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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2019)
Page 12 n THE ASIAN REPORTER ARTS CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT April 15, 2019 e-mail <concierge@japanesegarden.org>, visit <www.japanesegarden.com>. JAPANARAMA “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i” May 4, 4pm (doors open), Powerland Heritage Park (3995 Brooklake Rd NE, Brooks, Ore.). Celebrate “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i,” a lu’au presented by the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association of Oregon & Southwest Washington. The event features entertainment, food, demonstrations, vendors, shave ice, and a May Day Court. Proceeds benefit educational scholarships, cultural programs, and events. For info, or to buy tickets, call (503) 348-8501 or visit <www.ksaaoregonandswwa.eventbrite.com>. ONGOING EVENTS “Music, Movement, and Sound” Currently on display (Tue-Sat), 11am-4pm, Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main St, Vancouver, Wash.). View “Music, Move- ment, and Sound: An Exploration of Clark County’s Musical Roots,” a family-friendly exhi- bit featuring interpretative panels, historical objects, interactive stations, and more to recall the history of music and dance in Clark County and southwest Washington. For info, call (360) 993-5679 or visit <www.cchmuseum.org>. Kodomo no Hi May 5, 10am-1pm, Portland Japanese Garden (611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland). Celebrate children or being a child at the Portland Japanese Garden’s annual Children’s Day event, Kodomo no Hi. The family festival features a host of activities and entertainment including a koi parade, taiko drumming, a haiku scavenger hunt, a kid-friendly tea ceremony, and more. For info, call (503) 223-1321 or visit <www.japanesegarden.com>. “Speculative Frictions” Through Apr 27, 11am-6pm (Tue-Sat), PDX Contemporary Art (925 NW Flanders St, Portland). View “Speculative Frictions,” a group exhibit by artists Ranu Mukherjee, Emily Jones, Lisa Radon, and others. For info, call (503) 222-0063 or visit <www.pdxcontemporary art.com>. Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley Through May 31 (daily), 10am-6pm; Apr 26, 1-3pm (demonstration); Lan Su Chinese Garden (239 NW Everett St, Portland). Attend an art exhibit by Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley at the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Dolphin-Kingsley’s watercolor and acrylic paintings are inspired by science, nostalgia, kitsch, fairytales, and psychadelia. She enjoys the interaction of light and dark; good and bad; innocence and complication; humor and gravity; and the reality of the natural world and the human need to idealize it. Also on display are works by Jennifer Kapnek. For info, call (503) 228-8131 or visit <www.lansugarden.org>. Jane Wong Through Sep 1, 11am-5pm (Tue-Wed & Fri-Sun), 11am-7pm (Thu), Frye Art Museum (704 Terry Ave, Seattle). View “After Preparing the Altar, the Ghosts Feast Feverishly,” an exhibit by Jane Wong featuring her poems and essays that unearth silenced histories, immigrant narratives, and intergenerational trauma. The Seattle-based writer’s recent projects consider the social, historical, and political contexts that “haunt” the work of contemporary Asian-American poets. For info, call (206) 622-9250 or visit <www.frye museum.org>. “Dramatic Impressions: Japanese Actor Prints” Through Oct 13, 10am-5pm (Tue-Wed & Sat-Sun), 10am-8pm (Thu-Fri), Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave, Portland). View “Dramatic Impressions: Japanese Actor Prints,” an exhibit of more than three dozen woodblock prints of actors on the kabuki stage. The prints began to flourish in the late 17th century in Japan’s great cities. A quintessential form of urban entertainment, kabuki brought to life vivid scenes from dramatic storylines, at turns hilarious, tragic, breathtaking, or bawdy. Pictures of actors, oryakusha-e, were inextricably tied to the world of theater and the fan culture it promoted. Printed portraits could highlight exciting moments of suspended action or dramatic tension. Above all, they captured the distinctive poses of an actor, making the actor iconic through his most characteristic expressions and recognizable roles. Nearly all the prints in “Dramatic Impressions” are on view for the first time, including many recent acquisitions and rare masterpieces seldom displayed. For info, call (503) 226-2811 or visit <www.portlandartmuseum.org>. Cambodian Rock Band Through Oct 27, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Thomas Theatre (15 S Pioneer St, Ashland, Ore.). Watch Cambodian Rock Band, a musical journey 30 years in the making. The epic play/rock concert thrusts