Asian Art Museum Announces February Schedule

AsiaAlive: Indian Picture Storytelling: February 1-11

Experience the performance storytelling art of Mohan Bhopa and Patasi from Rajasthan, India, who were recently featured in The New Yorker (November 20, 2006). The Bhopa (the storyteller, priest, dancer, and musician) and his wife, a Bhopi, travel from village to village to perform epic stories that are not only literary entertainment, but are also thought by some to have curative powers for people and their valued livestock.

Artist Kalyan Joshi, who specializes in painting the storycloths (phad), will demonstrate his art and explain the vibrant imagery, which often centers on a depiction of Pabuji, the god who brought camels to Rajasthan. Appropriate for all ages, AsiaAlive is an ongoing drop-in interactive program that features live artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, videos, and books.

Princes, Palaces, and Passion: The Art of India's Mewar Kingdom: February 2-April 29, 2007

Mewar, one of the oldest and most important "princely states" of India, produced stunning courtly paintings and vibrant folk arts. Rajasthan, the region of India in which Mewar was located, is famous for its ancient temples and forts, its landscapes varying from green valleys to craggy desert cliffs, and its people's proud spirit. Mewar's capital of Udaipur is known for its sumptuous lake palaces and vibrant cultural traditions. Included in the exhibition will be both superb paintings made for the princely court and village arts such as story-telling scrolls and elaborate clay sculptures of folk deities. In the making for more than eight years, this exhibition features more than seventy artworks, and is the first ever outside India to focus on the arts of Mewar. Organized by the Asian Art Museum.

Masters of Bamboo: Japanese Baskets and Sculpture from the Cotsen Collection: February 2-May 6, 2007

Connoisseurs and collectors have long regarded Japanese bamboo baskets as art objects of great sophistication and beauty. In 2002, the Asian Art Museum acquired 832 objects from the Lloyd Cotsen Japanese Bamboo Basket Collection, recognized as one of the largest and most notable collections of its kind in the world. This exhibition will feature approximately seventy artworks from the collection-nearly all on view for the first time, and some created by masters designated in Japan as "Living National Treasures"-offering visitors a revealing look at the extraordinary beauty, intricate craftsmanship, and historical and cultural importance of this unique art form. Organized by the Asian Art Museum.

Rajasthani Cribs: February 3

The hand-made houses of the Indian desert are both functional and beautiful. Come learn and create with architect Peter Engel in a hands-on activity evoking these rich, cultural traditions. For inspiration before beginning your project, view the spectacular architecture featured in the paintings of the special exhibition, Princes, Palaces, and Passion: The Art of India's Mewar Kingdom.

Indian Picture Storytelling Lecture & Performance: Thursday, February 8

Learn more about the tradition of performance storytelling from Mewar, Rajasthan in this lecture and demonstration by visiting AsiaAlive artists Mohan Bhopa, Patasi Bhopi, and Kalyan Joshi. The evening will include a short talk by scholar Joseph C. Miller, PhD about the phad (storycloths), and their ritual functions as both icon and narrative. There will also be a performance of excerpts from the narrative, which centers on Pabuji, the god who brought camels to Rajasthan.

Celebrating the Next Generation of Japanese Bamboo Artists: Thursday, February 15

Join ten emerging bamboo artists from Japan, collector Lloyd E. Cotsen, and basket specialist Rob Coffland in this reception honoring the next generation of leading bamboo artists. The work of each of the artists will be on view, and interpreters will be on hand to facilitate conversation with museum visitors. The evening will include remarks by Mr. Cotsen, whose donation of nearly 900 Japanese baskets to the Asian Art Museum comprises the largest public collection of Japanese bamboo art in the world. Complimentary beverages will be served. This program generously supported by the Lloyd E. Cotsen Endowment for the study of Japanese bamboo arts.

AsiaAlive: Bamboo Art of Japan: February 16-February 25

Japanese basket artist Kibe Seiho--visiting from Kyushu Island's Oita Prefecture--demonstrates bamboo weaving techniques typical of Kyushu bamboo artists, including the so called "plover plaiting" or chidori-ami. Kibe actively exhibits in the Japan Craft Arts Association, and has won numerous awards for his work. Appropriate for all ages, AsiaAlive is an ongoing drop-in interactive program that features live artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, videos, and books. This project has been made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation. Support for ongoing programs on Japanese bamboo arts is provided by the Lloyd E. Cotsen Endowment.

Book Nook: Saturday, February 17

2007 is the Year of the Pig! Born on New Year's Day, Patricia the piglet explores the farm with her parents and Farmer Wu. Join author Oliver Chin for an engaging reading of this new book and an art activity featuring Patricia's friends on the farm. Patty's amusing journey in appreciating her true nature will delight children and adults alike. Bright and dynamic illustrations will appeal to parents, those interested in Asian culture, and fans of classic pig tales. The Year of the Pig is the second in the annual series Tales of the Chinese Zodiac.

Touring History: Teacher Preparation for Self-Guided Visits: Sunday, February 25

Are you planning to lead your class on a self-guided tour of the galleries and looking for teaching materials and strategies to enrich your museum visit? Learn how to customize the tour to your curriculum through object selection, sequencing, and techniques for guided viewing as well as tips for involving chaperones in the educational experience. The event features a discussion led by the museum's education staff and a docent-led tour followed by light refreshments. And you will receive teaching materials to take away with you: a set of student worksheets, a compilation of three-minute films (on DVD) that provide historical and cultural context for museum art objects, and a complimentary admissions pass to preview the museum for your own self-guided visit. -- www.asianart.org