VAHMS’ Fall 2016 Newsletter is Out!

If you did not receive the newsletter in your inbox, click here to find out more about:

• explorASIAN 2017’s Featured Community, the Mixed Asian Heritage or “Hapa” community,
• the Opening Ceremony and Recognition Gala for explorASIAN 2017,
• VAHMS’ Annual General Meeting,
• Special Projects,
• New Partners,
• Discounts for VAHMS Members,
• and More!

If you didn’t receive our newsletter but would like to be added to our mailing list, please sign up here: https://explorasian.ca/families/mailing-list/!

VAHMS was honoured to be one of 150 organizations nominated for a Multicultural Award at the BC Multicultural Awards. Dinner and entertainment at the Fairmont Hotel were wonderful!  Pictured from left to right are Mariam Bouchoutrouch of PIRS ED, VP of VAHMS Beverly Nann, VAHMS Director Esaine Mo Verney and VAHMS President Ken McAteer.

The explorASIAN team had a fabulous time at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary festival. As we also recently celebrated our twentieth anniversary it was wonderful to support them and to join them in celebrating the work of Asian filmmakers in Canada around the world.

We were especially pleased to attend Mixed Match, a documentary feature by Jeff Chiba Stearns that explored the struggle of mixed race individuals in finding matches for stem cell and bone marrow donors, and Tyrus, explorASIAN‘s co-presented film that celebrated the career of Asian-American artist Tyrus Wong, who is the inspiring visionary behind much of Western film canon and yet has not been properly acknowledged for his work. These two films really resonated with us.

Mixed Match

As we will be celebrating the Hapa/Mixed Heritage community in explorASIAN 2017, we are glad that these issues facing mixed heritage individuals has been brought to our attention. Thanks to Jeff, Mixed Match, DOXA, Hapa-palooza, Other Half Chinese Stem Cell Organization, and One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network for bringing this issue to our attention. If you are of mixed heritage and are able to register and give to save a life, please see here: http://mixedmatchproject.com/resources/directory-of-organizations/. Congratulations also to the film and to our partner Jeff Chiba Stearns for winning the National Bank People’s Choice Award for Best Feature at #VAFF20!

 

Tyrus

We also believe it is important to acknowledge the legendary Tyrus Wong as too many people do not know about him despite his huge involvement with films and art we have known our entire lives. The 105-year-old LA-based Chinese American artist was at the centre of the Asian American art scene on the west coast, and was THE visionary behind Disney’s Bambi, though he is credited in the film on equal footing as the rest of the team. Watching Tyrus was awe-inspiring as we were able to see all of the different artwork he created, from concept art with major Warner Brothers’ films, to beautiful bestselling Christmas cards, to his striking whimsical kites. VAHMS and explorASIAN is so proud to have co-presented Tyrus and to spread the news of his legendary career to the world. Thank you to Director Pamela Tom for creating this film and for giving us the honour of co-presenting with you.

 

Exhibition: BATIK Expression of Identities
Opening reception: Sunday October 30th, 2016 12:00pm
Exhibition dates: October 30th – December 9, 2016
Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 4:30pm
Closed on Mondays and Canadian Statutory Holidays
Admission by donation.

Venue: Chinese Cultural Centre Museum
555 Columbia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 4H5 Canada
(604) 658-8880
Description:

The Canadian Society for Asian Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia, in collaboration with the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA) and the National University of Malaysia, presents the exhibition:
“The Exhibition tells the story of the emergence of batik textiles in Malaysia and the transformation of traditional art and design forms from the 1950’s to the present day. Techniques and diverse styles created by ethnic groups in Kelantan, Langkawi, Malacca, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu in Malaysia are explored.” – Curator: Salmah Abu-Mansor

Why I Design

Friday, November 4 at the Museum of Vancouver

Connect one-on-one with Vancouver’s most innovative creators with VAHMS’ partner, the Museum of Vancouver. Enjoy drinks and discussion with two dozen local designers. Ask them about their motivation, how they do what they do, and why Vancouver inspires them to keep doing it. Discounted advance tickets available now: http://museumofvancouver.ca/wid2016

7:00-11:00pm at the Museum of Vancouver

Date: Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm

Location: UBC Asian Centre, 1871 West Mall

Admission: Free, but please register at Eventbrite.

