tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73676937668379827912024-02-02T00:04:46.117-08:00Finding Chinatown: An American StorySara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-7839217009671892582023-09-28T14:21:00.001-07:002023-09-28T14:21:15.526-07:00<p> CHECKING IN FROM 2017 ...</p><p><br /></p><p>It has been too long and yet, FINDING CHINATOWN: AN AMERICAN STORY continues. </p><p>I was in Detroit. last week, the end of another longterm project, to photograph my 20th visit there and at the top of my list, a search for what remains, so little of the Chinese presence in that city. My first photograph there, way back in 2011 was of the dark, cold (January) street on Cass where once the Chinese community first flourished. Today all that's left is the sign, "Welcome to ... "</p><p>That said, Detroit hold surprises and for me, this trip was to a decrepit old building behind fences, the old STanley Hong Mannia (Manilla) Cafe, know as a great Chinese restaurant and entertainment venue. </p><p>It's been purchased now and about to be renovated. Its history: Owned by a Chinese immigrant to Detroit, and with the help of Nathan Johnson, a known Black architect of the city, the Chinese restaurant was a busy gathering place for Detroit. It's google architecture attracted many and along with his brothers, STanley Hong attracted musical acts, hiphop stars and others to a terrific DEtroit scene. https://www.metrotimes.com/music/music-venue-at-former-chinese-restaurant-with-ties-to-detroit-hip-hop-clears-historic-district-commission-28596162</p><p>Jen Lyons, a NY/Detroit promoter is planning to bring back the magic ...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGejk1PfP0qVKV24JJzLkTxrhyphenhyphenVEkAUR38ZhuU2dc3gpcGCZx7bgZNXRIBtXX3D4-7_R91FMa0whENBaGYlCDLPErb4HjWI6zC4HuZAqlkY6E2IMY3fRi6cQIjPmCyEnMW-nntBKcTRKdJzVq2S8yjnTtaa0ojnjja4U7m8U4sICIpmxKBlRViihdpouoz/s1000/StanleysManniaCafe1_BZ9A4565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGejk1PfP0qVKV24JJzLkTxrhyphenhyphenVEkAUR38ZhuU2dc3gpcGCZx7bgZNXRIBtXX3D4-7_R91FMa0whENBaGYlCDLPErb4HjWI6zC4HuZAqlkY6E2IMY3fRi6cQIjPmCyEnMW-nntBKcTRKdJzVq2S8yjnTtaa0ojnjja4U7m8U4sICIpmxKBlRViihdpouoz/s320/StanleysManniaCafe1_BZ9A4565.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ELPCRyRRFHaaKWzCWVekcNK_xiSB2zjMLb4Im34CWxcyud68ZuTnKy9QP9XFzvtGV-KbGJ4xPMQ2qDf9qXeVmnQF0PRCIAbstE_ZVqje508Jlpb8QLJPyar5zEfeTsv9rDhMkgr2R1SRbS-tYgqYUQzVN1AHEkohh7kaOUK_cmpJheQLhbUvUEnynwKO/s1000/StanlysManniaDoor1_BZ9A4857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ELPCRyRRFHaaKWzCWVekcNK_xiSB2zjMLb4Im34CWxcyud68ZuTnKy9QP9XFzvtGV-KbGJ4xPMQ2qDf9qXeVmnQF0PRCIAbstE_ZVqje508Jlpb8QLJPyar5zEfeTsv9rDhMkgr2R1SRbS-tYgqYUQzVN1AHEkohh7kaOUK_cmpJheQLhbUvUEnynwKO/s320/StanlysManniaDoor1_BZ9A4857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-74399332523472370412018-01-05T08:56:00.000-08:002018-02-09T08:08:47.556-08:002017 Lunar New Year Update - a year late!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUhmwJZ5tPo5PgBgcvnaPs73UF1VniC3gvc-vb14d8lBLdiEFWWjRHcKKmN68IA6_5FzFXdUeGxmULjN6gtpJmIV1X0B9xdMfyMvFNJHWQK0HZzzj20NhHD4ANzHnJQFT4Pp0__pWrkjo/s1600/SJBoyersTyrusPlusOwlKites9283F8x12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">2017 was a busy, remarkable year and while my annual Lunar New Year post went out to so many, I forgot to post it here! In fact, the next Lunar New Year 2018 is almost upon us and the Year of the Rooster will turn into the Year of the Dog. </span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/03/when-is-chinese-new-year-2018-and-which-animal-is-it-this-year-7199646/">http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/03/when-is-chinese-new-year-2018-and-which-animal-is-it-this-year-7199646/</a> </i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">That said, since we are still in the Year of the Rooster for another month (this year the Lunar New Year is quite late in the cycle, starting mid-February), the 2017 update is still viewable at </span></i></center>
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<i><a href="https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=01a1f6a95d&e=0351ba6630">https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=01a1f6a95d&e=0351ba6630</a></i></center>
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As well, I am posting <u>excerpts</u> from it here...</center>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!!</span>!!</span></center>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><i>(a little late since the Spring Festival now has passed but .... )</i></span></center>
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<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">It has been a busy year for me and our planned annual exploration of even newer temples and associations with our friends fell apart at the last minute so, since this part of my long-term <a href="http://www.sarajaneboyersphoto.com/">FINDING CHINATOWN: AN AMERICAN STORY </a>photographic project that continues, I simply wandered to downtown Los Angeles on the Lunar New Year's Eve to my favorite temple, Chua Ba Thien Hau, to visit with the friends I have made there this past dozen or so years. It is always worth it for attendees - from regular worshippers to tourists taking in the fireworks - are full of cheer, hope and community as we all celebrate this strong tradition.<br />
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Lion dancers, drummers and fireworks make for a festive night of understanding and participation that underscores the strong multi-cultural fabric of our country.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #8c8484; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">I especially love the lion dancers, teams of two usually young men - although women have been joining recently - from associations that join together, from time to time even in someone's back yard, to learn the arduous physical coordination of the lion dance and its celebratory, "good luck' role in the New Year and other ceremonial occasions. There is long history to China's fascination with lions, actually not native to most of China and the artistry of the lion costume and the traditions they perform: the dancers allowing themselves in large crowds to be petted for good luck; "eating" the traditional offering of lettuce, then spitting it out to be caught, again for good luck; and just plain entertaining the crowd. Between the drums that accompany them and the ritual, one is definitely in the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8c8484; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><em>A bit more plus a fun YouTube 1981 film snippet:</em></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #8c8484; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=536d3cfa38&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">http://www.goforeign.net/home/lion-dance </a></div>
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<a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=759c08f58e&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">https://mimimcqueen.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/catching-the-lettuce-in-the-chinese-new-years-lions-dance/ </a></div>
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<a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=3263ef98b9&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXUyRSPg19E</a></div>
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<a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=3680bc592c&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;"></a><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=3680bc592c&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mg0cn26IoA</a><span style="color: #8c8484;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">As always, I am thankful to the participants in this holiday, those I know and those I meet in the crowds who permit me to photograph and join them in this holiday. In these strange times in the United States especially, we have to learn about and treasure all of our engaging histories and cultures that have created and continue to strengthen our great democratic experiment. A new year is about hope - whether Chinese, Gregorian or whatever - and with hope comes understanding and community. Let's go on.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">Updates:</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=15e478b3ae&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">TYRUS</a></strong></span><br />
<em><strong>ONE:</strong></em> It is with great sadness that I announce that my friend and photographic subject, TYRUS WONG, passed away on 30 December 2016. He was 106 years old but his age was not the characteristic most celebrated. Rather it was his artistry for, starting with a modest fine art career Tyrus attained great artistic heights in his artwork: the inspiration for Disney's <em>Bambi</em>, his paintings, his ceramics and for me, his handmade kites. that he flew even this past summer. Tyrus demonstrated what it truly means to be an artist. That, along with great humility, a sense of humor and a welcoming to all whom he encountered, will make him truly missed.<br />
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<a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=2f348c1fd8&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> (front page!), CBS Morning News and worldwide media celebrated his passing . Pamela Tom's beautiful film, <a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=4c75def234&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">TYRUS</a>, will have an airing on <a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=dc551ec668&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank"><em>American Masters</em> (PBS ) this summer</a>. I was so honored that many of these resources pubilshed my photographs of Tyrus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHi0bSsevDpUQ7uiUqxur1DZzu6Bp1Xas0V45qGbZN_vBsg5v34140EtlTPTaXhuM8ErQgUdmUWd7NFrXqtt4D75LbMfI1L3fUxWic8yf3gpk7IqXOMjzneSbaJQE8Jx_F2vR3QWRH0OZ/s1600/SJBoyersTyrusWFldedCtpllr8x10_300cs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="776" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHi0bSsevDpUQ7uiUqxur1DZzu6Bp1Xas0V45qGbZN_vBsg5v34140EtlTPTaXhuM8ErQgUdmUWd7NFrXqtt4D75LbMfI1L3fUxWic8yf3gpk7IqXOMjzneSbaJQE8Jx_F2vR3QWRH0OZ/s400/SJBoyersTyrusWFldedCtpllr8x10_300cs.jpg" width="310" /></a><br />
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<em><strong>TWO:</strong></em> In April (opening Sunday, 2 April through 28 July), my prints of Tyrus & His Kites out at the beach will accompany several of his wonderful handmade kites in an exhibition by the Malibu Cultural Arts Commission at Malibu Civic Center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUhmwJZ5tPo5PgBgcvnaPs73UF1VniC3gvc-vb14d8lBLdiEFWWjRHcKKmN68IA6_5FzFXdUeGxmULjN6gtpJmIV1X0B9xdMfyMvFNJHWQK0HZzzj20NhHD4ANzHnJQFT4Pp0__pWrkjo/s1600/SJBoyersTyrusPlusOwlKites9283F8x12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUhmwJZ5tPo5PgBgcvnaPs73UF1VniC3gvc-vb14d8lBLdiEFWWjRHcKKmN68IA6_5FzFXdUeGxmULjN6gtpJmIV1X0B9xdMfyMvFNJHWQK0HZzzj20NhHD4ANzHnJQFT4Pp0__pWrkjo/s320/SJBoyersTyrusPlusOwlKites9283F8x12.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
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<i>2018 update</i> ...THREE: <a href="http://tyruswongthemovie.com/">TYRUS WONG: THE MOVIE</a> was broadcast on PBS/American Masters in Fall 2017. Still available for broadcast or sale at PBS! Pamela Tom did incredible work on this American story, one representative of the so valuable place for immigration in this country. <br />
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong><a href="http://www.sarajaneboyersphoto.com/">DETROIT:DEFINITION:</a> </strong></span><br />
<em><strong>ONE:</strong></em> THE ARCHITECTURAL IMAGINATION, the US Pavillion’s entry at the 2016 Venice Biennale/Architecture that includes my photographic view of Detroit, has just opened at MOCAD (The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit) as part of <a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=d636db29ec&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">WINTER EXHIBITIONS 2017. </a> February 11, 2017- April 16, 2017<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNMDUOz_8AXqipVkpSMj-d_hgrfCzmsBb_FqA_03rMoAIolGt9UCEKu31oVgMjR8IENZmrpM9ySXBam7O8ECNvm3jMae_ZgNXYAK8_5bQdxSVMDiBh1ltSSSSMokC5PJKOkSctQ0UgDCn/s1600/SaraJaneBoyers_BiennalePostcardcs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="700" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNMDUOz_8AXqipVkpSMj-d_hgrfCzmsBb_FqA_03rMoAIolGt9UCEKu31oVgMjR8IENZmrpM9ySXBam7O8ECNvm3jMae_ZgNXYAK8_5bQdxSVMDiBh1ltSSSSMokC5PJKOkSctQ0UgDCn/s640/SaraJaneBoyers_BiennalePostcardcs2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<strong><em>TWO</em></strong><em><strong>:</strong></em> The Fall 2016 exhibition in Paris of my in-progress DETROIT:DEFINITION project was wonderful and beautifullly installed by Olivier Spillebout, my gallerist both here and of last year's exhibition at Maison de la Photographie, Lille. I was delighted to welcome so many visitors to the show, including friends in for Paris Photo Week. My thanks as well to my co-exhibitor, Guillaume Rivière whose Detroit work was a great counterpoint to my own.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF9KWhTYO37agSVfgAamd4HHqLWQ2mcWh6pbjrgxjiPLta5vkPP1uEjYWTuCDdqRqpI_8p8Tvud5Ao9wgKvSUVCycuCQN93qzmv8EPKAtHnF0DpFw2Vow7hNbS3rXT9U2ldYadKDeSHUy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-05+at+8.22.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1102" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF9KWhTYO37agSVfgAamd4HHqLWQ2mcWh6pbjrgxjiPLta5vkPP1uEjYWTuCDdqRqpI_8p8Tvud5Ao9wgKvSUVCycuCQN93qzmv8EPKAtHnF0DpFw2Vow7hNbS3rXT9U2ldYadKDeSHUy/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-01-05+at+8.22.13+AM.png" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><span style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 18px;"><strong><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=bc335f9815&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">LIFE DOESN'T FRIGHTEN ME</a></strong></span><br />
<i style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><u>2018 UPDATE:</u></i><br />
