Arts

Dìdi (弟弟), a heartfelt coming-of-age film directed by Taiwanese American filmmaker Sean Wang, takes viewers on a nostalgic journey through the summer of 2008 in the life of a young Taiwanese American boy. Set in California, the film follows 13-year-old Chris, or “dìdi,” played by Izaac Wang, as he navigates the awkward, exhilarating, and often painful experiences of early adolescence. …

People are far too often pigeon holed into particular walks of life as a matter of course, living up to a status quo that can often feel suffocating. During Asian American Heritage Month, it is important to celebrate the stories of individuals who aspire to push the envelope and challenge rigid industries. Candace Chen is a groundbreaking Mechanical Engineer and …

The Broadmead Arts Council and The Herman Maril Foundation present: “Selections from the Works of Herman Maril” Gallery Lecture: Residents, their families and friends are invited to attend the lecture, “A Questionable Presentation,” on the work of Herman Maril by David Maril, the son of the artist and president of the Herman Maril Foundation. This is the second of four …

By Amy Alznauer Paintings by ShanZuo Zhou & DaHuang Zhou The epic story of two Chinese brothers who became art-world legends, illustrated with stunning paintings by the artists themselves. First there was one Zhou brother, and then there were two. They lived in a bookstore with their grandmother, Po Po, whose stories of paintings that flew through the air and …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   If a synonym for succeed is “go far,” consider this: Asian American showbiz talents have gone really far, indeed. To paraphrase “Star Trek,” some have even gone boldly where no one has gone before – like directing a James Bond movie, or starring in a hit TV show. Suddenly, Americans of Asian heritage are making …

Zoya Akhtar, Janhvi Kapoor, Catherine Hand also honored at awards gala co-hosted by WIFT and DCSAFF   By Geeta Goindi Bethesda, Maryland, September 10, 2018 – Indian actress and global icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been conferred with the inaugural Meryl Street Award of Excellence at an exclusive event co-hosted by Women in Film & Television (WIFT) and the DC …

World-Renowned Violinist Chee-Yun to Play Instrument Buried for 200 Years Bethesda, MD (August 12, 2016) — The National Philharmonic presents a weekend program that skips from hemisphere to hemisphere and explores how art inspires other works of art. Vivaldi’s most popular work The Four Seasons is paired with Astor Piazzolla’s Argentinian homage, Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of …

Over 500 Attend Third Annual Event by SALDEF’s SikhLEAD Interns By Geeta Goindi Washington, DC, July 6, 2016 – It is among the most heart-warming events hosted by US lawmakers: ‘Langar on the Hill’, sharing and partaking in a community meal in a spirit of equality, harmony and selfless service! The third edition of the exceedingly popular event led by …

                      The Cambodian Dancer: Sophany’s Gift of Hope   The Cambodian Dancer: Sophany’s Gift of Hope, written by Daryn Reicherter and illustrated by Christy Hale, is based on a true story about Sophany, a Cambodian girl who loves to dance and maintains her gift of dancing despite the terrors of …

Review by Floyd Mori Having heard about the somewhat negative portrayal of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and one of its early leaders, Mike Masaoka, in the play, Allegiance – The Musical, I was a bit skeptical about seeing the show. However, I bought tickets and went to see it in New York City. Mike Masaoka was a personal …

The Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University presents the Asian in Maryland (AIM) Cultural Connection: Cambodian Arts & Culture with an exhibition, Family Art Day, dance and music performances and a costume-making workshop. The events take place at the Center for the Arts located on the campus of Towson University at the corner of Osler and Cross Campus …

By Lily Chen   Hongtao Li, an exceptionally gifted artist born in Dalian, China who has made America his second home, continues to gain both critical and commercial acclaim from experts and art lovers all over the world.   More and more, these have resulted in international art collectors – individuals, museums and other prestigious institutions – placing great value …

Just in case you can’t get your annual fix from Small Press Expo (link: www.spxpo.com) in September, or can’t make it out to some of the other comic conventions around the country, Smudge Expo offers a smaller, intimate venue still jam-packed with indie comics (over 50 local artists!) and hands-on workshops (design your own characters!). On March 14, Asian Fortune …

ABA’s Spring Performance: Sunday, June 14 at 2:00pm , Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center Akhmedova Ballet  Academy excelled at the Youth America Grand Prix on February 28 in Austin, TX and will compete at the finals in New York. Elise Haukene, Korean-Japanese descent Ballerina was one of the performers who received Top 12 in the Junior Category for her Contemporary Piece. …

Bethesda, MD (March 16, 2015) — The National Philharmonic welcomes Haochen Zhang, the award-winning 24-year-old Chinese pianist, as he makes his Washington, D.C. orchestral debut under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski. Both former child prodigies, Zhang and Gajewski present a dazzling program: Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, and with Zhang’s solo the ultimate Romantic piano …

By Yi Chen Named one of the 100 “Leading Global Thinkers of 2013” by Foreign Policy for “using art to show how inequality breeds violence”, awarded Best Screenplay for his new film at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival – it’s been a high-profile year for Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke. Like most of his feature films, A Touch of Sin is …

Film based on a memoir of two generations of Chinese Americans explores history and present By Tamara Treichel “No matter what storm comes, don’t break,” Jian Ping’s grand­mother told her. “You must be strong, like the mulberry tree.” Jian took her grandmother’s words to heart while growing up during China’s chaotic Cultural Revolution (1966-76), and wished to become a “mulberry child.” …

By Yi Chen The A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) series is a monthly open discussion produced and hosted by Busboys and Poets. The February series featured Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, who talked about his own experience as an Asian American as well as his play Yellow Face, a comedy about mistaken racial identity. “I began writing because …

By Devika Koppikar Her Chinese American upbringing in Arkansas led her to write Joy’s Discovery, a book about the art of appreciating one’s ethnic identity. Now, Dr. Jane Chu is the first Asian American nominated to head the premiere federal agency for arts appreciation, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In a written statement released by the White House, …

By Aria Danaparamita He was the first Asian American elected to Congress, yet few know his name. Raised in a small town in Punjab before Indian independence, he was inspired by the speeches of Woodrow Wilson and Abraham Lincoln and decided to set sail to America to study. It was 1920. 37 years later, he was elected to the U.S. …

This month, Asian Fortune is launching its poetry series – a space for local APA poets to share their art, stories, and moments. We encourage all APA poets in the D.C. metropolitan area to submit their work. More information on monthly themes, eligibility guidelines, and prompts can be found on our website: http://www.asianfortunenews.com/poetry-submissions/ Happy writing! día ng mga patay (day …

By Vania Cao Bethesda, Md. – The 2013 Asian American Music Society (AAMS) International Competition took place on October 26th in Bethesda, Maryland. The Bethesda Presbyterian Church saw a steady stream of performers from as far as New York and Washington State, as young musical artists competed for cash prizes at their assigned competition time in the categories of Strings, …

Washington, DC – “Pages of Beauty and Madness” explores the rich history of Japanese literature — from classic novels to modern manga — through film adaptations from Japan, Korea, Cambodia and France. These classic and critically acclaimed film adaptations are precious and rarely seen since their original release in the cinema. Three films will be offered free of charge at …

By Jennie L. Ilustre  Photos: JLI BALTIMORE, Maryland–Two years after the project began, Towson University formally launched “Art Filipino: Works by Master Artists,” on September 14. This is the university’s first exhibit showcasing works of Filipino American artists in the area, as well as treasures by Filipino National Artists and masters like Amorsolo, Joya and Rodriguez. The project was the …