Hosts: UBC Asian Library and PCHC-MoM Society

 

Description:

LIVING LIBRARY

A Living Library Program makes people—rather than books—available for checkout. In the Asian Library context, such a program would provide a space for distinguished individuals who have Asia-related experiences or backgrounds to make connections with students and community members. The overall theme of the program is to raise awareness of diverse groups and perspectives.

For our pilot event, we plan to invite 5 “human books,” as well as approximately 15 “readers.” After a short introduction, each “human book” will be matched up with up to 3 “readers” for a 20 minute discussion. Topics will vary depending on the questions from the readers. After approximately 50 minutes of introduction and discussion, all participants will gather for mingling and snacks.

Discussions may take place in English or Asian languages, depending on the language proficiency of those participating in the discussions.

This program will provide library participants with the opportunity to gain a greater and deeper understanding of the Asian culture and social diversity within Canada. It will serve as a venue to learn, exchange ideas, and forge new connections with those in the community as well as those in the university.

 

A SAMPLE OF FEATURED LIVING BOOKS

Below are just a few “Living Books” that will be featured at the event!

Simon Choa Johnston

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Simon was educated in Canada at McMaster University ‘72. He did post graduate theatre studies in New York, worked as an artistic director, director and award winning playwright. He is Gateway Theatre’s Artistic Director Emeritus in Richmond B.C. and lives in South Surrey, B.C. Canada.

Simon is the author of numerous plays produced and published in Canada. He won Theatre BC’s National Playwrights prize, the City of Richmond’s Cultural Leadership Award, McMaster University’s Alumni Gallery and is the Gateway Theatre’s Artistic Director Emeritus. He was born and raised in Hong Kong then immigrated to Canada where he graduated from McMaster University. After postgraduate studies in New York he returned to Ontario and has worked continuously in Canadian theatres as an artistic director, director and playwright. Simon lives in South Surrey, B.C. The House of Wives is his latest novel.

Jeongeun Park

Jeongeun Park is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia. She earned her MA in Religious Studies at the University of Alberta in 2008. She received her PhD in Asian Studies from the University of British Columbia in 2016. Her PhD dissertation entitled “Clerical Marriage and Buddhist Modernity in Early Twentieth-Century Korea” showed that the practice of clerical marriage among Korean monks during the Japanese colonial period was a phenomenon of Buddhist modernity. Her recent research focuses on Buddhism and violence during the Buddhist Purification Movement in South Korea.

Event:  Winterreise – A Canadian Journey
Venue:  Pyatt Hall (VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour Street)
Date:  Sunday, October 23rd, 2pm

Description:  Murray Adaskin’s “Autumn Song” (with guest artist Tristan Lambert on bassoon) is the prelude to a performance by Barbara Ebbeson (mezzo-soprano) and Alison Nishihara (piano) of Schubert’s Winterreise Opus 89.

Our partner, the Museum of Vancouver, has beautiful spaces up for rental for various events including holiday events, weddings, and other special social events! The view is simply stunning and we encourage friends and partners looking for venues to check out their deals.

We are pleased to announce that VAHMS and explorASIAN will be a partner for the screening of Tyrus by Director Pamela Tom on Saturday November 5th, 2016 from 4:30pm-7:15pm at Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas Vancouver.

Tyrus features the most legendary Asian American artist you’ve (probably) never heard of: the film celebrates the life and art of 105-year old L.A.-based artist Tyrus Wong, a Chinese American painter, production illustrator, lithographer, and kite builder best known for his concept art for Walt Disney’s feature animated film Bambi (1942). Together with his game-changing later career as a production concept artist for Warner Bros. Studios, Wong’s strikingly beautiful concept paintings and sketches continue to influence the work of generations of animators and production designers.

Trailer: http://tyruswongthemovie.com/

We are extremely excited to be partnering with the Vancouver Asian Film Festival for this film.

As partners of this beautiful film, we are offering VAHMS members, volunteers, and friends the opportunity to use a special promotional code to receive 10% off ticket bundles of six people or more to purchase tickets. If you are a friend of VAHMS and have not received this code, please message  Coordinator Eleanor Munk at <office.vahms@gmail.com> with your request.

We hope to see you there!