<i style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 16px;"><b>LIFE DOESN"T FRIGHTEN ME: The Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition is being released this next week, 9 January 2018! </b>I am delighted to have been able to update these amazing artists biographies and add an afterword as well as bring this classic book, my first and most </i><span style="color: #8c8484;"><i>important</i></span><i style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 16px;"> one for me, to new - and old audiences. Look for more and, delighted to share here the first review, published on Shelf Awareness by reviewer Terry Hong, resident blogger, among many other activities, for the Smithsonian. Asian Pacific American Center's BOOK DRAGON. </i><a href="http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3156#m38936">http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3156#m38936</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #8c8484; font-weight: bold;">ONE:</i><span style="color: #8c8484;"> I am delighted to announce that my first book, the multiple award-winning LIFE DOESN'T FRIGHTEN ME (STEWART, TABORI & CHANG/Abrams 1993) is being readied by Abrams Books for a 25th Anniversary Edition! </span><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=f6b01a223e&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">Still in print all these years,</a><span style="color: #8c8484;"> LIFE will be released in this new edition next January 2018!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #8c8484; font-size: x-small;">I have been busily updating the biographies of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Dr. Maya Angelou whose expressive and poetic work I paired to make this book and so look forward to its continued vibrancy for future readers. More to come!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #8c8484; font-size: 18px;"><strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=9ec5ebae5c&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">MISCELLANEOUS</a></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #8c8484;">Recently several of my photographs were licensed for publication to Vassar Magazine, The Taubman School of Architecture at the University of Michigan, CBS Sunday Morning, New York Times, Voice of America, The Mockingbird Magazine and INTERVIEW Magazine/Germany.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8c8484;">My thanks as always to those who have allowed me in to photograph and learn more about them. Without their gracious invitations, I could not accomplish what I hope to do.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="mcnTextContent" style="color: #8c8484; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">I am now also found on Instagram where I am having a great time posting more "casual" photographs, never knowing however when one of those might lead to a new project. Always searching! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarajaneboyersphoto/?hl=en" style="font-size: 16px;">https://www.instagram.com/sarajaneboyersphoto/?hl=en</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="mailto:sjboyers@sarajaneboyersphoto.com" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><span style="color: grey;">Sara Jane Boyers<br />sjboyers@sarajaneboyersphoto,com</span></a><br style="color: #707070; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;" /><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=390154bc09&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey;">www.sarajaneboyersphoto.com</span></a><br style="color: #707070; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;" /><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=c0ada4c619&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey;">www.sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com</span></a><br style="color: #707070; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;" /><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=5677abd916&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey;">www.findingchinatown.blogspot.com</span></a><br style="color: #707070; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;" /><a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=b0e6ce6244&e=0351ba6630" style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey;">www.detroitdefinition.blogspot.com</span></a><br style="color: #707070; font-family: Arial; text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #707070; font-family: "arial"; text-align: center;">©Copyright 2017 Sara Jane Boyers, All Rights Reserved</span></span></td></tr>
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Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-9963111278248754012017-01-05T14:17:00.000-08:002017-01-05T14:19:50.198-08:00<div class="_6a _43_1 _4f-9 _nws _21o- _fol" id="u_jsonp_2_p">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was getting into my car this past Friday when I was messaged that my
friend, 106-year old artist Tyrus Wong, had just died. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This wonderful man, an artist who combatted racial
barriers, was the oldest living graduate of Otis Art Institute here in
Los Angeles. His work was the inspiration for Disney's BAMBI, and someone whom
I was honored to know in the last decade+ of his long and creative,
courageous life</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was turning onto the PCH on this r<span class="text_exposed_show">ainy/cloudy
day and knew I had to stop at the beach where Tyrus, the subject of a
longterm photo project made possible only by the gracious acceptance of
me and my camera by Tyrus and his wonderful family, brought his handmade
kites for over 40 years to fly. I last captured him there last summer
even at the grand age of 105. <br /> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Today, though overcast, the sky
looked like one of Tyrus' beautiful paintings. The wind which Tyrus
would have so appreciated seemed to be whisking him away to another
place.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWH8jDn7o0d9txfo_8g4oe7ucrTFDqREjBmWzSVbgsu_AKQCVC88eyiYslFjVjEG1uJaoTbrzZc6EN8WaqXbxAvYgWjQNkFgPduzT360oKgrZRcSSQwBH8BAiOnD1KzVCPrGgFleEcM4k/s1600/OnTheDayTyrusDied20161230Fcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWH8jDn7o0d9txfo_8g4oe7ucrTFDqREjBmWzSVbgsu_AKQCVC88eyiYslFjVjEG1uJaoTbrzZc6EN8WaqXbxAvYgWjQNkFgPduzT360oKgrZRcSSQwBH8BAiOnD1KzVCPrGgFleEcM4k/s640/OnTheDayTyrusDied20161230Fcs.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">His family told me that my photograph of Tyrus in a deep fog
on a New Years Eve Day some years ago, only one day from now, was one
they placed at the foot of his bed and he continued to comment on it for
its loveliness.<br /> I am so honored to have known and learned from him. RIP, Tyrus Wong. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/movies/tyrus-wong-dies-bambi-disney.html">published news of Tyrus' death</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> </a>on their front page with a beautiful inside obit. the Times requested my photograph of Tyrus mentioned above for their article. </span></span></span><br />
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Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-63409479368043676672016-02-20T09:53:00.003-08:002016-02-20T09:53:56.282-08:00SaraJaneBoyersPhoto_2016 Lunar New Year Greeting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2GvpcAZc_HSoi2KBS2075JvBW68URGgXZOWGnzo36hJNUG_siyOV5pGit9_VndQBCusL8ylJssxDXiRtZdW_udilkEwXq5sbt43LQdjnSoAQMOy4bKdm6uv_fd74AtActb3MbzbPcm4i/s1600/Dragon%2526SchoolBusFLATsc_560.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!</span></div>
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GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!</div>
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I am so pleased to send out my annual <a href="http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=e891ea033b&e=0351ba6630">LUNAR NEW YEAR GREETING</a>, the continuation of my 15+ years of exploration of the Chinatowns of the United States and Canada for my long-term photographic project, FINDING CHINATOWN: AN AMERICAN STORY. Most of the principal photography for the project is completed - still to definitely explore: Honolulu and Calgary! - yet, at the time of the Spring Festival that is the start of the Lunar New Year, I am always drawn back to the Chinatown of my youth, that of downtown Los Angeles where my father worked. And, while this annual visit has expanded over the years to the grander and newer venues of LA County's San Gabriel Valley, this year it was refreshing albeit a bit disconcerting to return to DTLA.<br />
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Below is one of my very early in the project (2005) photographs of the New Year's festivities: a film capture from my pre-digital (and still lamented) period that is also prompting me to return to my transparency files to see what else I might have captured then that have not yet been scanned. Who knows what else I might find!<br />
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We are now in the Year of the Monkey, commencing with the Spring Festival that started with the Lunar New Year on Monday, 8 February 2016 and continues until the Lantern Festival on 22 February, 15 days after the start of the New Year. On the Chinese calendar, it is now Year 4713, a year that continues until 27 January 2017. If you are born in the <a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/monkey.htm">Year of the Red Fire Monkey</a> your character is smart, clever and a bit tempestuous.<br />
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There are many ways to celebrate the <a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-legends.htm">Spring Festival</a> not only in the United States but around the world as cultural diversity is a factor in the traditional activities. Several explanations of the Spring Festival and specifically, the <a href="http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/ChineseNewYear/Chinese_New_Year.htm">Lunar New Year</a> and the <a href="http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/LanternFestival.htm">Lantern Festival</a> are on links noted here. In some cities, there may be Lantern Festival celebrations this weekend and I encourage you to experience this moment!<br />
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We were out in DTLA's Chinatown the day prior, Sunday 7 February, to capture the New Years Eve festivities. As in past years, we wandered with our friends, Eugene and Susan Moy whom we met at the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California of which Eugene is President Emeritus. CHSSC is located in two 19th century buildings on Bernard Street that hold a lovely collection of the Chinese American experience. With exhibits and monthly talks, the <a href="http://www.chssc.org/">CHSSC</a> is open to all by appointment and on Sundays by walk-in from 1-5pm.<br />
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Waiting for all to arrive, I had a chance to capture a bit more there including the library with shelves full of Chinese American-related history and an incredibly beautiful 60 year-old lion dancer mask used primarily in New Year's ceremonies to ward off evil and to bless temples, business and even weddings. We'll see more of the dancers later in the night. <a href="http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/lion_dance.htm">http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/lion_dance.htm</a><br />
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And then we walked... peeking into stores and restaurants replete with New Year's offerings, hoping to find some early evening preparations and celebrations and, of course, have a "family" meal. As always in LA, the cultures mash together and although closed early for the New Year, a temple that overlooks Philippe's - an historic eating venue that has line-ups during Dodger Games - intrigues and calls for a visit to view its multi-headed Buddha. That same location is also only one block away from the original Chinatown in Los Angeles and the historic founding center of the city, <a href="http://www.olvera-street.com/">Olvera Street</a> and it's original mission church. Nearby however, an historic building, a market, stood out in this fast-changing Chinatown. Simple, modest but representative of the history and services available in one of the major entry points of new American populations. Nearby is a vinyl record store, a Thai restaurant and other evidence of LA's diverse influences and culture.<br />
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As noted in previous Lunar New Year greetings, things are changing. Neighborhoods historically undesirable and where ethnic and racial immigrant group were once ghettoized have become new hot urban real estate. With this gentrification there is loss. Property values have increased and new investment, while giving lip service to what has come before, changes the living conditions.<br />
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My home, Los Angeles, leads the pack and 'pack" is an appropriate word as developers slink in. As we walk Chinatown's streets, construction abounds with lofts with high rental/sale rates. Newer immigrants from SE Asia and elsewhere cannot afford these prices and there results a disintegration of communities that prepare these newer populations for the US.<br />
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Yet some stay. Brigham Yen's blog, <a href="http://brighamyen.com/">DTLA Rising</a>, notes the brand new <a href="http://www.socalteochew.org/">Southern California Teo Chew Association</a> (or "Teo-chew") Cultural Center/Buddhist Temple that opened just the day prior to our tour. The <a href="http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2012/03/commentary-who-are-the-teochew-people-they-are-our-neighbors-and-friends/">Teo-Chew population</a>, whose dialect is distinctly their's, initially emigrated from Guangdong province. In recent decades they arrived in LA from various stopovers of a generation or so in Southeast Asia. From <a href="http://brighamyen.com/2013/08/20/new-headquarters-for-socal-teo-chew-association-coming-to-chinatown-in-downtown-la/#more-10723">Brigham's early post</a> (2013): "I am very glad to see new cultural projects like this still being invested in Chinatown as it shows that the Chinese community is still involved, and as a result, helps keep the district’s cultural and historical identity alive." <br />
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Built upon the old Center's land and with a beautiful new gate, the temple is a stunning traditional design. I had photographed in the old store-front building a few years ago so it was exciting to visit their spanking new structure; so new that construction ladders were still on the floor. Just like the Thien Hau Temple, our final destination this New Year's Eve, that I had first photographed over 10 years ago in its old building and then visited the day of its new temple's inauguration, the Teo-Chew Center is presently pristine: no smoke from incense yet softens the view; the wall-framed canvas still vacant of ribbons and symbols of donors' generous gifts for luck and success. Like Thien Hau, the elegance is there and the personality will soon come.<br />
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Teo-Chew was getting ready for a spectacular New Year's Eve, a new alternative to the crowds at <a href="http://www.thienhautemple.com/">Thien Hau Temple</a> a block away, sharing pyrotechnicians and lion dancers. So we ambled over to Thien Hau just in case their fireworks were early and, at 11pm rather than midnight, they were.<br />
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The crowds had gathered earlier to pray over incense and offerings and to wander the temple. By the time we arrived, almost all were outside, including so many children whose late night New Year's Eve outing promises long lives. Remaining inside the temper were those who no doubt wished to be as near as possible to the lion dancers when they entered so they could touch them for good luck. On side tables along the back others were engaged in New Year's Day prep: chopping lettuce and vegetables for the vegetarian soup to be traditionally served starting after midnight.<br />
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From the cool silent sparkle of Teo-Chow, all here on the street and inside was busy, crowded and very red, a color of good luck.<br />
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As always, I am thankful to the many in Chinatown who allow me to share this holiday with them. As midnight comes, we are offered food and wishes for the start of this new year. The traditions of the New Year are longstanding, full of symbolism and meaning and the graciousness of celebrants to others underlies the evening. Let us all hope that we can follow in these footsteps.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Photographic Project Updates!</b></span></div>
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<i>Several very good announcements soon that aren't quite yet pubic so here just a quick update:</i></div>
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<a href="http://tyruswongthemovie.com/"><b>TYRUS</b></a>, filmmaker Pamela Tom's longterm labor of love about 105 year-old artist Tyrus Wong, is making festival rounds, On 10 March, its screening is the opening night event at San Francisco's prestigious <a href="http://caamedia.org/blog/2016/01/21/announcing-caamfest-2016-opening-night-film-tyrus-and-caamfeast-early-bird-tickets/">CAAM FEST</a> sponsored by the Center for Asian American Media. I am honored that my photographs of Tyrus out at the beach were used in the main end title credits. TYRUS, the Movie is winning award after award on the festival circuit.<br />
