ASIAN
HERITAGE
MONTH
EVENTS
SCHEDULE
This is the sixth year that
Halifax joins other North American cities in celebrating Asian Heritage
Month. In sharing their heritage and
culture with other Nova Scotians the Asian Canadians hope to promote better
understanding and appreciation of the Asian Canadian community. The following programmes are organized by
Asian Heritage Month Committee, the Halifax Public Libraries, Saint Mary’s Art
Gallery and Library. Admission is free
to all events.
Sunday, May 1, 3:30pm
Theatre Auditorium, Saint Mary’s University, McNally Building, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS
Proclamation of Asian
Heritage Month by Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Halifax Regional Municipality. Cultural performances and displays by
members of some Asian organizations and Halifax Public Libraries.
Taiji Qigong
Saint Mary’s University
Art Gallery, 5665 Gorsebrook Avenue, Halifax.
Presenter: Dr. Charles Beaupré and his students
Dr. Beaupré has been
following approaches to wellness enhancement for many years. He is now promoting Taiji Qigong as a prime
means to attain this goal. Taiji
Qigong is a form of Chinese martial arts as well as an exercise to strengthen
the mind and the body.
Wednesdays, May 4, 18, 25, 10am
Documentaries,
books and discussions of different destinations in Asia by the Women’s
Group. Call Patricia Sutherland
at 490-5723 for more information.
Keshen Goodman Library
(2)
To the sounds of the Korean
percussion quartet Pung-Mul-No-Ri students perform Taek-Kyun, an ancient form
of martial arts, in front of the library.
Tuesday, May 10, 7pm
Tantallon Public Library (3)
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry will be discussed.
Registration required – call 826-3330
Wednesday,
May 11, 7pm
Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje will be discussed.
Registration
required – call 490-5700
Chinese
Jade with Helen Kwan
Jade has been worked and
revered in China for use as sacred objects, for treasure and for decoration and
ornament since Neolithic times. Join
Helen Kwan for a discussion of various kinds of jade and jade sculptures as
well as the place jade holds in Chinese culture. Helen Kwan is a Halifax-based artist, born in Beijing, China,
and moved to Canada in 1981.
NFB
Film Club - Earth to Mouth
Earth to Mouth is an
exquisitely filmed, meditative look at life on Wing Fong Farm, near Newcastle,
Ontario. It is here that Lau King-Fai,
originally from China, comes to spend the rest of her days, caring for the
fields of Asian vegetables and those who work the fields.
Wayson Choy reads from All
That Matters
Giller prize nominee All
That Matters is the sequel to Wayson Choy’s bestselling first novel, The
Jade Peony. The novel follows the
lives of the Chen family in Vancouver of the 1930’s and 40’s, through the
childhood and adolescent experiences of
“First Son” Kiam-Kim in a strict but caring Chinatown family.
Wayson Choy is the author of
the award-winning memoir Paper Shadows.
Korean National Flower
(Mu-Gung-Hwa)
(Rose of Sharon)
Thursday, May 26, 7pm (43 minutes)
Karen Cho, a
fifth-generation Canadian of mixed heritage, discovered that half her family
was not welcome in Canada, as the Canadian government imposed discriminatory
laws against the Chinese.
Karen Cho’s film includes
personal interviews and accounts of the last survivors of the Chinese Head Tax
and Exclusion Act.
Monday, May 30, 7pm
Presenter: Kozan Kyudojo
Demonstration and
experimental lessons on the basic discipline of Kyudo.
Contact Paul Halpern 479-2040
Tuesday, May 31, 12 noon
Members of the Atlantic
Region of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada will demonstrate a set of fixed
motions while also discussing the history, theory and theology that make Taoist
Tai Chi different from other forms of ancient Chinese martial arts. Anyone can learn the movements of Taoist
Tai Chi.
Library displays of Asian artifacts and / or library holdings throughout the month of May
Halifax North Memorial Public Library, 2285 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS
Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library, 5381 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS
Patrick Power Library, Saint Mary’s University, 5946 Inglis street, Halifax, NS
Rudi
Meyer: Quotes and Receipts, mainly from Japan
April 23 – June 12, 2005 Tuesday-Thursday, 12 noon – 7pm
Friday-Sunday, 12 noon – 5pm
Saint
Mary’s University Art Gallery, Loyola Building, 5665 Gorsebrook Avenue, Halifax,
NS (Telephone 420-5445)
Halifax artist Rudi Meyer combines traditional Japanese motifs – heraldic devices, kimonos and large kanji (Japanese ideograms) – to construct an obscure narrative. The 22 digital prints feature intense, saturated colours against rich black backgrounds. Rudi Meyer will be giving an artist talk at the gallery on Sunday, May 29 at 2pm. A catalogue with a text by Nick Webb will be launched at the exhibition’s closing reception, Thursday, June 2 at 7pm. Refreshments will be served.
Art
Merging – East and West
Landscapes and figures by Rei-Mei Chung
May 1 – May 15, 2005 (Telephone 425-7730 ext. 229 for details)
Born in Taiwan, Rei-Mei
Chung was trained in traditional Chinese painting. She continued her studies at NS College of Art and Design.
YOUTH
and FAMILY PROGRAMMES
Saturday, May 7, 2:30 – 3:30pm
Paper folding with Maryjane
Greer. Take home your creations.
Children must register. Please telephone 490-5707
Thursday, May 12, 10:30-11am
Space is limited, and free
tickets will be given out beginning at 10am.
Groups must pre-register by calling
490-5707.
Thursday, May 12, 1:30pm
Experience the delight of
traditional Chinese Opera sung by a trained singer in ornate costumes; and
learn about this elegant art. Call
Annette or Marcus at 490-5723 to register.
Saturday, May 14, 2:30-3:30pm
Join staff Alison Creech for
Jan Brett’s Chinese story “Daisy Comes Home” and a craft. Please call 490-5707 to pre-register.
Lon Po Po: (A Chinese Little Red Riding Hood Story)
Thursday, May 5, 1:30pm
Wednesday, May 18, 1:30pm
In this Chinese folktale
Wolf tricks Shang and her sisters when he pretends to be their grandmother and
steals the treats of New Year’s Day.
Sushi Hand Roll Workshop
Saturday, May 7, 2:30pm
(Contact Anne Baker 435-8344)
Saturday, May 14, 2:30pm
(Contact Lynn Somers 490-6438)
Saturday, May 28, 2:30pm
(Contact Darcy Johns 435-8763)
In this interactive sushi
roll workshop presented by members of The Japanese Society of Halifax you will
learn some simple sushi roll techniques to create this traditional Japanese
food. Afterwards, you can eat your
creations ! Registration
necessary. Children ages 5-7 are
welcome to attend with an adult and children 8+ can come on their own !
Saturday, May 21, 2:30pm
Learn some simple paper folding techniques from Tomoko Miyano and volunteers from The Japanese Society of Halifax and take home your creations. Children must register by calling 490-5840 Sherri Butcher or 490-5767 Annette MacIntyre.
_____________________________
Hubley
Centre, 4 Westwood Blvd, Upper Tantallon, NS
636
Sackville Drive, Lower Sackville, NS
6. Dartmouth
North Library, Dartmouth North Community Centre
134
Pinecrest Drive, Dartmouth, NS
7. Woodlawn
Library, Woodlawn Centre
114
Woodlawn Road, Dartmouth, NS
51
Forest Hills Parkway, Cole Harbour, NS