Fall 1999

LITERARY

KSW's latest publication, The Book of Perceptions, was one of three finalists for the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize in the fiction category. Truong and the other finalists were interviewed on West Coast Live in a ceremony at the Asian Art Museum.

Roy Kamada, Edmond Chow, Sabina Chen, Chaya Bhuvaneswar, Amy Yuen, and Truong Tran were among the readers at APAture. Spoken word artists included Dennis Somera, Russell Gonzaga, Alegria Barclay and Maiana Minahal.

KSW participated for the third time in the SF Book Festival's Allen Ginsberg Poetry Cafe on Sunday, October 17, from 12 to 1 pm. The Book Festival took place at the Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason. Poets who read were Chaya Bhuvaneswar, Edmond Chow, Anthony Robles, Dennis Somera, Dan Wu, and Amy Yuen.

PERFORMING ARTS

Performers featured at APAture included music by Doug Hirai, Ernest Mark, Jeff Chan, Leon Lee, Teri Untalan and Scott Looney, Asian Crisis, Koream Youth Cultural Center. Tico Tico Puppet Theater performed a surrealistic puppet show. Other performances included dance by the GAPA dance troupe; classical Indian dance by Neela Moorty; short plays by Wei Ming Dariotis and Kim Compoc; stand-up comedy by Kevin Camia; and a variety of bands from underground hip-hop to Asian-influenced electronica.

VISUAL ARTS

APAture presented 19 visual artists at the CELLspace gallery; the event also featured a kinetic sculpture, "Running Man," which was performed outside in the street.

The APAture Film and Video screening on September 30 at Artists' Television Access featured films and videos by local filmmakers: Matthew Abaya, Anita Chang, James Hong, Rosa Lao, Jeffrey Lei, Mail Order Brides, Iraya Robles, and Ajchaaria Taveeviarat.

The exhibition of poetry and photography from The Book of Perceptions will take place November 13 - December 11 at the Chinatown Community Arts Gallery. A reception for the exhibit will be held on December 3, 5-8:30 pm to coincide with our annual Holiday Open House.

KSW will exhibit photographs, poetry, and artwork at the Chinese Historical Society from January through December 2000.

On April 8, 2000 KSW will co-sponsor a juried photography exhibit with the Chinatown Photographic Society and The Chinatown Community Arts Program. The exhibit, entitled From Sojourners to Skateboarders: Chinatown in Transition, will feature photographs inspired by the poetry of Genny Lim that address the changing nature of Chinatown. For a submission form, call us at 415-543-0520.

Our showcase exhibition, "made in u.s.a.: Angel Island shhh" will premiere onsite at Angel Island on June 17, 2000. Artist Flo Oy Wong has been producing the pieces at various residencies.

WORKSHOPS

Leland Wong, has completed his CAC residency, but is continuing to hold informal workshops in silkscreen and photography at the South of Market Cultural Center (SOMARTS). The KSW open studio evenings are on Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. All participants must be a member of SOMARTS (a $10 annual fee). There is a lab fee of $25 per three months to cover costs of supplies. Call Leland at 673-7082 for more information.

Please call KSW for information on our next round of writing classes, tentatively scheduled for January.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

On Thursday, November 4, 6 to 9 pm, KSW hosted a benefit dinner at City View Restaurant for The Angel Island Project, our major event in the years 2000 and 2001. Proceeds will go toward the mounting of made in u.s.a.: Angel Island shhh" , an on-site exhibition at Angel Island, adjunct exhibitions,workshops, and symposia.

On Friday, December 3, KSW's board will host our annual Holiday Party at the Chinatown Community Arts Gallery at 750 Kearny Street, 3rd floor, to coincide with our exhibit of the photographs and poems from The Book of Perceptions. The reception and party will be held from 5:00 to 8:30 pm, and will feature a reading by Truong Tran. Come celebrate the new Millennium with us.

Winter 1999

LITERARY

KSW is sponsoring a reading of Stanley Garibay at the Chinatown Community Arts Gallery on Saturday, February 20 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, 750 Kearny Street in San Francisco. This special event includes music, a reading by Manong Stanley and readings by other poets representing different generations.

KSW is also publishing The Book of Perceptions, a poetry and photography book which explores issues of identity and culture between several generations of Vietnamese Americans. The Exhibition and Book Launching Party will be held on March 6 at 7 pm at the Pacific Bridge Gallery, 95 Linden St. #6, in Oakland.

PERFORMING ARTS

Writers Francisco Alarcon, Chiori Santiago. Giulio Sorro, and Charlie Chin, along with Asian Crisis, an Asian American percussion group, performed at the Holiday Open House, which was held on Friday, December 4, 6-9 pm at Children's Book Press, 246 1st Street (between Howard and Folsom), San Francisco. We co-hosted this successful event with Children's Book Press, which has published several KSW artists. Our guests enjoyed the delicious food and entertainment. Lucky winners received T-shirts by Leland Wong.

VISUAL ARTS

KSW's next history-based exhibit will showcase the work from The Book of Perceptions, which we are publishing in this year. The premiere exhibit will be held on March 6 at 7 pm at the Pacific Bridge Gallery.

WORKSHOPS

Our California Arts Council artist-in-residence, Leland Wong, is offering free screenprinting and photography workshops at South of Market Cultural Center. The schedule for the classes is listed in the calendar section. Call Leland at 415-673-7082 for information.

Our Creative Writing class started January 14 at the Nichiren Buddhist Church. The 8-week session is team-taught by Brian Komei Dempster and Tina Chang. Students will read their works on Friday, March 12, 7 pm at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California at 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco.

The classes will be offered again starting in March; this time there will be 2 creative writing classes for 2 1/12 hours for 6 weeks. In lieu of the Appreciation of Asian American Literature class, we are offering 2 classes in Creative Writing instead. Beginning class will be taught by Tina Chang, and Intermediate class will be taught by Brian Komei Dempster. See page 5 for the full class schedule.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

The excitement is building for KSW and Pearl Ubungen Dancers and Musicians' joint fundraiser for Thursday, March 18, 1999 at the International Center's Grand Ballroom on 50 Oak Street (off Van Ness, near Market), SF. The benefit will feature performances by PUD&M and KSW artists, and a silent auction. Please call 415-543-0520 if you can help us solicit donations, or if you have an item to donate. Both organizations will split the proceeds from the door, but the auction will benefit each organization separately. We are also looking for donations of food or drinks for the event.