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<b>CHINESE AMERICAN: EXCLUSION/INCLUSION</b>, the comprehensive exhibition organized by and held last year at the New York Historical Society and in which I have several photographs of Tyrus Wong, is now at the <a href="http://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/chinese-american-exclusion-inclusion.cfm">Oregon Historical Society</a> in Portland through 1 June 2016.<br />
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<b>DETROIT:DEFINITION</b>, my long-term project on the city of my birth continues. In January I made my 10th visit to this amazing city that is proving itself to be an example of how cities can not only survive but regenerate in a creative 21st Century manner. More current images are presently online on my website, <a href="http://sarajaneboyersphoto.com/">sarajaneboyersphoto.com</a>, including installation views from my exhibition this past Fall at Maison de la Photographie in Lille, France as part of the LILLE3000/Renaissance Triennale.<br />
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A catalog of the show can be viewed online at <a href="https://issuu.com/sarajaneboyersphoto/docs/detroit_definitionatmaisonphoto_lil">https://issuu.com/sarajaneboyersphoto/docs/detroit_definitionatmaisonphoto_lil</a><br />
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I was so honored that this past Fall's Detroit Homecoming Conference created a wall poster of my work and printed a photo of mine on their conference booklet cover.<br />
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<b>Best: some exciting news about this project soon to come!</b><br />
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Below: my birth home through the visits...<br />
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Gung Hay Fat Choy!</div>
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<a href="http://goodcharacters.com/newsletters/gong-xi-fa-cai.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Depending upon dialect, who is translating and a variety of other factors, here is at least one explanation of the New Year's greeting and wishes for the Year.) </span></a></div>
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<br />Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-80301881817587724512015-03-06T13:15:00.000-08:002015-03-06T13:15:38.382-08:00SaraJaneBoyersPhoto_2015 Lunar New Year Greeting <br />
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<h1 class="h1" style="color: #202020; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 34px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 0; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px; text-align: center;">
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!</h1>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!</span>
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">羊 yáng</span></div>
<br />
<br />
In<span style="font-size: 14px;">spired</span> as always by my adventures
in photographing for my long-term photographic project, FINDING
CHINATOWN: AN AMERICAN STORY, I conducted my annual visit to the greater
Southern California Chinatowns to photograph the Lunar New Year. The
dates of this 15 day celebration, <a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/spring-festival.htm" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">the Spring Festival</a>, vary each year as the Chinese calendar directs the start and finish of this holiday, the last day known as the <a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/lantern.htm" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lantern Festival</a>. That festival just ended and we are now officially in the<br />
Chinese calendar year, 4713.<br />
<br />
I am in the 15th year of my FINDING CHINATOWN: AN AMERICAN STORY
photographic project, one that I do not pursue as actively as before
nevertheless the Lunar New Year each year reminds me of the strong
story the Chinatowns reveal that is meaningful to all of us here in
North America and certainly beyond. That story is about our continuing
social and cultural evolution, especially in this past 100 years with
the greater opportunities for travel, combined with recognition of the
very many communities in our nations. Photographing in the greater
Southern California Chinatowns reminds us of the wealth of diversity
that influences what we eat, what we learn and how we approach one
another. Combined with the joy and tradition of a New Year, it is a
joyous moment.<br />
<br />
The zodiac animal of this year's celebration is a bit inexact: THE
[wood] GOAT or THE RAM or THE SHEEP. Various websites offer different
interpretations of the animal symbol for this year but this one, from <a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/goat.asp" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">ChinaHighlights.com</a> explains it well:
<h2 style="color: #202020; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-top: 0; text-align: left;">
<img align="left" alt="Chinese symbol for sheep" height="96" src="http://www.china-family-adventure.com/image-files/chinese-writing-symbol-zodiac-sheep.jpg" style="border: 0; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 100%; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" title="Chinese symbol for sheep" width="96" /><span style="font-size: 12px;">"Is It the Year of the Sheep, Goat, or Ram? </span></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Actually,
Chinese people are also not quite sure about that. In Chinese the word 羊
(yáng) is a generic term, and can refer to a sheep (绵羊), goat (山羊),
ram/buck (公羊 male sheep or goat), 羚羊 (antelope), etc. There is a lack of
clear definition on the zodiac "Goat" in Chinese history.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">However, most
Chinese people and experts on folklore believe that the Chinese zodiac
animal is the Goat, not the Sheep, and they have some evidence to
support their idea...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">... the
Chinese zodiac is an invention of the Han Nationality, and goats were
widely raised by the Han people (unlike sheep), so the zodiac animal is
more likely to refer to a goat.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">... a Goat image often appears on Chinese zodiac stamps, New Year paper cuttings, and New Year paintings (not a sheep).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">... the Goat
was one of the 12 bronze statues of the Chinese zodiac at the Old Summer
Palace. Although its head was lost, its present reproduction according
to historical records is the image of a goat."</span><br />
<br />
For those born in this zodiac year, you are known to be artistic,
gentle, kindhearted, social and relatively healthy. For the rest of us,
a year of harmony in general is promised. Several sites to
investigate:<br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/goat.asp" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/goat.asp</a><br />
<a href="http://www.china-family-adventure.com/year-of-the-sheep.html#.VO4gbsaNtQI" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.china-family-adventure.com/year-of-the-sheep.html#.VO4gbsaNtQI</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://astrologyclub.org/chinese-horoscope/2015-year-sheep/" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://astrologyclub.org/chinese-horoscope/2015-year-sheep/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2015ChineseHoroscope.htm" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2015ChineseHoroscope.htm</a></span><br />
<br />
Not having many opportunities to photograph goats wandering through Los
Angeles recently, I made the editorial choice to depict the sheep banner
chosen by Beverly Hills for the New Year (as well as a couple of Malibu
stars from my sheepherding days). Finally and after way too long,
American cities have finally awakened to the realization that there is a
large and growing population of Americans of Asian descent who have
been continually making substantial contribution to our knowledge,
culture and wealth for at least 150+ years of our country's existence.
It seems about time.</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This
year, instead of a mammoth run to as many temples as we could visit and
joined again by Susan and Eugene Moy - Eugene, the President Emeritus
of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California - we decided to
return to one or two previously visited and explore the new year's
experience more meaningfully there. We also decided to eat, using a
recent LA Weekly article on the <a href="http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/10-best-chinese-restaurants-in-los-angeles-5251255" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">"Best Chinese Restaurants in LA."</a> and landed at a terrific restaurant in a Rosemead strip mall: <a href="http://www.shaanxigourmet.com/about-us/" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Shaanxi Gourmet,</a>
decorated by replicas of the terra cotta warriors from their central
mainland province and with a menu noted for long and delicious </span></span>handmade <em>biang biang</em> noodles and dumplings, especially from the region's capital, Xian.<br />
<br />
Several links to this cuisine around the United States:<br />
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/recipes/article/Burgers-and-pasta-Chinese-style-a-taste-of-5517654.php" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.sfgate.com/recipes/article/Burgers-and-pasta-Chinese-style-a-taste-of-5517654.php</a><br />
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-xian-kitchen-shaanxi-city-of-industry-20141208-story.html" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-xian-kitchen-shaanxi-city-of-industry-20141208-story.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.splendidtable.org/story/xian-famous-foods-bringing-a-little-known-chinese-cuisine-to-new-york-city" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.splendidtable.org/story/xian-famous-foods-bringing-a-little-known-chinese-cuisine-to-new-york-city</a><br />
<a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/shaanxi/xian/xian-dumpling-dinner.htm" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/shaanxi/xian/xian-dumpling-dinner.htm</a></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The majority of the evening was spent at <a href="http://www.wakentemple.org/event_view.php?event_id=429" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Waken Temple</a>, a Buddhist temple on Lower Azusa Road in El Monte. </span></span>According
to tradition is it important to pray on the Eve, from around 10pm to
midnight, the "first hour" of the New Year. As distinct from many of
the "family" temples, Waken offers a more substantive spiritual
experience, including a lecture by the Master - here in Chinese and
following in English - that exhorted us to understand not only the
blessings but the mistakes and failures one encounters. We sat on
cushions, having shed our shoes at the entrance. As the New Year is
approached, incense candles are lit and deposited at the smoky altar
outside the entrance and worshippers line up before the Master for a
palm leaf blessing of luck and prosperity for the New Year. Within the
serene interior, simply and elegantly organized altars and images of the
buddha, here the <a href="http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/guanyin.htm" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva; </a>it certainly became a moment to pray.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;">Far
from Thien Hau's traditional midnight fireworks display in downtown LA,
we left Waken Temple before midnight to again honor the New Year at the
</span></span><span class="st">Hai Nam Association of Southern California</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;">,
noted for their electrified lion dancers. It is an association I have
been visiting for many years, first in downtown LA and since 2010 in
their new building in El Monte.</span></span> Modeled on historic
structures similar to the early Chinese temples, it is full of
celebrants moving from one buddha's altar to another, lighting incense,
bowing and praying before each Buddha, shaking sticks and other devices
to advance lucky chances for the next year. By this time of the night,
the scent and smoke from the incense candles can be overpowering while
enhancing the mysticism of these symbolic rituals. Right after midnight,
we enjoyed the first soup of the year, vegetarian as are all meals on
the New Year day.</div>
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On
New Year's Day I returned to the downtown Los Angeles Chinatown to
wander and, as always, to visit the Thien Hau Temple, the building of
their new building in 2005 an event that convinced me to continue with
my FINDING CHINATOWN project. Not yet understanding enough then about
why I was so interested in photographing the Chinatowns of the US &
Canada, Thien Hau helped reveal to me not only the history of my home
Chinatown but also became symbolic of the very American story that I was
capturing: the continuing and changing immigration patterns to this
country of promise that drew so many of our families here. Here is
living history of the Americas, a tale of early traditions, immigration,
exclusion, then inclusion (somewhat) and a gradual weaving of many
strands that comprise a continually evolving fabric of our populations.<br />
<br />
Specifically in the Chinatowns, first populated primarily by people arriving from the <span class="st"><em>Guangdong</em></span>
province/Cantonese, then in the last 30+ years or so many from Taiwan
and Hong Kong and then again, even as later generations of the early
Cantonese speakers moved out into the general national population,
others from Asia and Southeast Asia arrived, taking over buildings and
neighborhoods. This is a typical immigration pattern also experienced by
earlier religious and ethnic groups who upon first arrival and for a
generation or two gathered together in like-speaking neighborhoods,
voluntarily and not-so-voluntarily, then moved on into the general
population.<br />
<br />
Thien Hau is a Los Angeles example of a second or third phase of
change. Its founding congregants were ethnic Chinese from Vietnam, part
of the "boat people." Ten/eleven years ago, when I first visited,
the large new temple was in construction, based upon an original temple
in China's Camau district and built with imported materials from China
by imported-for-this-project Chinese craftsmen. Its construction
signaled a new fresh approach to the aging Downtown Chinatown and where,
in typical California fashion, the old building that housed ThienHau
transitioned over time from a small Italian Baptist church to a Mandarin
Baptist one to ultimately the small older Thien Hau Temple. In 2005,
the old temple was destroyed in very typical American fashion, t<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJIuP7zEVeM" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">o make way for a parking lot for the new temple</a>. There I photographed its last days.<br />
<br />
Now, ten years later more change in coming into the downtown Chinatown
as more temples have been built by ethnic Chinese from Cambodia, and
yet, even as these rise, the Chinatown itself is mirroring Los Angeles
downtown's residential boom with the greater population, the cost of
living is rising and many of the older or the newer immigrant families
have left and another city change is coming. Such is the nature of our
US cities. Nevertheless, the New Year's day is full of good will.