 

In partnership with the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop (ACWW), PCHC is screening a selection of dynamic episodes of the ground-breaking Chinese Restaurant series by award-winning filmmaking duo: producer/director Cheuk Kwan and cinematographer Kwoi Gin. The screenings will take place on two separate days, and Q&A panels with the filmmakers with follow the presentations.

Registration is required on Eventbrite for admittance, or through the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Centre at (604) 267-0901. To register, please see here for Hakka Connection episodes, and/or here for the Chinese Diaspora episodes.

Presented by the PCHC-MoM Society in partnership with ACWW, hosted by the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society. Please direct all inquiries to <pchcmom.intern@gmail.com>.

1) The Hakka Connection in Film – Mauritius and Calcutta

Saturday Oct 1, 10:30am at The Taiwanese Cultural Centre, 8853 Selkirk Street, Vancouver, BC  (Free event)

The Taiwanese Hakka Association introduces two dynamic episodes of a ground-breaking Chinese Restaurant series, Mauritius and Calcutta, by the award-winning filmmaking duo, producer/director Cheuk Kwan and cinematographer Kwoi Gin.

Mauritius

In the middle of the Indian Ocean sits Chez Manuel, a restaurant run by the owner’s wife Colette. In Colette we discover an innovative self-taught chef who serves up inventive new dishes combining Hakka Chinese, Creole and Indian flavors. Colette and Manuel, together with other members of the Hakka Chinese community, give us insights into the Hakka Chinese and their conservative traditions and values.

India East – Calcutta

Samson, Richard, Samuel, and Stephen Yeh were born in Calcutta and suffered from the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-Indian border conflict. Today, the four brothers take turns running the New Embassy Restaurant in Calcutta and Hotel Restaurant Valentino in the Himalayan hill-station of Darjeeling. As they reminisce what it was like to grow up Hakka Chinese in India, the next generation’s emigration to the West has decimated the once vibrant and prosperous community.

Register here: Hakka Connection episodes

 

2) The Chinese Diaspora in Film – Istanbul and Argentina

Tuesday, Oct 4, 7:15pm at the Taiwanese Cultural Centre, 8853 Selkirk Street, Vancouver, BC. (Free event)

Taiwanese Rotary Club introduces two dynamic episodes of ground-breaking Chinese Restaurant film series, Istanbul and Argentina by the award-winning filmmaking duo, producer/director Cheuk Kwan and cinematographer Kwoi Gin.

Istanbul

Istanbul’s China Restaurant is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Turkey. Its founder, Wang Zhengshan, fled China with his family in a dramatic trek over the Himalayas in 1949 when Chinese Communists took power, thereby earning a place in the urban legend as the man who “walked from China”. Wang died in 1961, leaving his widow Fatima and eight children struggling to survive. Now as Fatima contemplates retiring, the restaurant faces an uncertain future.

Argentina

77-year old Foo-Ching Chiang came to Buenos Aires in the 1960’s and became the “Spring Roll King” of Argentina.  His Casa China is a restaurant and cultural centre bridging Argentinean and Chinese cultures.  Chiang’s fervent ideal of internationalism is tempered by his own solitude.  While his family lives elsewhere on the planet, he lives his remaining years amidst the melancholy music of the seductive tango.

Register here: Chinese Diaspora episodes

 

About the Filmmakers

Cheuk Kwan was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan and immigrated to Canada in 1976. In 1978 the community activist founded The Asianadian, a magazine dedicated to the promotion of Asian Canadian arts, culture and politics and the following year, helped lead a nation-wide fight for equality for Chinese Canadians. In 1995 Kwan joined the Harmony Movement, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to fostering harmony and diversity in Canada through public education. Kwan studied film at New York University in 1998 before establishing his own production company, Tissa Films. His ground-breaking Chinese Restaurant film series touches the heart of the Chinese diaspora in a way no one has done before or since.

Kwoi Gin has worked as cinematographer for numerous films and documentary including These Shoes Weren’t Made for Walking (1995), When Strangers Re-Unite (1999), 5 x 90: The Wake (2005) Re:Orientations (2016). As director of photography for Chinese Restaurants (2000-2003), Kwoi traveled more than 200,000 kilometers with filmmaker Cheuk Kwan to thirteen countries to capture the definitive Chinese diaspora story.

 

Hosted by the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society

Presented jointly by the PCHC-MoM Society and the Asian Canadian Writers Workshop