viewers into the life of a young woman trying to piece together her family history 30 years after her father fled Cambodia. Featuring actor/musicians who perform a mix of contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies live, playwright Lauren Yee brings to life the Cambodian rock scene of the ’60s and ’70s, a movement cut short by the Khmer Rouge’s brutal attempt to erase the music (and musicians) once and for all. The story tells about survivors, the resilient bond of family, and the enduring power of music. For info, showtimes, or to buy tickets, call (541) 482-2111 or visit <www.osfashland.org>. “Gentleman Warrior: Art of the Samurai” Through Dec 1, 10am-5pm (Wed & Fri-Sun), 10am-9pm (Thu), Seattle Art Museum (1300 or Good Citizen: A Story of Protest and Patriotism May 6, 7:30pm The Old Church 1422 S.W. 11th Avenue, Portland Attend Japanarama: The Ongoing Influence of Japanese Culture, a performance featuring the magic of Japan’s most visceral drumming tradition combined with world-class chamber music. For more information, or to buy tickets, call (971) 220-6366 or (503) 28TAIKO (288-2456), or visit <www.fearnomusic.org> or <www. portlandtaiko.org>. (Photo/Rich Iwasaki) First Ave, Seattle). View “Gentleman Warrior: Art of the Samurai,” an exhibit that presents a multifaceted view of the samurai culture, including the important roles samurai played in the tea ceremony, noh theater, Buddhist practices, and the art of armor and battles. The display features more than 20 works from the museum’s collection and two sets of samurai armor that are on loan. For info, call (206) 654-3210 or visit <www.seattleartmuseum. org>. UPCOMING EVENTS Clark College Sakura Festival Apr 18, 1-3:30pm, Clark College, Royce E. Pollard Japanese Friendship Garden & Gaiser Student Center (1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Wash.). Celebrate spring at Clark College’s annual Sakura Festival. The free event, which recognizes the international friendship between Vancouver and its sister city in Joyo, Japan, features koto music by Yukiko Vossen, a performance by the Clark College Women’s Ensemble, guest speakers, performances by the Clark College Japanese Cultural Club, drumming by members of Takohachi TakoQ, traditional calligraphy by Sora Shodo, displays, activities, and more. Cookies and tea are served. For info, call (360) 699-6398 or visit <www.clark.edu/cc/sakura>. “Classical Up Close” concert Apr 20, noon, Powell’s City of Books (1005 W Burnside St, Portland). Attend “Classical Up Close,” free chamber music performances produced and performed by Oregon Symphony musicians. The informal event includes a concert at which audiences are encouraged to enjoy the music, take photos, use social media, ask questions, and applaud freely. For info, call (503) 228-4651 or visit <www.powells.com>. Tenali — The Royal Trickster Apr 20-21 & 27-28, May 4-5 & 11-12, noon & 4pm (Sat-Sun), Northwest Children’s Theater (1819 NW Everett St, Portland). Watch Tenali — The Royal Trickster, a play that tells the story of Tenali, a royal minister and irrepressible trickster. When the king’s beloved peacock crown mysteriously disappears, it’s up to Tenali to uncover the culprit and restore order to the kingdom, all while staying one step ahead of his enemies in the king’s court. The show features a hilarious original script from playwright Avantika Shankar, choreography by Anita Menon, and live onstage Carnatic music. For info, or to buy tickets, call (503) 222-4480 or visit <www.nwcts.org>. Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival Apr 26-28, 10am-6pm, Seattle Center (305 Harrison St, Seattle). Celebrate the beauty of spring at the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japan- ese Cultural Festival presented by Seattle Cen- ter Festál. Participants discover the cultural roots, contemporary influences, and traditions of Japan with performances, exhibits, demon- strations, food, and children’s activities. High- lights include taiko drumming, martial arts, Japanese choral music, calligraphy demon- strations, a traditional tea ceremony, go les- sons, kimono dress-up and cooking demonstrations, and more. The 2019 festival theme previews the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo with an invitational ShamTen tournament using a rice server instead of a table tennis paddle as well as a Hashilympics Chop- stick challenge. For info, call (206) 684-7200, or visit <www.cherryblossomfest.org> or <www. seattlecenter.com>. “New Year in the Park” Apr 27, 9:30am-6pm, Glenhaven Park (NE 82nd Ave & NE Siskiyou St, Portland). Attend the annual “New Year in the Park,” a celebra- tion of Cambodian, Thai, Lao, and Burmese cultures. The free daylong celebration features cultural dance and music performances in addition