Families arrive here from all over Southern California, often outfitted
in traditional clothing, much of it red for good luck, coming to the
temple for prayers, for vegetarian meals, for introducing their often
American-born children to the traditional ways, and the Spring Festival
begins.<br />
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As
noted, the downtown LA Chinatown is in great flux today. This
Chinatown - created when the early 20th century population was evicted
from on of their first neighborhoods where Union Station now stands and
moving several times to this more northwestern block, originally
Italian-ethnic - again tells a history of civic transition as the recent
cycle of gentrification encompassed first the mix of contemporary art
galleries alongside several generational Chinese tourist emporiums, best
represented by the stores and buildings on Chung King Road. Now,
change is occurring again as the art galleries and lofts that had
replaced several street level shops are themselves being replaced by a
wealthier, younger even more trendy demographic that is returning to
downtown LA and filling it up with architecture studios, entrepreneurs,
coffee shops and all the accoutrements of today.<br />
<br />
I spent a moment with Alex Cheung, owner of the Alex Cheung Company
(est. 1971), the last emporium to remain on Chung King Road. When Alex
retires it will be over and Chinatown, albeit created intentionally as a
tourist attraction in the '30s, will represent another world. While
the great temples, Thien Hau among them, as well as the Chinatown Plaza
will no doubt remain, many who lived and worked here have moved on into
the greater fabric of the region or moved at the least into the greater
modern "chinatowns" of the San Gabriel Valley. The SGV is as well, is
now the place where tourists from the Mainland go.<br />
<br />
My annual Lunar New Year visit helps me again experience this story of
our world today, and not only in the Americas, for we are in a world of
change with populations fitting not always perfectly but ultimately
finding themselves together, acknowledging and best, enjoying the gifts
we all bring each other. It strengthens and enriches who we are and
ultimately we all become our country's "nationals," not without our own
distinct history if we choose but with it plus the experiences we gain
in our new lands. That is the story of who we are and in the
Chinatowns, it is vibrant every day.<br />
<br />
Gung Hay Fat Choy!</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Photographic Project Updates!</strong></span><br />
<br />
PHOTO LA 2015, SarahLeePROJECTS booth: The event in January was
wonderful and busy. I exhibited with other LA-based photographers,
Aline Smithson, Ann Mitchell and Martin Cox. Sarah Lee did an impressive
job of curating and installing us.<br />
Thanks to all who came out.<br />
<br />
<br />
Opening in New York City on 26 March at the Museum of Chinese in America <a href="http://www.mocanyc.org/exhibitions/water_to_paper_paint_to_sky_the_art_of_tyrus_wong" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">WATER TO PAPER: PAINT TO SKY, </a>the
traveling retrospective of 104 year old artist, Tyrus Wong. This
exhibition originated in 2013 at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San
Francisco. In the Maya Lin-designed building at MOCA/NYC, I am sure it
will be terrific. The exhibition contains 10 large prints of mine
capturing Tyrus, his family and friends at the Santa Monica Beach where
for the last 40+ years he has come to fly his hand-designed/made kites.<br />
<br />
I will be there for the opening and if you are in the New York area, I
recommend you make a trip. The exhibit will be up through </span></span>13 September.</div>
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Previewing at ParisPhotoLA in early May is the Metropolis Books/D.A.P. book: <a href="http://www.artbook.com/9781938922732.html" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">BOTH SIDES OF SUNSET: PHOTOGRAPHING LOS ANGELES</a>.
I will have several images in the book of Carmageddon on the 405 from
my GRIDLOCK project. I am privileged to be among a host of master
photographers included in this publication. </div>
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica neue,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Excited as well about the potential opportunity to create the first exhibit my ongoing <a href="http://detroitdefinition.blogspot.com/" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">DETROIT:DEFINITION</a> project in Europe this coming Fall. News to follow but excited about this now!<br />
<br />
I will photographing again in Detroit at the end of this month. If you are there, let me know.</span></span><br />
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As always, my thanks to members of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel
Valley Chinatown communities for extending their welcome to me as I go
about the New Years.<br />
<br />
Sara Jane Boyers, March 2015
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Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-47941672443664299852015-02-17T12:46:00.002-08:002015-02-17T19:21:01.568-08:00Even before the 2015 Lunar New Year Eve....I am embarrassed that I have not kept up my blog for the Finding Chinatown project is always on my mind and recently, when I re-organized my studio and purchased more flat files, I had the opportunity to review my exhibition pics that are so lovely and were the subject of such good reviews in my solo show at Craig Krull Gallery in Santa Monica, now four years ago.<br />
<br />
I have been thinking about this show as the Walt Disney Family Museum's retrospective - WATER TO PAPER: PAINT TO SKY - on my friend Tyrus Wong, now 104, travels to New York's <a href="http://www.mocanyc.org/exhibitions/upcoming">Museum of Chinese in America</a>, to open to the public on 25 March. I will be there but best, so will Tyrus! It is more than time that he is honored not only in California but throughout the nation for his beautiful paintings, sketches, ceramics and of course, his handmade kites! It will be a good year.<br />
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On the eve of the Year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat, I realize that I made no post last year although again, I was out and about in the greater Los Angeles area photographing so many celebrants and temples not only on the eve but on the Saturday thereafter. On the eve, we toured with Eugene Moy and his wife Susan to wander, our second year of adventuring together, and it was wonderful. Eugene is the former chairman of the CHSSC (see below) and his knowledge is encyclopaedic but even he was in awe of the great diversity and wealth of presentations of the New Year celebration. We are all joining together for 2015 again!<br />
<br />
Here, quickly is a sampling from those photographs. The locales vary from downtown's <a href="http://www.chssc.org/">Chinese Historical Society of Southern California</a> (CHSSC) where traditional flags were being readied to carry in the Chinatown parade, to temples in the San Gabriel Valley. Everywhere there was excitement about the new year, welcoming celebrants and of course, good food!<br />
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More to come after the festivities and traditional events for the Year of the Sheep start getting underway! <a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/happy-new-year-in-chinese.htm">Happy New Year!</a><br />
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<br />Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-55926203934217133462013-02-25T15:49:00.000-08:002013-02-26T08:15:20.676-08:00The Year of the Black Water Snake 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR<br />GUNG HAY FAT CHOY</span><br /><span style="color: #ea9999;">新年快乐</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />For almost a decade now, my FINDING CHINATOWN project has included an annual visit to the greater Los Angeles Chinatowns to photograph the Chinese/Lunar New Year. Each year has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the diversity of the culture and tradition of the New Year, especially as it evolves in this American story.<br /><br />This is the YEAR OF THE BLACK WATER SNAKE, a year within the traditional twelve sign zodiac, that carries both difficult characteristics combined though with a warmth and good sense of communication. It is a year of progress and attention to detail. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Chinatown Plaza in downtown Los Angeles</span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On the eve of
the New Year, Saturday 9 February, I met up with Eugene & Susan Moy at the
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC). Eugene is
actively involved in the greater Los Angeles American Chinese community,
including his position as President Emeritus of the CHSSC and current Board
Member of the Chinese American Museum. Between his in depth historical
knowledge of the Chinese immigration throughout the United States and Susan's
visual eye - she has recently retired as an art instructor at Glendale
Community College - we were on our way to an emotional, educational and terrific
journey during which Eugene planned to traditionally honor his recently
deceased mother by lighting incense to her memory in as many places of worship
as possible on the New Year. And so he did and, so did we: eight temples
and associations starting in downtown Los Angeles to Lincoln Heights, Alhambra,
and El Monte and then back to LA.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was an
extraordinary adventure, not the least of it was the eight visits within 7 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first: the QUAN YUM TEMPLE on North Broadway contained traditional altars, a convent for Buddhist nuns, plus one of the few remaining funereal rooms of another day. Following the Tao/Dao tradition, a young reverand spoke about the offerings among the urns, the Master's writing tablets encased in a clear vitrine and the symbolism of the Kuan Yin with "1000 pieces." The story: that the buddhisattva tried so hard to do good that ultimately she was split into many pieces (the many arms of the golden statue) so she could finally accomplish all that she intended.<br /><br />Next to the AMERICAN VIETNAM CHINESE FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION, also on North Broadway. Not a formal "temple" but an association, the AVCFA provides both places for worship as well as for community resources. Its very title speaks to the great diversity of ethnic Chinese in the Southen California area: 19th & 20th century immigrants from the Guangdon province, mid-century immigration from Taiwan and more recent immigration of ethnic chinese from Southern Asia. This was apparent from our conversation with the AVCFA's security guard: 72 years old and conversant in seven languages from French to Vietnamese, English and four chinese dialects, including Mandarin and Cantonese.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SnxilOSbRPJgQaZRdsnrL59xpwfHYjjJoIO_pmUQO24cxLRxW9S_yzmI_1k-y3NL10IhRCXEwnAbZA4U3Fm5xEp5SCfefaggJzo5UPAaM6ezxZweKV6ZBIYmLrt-KiuhVL9jkjT1mdPq/s1600/Square1_800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SnxilOSbRPJgQaZRdsnrL59xpwfHYjjJoIO_pmUQO24cxLRxW9S_yzmI_1k-y3NL10IhRCXEwnAbZA4U3Fm5xEp5SCfefaggJzo5UPAaM6ezxZweKV6ZBIYmLrt-KiuhVL9jkjT1mdPq/s640/Square1_800.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></b></i></span></span></span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></i></span>Imagery above from Quan Yum and more from the AVCFA (I also visited there last year). In the closet are the brooms ritually used to sweep out the evil spirts in preparation for the New Year. They are then literally "closeted" away for the first days of the year to keep the spirits from returning.</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The mood changed as we departed downtown LA for the San Gabriel Valley and the next two temples: the Chong Hua Tong Moral Association in Alhambra and the World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters, the first of a number of temples that line El Monte's "Temple Row" on Lower Azusa Avenue. Both temples belong to more formal Tao orders and even though we were early - most people start to gather at the temples at nine or ten pm after family dinners - there was a pervasive atmosphere of quiet, mixed with ritual chanting and incense offerings.