VIET ART CENTER (VAC) WEEKLY ENEWS 1/5/08-1/12/08
SUMMARY
- Events Around Town: Culture, Art, and Charity
1. San Diego , CA – Vietnamese-American Film Screenings: “The Anniversary” by Ham Tran and “The Story of Spirits” by Tien Nguyen
2. San Diego , CA – Performance Art: Compagnie Ea Sola - "Drought & Rain, Vol. II"
3. Santa Clara , CA - Charity for Vietnam : Dinner and Live Music - “Belief and Light”
- Upcoming projects
1. Vietnam House: “Destination V” - A showroom of topnotch Vietnamese arts and crafts
2. Annual Orange County Imagination Celebration - 2008 Theme: Imagination Powers The Planet
3. Lifestyle TV Show - Inside The Art World
- Art and Photo Contests
1. Memories of Vietnam – 1959-1975
2. Youth Video Contest (US): Dream of Youth
3. Children Art Contest ( Vietnam ): Dream of VietnameseYouth
- Viet Art Youth Development Initiative
- Closing Annoucement: Smithsonian Exhibition – Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon
A NOTE FROM VIET ART
Dear Friends and Family,
Happy New Year! The attached file is a “Memory of Vietnam” – American soldier presenting gift on Vietnam National Day in September or October 1968 submitted by Dr. James Hohl, in 1968 in Song Be, Phuoc Long province, Vietnam .
I have not seen those five-star lanterns for a long time.
Thanks Dr. James Hohl for this beautiful photo.
Peace and Love,
Michelle Phuong Thao
Executive Director, VAC
I. EVENTS AROUND TOWN: CULTURE, ART, AND CHARITY
1. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008
VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN FILM SCREENINGS
Organized by ArtPower! at UC San Diego
and
Bayside Community Center, the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, the Vietnamese International Film Festival, Vietnamese American Youth Association (VAYA), the UCSD Vietnamese Student Association, the Viet Arts Center, the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA)
Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm
FREE ADMISSION
Film Screenings:
The Anniversary – Ngay Gio (by Ham Tran) – tells the story of two brothers who meet as strangers in a hapless confrontation during the Vietnam war in 1973. Thirty years later, a Buddhist monk is still haunted by his memories of war and betrayal on the anniversary of his brother's death. This is a tragic story that resonates deeply to this day in the hearts of many Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American families.
The Story of Spirits (by Tien Nguyen) explores the pain of a South Vietnamese family torn apart by war and forced to leave loved ones behind in order to escape. Decades later, memories and ghosts return to haunt those who survived.
Discussion Theme: Art and Politics
Guest Moderator: Michelle Phuong Thao
Executive Director, Viet Art Center
Location:
Bayside Community Center
2202 Comstock Street
San Diego , CA 92111
Contact Information:
Brian Schaefer, ArtPower! At UC San Diego
BLSchaefer@ucsd.edu
858.534.0499
2. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
COMPAGNIE EA SOLA ( Vietnam )
Drought and Rain, Vol. 2 – Han Han va Con Mua 2
Proudly present by ArtPower! at UC San Diego
and
NATIONAL PARTNERS National Dance Project, WESTAF
CAMPUS PARTNERS International House, Department of Theatre and Dance, Sixth College
COMMUNITY PARTNERS transcenDANCE, SDSU School of Music and Dance, Southwestern College Performing Arts Department, VAYA, World Beat Center
ArtTalks!:
Join the artists for a post-performance Q&A.
Location:
Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD
Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm
Please check out this website for ticket details and contact information: http://www.artpower.ucsd.edu/art_pwr/calendar/detail.php?id=12
About Ea Sola:
Ea Sola is South Vietnamese refugee currently residing in Paris . Her work addresses the younger generation's understanding of the war that they did not created a work that reflected Vietnam ’s torn history through the voices and war-time memories of personally experience and instead relate to through media and stories passed down through families and communities.
Stay tune for an exclusive interview with Ea Sola by Michelle Phuong Thao that will be published in UCSD - Power Line performance magazine – January/February 2008.
About Drought and Rain, Vol. 2:
In 1991, Ea Sola village elders in northern Vietnam . More than a decade later, she has created a vital, enthralling contemporary work grounded in traditional culture, music, and dance to understand how the next generation thinks and feels about a war that it does not know, but has only seen through saturated images on the television screen. With bodies like bullets of piercing energy, twelve young dancers from the Vietnam National Opera Ballet slip seamlessly on a stark pale stage between solitary anguish, alienated ambivalence, and reflective recognition of their connection to one another. Ea Sola’s powerful work reveals a troubled past and an uncertain present that resonate for all of us.
3. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2008
CHARITY FOR VIETNAM
DINNER AND LIVE MUSIC “BELIEF AND LIGHT” – NIEM TIN VA ANH SANG
Organized by the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) - Mission College , Santa Clara , CA
Time: 6:00PM
Location:
Mission College
3000 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054.