to authentic Asian cuisine, traditional games, cultural crafts and activities, sports, vendors, and more. For info, including how to volunteer or become a sponsor, call (503) 823-PLAY (7529), or visit <www.newyearinthe park.com> or <www.portlandoregon.gov/ parks>. “Keep the Beat!” Apr 27, 11am-noon, St. Johns Library (7510 N Charleston Ave, Portland). Enjoy a multilingual concert with cultural elements that unite all people at “Keep the Beat!” Robbi K performs in many languages — Spanish, Hindi, Yoruba, Zulu, English, and others — while the audience moves to world rhythms. The event helps develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles. The concert is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities Fund of The Library Foundation. For info, call (503) 988-5123 or visit <events.multcolib.org>. Kalakendra concert Apr 27, 7pm, The Old Church (1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland). Enjoy a Saraswati veena concert performed by Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh. The performance is presented by Kalakendra. For info, or to buy tickets, call (503) 308-1050 or visit <www.kalakendra.org>. “Northern Lights: Ceramic Art of Hokkaido Potters Revisited” Apr 27-May 27, noon-7pm (Mon), 10am-7pm (Tue-Sun), Portland Japanese Garden (611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland). View “Northern Lights: Ceramic Art of Hokkaido Potters Revisited,” an exhibit that follows up on a display held at the garden a decade ago and also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Hokkaido Pottery Society. For info, call (503) 223-1321, May 6, 7-9pm, West Linn Lutheran Church (20390 Willamette Dr, West Linn, Ore.). The West Linn Alliance for Inclusive Community is presenting a free staged reading of Good Citizen: A Story of Protest and Patriotism, Portland playwright George Taylor’s play about young Japanese-American attorney Minoru Yasui, who, in 1942, wanders the streets of Portland trying to get arrested in an effort to test the constitutionality of a curfew imposed on people of Japanese ancestry. A moderated dis- cussion follows the performance. For info, call (503) 656-8910, e-mail <westlinnalliance@ gmail.com>, or visit <www.westlinnalliance. org>. Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate May 11, 2pm, Powell’s City of Books (1005 W Burnside St, Portland). Join author, artist, and Asian Reporter cartoonist Jonathan Hill as he presents Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate. Co-created with writer M.K. Reed, the action-packed nonfiction graphic novel for middle-grade readers addresses furious floods, looming landslides, terrifying tornadoes, and ferocious forest fires. For info, call (503) 228-4651 or visit <www. powells.com>. Kalakendra concert May 11, 7pm, First Baptist Church (909 SW 11th Ave, Portland). Enjoy a sitar concert featuring Pt. Partha Bose. The performance is presented by Kalakendra. For info, or to buy tickets, call (503) 308-1050 or visit <www. kalakendra.org>. “Nature, Ritual, Craft” May 14, 5:30-7pm, Portland Japanese Garden (611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland). Attend “Nature, Ritual, Craft: Kengo Kuma and the Portland Japanese Garden,” a talk by Balazs and Botond Bognar. The public lecture marks the launch of their new book, Kengo Kuma: Portland Japanese Garden. For info, call (503) 223-1321, e-mail <concierge@japanese garden.org>, or visit <www.japanesegarden. com>. Autumn Light: A Season of Fire and Farewells May 23, 2pm & 4:30pm, Portland Japanese Garden (611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland). Learn about the Japanese sense of seasonality, living with the cycles of the seasons, and accepting the constancy of change at “Autumn Light: Observing the Seasons and Changes in Japan,” a talk featuring Pico Iyer in conversa- tion with curator emeritus Diane Durston. Iyer’s new book, Autumn Light: A Season of Fire and Farewells — an account of a loss in the family that leads the author to contemplate how to hold on to what we love, when living things are ephemeral and part of the cycle of seasons and nature — is available for purchase at the event. For info, call (503) 223-1321, e-mail <concierge@japanesegarden.org>, or visit <www.japanesegarden.com>. Submit your Asian-related calendar listings to: The Asian Reporter, Attn: Events Calendar 922 N Killingsworth Street, Suite 2D, Portland, OR 97217 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com w Fax: (503) 283-4445 Submission Format: List event title, date, time, location with address, 2 to 3 brief sentences describing the event, and a contact phone number (required) that can be published. High-resolution photos, if available, may also be included. Submission Deadline: Monday prior to the next issue date. ***