<br /><br />CHONG HUA TONG MORAL ASSOCIATION is unassuming, located at the back of a parking lot. I had visited this temple for their Sunday meetings some years ago and carried away the impression of a serious meditative and literate tradition. We waited outside the sanctuary while a new member was inducted. When complete, the Master - a beautiful woman in white robes with a face that radiated goodness - spoke expressively to us in Mandarin, translated by a member there even for Eugene whose family dialect was Cantonese, about the Dao tradition and pointed out the shortened incense sticks and symbolic ash, representing Earth, to be used in the chanting ceremony, soon commenced when the Master and another woman serially lit incense sticks for each Buddha, bowing and engaging in ritual chant that varied, it seemed, only by name. In dramatic contrast to the other temples we visited, it was apparent that the New Year celebration here was not to be the typical crowded gathering but instead, a personal time of reflection and commitment.<br /><br />We were again struck by the openness and willingness to welcome us and explain tradition, a characteristic not only of the New Year, but also in so many of the Chinatowns I had visited for FINDING CHINATOWN. Before we left, we were offered a ritual New Year's sweet, to start it off with something good and rich.<br /><br />The quiet was also characteristic of the WORLD I-KUAN TAO HEADQUARTERS, located on "Temple Row," right next to another temple. Here youth prepared for a small midnight presentation while the vast and generally unadorned upstairs sanctuary was quiet with only the occasional individual lighting incense. At the Headquarters, the New Year starts not at midnight but at 11pm on the Eve, following an older Chinese tradition and partially as a result of the symbolic attachment of "bad" to even numbers and that fact that traditional Asian time calculation is broken into two hour periods rather than one. The offerings were also presented in groups of odd numbers, e.g., five rather than four (four is an especially malevolent number). They are also symbolic. For example, the sound of the name for apples is similar to that of "peace," and thus, apples are often brought as offerings.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> In the Dao tradition, congregants use prayer cushions, set up at the Chong Hua Tong Moral Association and at the "Headquarters,” lined up against the walls, waiting.</span></b></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />A return to exuberance for the remaining temples we visited on "Temple Row" that were open for the night. There were more, some not open that evening, and others, just too many to view as the midnight hour approached. The next two, respectively contiguous and opposite the World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Separated only by a wall from the Headquarters</span>, WAKEN TEMPLE is stunning, its central space focused on an intense blue wall where shelves of Buddha’s and artful plants are precisely arranged. It is in the Mahayana Buddhist/Tibetan Buddhist tradition of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and the Prajna-Paramita Heart Sutra that states, "Form is empty (Śūnyatā). Emptiness is form," all leading to a search for the ultimate truth (ref: Wikipedia).<br /><br />We shed our shoes at the doorway. The crowds were large but within was an overall sense of restraint. Many were seated on prayer cushions, quietly reading from the Sutra. Others were lighting beautiful votives. Others on the phone (it IS LA... ) Crowds were arriving in anticipation of the New Year.<br /><br />QUAN AM BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIP is directly across from Waken Temple and the World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters. It was not at first apparent that this was a temple and we almost drove by it however as we noticed others visiting, we parked again. Thus we entered a former small house from the back driveway, the rooms saturated with the scent of flowers and overwhelming visual treats. Altars, tables and walls were filled with gold Buddha’s (including the red Buddha, the Laughing Buddha and many others that serve to protect the space and tradition), photographs, flower vases containing symbolic flowers (yellow chrysanthemums throughout), carpets on top of carpets. and monks and Master in attendance, greeting each who entered. The Fellowship appears to follow Vietnamese/Chinese cultural norms. A kitchen where the New Year's Day vegetarian meal was being prepared and a garden/nursery were behind.<br /><br />All was presided over by the Master, educated extensively in both Eastern and Western tradition, the latter including a Masters in Divinity from Berkeley, who invited us to share tea with him. The Tea Ceremony was elaborate, beautiful and memorable, characterized by a ritual warming of the tea by pouring hot water over the teakettle repeatedly, accompanied again by sweet cakes for the holiday.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On El Monte's "Temple Row<span style="font-size: x-small;">:" </span>Waken Temple & the Quan Am Buddhist Fellowship</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Midnight was fast approaching as we headed south on Lower Azusa Road in search of another temple and discovered PURELAND LOTUS COMMUNITY/PHUOC HUE WORSHIPING CENTER, another modern temple built in what is starting to seem to us a typical pattern: walled, parking lot in front (and on these very deep El Monte lots, also in back), two story with sanctuary and a community center, also in the back. At Pureland, the sanctuary is divided into three rooms, the foremost grand but the others equally resplendent with richly stained wooden altars covered with Buddhas and flowers The New Year's Day vegetarian soup was already being served in the back room.<br /><br />We rushed from there for one last visit: the HAI NAM ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. <a href="http://www.hainamusa.org/">http://www.hainamusa.org</a> As with the Chua Ba Thien Hau Temple in downtown Los Angeles, the Hai Nam Association is one to which I frequently return and, in fact, was until two years ago located opposite Thien Hau. The new temple replicates one in Hai Nam, China from which many of its attendees emigrated, via two generations in Vietnam. <br /><br />We arrived only a few moments past midnight and while fireworks explode there on New Year's Day only, the lion dancers were finishing their first performance. The dancers introduced this night the "very first" electrified lion mask in California, eyes shining through the glittery glass.<br /><br />Smoke from the incense managed to fill even the vast sanctuary and at back, the commmunity hall was filled with celebrants partaking in the clear soup and sweet cakes. I was recognized from previous visits and again so graciously welcomed. It is an honour to share this tradition here. Eugene and Susan also have friends here, especially the current president of the association. A perfect way for all of us to end an amazing evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Floral at Pureland Lotus Community & Midnight at Hai Nam Association</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We who live in Southern California are among the lucky ones for in the <span style="font-size: small;">C<span style="font-size: small;">hinatowns i<span style="font-size: small;">s yet another </span></span></span>doorway into North America that remains open, providing a large and very diverse view into some of the identities, traditions and cultures that make up our nations, no matter how many generations before and after. Traveling around at the New Year's, especially this one, once again demonstates the strength of the fabric of the American Story that weaves together us all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />My t<span style="font-size: small;">hanks as alway</span>s to the very many people who welcomed us into their celebrations, fed us and provided the grounding upon which this experience is based. My gratitude as well to Eugene and Susan Moy who so graciously shared all this with me. </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxCeHZZiCaLj_K40l4lmffNDmVADrrELR9kIr5NXQCab8Uo11pJKFKl-sLkxZttGk9N-X6NDApn3bCVS-3qdBbPggo0DctR-zXFq4kw7bJhDma2HNcDXi1IQzDZSbAj3pmaoKJuQDfiWL/s1600/Square5_800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxCeHZZiCaLj_K40l4lmffNDmVADrrELR9kIr5NXQCab8Uo11pJKFKl-sLkxZttGk9N-X6NDApn3bCVS-3qdBbPggo0DctR-zXFq4kw7bJhDma2HNcDXi1IQzDZSbAj3pmaoKJuQDfiWL/s640/Square5_800.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />I was additionally planning to use this New Year's Greeting as an update, long overdue, on my photographic activities. But this experience was so extensive and intensive and I have written more than planned and will leave a specific update for later.<br /><br />Suffice to say that 2012 was wonderfully busy. Starting from my last New Year's Greeting in February 2012, I participated in six exhibitions including the FotoFreo Biennial in Australia and, in the first six months of the year, had photographs published in several magazines including Architectural Record. During the year my photographs garnered several awards, I commenced a serious investigation into architectural photography as a fine art, attended two well-received portfolio reviews (Palm Springs and the FotoFest Lens Culture/Paris reviews) and more!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />In 2013, already my architectural fine art portfolio - REVISIT.RENEW.NEW - is growing and the early work can be seen on my website, <a href="http://www.sarajaneboyersphoto.com/">http://www.sarajaneboyersphoto.com</a>. In May, I am looking forward to an extensive visit to Detroit to resume and explore further for DETROIT DEFINITION and then in August, I am honored to be featured in a major retrospective of one of my favorite artists, 102 year-old TYRUS WONG, who continues to amaze and will be so honored by the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. I will be exhibiting there my photographic "story" of Tyrus and his hand-made kites.<br /><br />More to come...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gun Hay Fat Choy!</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sara Jane Boyers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sjboyers@sarajaneboyersphoto,com<br />www.sarajaneboyersphoto.com<br />www.sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com<br />www.findingchinatown.blogspot.com<br />www.detroitdefinition.blogspot.com<br />All images and text ©Copyright 2013 Sara Jane Boyers, All rights Resersved</span>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-13522925330814327912012-11-28T06:34:00.000-08:002012-11-28T06:39:41.609-08:00TYRUS WONG: BRUSHSTROKES IN HOLLYWOODGood things happening for my friend, Tyrus Wong, a national treasure as an artist, animator and now at 102, the subject of a documentary by filmmaker, Pamela Tom, that is nearing completion.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tyruswongthemovie.com/">TYRUS WONG: BRUSHSTROKES IN HOLLYWOOD</a> follows Tyrus from his journey to the United States at age 7 with his father, through his young teen years as a scholarship student - they never knew how young he was! - at Otis Art Institute, through his both commercial and fine art career as an artist - the man responsible for the look of Disney's classic Bambi! Today he is the oldest living graduate of Otis.<br />
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I have been photographing Tyrus for several years now when he, in his fourth decade of retirement, brings his handmade kites to Santa Monica beach as a gift to us all.<br />
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Pamela has turned to Kickstarter to help fund the completion of BRUSHSTROKES IN HOLLYWOOD and I hope all of you will join in the campaign, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1193029136/tyrus-wong-brushstrokes-in-hollywood">TYRUS WONG: BRUSHSTROKES IN HOLLYWOOD at Kickstarter.</a> Please support this documentary, aimed for completion by this coming summer.<span style="color: #0000ee;"><b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> <span style="color: red;">Kickstarte</span><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: red;">r today just chose it as </span><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: red;">one of their own picks!!!! </span> </span></span></span></b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">There are al</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">so some fun rewards for helping fund it, the funding increments in </span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">units of 8, a Chinese lucky number.</span></span></span></span><br />
