Asian American Arts Center Inc

Based in New York's Chinatown, Asian American Arts Centre is committed to a Pan-Asian community perspective bringing cultural events in the visual, performing and traditional arts to diverse communities and the general public. Through its 30 years, the Arts Centre has evolved, coming to see the arts in their relationship to human spirituality and its meaning for institutional structures. Visual Arts Program holds five contemporary visual art exhibitions and one folk art exhibition each year. Some exhibitions include a catalogue publication. The program seeks to engage viewers in the historical presence of an Asian American artistic development , raising issues and aesthetics of particular interest from an Asian American perspective, while supporting creative opportunities for young artists. The "Annual," exhibits young Asian American artists or artists significantly influenced by Asia. The Mid-Career Artist Series presents a one or two person show. This is an annual series focused on recognizing the achievements of a mid-career artist. Both of these are selected by a panel of artists and art professionals. Two curated exhibitions are organized each year. The "Milieu" series explores the significance of Asian American artists in the post World War II era. Collaborative exhibitions included "We Count! The State of Asian Pacific America" in conjunction with the then Mayor Dinkins? Asian Affairs Office, and "Ancestors" on African and Asian American relations with Kenkeleba House. A complete list of exhibitions since 1983 can be found on the web site, www.artspiral.org. Many well known artists today were exhibited at the Arts Centre early in their career, such as: Ik Joong Kang, Mel Chin, Byron Kim, Ming Fay, Ti Shan Hsu, Albert Chong, Tseng Kwong Chi, Martin Wong, Zhang Hongtu, Yong Soon Min, Kip Fulbeck, Zarina Hashmi, Dinh Le, Yun Fei Ji, Danny NT Yung, & Osamu James Nakagawa. Other well known artists who have shown at the Arts Centre are: Xu Bing, Alfonso Ossorio, Chen Zhen, Roger Shimomura, Ushio Shinohara, David Diao, Choong Sup Lim, Nobuho Nagasawa, Nam June Paik, as well as Kenneth Noland, Vito Acconci, Barbara Kruger, Agnes Denes, Leon Golub, The Arts Centre initiated the ongoing Asian American Artist Slide Archive in1982. This permanent research archive is perhaps the largest public archive on Asian American artists' materials encompassing about 1500 entries to date. The Folk Arts program presents works of New York's Asian American folk artists for the general public as well as exhibitions from Asia. These presentations in the form of performances, lectures, workshops and exhibitions, with interpretive signage, demonstrate to the public the uniqueness of folk art and how the Asian American cultural heritage is part of our rich and diverse American society. Each year, the Arts Centre holds two major presentations by five to seven traditional artists. During the Lunar New Year the annual Folk Arts Festival presents folk artists at the Arts Centre. Previous exhibitions from China included Shadow Puppets, Nuo Masks, "Ma Jia", and original papercuts. The research component of the Folk Arts Program consists of identifying and documenting folk artists within communities in New York City. The AAAC video production of Uncle Eng entitled, "Singing to Remember" helped him to receive the National Heritage Fellowship award. A CD of his music is soon to be released by the Arts Centre. The Public Education program offers workshops, lectures, dance performances, gallery talks and panel discussions to enhance understanding and knowledge of Asian and Asian American arts. In public and private schools, and other community sites in the five boroughs, AAAC offers encounters with traditional artists in media such as, calligraphy, chinese music & brush painting. On-site at AAAC, Gallery talks and a Saturday Community Art School for children are available. See www.artspiral.org