns Liondancers to bring good luck to our new home!

Open House (Saturday, April 4, 3 – 7 p.m.)

Come one, come all for an easy-going afternoon opportunity to wander through our new gallery and performance space, witness a live on-line radio broadcast by Youth Arts Workshop alum Mike Trinh, and watch a decade’s worth of community videos created through our programs!

Performance Showcase (Saturday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.)

Whether you are a regular or first-timer, you won’t want to miss this fantastic diversity of dancers, musicians, poets, and spoken word artists blessing our new home with a live performance showcase—on what promises to be one of the most memorable nights of the Asian Arts Initiative’s 15 year history!

Artists include:  Sham-e-ali al Jamil, Pallabi Chakravorty and the Courtyard Dancers, Las Gallas, Mytili Jagannathan, Dan Kim of Asians Misbehavin', Sueyeun Juliette Lee, Taiyo Na, Hanalei Ramos, Alex Shaw, Kelly Tsai, YaliniDream and special guest musicians, hosted by Edward Garcia.

FREE or $15 premium tickets. Reservations are strongly recommended for the performance showcase: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/59682

Donations are always accepted!

Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia
(215)557-0455 or info@asianartsinitiative.org
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Tatlo Mestiz@s in
Siya
Friday & Saturday, April 17 - 18
7:30 p.m
$10-15 sliding scale admission

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!
(http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/52874) 

In the spirit of the singular pronoun used in Tagalog language to signify he, she, or any person, Siya is the newest collaborative endeavor by Lovella Calica, L. Capco Lincoln, and Michelle Posadas – the Tatlo Mestiz@s. They invite you for an evening of pun, pun, pun as they undress their investigation of gender and gender roles as Pilipino American artists through performance, poetry, and pilm. 



Edge of the World
Friday & Saturday, May 29 - 30
7:30 p.m.
$15 general admission

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!
(http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/52877)

From the diverse and intersecting worlds of spoken word, comedy, writing and performance, a cast from both coasts of the country collaborate to create a roller coaster of “speed plays” inspired by a range of intensely personal to global social conditions. Remember, all of the plays are short – from a few seconds to as many as 5 minutes. So don’t sit back for long, but do enjoy the ride! Featuring Regie Cabico, Traci Kato-Kiriyama, Gary San Angel, Ryan Suda, F. Omar Telan.

 
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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS


The Asian Arts Initiative hosts
in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia Big Picture
Mural Arts Program
a year-long mural-making workshop for youth

January 6th- March 12th, 2009
3 days a week/ 3:30-6:00pm

Asian Arts Initiative Salon Space
1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

This workshop is free and open to all interested youth ages 10-18.

Register Now! Contact Chon at 215.557.0455 or chon@asianartsinitiative.org

www.asianartsinitiative.org



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IN OUR GALLERY


Portraits In Emotion
Gallery exhibition
February 6 – March 15
Opening reception: Friday, February 6, 5:30 p.m.
FREE, with donations gladly accepted 

A multi-media exhibition of paintings and audio interview recordings created through an Oasis Guest Artist series led by Deborah Cailoa, Portraits In Emotion brings together eleven Philadelphia artists who delve into their own lives and openly reflect upon personal relationships to mental health and the process of art-making. Presented by Oasis Arts & Education as part of the pilot of the Asian Arts Initiative's Community Curators program. 



Chinatown In/flux: Future Landscape
Neighborhood exhibition
April 3 – August 2
Opening reception: Friday, April 3, 5:30 p.m. 

Facing the constant challenge and need for growth, the Chinatown community now stretches across the historic barrier posed by the Vine Street Expressway. As the Asian Arts Initiative moves into this new part of the neighborhood, we present a series of site-specific art installations to engage residents and visitors in imagining the Future Landscape of Chinatown North. With invited artists Rebecca Hackeman, Nadia Hironaka, Kikuchi + Liu, Kimberly and Jonathan Stemler.

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Urban Convergence
June 12 – August 2
Opening reception: Friday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. 
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm

The marriage between art and culture has never been more prominent than it is today. Examples abound: Damien Hirst’s paintings as the backdrop of Jay-Z’s music videos; Takashi Murakami’s designs on Louis Vuitton’s accessories and Kanye West’s album cover; graffiti art on Converse sneakers, Sprint advertisements, and energy drinks; Shepard Fairey’s iconic "HOPE" portrait of President Obama.  These collaborations reflect an unprecedented merging and morphing of artistic genres and culture—high art with street art, underground with pop, fine art with street culture—that is breaking down social barriers and dated paradigms and clearing space for new ideas and aesthetics.

Hailing from metropolitan hubs throughout the country—Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington D.C.—these artists will share exciting work in a variety of mediums and styles that demonstrate a nationwide convergence toward a fresh contemporary sensibility with an urban edge: Pose II, Joshua Mays, Dave Cramske, Isaac Lin, Rodney Camarce, Jesse Olanday, Sun You, Figments by Ciriaco, Anjni Raol, Shin Ae Tassia, Chanika Svetvilas, Bret Syfert, Junghwa O’Connell, Miss Tina Wong, Teel MUL, and Dan "R5" Barojas.

This project has been supported in part by Artists & Communities, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation made possible by major funding from The Heinz Endowments, the William Penn Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.


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Please note our new mailing address:

      Asian Arts Initiative
      1219 Vine Street
      Philadelphia, PA 19107
      Phone: (215) 557-0455

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