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Recently I was privileged to be able to visit Tyrus' home/studio and
here is a quick pic, along with one of my portraits of Tyrus and his
kites, the portrait which I have happily contributed to the PR efforts for this film funding project.<br />
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<br />Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-30290488578650813102012-11-28T05:48:00.000-08:002012-11-28T05:52:08.209-08:00Quiet for a while but updating again!It was such a busy, terrific year that so much has happened but no time to update!<br />
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Five exhibitions from January until into the summer, some of it concerning the FINDING CHINATOWN project and others involved with my overall portfolio work. See my May post on my other blog,<a href="http://sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com/"> SARA JANE BOYERS ALOUD</a><br />
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Of course, the most wonderful was to have my images of the centarian artist (now 102) Tyrus Wong, and his kites - one framed composition and a
flip-book - included in Sonia Mak's terrific Getty Pacific Standard
Time (PST) exhibition and accompanying catalogue: <i>'ROUND THE CLOCK</i>: CHINESE AMERICAN ARTISTS WORKING IN LA at the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles City College <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/03/pacific-standard-time-vincent-price-art-museum.html">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/03/pacific-standard-time-vincent-price-art-museum.html</a><br />
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The show was simply terrific and Tyrus' work - both his "commercial" animation and film design and his distinctive paintings - simply shone.<br />
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And now, even better news for Tyrus. To come in following post! </div>
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In Spring, again the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs again requested and published several of my photographs of Los Angeles' downtown Chinatown in the Asian and Pacific Islander American Hertage Month Calendar & Cultural Guide.<br />
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All the while, new themes from this extensive body of work - now over 12 years - present themselves to me and I look again at the project. Here: a light, no pun intended, but intriguing one: the color of the Chinatowns brought about so often by the choice of the lights for illumination used, in this case, <span class="st">fluorescence and the often naked blub</span>:</div>
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Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-34805818397325185912012-02-10T10:58:00.000-08:002012-02-10T11:10:47.515-08:00The Year of the Water Dragon 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD3LLQXSPvKiHSc5D872qPEgje5cCEraod5C7qYhMuStndbxvR2evdVrbBcj_FUFWsuDxmWukUCrwvX7MXnQK6ph8m1WJRKTWH9NcICTNFrXfi274Nqkxxk722SNnpNVgVUet2Qh7mcHt/s1600/_-LunarNwYrGreetings6b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD3LLQXSPvKiHSc5D872qPEgje5cCEraod5C7qYhMuStndbxvR2evdVrbBcj_FUFWsuDxmWukUCrwvX7MXnQK6ph8m1WJRKTWH9NcICTNFrXfi274Nqkxxk722SNnpNVgVUet2Qh7mcHt/s400/_-LunarNwYrGreetings6b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707586433282868562" border="0" /></a><br />My Lunar New Year Greeting is online at <a href="http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=2e7d2cfa8f&e=9151fee9c4">http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=013a28d9f024038bd399086bb&id=2e7d2cfa8f&e=9151fee9c4</a><br /><br />With best wishes for a properous year.Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-73794064071745739522012-01-20T06:26:00.000-08:002012-01-24T20:47:16.964-08:00Acquired by LACMA!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO74WwLekH3u1qcQ50oiPc5TmgPA1vsgAAsfVlIrLNVGv8M3pnDDhIShMcPfMvq2k5uAHt3A3PfEAizEk2FhRe5_gdkLtl8ctb51AET46QyFgRNrY09KigyYw2FFWzeKI3IbVHJPfSxH9/s1600/LACMA_MingsCafe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO74WwLekH3u1qcQ50oiPc5TmgPA1vsgAAsfVlIrLNVGv8M3pnDDhIShMcPfMvq2k5uAHt3A3PfEAizEk2FhRe5_gdkLtl8ctb51AET46QyFgRNrY09KigyYw2FFWzeKI3IbVHJPfSxH9/s400/LACMA_MingsCafe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699721151031360754" border="0" /></a><br />The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has just accepted <span style="font-style: italic;">Ming's Cafe</span> (above), a print from FINDING CHINATOWN, into its collection. I am very honored.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ming's Cafe</span>, was taken from my trip through California's Central Valley in the inland city of Bakersfield.<br /><br />I loved the trip for it crossed history and explained a lot about the migration of not only Asian (primarily Chinese and Japanese) immigrants to the United States in the late 1800s/early 1900s but also a terrific examplar of how American absorbs immigrants. I have posted previously about this in my post on Fresno.<br /><br />In Bakersfield, a city where Chinese immigrants first came for agriculture, a large freeway exit points to Ming's Boulevard, one very prominent family. The early Chinatown was large. Today, with the generations of early Cantonese families gone and, in an area subject to earthquakes, one of which decimated the city and the Chinatown with it, there are remnants but also a burgeoning new "Chinatown," not centered as before but replete with newer immigrants from the Mainland and Taiwan.<br /><br />So it was, in driving around Bakersfield's older center, that I saw construction close to this<br />"old-school" Chinese restaurant, Ming's Cafe. Plans are expansion and modernization however the interiors now, red "leather" booths and traditional ornament remind me of the Chinese restaurants of my youth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqYAk8yem1DIKJ1r2aClJmyAMlH4sXNVFrsicz0pBrVBdBJroa-11iRBOm4HyrSOmZCXlnpy78kDfPcno5i8sCNJIv7oIVdXfSbN060CjWOZZ2Rom6rFqK9-nNJkRS54RjkX6o_dsBgnj/s1600/MIng%2527sCafe1_5954Fc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqYAk8yem1DIKJ1r2aClJmyAMlH4sXNVFrsicz0pBrVBdBJroa-11iRBOm4HyrSOmZCXlnpy78kDfPcno5i8sCNJIv7oIVdXfSbN060CjWOZZ2Rom6rFqK9-nNJkRS54RjkX6o_dsBgnj/s400/MIng%2527sCafe1_5954Fc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699729203529276754" border="0" /></a>I ventured in, way before the lunch hour, where I met Wendy and her husband, recent immigrants from Hong Kong who had purchased the restaurant and were in the midst of renovation. Still open for business with older patrons in for their morning cup of coffee or tea, they were also preparing for their son's applications for law school.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqIz_Bz0kIwvvvouWTvL1L065mUvVoX5Cn3Y6lZRdRypngf0ja8reGrd9Zr5Pn9DwHvBImwsr-IcgFTmVd8pUEcNVYrRUMnMWWFd1evylt-QemiHVqQBSASSk4FlFLB7aLzOQBAgnf9Kg/s1600/_NWendy6016F.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqIz_Bz0kIwvvvouWTvL1L065mUvVoX5Cn3Y6lZRdRypngf0ja8reGrd9Zr5Pn9DwHvBImwsr-IcgFTmVd8pUEcNVYrRUMnMWWFd1evylt-QemiHVqQBSASSk4FlFLB7aLzOQBAgnf9Kg/s400/_NWendy6016F.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699731037327522610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi988T9WsJbSCnkWAoMdU3q9wsH4pOKlrT8hSKwy42zOQVB_LbXoxgYzN6z6inBD6mD7dyN6ej1IwwjW5WRhKyYASPdMca3z8zgo1-By9P_klVC8jSmkkdelpZ3yhy4GAkj2h1KekGmpUg5/s1600/ChFoodNLawSchl5988FC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi988T9WsJbSCnkWAoMdU3q9wsH4pOKlrT8hSKwy42zOQVB_LbXoxgYzN6z6inBD6mD7dyN6ej1IwwjW5WRhKyYASPdMca3z8zgo1-By9P_klVC8jSmkkdelpZ3yhy4GAkj2h1KekGmpUg5/s400/ChFoodNLawSchl5988FC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699723606941762178" border="0" /></a><br />Change continues in the Americas as each new person who arrives settles into our routines, not forgetting the old but adapting, joining and contributing their history and culture, their entrepreneurship, their expertise and best of all their intelligence and work ethics to our continual melting pot.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">UPDATE<br /></div>Sadly change does affect some of our historic places, as evidenced by another Chinatown I photographed on this same trip: that of the community of Hanford, further up. There a small group of preservationists are working hard to save the historic buildings and small museum. It is authentic, accurate and so worth saving. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=13867051#.TxnjTCMih1w">http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=13867051#.TxnjTCMih1w</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDIly3cL8kH3dzak-JVVseSCpw2drzy6CpUu10RDr-Tcl10vyUZXEp1O7l6Lzl-8iA67vRpOTyKCKJbhsU72eHm_0e78YDvG0Mstasf0phoO-Q7EyuEJP09AoMz8qvFbDXDrqT7vsHo0i/s1600/LanternGold6056_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDIly3cL8kH3dzak-JVVseSCpw2drzy6CpUu10RDr-Tcl10vyUZXEp1O7l6Lzl-8iA67vRpOTyKCKJbhsU72eHm_0e78YDvG0Mstasf0phoO-Q7EyuEJP09AoMz8qvFbDXDrqT7vsHo0i/s400/LanternGold6056_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699840714442244386" border="0" /></a>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-56929031861236049212011-12-23T07:44:00.000-08:002011-12-23T07:56:32.874-08:00La Lettre de la PhotographieBecause it is the holidays, <a href="http://lalettredelaphotographie.com/">La Lettre de la Photographie</a>, a terrific online daily newsletter read by the international photographic community, asked for holiday/celebration image contributions, not necessarily just of Christmas and the New Years. Thinking over the many ways of celebration, I realized that something from the Lunar New Year, as it is celebrated in the Chinatowns of the United States and specifically, my hometown of Los Angeles with its historic and its modern always changing population of Chinese residents and immigrants, would be perfect.<br /><br />I always love a competition for it forces me to review what it is I have done and perhaps, especially in a long-term project such as FINDING CHINATOWN, discover something that I captured but overlooked until now. So it is with the photograph <span style="font-style: italic;">La Lettre</span> published in their "magazine" today: After Midnight at the Thien Hau Temple on Yale Street, 2006.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FHVjcZOIr061hU4-3yJH5dpdp-y3LlqP7VtemL8fFCeY6hJmtmRHXTo1atJJHYxqT5NMpRPxFpTxO7HxOppdnolVZHjL1k33EAeOmRR5D_E6J-ooHasvzcboNlTVK1OX8vOFXu54Q4s-/s1600/LettrePhotographieHolidays20111223.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FHVjcZOIr061hU4-3yJH5dpdp-y3LlqP7VtemL8fFCeY6hJmtmRHXTo1atJJHYxqT5NMpRPxFpTxO7HxOppdnolVZHjL1k33EAeOmRR5D_E6J-ooHasvzcboNlTVK1OX8vOFXu54Q4s-/s400/LettrePhotographieHolidays20111223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689352263621776066" border="0" /></a>The Temple is where I always return during the Lunar New Year, arriving along with many families often around 10 pm on the New Year's Eve and awaiting the new year. When the clock changes, right after midnight, the firecrackers roar and glisten and crackle; the lion dancers' drums start up and, as they enter the temple, followers reach out to touch them, lucky talismans for renewal and new hopes.Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-49737036622331826442011-12-20T08:04:00.000-08:002011-12-20T10:35:37.887-08:00Christmas in Chinatown, Los Angeles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwpN1kiI7-Phwjkj_ZkrC0aV8_bAYe8MK4S9RDvgXKwupRI_PaaLeuxQZqWGghAEHkT2jueTv4J8wFYtIm2MlCex9zBCZu6WzK-SsxohKn-V5hdQoWu5uB_H_oyBc2BKQMrqG7HsVTo5l/s1600/XmasTreeLntrns1_7526c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwpN1kiI7-Phwjkj_ZkrC0aV8_bAYe8MK4S9RDvgXKwupRI_PaaLeuxQZqWGghAEHkT2jueTv4J8wFYtIm2MlCex9zBCZu6WzK-SsxohKn-V5hdQoWu5uB_H_oyBc2BKQMrqG7HsVTo5l/s400/XmasTreeLntrns1_7526c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688249083087732178" border="0" /></a>For the second year, a christmas tree is up in Los Angeles' Downtown Chinatown Plaza. The tree is stunning, filled with lanterns and lights and the lighting ceremony gathered a remarkably diverse collection of elders, tourists, residents and visitors to this historic Central Plaza of the "New" Chinatown. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Los_Angeles">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Los_Angeles</a><br /><br />We started the evening with dinner at one of the landmarks there, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/hop-louie-los-angeles">Hop Liu</a>, a restaurant whose building has been featured in many films and where you step back into another time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uD5qNABAFU8nHDOk12N6bv9ShWsF-Y0xGu3_1P1qygAGORlSB4xamhCxceytyLBG-fDIl6KE74cAfoXY9LFtZEkyJAd2tOM4OzYgpG_XWQHukOL3YyzEHYeIsm6YypR4Pqt02UXDkoCq/s1600/HopLiuLAFmChtwnVisitorMap.