You will enjoy a fabulous buffet and lyrical native Vietnamese songs. Ticket is $25.00 each and all proceeds will go to VNHELP, a non-profit charitable organization www.vnhelp.org pay for eye surgeries on poor people in Vietnam .
With these funds, almost-blind people will be able to see the ophthalmologist and will gain back their vision. The cost of operation is only about $40.00 per eye.
Contact Information:
Anna Tran
Mission College
VSA President
Anna_tran@wvm.edu
(408)204-2598
II. UPCOMING PROJECTS
1. VIETNAM HOUSE: “DESTINATION V”
– Funded and managed by Destination V
Viet Art Center is remodeling and designing a 3500-square foot showroom that will feature topnotch Vietnamese arts and crafts including antiques, ceramic arts, wooden crafts, fashions, etc.
The Vietnamese enterprises who manufacture and would like to export Vietnamese art and craft products can email Destination V’s Creative Director, Anne Nguyen, neerner731@gmail.com
Stay tune for details on our Grand Opening in April 2008 of this one-of-a-kind Vietnam House: Destination V
2. APRIL 19 – MAY 18, 2008
ANNUAL ORANGE COUNTY IMAGINATION CELEBRATION
2008 THEME: IMAGINATION POWERS THE PLANET
Sponsored by Arts Orange County and Orange County Department of Education
www.ocimaginationcelebration.org
Main Street Renaissance Arts Festival, Youth Video Contest, Youth Art Video Contest, Youth Art Exhibition, and more details coming soon
3. LIFESTYLE TV SHOW: INSIDE THE ART WORLD
Co-hosting by MICHELLE PHUONG THAO and ANNE NGUYEN
Co-producing by Saigon Broadcasting Television Network (SBTN) and VAC
Schedule to debut by April 2008
SBTN and are preparing a 30-minute lifestyle series, named “Inside the Art World” set to debut in early 2008. The bilingual show (Vietnamese and English subtitle or vice versa), co-hosted by Michelle Phuong Thao and Anne Nguyen will be presents creative and inspiring projects and in-depth interviews with special expert guests about arts, travel, fashion, beauty, culinary art, music, cultures and other lifestyle topics. Our show’s mission is to promote art inspiration and to encourage creativity to the audience as well as to bring cross-cultural appreciation and understanding to each other. Stay tune for more details and meet our distinguished guests including:
1. Singapore Musician Chung Shih Hoh, Ph. D. – supported by the Music Department, University of Redlands, CA and 2ndCityCouncil Gallery, Long Beach, CA
2. Vietnamese-French Dancer Ea Sola - supported by ArtPower! at UC
San Diego
3. Vietnamese-American Fashion Designer Chan Luu
4. Vietnamese-American Executive Sous Chef Dee Nguyen
and more to come ...
About SBTN
SBTN is the first and the largest Vietnamese-American national cable network (broadcast 24/24 on Direct TV) in
America with more than 250,000 subscribed viewers nationwide. SBTN is designed to keep Vietnamese Americans connected with their culture and identity. SBTN attracts audiences of all generations with a combination of news, talk shows, dramas, children's programming, entertainment, variety, movies, culture, and history. For sponsorship or information about our upcoming show “Inside The Art World”, please contact SBTN (info@sbtn.tv) or
Viet Art
Center (vietartcenter@aol.com).
III. ART AND PHOTO CONTEST
1. MEMORIES OF VIETNAM – 1955-1975
A PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION
Article and press release about “Memories of Vietnam – 1955-1975”
LA Times:
Memories from another perspective by My-Thuan Tran
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-veterans23dec23,1,3382660.story
San Jose Mercury News:
Exhibit in Orange County to show photos from Vietnam vets by The Associated Press
Thank to North County Times ( San Diego ) and other media networks for your announcement of our “Memories of Vietnam” project.
Viet Art Center proudly announces a photographic competition exclusively for Vietnam Veterans to benefit the Vietnamese-American Youth-At-Risk Program
Program Spokesman:
Michael Burr
Vietnam Veteran & Photographer
Contact Information: Email - m.burr@verizon.net
Jurors & Curators:
Jeff Brody – Professor, Communication, Journalism, California State University at Fullerton, CA; Richard Turner –Professor, Studio Art, Art History & Co-Director, Guggenheim Gallery, Chapman University, Orange CA;
Nick Ut – Photojournalist, The Associated Press, Los Angeles
Dates:
Extended Deadline: February 15, 2008
Exhibit Selection & Contest Winner Announcement Date: March 14, 2008
Show Grand Opening and Award: May 3, 2008 – July 12, 2008
For detail information about this special competition and exhibition, check
out our website at http://www.vietartcenter.org
2. CHILDREN ART CONTEST: DREAM OF VIET YOUTH – VIETNAM
- Sponsored by Business Alliance For Vietnamese Education, www.bave.org.
