Chinese New Year at Children’s Museum
Another year, another memorable Chinese New Year celebration at the Children’s Museum! February rang in the Year of the Monkey, and to mark the occasion, Silk Screen teamed up with the wonderful staff of the Children’s Museum for an afternoon of lively performances and art. The Steel Dragon Lion Dance Team performed an amazing Lion Dance, complete with a parade through the museum. Each year, the team seems to get better! Long time Silk Screen friend and collaborator Mimi Jong and her Chinese ensemble Purple Bamboo performed an entrancing set followed by an interactive discussion with the children. Along with Mimi on the Erhu, Ai-Lin Chen on the Guzheng and Kai Liu on the Chinese flute rounded out the trio. Finally, a talented calligrapher and brush painter was on hand to teach the kids about the ancient art and techniques! All around a lovely afternoon at the museum!
Harish Gives TedxYouth Talk
On December 5, Silk Screen Executive Director Harish Saluja spoke at TEDxYouth in Shadyside about how he began his professional life with a degree in engineering and wound the founder of Silk Screen. Harish first realized his love for art after watching a film that greatly moved him, and left him hoping that he could one day tell stories that would move people in a similar way.
Learn about the journey to Silk Screen by viewing Harish’s full speech here.
Yanlai Performance
On March 5 the Yanlai Dance Academy will be performing “A Misty Memory” at Carson Middle School Auditorium to celebrate its 12th anniversary inception. This performance is a perfect showcase for the art of traditional Chinese dance. Because of China’s size, there is a great deal of diversity in the many traditional ethnic dances. Throughout the performance, you will also see the ethnic clothing from different Chinese regions.
For more information on the event, as well as ticket prices, visit yanlaidanceacademy.com
Festival of Nations
The Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center will present 8th Annual Festival of Nations on Saturday, March 19 from 11AM to 4PM. Admission is free to the public and will be held at the Weirton Millsop Community Center at 3420 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia.
The first Festival of Nations was held in 2009 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of town of Weirton. Dances and music from various nationalities will be accompanied by ethnic foods and displays representing different countries and organizations. The Festival hopes to promote “Unity in Diversity” amongst the many different ethnic groups that call this area and this country home.
If you would like to help support the Festival, there are several different ways to donate and sponsor. For participation and questions, please contact Juginder Luthra, Chairman of the Festival committee at dolgin1968@gmail.com
Silk Screen Recommends:
Book: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
“The secret is to know that the deck is stacked, that you will lose, that your hands or judgment will slip, and yet still struggle to win…You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving.”
When Indian-American neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with lung cancer at 36, he was forced to make an uneasy transition from doctor to patient. In his memoir, Kalanithi does not aim to inspire or force readers to want to live better, rather he pragmatically explores the philosophical implications of his impending death: When should he stop working? Should he have a child? “It is, despite its grim undertone, accidentally inspiring” (Washington Post). Kalanithi died before he was able to finish, so even the end of the memoir mirrors his cut-short life. His wife Lucy pieced together an ending and added a poignant epilogue to Paul’s story. Entertainment Weekly summed it up, saying “It’s only fault is that the book, like his life, ends much too early.
Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks
Film: Poetry (2010) directed by Lee Chang-Dong, Korea
Poetry follows Mija, who lives with her morose teenage grandson and cares for an elderly man to make ends meet. After she is diagnosed with Alzheimers, Mija enrolls in a poetry class while simultaneously her life cecomes tragically connected with a young girl who committed suicide after having been raped. Variety prasied the film, saying, “What’s notable here is the lack of sentimentality…At no point does Poetry devolve into a terminal illness melodrama or a tale of intergenerational bonding.” Poetry won the Best Sceenplay at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and lead actress Yoon Jeong-hee won acting awards at both the Asia Pacific Awards and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.
Available for purchase or streaming from Amazon.
Music: Always (2007) by Big Bang
Say what you will about K-pop, but love or hate it, there’s no denying that it is everywhere in modern Asian culture. Big Bang, a hip hop boy band from Korea, is one of the most popular K-pop bands around. Just last year, the Hollywood Reporter called them “the biggest boy band in the world.” Often referred to as the “Kings of K-pop,” Big Bang made its biggest bang in 2007 with the release of Always. The new album saw them experiment with electronic dance music and take tight creative control of their recordings. The single “Lies” from the album topped Korean music charts for a record-smashing seven consecutive weeks.
Available from Amazon.
Travel Spotlight: Horseback riding in Mongolia
Photo courtesy hiddentrails.com
Mongolia, while not famous for landmarks, architecture or any significant historical “sights,” is rich in culture, stunning scenery and wildlife. One of the best and most unique ways to see and experience the beautiful country is on horseback. You can immerse yourself in centuries-old nomadic traditions while experiencing the rural lifestyle of the Mongolian people.
Photo courtesy hiddentrails.com
During a 14-day trek, you’ll trace the path of Genghis Kahn, pass through nomadic encampments and face the awe-inspiring beauty of Mongolia’s landscape. Be careful when planning your trip though! While summers in Mongolia are pleasant, winters can be brutally freezing and much of the year, the steppe can reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit during day and then dip below freezing at night!
Visit www.hiddentrails.com or Wild Frontiers to see available treks and plan one of the coolest vacations you’ll ever take!