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uD5qNABAFU8nHDOk12N6bv9ShWsF-Y0xGu3_1P1qygAGORlSB4xamhCxceytyLBG-fDIl6KE74cAfoXY9LFtZEkyJAd2tOM4OzYgpG_XWQHukOL3YyzEHYeIsm6YypR4Pqt02UXDkoCq/s400/HopLiuLAFmChtwnVisitorMap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688247227930289858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">image adapted from the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.chinatownla.com/pdfs/ChinatownVisitorMap.pdf">ChinatownVisitor Map </a><br /><br /></span></span>Then off to the Central Plaza where members of the<a href="http://www.chinatownla.com/cbid.php"> Chinatown Business Improvement District</a>, organizers of the event and creators of a terrific website, <a href="http://www.chinatownla.com/">ChinatownLA.com</a>, were gathering along with school children from the neighborhood (Castelar Elementary School and Solano Elementary schools). <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjiC-zBfpP9A2gp-v_EMrNfayR8sIrixIP9Os_HksvPHaDigHztD1kWXyvCM1XecD0CcPftktFWt6bdMxKFZBHgSJ7o4I0j2zMIm4gdRfPFZr3ApgLQS8fnfXYylDp8HJSU3AAbgauiz5/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-12-20+at+10.34.28+AM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjiC-zBfpP9A2gp-v_EMrNfayR8sIrixIP9Os_HksvPHaDigHztD1kWXyvCM1XecD0CcPftktFWt6bdMxKFZBHgSJ7o4I0j2zMIm4gdRfPFZr3ApgLQS8fnfXYylDp8HJSU3AAbgauiz5/s400/Screen+shot+2011-12-20+at+10.34.28+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688280945757936738" border="0" /></a>It was a truly festive evening, a terrific start to the holidays and a perfect reminder of what it means to be in America, this amazing mix of cultures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHYhtOAwTuta2uBfmA5ozpmQXkgBaGINSHXfNk20STp5iri1YGYE548U5v_hZScoopOsYeQXWq9mNYHZsbQ-li_5wehHA_BlYu4qbPzi9v9EdBEF1NHS4PmIvli2Utfko2Y3JjUxmxXiO/s1600/TreeNSingersL1100657c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHYhtOAwTuta2uBfmA5ozpmQXkgBaGINSHXfNk20STp5iri1YGYE548U5v_hZScoopOsYeQXWq9mNYHZsbQ-li_5wehHA_BlYu4qbPzi9v9EdBEF1NHS4PmIvli2Utfko2Y3JjUxmxXiO/s400/TreeNSingersL1100657c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688249099439122978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo5mKnH7a3JwIdq9E2J35HUwgaRuPmPqYCrvO9GTCSCKpCYIVK64UI_KFXxCLmt_dH9G06tz6K78Tsa7Y7f4erZWBbwebKCOuAtHMsdpsdvrdXIiIhrzI3sE1yWfziDOAyRceOGDkmjSu/s1600/CasatlearSingers2_L1100643c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo5mKnH7a3JwIdq9E2J35HUwgaRuPmPqYCrvO9GTCSCKpCYIVK64UI_KFXxCLmt_dH9G06tz6K78Tsa7Y7f4erZWBbwebKCOuAtHMsdpsdvrdXIiIhrzI3sE1yWfziDOAyRceOGDkmjSu/s400/CasatlearSingers2_L1100643c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688249094412697298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciRlIGH5QMgMn3l-wDl0bxpPsD3yX7jeGmuaoujN0uS8o0c2rvFfKXLuv91xVU7W8t135RkrLOxdnKoVwokV0FUjPARkWVZI-r5HYCpSQFLtYX7Exo6_b34oksCAs49SGKVRHxKSjYV7s/s1600/SerranoSingersClsUpL1100624c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciRlIGH5QMgMn3l-wDl0bxpPsD3yX7jeGmuaoujN0uS8o0c2rvFfKXLuv91xVU7W8t135RkrLOxdnKoVwokV0FUjPARkWVZI-r5HYCpSQFLtYX7Exo6_b34oksCAs49SGKVRHxKSjYV7s/s400/SerranoSingersClsUpL1100624c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688249109231439714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyWUmmoTb0QBYHktdMd_njpi1A9RWYs-Te1511MaW74c__bt95pp21eMnoyMMHs0tnJNoEOXyJiX-N3DN0inX1ahCVKQGu-uOlrvo0ylS61D2lShnKzG1h1g3G_Nuqz5Z9z3ziEal3Rpu/s1600/SerranoSingers1_L1100615FC2c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyWUmmoTb0QBYHktdMd_njpi1A9RWYs-Te1511MaW74c__bt95pp21eMnoyMMHs0tnJNoEOXyJiX-N3DN0inX1ahCVKQGu-uOlrvo0ylS61D2lShnKzG1h1g3G_Nuqz5Z9z3ziEal3Rpu/s400/SerranoSingers1_L1100615FC2c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688249089651460290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><cite></cite>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-89400491463626456112011-11-27T12:06:00.000-08:002011-11-27T18:41:53.845-08:00Tyrus at 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LAHj3-89TKfKLxx8byODiXCgkPgSnt_jJyp1CGC5djHxxZMZ-Ds3FJ85hrJPV38BUDeNoqDBdvZFP2E3mt1YNIxdtdcDmVXOJjhzSBJph73zkzNjwuccCQguX6LC_DO8dy2ZyyKPohJb/s1600/KiteSpoolSgntre_7068FC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LAHj3-89TKfKLxx8byODiXCgkPgSnt_jJyp1CGC5djHxxZMZ-Ds3FJ85hrJPV38BUDeNoqDBdvZFP2E3mt1YNIxdtdcDmVXOJjhzSBJph73zkzNjwuccCQguX6LC_DO8dy2ZyyKPohJb/s400/KiteSpoolSgntre_7068FC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772247098303554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />It was last month that Tyrus Wong, centenarian animator, artist and kite man, turned 101. Yesterday, 26 November he was out again at the beach, flying his kites with a large attendance of family, friends and the usual amazed passersby.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCAf8dSCZpLg0HMvTl-3syZK5iUQRCapZ2NJrzxWhaNIRLnkgwQEl60EpKzsDJRlSkWYzTx1ISlGsd-KKNNs6gSIHG6zPzJ_GDousovLIGuWVyghP11MhRujyPGSX_2ktghuksplKU_rz/s1600/TyrusGlvdHandsWKite_1218.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCAf8dSCZpLg0HMvTl-3syZK5iUQRCapZ2NJrzxWhaNIRLnkgwQEl60EpKzsDJRlSkWYzTx1ISlGsd-KKNNs6gSIHG6zPzJ_GDousovLIGuWVyghP11MhRujyPGSX_2ktghuksplKU_rz/s400/TyrusGlvdHandsWKite_1218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772629630342290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW58_E9Z9piX-MeCb28riPVi1xl_1dGeiGS67I966vs55EFqD3MQj6gJUiV85AhBTYzTqmLNOpTm5LVn5o6PD_MbvqTl1h3qQ4BZC_m8Y_DlecFGlbQu-kYNFCdaq6xJcQfwj4Z85P5Mr/s1600/CatapillrComprssed_7189.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW58_E9Z9piX-MeCb28riPVi1xl_1dGeiGS67I966vs55EFqD3MQj6gJUiV85AhBTYzTqmLNOpTm5LVn5o6PD_MbvqTl1h3qQ4BZC_m8Y_DlecFGlbQu-kYNFCdaq6xJcQfwj4Z85P5Mr/s400/CatapillrComprssed_7189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772245826521442" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzId_Ya4cfqdOBtekhK4CUdm404dn8DFAgOFp_UF7puGLQV6soaCa6AU0Nd1jOqC0EbExITPXjrqP2mKS4CZdZbSJjO_FCdLxx8BIS6Oi42EI-EHwzCHjPpNI3CYP6nhPNFT5z8lYiCWqc/s1600/20111126TyrusCatpller7422F2C.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzId_Ya4cfqdOBtekhK4CUdm404dn8DFAgOFp_UF7puGLQV6soaCa6AU0Nd1jOqC0EbExITPXjrqP2mKS4CZdZbSJjO_FCdLxx8BIS6Oi42EI-EHwzCHjPpNI3CYP6nhPNFT5z8lYiCWqc/s400/20111126TyrusCatpller7422F2C.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772260731695970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In addition, two Disney photographers preparing for a significant article for the Disney magazine, <a href="http://d23.disney.go.com/magazine/"><span style="font-style: italic;">DISNEY twenty-three</span></a>, the quarterly publication of D23, the Disney fan club. Their February issue will feature Tyrus, one of their most fabled animators (Bambi) but concentrating this time on his kites.<br /><br />A glorious day with little wind unfortunately but with clear skies and two new little kites I had never seen: a teeny insect made of tissue paper that in scale in the sky looks immense and a solitary panda, also small and light, both flown in the vain hope for some movement in the sky that would sustain them. Not much but for a moment, another delightful experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqgwxRARsQ12SNRrUVdyv4BZjlVkmw97TPhdl3nNsee8Q_A8MkehlUvtUQNqepaj0uiwlb1UpHKrPuuW-SvrKJUDnHfMCW3BgIiZxpIgsvcLZKteAb8V8orlNU5Ow8jhcsTiwkgKXq4Sc/s1600/LttlTssuePprKiteComp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqgwxRARsQ12SNRrUVdyv4BZjlVkmw97TPhdl3nNsee8Q_A8MkehlUvtUQNqepaj0uiwlb1UpHKrPuuW-SvrKJUDnHfMCW3BgIiZxpIgsvcLZKteAb8V8orlNU5Ow8jhcsTiwkgKXq4Sc/s400/LttlTssuePprKiteComp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772627227009362" border="0" /></a><br />Notwithstanding, there was hope for at the beginning of the day, the beautiful butterfly kites flew along with a string of standard made kites that Tyrus long ago strung together.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJihTtg7fg-UqmV3k8738DmPqo1ge8JH2AkWBjok4E_pTAqP8ovFojsKQsBPe9LJPsSpKkqXPTPNI58pucEhrqK5wcWScqMI8la-pZKYZzx9_q-Gg4r1Mofj-p8El10BX6GntO_6ujMh3y/s1600/BttflyStandardNSky_6996.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJihTtg7fg-UqmV3k8738DmPqo1ge8JH2AkWBjok4E_pTAqP8ovFojsKQsBPe9LJPsSpKkqXPTPNI58pucEhrqK5wcWScqMI8la-pZKYZzx9_q-Gg4r1Mofj-p8El10BX6GntO_6ujMh3y/s400/BttflyStandardNSky_6996.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679774783749659874" border="0" /></a>At the end of the day, the sunset reflected off the compressed butterflies, awaiting their repackaging in the unique boxes Tyrus has adapted for kite storage, everything as always with a small personal drawing or decoration by him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXmBlOnB6Wd6s2XC-o3VgSVIzduqEQPtcQUOV83TM7ufDgCSzbHUN6p3Isq217pcWzIgIhRtaWruYXyUJyAfWDIL5G5GxLFGaiHF2TztxFj_v31YSbsuCioXEBbUQY0_-GiHabQtB_0hO/s1600/StackdBttflysNSnset_7304C.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXmBlOnB6Wd6s2XC-o3VgSVIzduqEQPtcQUOV83TM7ufDgCSzbHUN6p3Isq217pcWzIgIhRtaWruYXyUJyAfWDIL5G5GxLFGaiHF2TztxFj_v31YSbsuCioXEBbUQY0_-GiHabQtB_0hO/s400/StackdBttflysNSnset_7304C.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772258960262066" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMKjg-Mx_-YiX5NAVWBTLlR8xOsCwtTS_fXuVT2BokH5MZWQjus-avw674zak8fJT5ysbC5N_RjC3u3rMOGb3bFPeFA196cJFWm6OCd4OMbThPhHWrsNHbOjtwhx2vnsgs0WbxBfSQPjE/s1600/LttlePandaLttleKiteBoxesComp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMKjg-Mx_-YiX5NAVWBTLlR8xOsCwtTS_fXuVT2BokH5MZWQjus-avw674zak8fJT5ysbC5N_RjC3u3rMOGb3bFPeFA196cJFWm6OCd4OMbThPhHWrsNHbOjtwhx2vnsgs0WbxBfSQPjE/s400/LttlePandaLttleKiteBoxesComp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679772241599791906" border="0" /></a>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-78862401508365980392011-09-29T17:47:00.000-07:002011-10-01T10:33:42.080-07:00Fabrik Review By Peter FrankI am a great admirer of the articles written and exhibits curated by Peter Frank and am honored that he just reviewed my now closed FINDING CHINATOWN exhibit at Craig Krull Gallery in the Fall (October) <a href="http://www.fabrikmagazine.com/content/">Fabrik Magazine</a>, a terrific review journal and guide to the significant LA Art happenings.<br /><a href="http://issuu.com/fabrik/docs/fabrik14" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow"><span>http://issuu.com/fabrik/docs/f</span><wbr>abrik14</a> (pg. 54)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D-HRfNb6E-fr1UBfW4Qq1Qu_zjaz1Cv6LAF6nf2XweOZBwA4cfJdsZgntkX9p6MGH1fbfx37onZ-mcvnIRWYE1GfpYmI3rnQOyE29qGeVDpHolOiOM58piAVX8_RKmEWKvcWnLFw_Th7/s1600/FabrikPeterFrank.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D-HRfNb6E-fr1UBfW4Qq1Qu_zjaz1Cv6LAF6nf2XweOZBwA4cfJdsZgntkX9p6MGH1fbfx37onZ-mcvnIRWYE1GfpYmI3rnQOyE29qGeVDpHolOiOM58piAVX8_RKmEWKvcWnLFw_Th7/s400/FabrikPeterFrank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657950151863278434" border="0" /></a>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-65460836588070384142011-08-29T10:05:00.000-07:002011-08-29T10:07:01.357-07:00LA TIMES/Critics Choices!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkoo1bcSbso8MA3NJM2KaWBXSZLMf4gvvnplG_UGmHggaBBne-m4DgJJNjbkL0s_uqljioXHbIqLjITAwWfNRTutbPxiz6DCaqHiw_2GtkjbqV64-MX8jsE76ziJym2OBbaDYxLFZGnQT/s1600/20110828Critics%2527ChoicesF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkoo1bcSbso8MA3NJM2KaWBXSZLMf4gvvnplG_UGmHggaBBne-m4DgJJNjbkL0s_uqljioXHbIqLjITAwWfNRTutbPxiz6DCaqHiw_2GtkjbqV64-MX8jsE76ziJym2OBbaDYxLFZGnQT/s320/20110828Critics%2527ChoicesF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646325513216355842" border="0" /></a>
<br /><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody" ft="{"type":3}">The LA Times seems to like FINDING CHINATOWN! In the 'Critics' Choices" listing in the "Arts & Books/The Guide" this Sunday. Only this week left as FINDING CHINATOWN closes at Craig Krull Gallery on Saturday, 3 September. <a href="http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/Exhibition/Current.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.craigkrullgallery.c</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span>om/Exhibition/Current.html</a></span></h6>
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<br />Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-37169079721808354582011-08-11T12:05:00.000-07:002011-08-13T11:41:22.836-07:00FINDING CHINATOWN, Review in LA Times!
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<br />Today online and tomorrow in the print edition, Los Angeles Times art critic, Sharon Mizota, reviews my exhibition of 21 photographs from my decade-long series, FINDING CHINATOWN.
