Art exhibit displays journey to America (Daily Titan)
Art exhibit displays journey to America
Photographs, statues, and short film honor Asian-American month
Kristina Ridenour
Daily Titan Staff
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month has included a variety of events to honor the cultural accomplishments of people in the community.
Two events included the opening of an exhibit celebrating the journey of Vietnamese who have come to America and a short film titled “Suspension.”
Professor Richard Jong, a lecturer of Asian American studies at Cal State Fullerton, highlighted the mission of the events.
“I believe the primary goal of the heritage month is to educate the campus community. By generating awareness, the events have the potential to expand our collective understanding of what constitutes American history, culture and national identity,” he said.
The art exhibit, entitled “A Long Journey of Courage: The Story of the Vietnamese People Coming to America” was unveiled on April 28 in the Atrium Gallery of the Pollak Library.
The exhibit commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975 and also celebrates the establishment of the Vietnamese community in the United States, according to a program available in the gallery.
The two sections of the gallery have many different pieces from photographs exploring nature, watercolors of experiences in concentration camps to vibrant colored costumes.
A glass case at the exhibit displays statues carved out of tree roots. The artist, Dr. Pham Chi Nhan, was a medical doctor in Vietnam who was imprisoned in the Philippines. He used his time in jail to explore his artistic side and the delicately crafted statues were what resulted.
What most inspired Gerry Del Rio Cortes, a senior biology major, to come and view the gallery was the musical instruments and jewelry.
“It shows that people will continue to be creative even in those conditions,” Cortes said.
The exhibit will be showcased until June 30.
The short comedic film, “Suspension,” written and directed by CSUF alumna Rhianne Paz Bergado, is a high school tale of outsiders who triumph in the end. The film stars Maria A. Yanez as the main character who goes to a new school and shows the popular clique that it is OK to be different. Also starring in the film is CSUF student Grant Bardsley who is befriended by Yanez’s character.
After the showing, Bergado spoke to students about film making on a small scale and how she was inspired to make the film.
“The story came from elements of my own life,” Bergado said.
The film will also be shown on March 12 at the El Centro Cultural De Mexico in Santa Ana.
On May 5, a screening of UC Davis Professor Darrell Hamamoto’s “Yellowcaust: A Patriot Act” will be shown to honor Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
“This film is an experimental, abridged version of a longer adult film that Hamamoto has made called ‘Skin on Skin.’ He made these films, in part, to address issues of sexuality and gender representation as they pertain to Asian-Americans. I expect some viewers to be offended by this approach, while others will praise his efforts,” Jong said.
Photographs, statues, and short film honor Asian-American month
Kristina Ridenour
Daily Titan Staff
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month has included a variety of events to honor the cultural accomplishments of people in the community.
Two events included the opening of an exhibit celebrating the journey of Vietnamese who have come to America and a short film titled “Suspension.”
Professor Richard Jong, a lecturer of Asian American studies at Cal State Fullerton, highlighted the mission of the events.
“I believe the primary goal of the heritage month is to educate the campus community. By generating awareness, the events have the potential to expand our collective understanding of what constitutes American history, culture and national identity,” he said.
The art exhibit, entitled “A Long Journey of Courage: The Story of the Vietnamese People Coming to America” was unveiled on April 28 in the Atrium Gallery of the Pollak Library.
The exhibit commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975 and also celebrates the establishment of the Vietnamese community in the United States, according to a program available in the gallery.
The two sections of the gallery have many different pieces from photographs exploring nature, watercolors of experiences in concentration camps to vibrant colored costumes.
A glass case at the exhibit displays statues carved out of tree roots. The artist, Dr. Pham Chi Nhan, was a medical doctor in Vietnam who was imprisoned in the Philippines. He used his time in jail to explore his artistic side and the delicately crafted statues were what resulted.
What most inspired Gerry Del Rio Cortes, a senior biology major, to come and view the gallery was the musical instruments and jewelry.
“It shows that people will continue to be creative even in those conditions,” Cortes said.
The exhibit will be showcased until June 30.
The short comedic film, “Suspension,” written and directed by CSUF alumna Rhianne Paz Bergado, is a high school tale of outsiders who triumph in the end. The film stars Maria A. Yanez as the main character who goes to a new school and shows the popular clique that it is OK to be different. Also starring in the film is CSUF student Grant Bardsley who is befriended by Yanez’s character.
After the showing, Bergado spoke to students about film making on a small scale and how she was inspired to make the film.
“The story came from elements of my own life,” Bergado said.
The film will also be shown on March 12 at the El Centro Cultural De Mexico in Santa Ana.
On May 5, a screening of UC Davis Professor Darrell Hamamoto’s “Yellowcaust: A Patriot Act” will be shown to honor Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
“This film is an experimental, abridged version of a longer adult film that Hamamoto has made called ‘Skin on Skin.’ He made these films, in part, to address issues of sexuality and gender representation as they pertain to Asian-Americans. I expect some viewers to be offended by this approach, while others will praise his efforts,” Jong said.
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