Children art contest organizes exclusively for the orphans living in Vietnam . Winning pieces will be exhibited at Viet Art Center in September 2008.
More details coming soon
3. A YOUTH VIDEO CONTEST: DREAMS OF YOUTH - THEME: LITTE SAIGON
Sponsored by Farmers Insurance Group
EXTENDED DEADINE: MARCH 30, 2008
Deadline Extended: Due to many requests from the middle and high school students, we postpone the deadline for this competition until March 30, 2008. The award ceremony will take place together with the Main Street Renaissance Arts Festival as part of the Annual Orange County Imagination Celebration.
One-minute video contest how young Vietnamese-American can and are taking action to make the world and their communities a better place.
Suggested topics:
How is the American Dream present in Little Saigon ?
How do you dream of improving Little Saigon ?
How are young Americans turning dreams into action to improve Little Saigon ?
Age Limit: middle and high school students
Prizes: 1st place: $500; 2nd place: $250; 3rd place: $100
Entry Preview:
Huy Tra, age 17, Grade 11 – Huy Tra wishes to win this contest to help “kick start” his filming career by paying for his new camcorder.
Check out his entry: http://wb-gaming.tyl.cc/vietproj.wmv
For detail information about this contest, check out our website at http://www.vietartcenter.net/vietart/videocontest/DreamOfYouth_Info_071014.pdf
IV. VIET ART YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (VAYDI)
Spring Program Starting Dates:
Viet Art After School: January 7, 2008
Viet Art PSAT Saturday Academy: January 19, 2008
Viet Art Soccer Program: To be announced
VIET ART PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Drum: Jimmy Tran; Voice & Piano: Pham Tan Trieu; Guitar: David Tran; Violin: Luan Vu; Art: Jenny Tran; Creative Writing: Michelle Phuong Thao; Math: Thu Mai; Tae Kwon Do: Master Dae Goo Kwon and American Tigers Professional School ; Music Group: Nhom The Friends
VIET ART SOCCER TEAM
Program Director: Mai Vu
Program Advisor: Nguy Vu
Coach names and more details about Viet Art Soccer Program coming soon.
1. VIET ART AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Co-organized by VAC, St. Anselm Cross-Cultural Community Center, and American Tigers Tae Kwon Do Professional School
Spring session starting January 7, 2008
Transportation to VAC: St. Anselm Cross-Cultural Community Center
Program Feature: Transportation to VAC; Homework Club; Tae Kwon Do; Creative Writing; Group Voice; Leadership Development; Art; Chess & Checkers Club; Soccer; Basketball; Scout; and Private Music Lessons
2. VIET ART SATURDAY PSAT ACADEMY
Saturday: Grade 3-8 10:00AM-12:00PM
Every Saturday – session starting January 19, 2008
Program Feature: PSAT Creative Writing and Critical Thinking; PSAT Math Reasonings
V. CLOSING ANNOUCEMENT:
SMITHSONIAN EXHIBITION – EXIT SAIGON, ENTER LITTLE SAIGON
This exhibition will be closed as of this Friday, December 21, 2007
Co-sponsored and organized by the Smithsonian Institution, California State University – Fullerton (CSUF), Farmers Insurance Group, and VAC
Below is a comprehensive summary of our cultural, art, and educational activities held at vac during the september 27 through december 21 to enhance the Smithsonian exhibition about the Vietnamese-American experience.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION – EXIT SAIGON, ENTER LITTLE SAIGON
“Divided into six sections showcasing challenges, contributions and change, the exhibit explores civic and political issues as well as the intergenerational tensions families experience as they negotiate new lives in a new country. In 90 panels of text and photographs, supplemented by accompanying videos, “Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon” documents both Vietnamese Americans’ success in assimilating the American experience and the considerable lengths to which they have gone to maintain their linguistic, cultural and religious traditions.” (Quote provided from CSUF)
OC Register (English)
http://www.ocregister.com/news/exhibit-vietnamese-saigon-1886146-little-image
CSUF (English)
http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/news/2007/37_smithsonian.html
Nguoi Viet Online (Vietnamese)
http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=67026&z=3 (Nguoi Viet Online - Vietnamese)
The Smithsonian Institution– Vietnamese American Heritage Project (English)
CNN Coverage with Betty Nguyen at http://www.vietam.org/
About Betty Nguyen:
http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/nguyen.betty.html
The Daily Titan
http://media.www.dailytitan.com/media/storage/paper861/news/2007/10/22/News/Exhibit.Depicts.VietnameseAmerican.Culture-3046142.shtml
Inside Viet Art – September 2007 (Vietnamese/English)
http://www.vietartcenter.net/vietart/data/current/insideva/2007_October.pdf