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<br /><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/08/art-review-sara-jane-boyers-at-craig-krull-gallery.html">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/08/art-review-sara-jane-boyers-at-craig-krull-gallery.html</a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj81EhZxOiezweeiAbL6GE6lmF9pFg1zWJUWUt6DROQg60Yz6a8jWD4NtSt6K0KEegpzzCw93pIu14wuppue6ue7rJXzTjQ9Ea8LbuWwAyFgI4BNfK8yOdJ9EGdawIk4pS40r3Qi3Fjelh/s1600/LATimesRevuePrnt20110813.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj81EhZxOiezweeiAbL6GE6lmF9pFg1zWJUWUt6DROQg60Yz6a8jWD4NtSt6K0KEegpzzCw93pIu14wuppue6ue7rJXzTjQ9Ea8LbuWwAyFgI4BNfK8yOdJ9EGdawIk4pS40r3Qi3Fjelh/s320/LATimesRevuePrnt20110813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640412383984424178" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQuaSeK8uqNBXPTumFOpDXUVi7FoZVozYXO30y33LBV0qMHEjUh7qUG9IQnjzlOdQTEylV7iLo94JcBEEOpI4RjX-NLwcl_onZwdEBpmakolzeX7_wTszPPIJ-GWz2EMnQ4aO38t52OMH/s1600/SJBoyers_FacadeVctria.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQuaSeK8uqNBXPTumFOpDXUVi7FoZVozYXO30y33LBV0qMHEjUh7qUG9IQnjzlOdQTEylV7iLo94JcBEEOpI4RjX-NLwcl_onZwdEBpmakolzeX7_wTszPPIJ-GWz2EMnQ4aO38t52OMH/s320/SJBoyers_FacadeVctria.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639677338714539106" border="0" /></a>
<br />Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-44798413253805978592011-08-01T09:31:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:08:02.363-07:00A dwindling past/Moving On<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHtHkC15d4RLVY-3aXL04CAUmFTcUPsLn_Kmh7f6mxNAhShDDpSAQgzrbn4V7z8Sa5e0np79tnGa01YHxVKBuI70pPJx6hhxQjxqN0i7R1yR4PxeusTqdbbBCW3-nVAZcBwIu-3VpL6Mh/s1600/BehindBingKongAlley6390F.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHtHkC15d4RLVY-3aXL04CAUmFTcUPsLn_Kmh7f6mxNAhShDDpSAQgzrbn4V7z8Sa5e0np79tnGa01YHxVKBuI70pPJx6hhxQjxqN0i7R1yR4PxeusTqdbbBCW3-nVAZcBwIu-3VpL6Mh/s320/BehindBingKongAlley6390F.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635939926015156882" border="0" /></a><br />Coincidentally after last week's post on the Central Valley in California, from today's (Monday, August 1, 2011) Los Angeles Times about the Fresno Chinatown, a neighborhood of historic Chinese and Japanese residence, reduced to a couple of buildings and now, one is being lost.. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-temple-20110801,0,3701986.story">http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-temple-20110801,0,3701986.story</a><br /><br />A few more pics from Fresno in 2009<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjZ0lDoxjPaRMOjoArQjm0QReQwZQDEdB_KAWSb9Sw4lEwOyzZDVuPVCjnxmdHG1xCZVZCyugSjSkgt_rku048bQ61agraYbr_R7nQDLnSvArwShKoqovR3sktI292_MZIX_NzjIlFaq0/s1600/FresnoGrafittiWords6484.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjZ0lDoxjPaRMOjoArQjm0QReQwZQDEdB_KAWSb9Sw4lEwOyzZDVuPVCjnxmdHG1xCZVZCyugSjSkgt_rku048bQ61agraYbr_R7nQDLnSvArwShKoqovR3sktI292_MZIX_NzjIlFaq0/s320/FresnoGrafittiWords6484.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635939913895018546" border="0" /></a>Sonia Mak, Founding Associate Curator of the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles and now an independent curator, was discussing this on Saturday early into the opening of my FINDING CHINATOWN exhibit. In an almost 200 year history, what IS the significance and the purpose of the various Chinatowns? Some, as LA's current Chinatown, also going through major change, were built specifically by those of Chinese origin for trade and commerce, the first time they could control their own direction after the disastrous impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Others were partially self-imposed ghettos originally for safety from anti-Asian sentiment.<br /><br />Perhaps more after Sonia's and John Jung's walk-through of FINDING CHINATOWN this coming Saturday, August 6th at 5pm, organized by the <a href="http://www.chssc.org/">Chinese Historical Society of Southern California</a> (CHSSC)Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-75928583635892111412011-07-31T22:39:00.000-07:002011-07-31T23:06:40.431-07:00Opening Night at Craig Krull Gallery<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZsYj-drvsMf_7NM3rDtEjTnzejZ8qAwzouu5yKyDcsgw94W9zPLRj5ByZ89Lp-TvS3fxx2ncTdyWQvfYoYDydbzyI0xBgSgbld4WLcYLgFuGH2Kj8jcaRCoNYf11eMN6TN2Bp55qWbpa/s1600/OpeningNightCompMCox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZsYj-drvsMf_7NM3rDtEjTnzejZ8qAwzouu5yKyDcsgw94W9zPLRj5ByZ89Lp-TvS3fxx2ncTdyWQvfYoYDydbzyI0xBgSgbld4WLcYLgFuGH2Kj8jcaRCoNYf11eMN6TN2Bp55qWbpa/s320/OpeningNightCompMCox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635758390159111442" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.martincox.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">photos by Martin Cox</span></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was a pretty terrific night for my opening, with people pouring out of the gallery and parking difficult to find. Wow.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I have to thank so many friends who came out, but also the media that brought others for a variety of reasons, including a lovely woman who loves to photograph in San Francisco's Chinatown and just wanted to see how I "did it." Actually a perfect reason to visit a gallery.<br /><br />Putting together an exhibition, especially on a 10 year project, takes a tremendous amount of preparation and when it happens, one can step back - finally - and think about the parts. So much credit goes to my gallerist, Craig Krull, whose faith in my work carried me through and whose sense of restraint and, knowing what images to choose and where they should be placed in his space added so to FINDING CHINATOWN's sensibility. An image is a narrative and with someone in front of it or when in a configuration with other images, a conversation is held and, at times, modified. And it often takes on so much more than the thought of the photographer or artist whose creation it is.<br /><br />I have known this before, in fact have spoken often to adults and youth about this when working with the contemporary art & poetry books I created and designed. It just feels so different when it is one's own work. And thus now as well, I wait, wondering what others will say and how they will feel about the narrative that I started with. We'll see.<br /><br />At the moment, it is nice to just bask in the attendance and then, for a short moment without deadline, turn not only back to FINDING CHINATOWN - not through yet as a project for me- as well as others. It feels good.<br /><br />Above, scenes from the opening photographed by Martin Cox and including Lita Albuquerque, a wonderful artist/performer who is in her full <a href="http://litaalbuquerque.com/">Stellar Axis</a> mode posing with our mutual friend, Adrianna Kapeller; Tyrus Wong, about whom I have posted several times and who honored me last night with his presence and who is speaking about my work with me and Craig Krull, my galleriest; and then Martin himself with me.<br /></span></div></div>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-64263530407092101332011-07-30T08:03:00.000-07:002011-07-30T13:11:14.805-07:00Finding Chinatown, through Oral Histories<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmjU8wLaCTb3DBpso1UxGY9pf8halRdHEcApkxYUm-qUcr_TkgKiLPha8lC-Iwh0Z_rEZR0TsaWIsTbslpmq9mDk5L4kyk89h2cNNBFlVFf0qBDNc744aMwMM07D6fC9THF_zTqia1Ci9/s1600/Sprd-BingWongGrnChunKingAlley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmjU8wLaCTb3DBpso1UxGY9pf8halRdHEcApkxYUm-qUcr_TkgKiLPha8lC-Iwh0Z_rEZR0TsaWIsTbslpmq9mDk5L4kyk89h2cNNBFlVFf0qBDNc744aMwMM07D6fC9THF_zTqia1Ci9/s320/Sprd-BingWongGrnChunKingAlley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635189529066318402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Scenes from LA Downtown</span></span><br />I know that today, the opening day of my exhibition at Craig Krull Gallery especially, should be a day that I concentrate on the show, the art and nothing else.<br /><br />That said, there is that other part of me, the writer who is interested in social change that pushes through the abstraction and visceral emotion that inspires me to photograph, even when coming from my subconscious. (I published three award winning books after all - well at least two "award-winning" - that relate to social change although except for the third, my book for youth on civic & political activism, relating in the most subtle way). So it is in this connected age where I find myself this morning, googling my project name, FINDING CHINATOWN, and where the links, the raison d'etre, the "why?" I am so often asked, are bubbling up.<br /><br />The first: a terrific website that I just found through the searches and one that did a short but rather perceptive post on my exhibition. The <a href="http://provisionslibrary.com/">Provisions Library/Arts for Social Change</a>. Here is the link to the <a href="http://provisionslibrary.com/?p=12221">review </a>however the site itself looks fascinating and their perspective underlies a lot of my work.<br /><br />The second: a July 11 article from METRO FOCUS, WNET's (New York) blog, "<a href="http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/metrolife/chinatown/">Finding Chinatown Through Oral Histories</a>" a project created by the <a href="http://www.aaww.org/">Asian American Writer's Workshop</a> called “<a title="Open City: Blogging Urban Change" href="http://openthecity.org/?page_id=2" target="_blank">Open City: Blogging Urban Change</a>,” a multimedia website that showcases personal accounts of life and neighborhood transformation in New York’s Chinatowns.<br /><br />The articles, also done in collaboration with <a href="http://www.mocanyc.org/">MOCA (Museum of the Chinese in America, NYC)</a>, are fascinating and revealing. I also love the following comment by Lena Sze, the organizer for Open City, for it states as well what I strongly believe: That if for no other reason (although I think there are many other reasons) what we see in the Chinatowns or for that matter many other enclaves or countries, as Americans and as global citizens, is not disconnected from we who may not be from that specific community and thus the only way that we can go forward is to be aware, considerate, interested and interactive with each other and join together for change rather than isolate or push away for destruction.<br /><p> "... the organizers of Open City believe that firsthand testaments of people living in gentrifying Chinatowns are more powerful than the statistics. 'I think that even if you aren’t specifically Asian American or interested in Chinatowns, what’s happening in Manhattan Chinatown, as well as Flushing Chinatown and Sunset Park, in their own very different ways, is an example, is kind of a window on to what is happening to the New York metropolitan region as a whole.” Lena Sze<br /></p>BTW, here is the link to my <a href="http://www.sarajaneboyers.com/">writer website</a><a href="http://www.sarajaneboyers.com/"> www.sarajaneboyers.com</a>, pretty inactive these days but that will change soon as well as my photography and my writing seem more and more to coalesce and interrelate.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodhMF5GjzVhxAPGybzuaJi6EeK-rst9ReyM4WM6tD_jiyfnhxxqCGxTmbpEciCdPGRPvT6OHJ5DPqTi9M42Z9jTCKUBwlDtYnK6IJE4hKqi9EWXy6PYPPtGTj5Wir_ve6DaWRPwwDqGqr/s1600/BookSTrip.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodhMF5GjzVhxAPGybzuaJi6EeK-rst9ReyM4WM6tD_jiyfnhxxqCGxTmbpEciCdPGRPvT6OHJ5DPqTi9M42Z9jTCKUBwlDtYnK6IJE4hKqi9EWXy6PYPPtGTj5Wir_ve6DaWRPwwDqGqr/s320/BookSTrip.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635184805911592738" border="0" /></a></p><p>Hmmm... now that I've written this, it seems like the perfect post on this, FINDING CHINATOWN's opening day.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_gHGYpRwq0kAIF_WC3ED2wAO448Ja4gOgo6JPwtr_5ipDMGk7Gxr_nwOu9t9o31s4E12eA3KUv5ZjYpo1G91lC1cLYO5-fQP6Te-dygXmIgYj-v5Q3_TO6b2-jQqDjMIaQSgUGdfCRAU/s1600/SJBoyers14_WrkersBdrm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_gHGYpRwq0kAIF_WC3ED2wAO448Ja4gOgo6JPwtr_5ipDMGk7Gxr_nwOu9t9o31s4E12eA3KUv5ZjYpo1G91lC1cLYO5-fQP6Te-dygXmIgYj-v5Q3_TO6b2-jQqDjMIaQSgUGdfCRAU/s320/SJBoyers14_WrkersBdrm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635189527485794626" border="0" /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Worker's Bedroom, Philadelphia</span><br /></a></p>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-24262581736100197052011-07-29T08:44:00.001-07:002011-07-30T13:14:02.469-07:00Opening Image<span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnSpEQ_A6uB4sbCz263j8gG1Hs2zINO88hfC89EO7fCzN0YHgQ2J4SvYhglwneTALMFepvSQVtn40EdwmispqD534XxUcd9oASiZWVbe-DziB4rRSbNxaTmNQiw5vYPIhVdr3SYmauwc4/s1600/FndngChinatownBeforeOpeningCKG4005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnSpEQ_A6uB4sbCz263j8gG1Hs2zINO88hfC89EO7fCzN0YHgQ2J4SvYhglwneTALMFepvSQVtn40EdwmispqD534XxUcd9oASiZWVbe-DziB4rRSbNxaTmNQiw5vYPIhVdr3SYmauwc4/s320/FndngChinatownBeforeOpeningCKG4005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634802069100954994" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The exhibition is installed, the lighting to be finished sometime today. <a href="http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/Exhibition/Current.html">FINDING CHINATOWN opens tomorrow</a>.<br /><br />Hanging an exhibition is a difficult task. I have curated and know how challenging those walls can be and I am so relieved that Craig Krull, my gallerist, has such an amazing eye. Knowing his gallery, the flow, the space and most important, what he likes, Craig's choices for placement are making me form new observations about my work, liking what I see.<br /><br />The best example: the opening photograph, hanging on the wall opposite the front door of the gallery, "Mannequins At Central Plaza," Los Angeles Downtown Chinatown.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEyhAOPSAsevTTn34vaT6vrth4A0QSEAFs4BGZLuhOWN74os2jM1RpI4VyxGml23jUrYP4gGp8W10FG-X8icWU00S8AGG9EBSxYMWXte_JxMr24tM_32vrc0xYQxFTajPGk5X94mqWvSX/s1600/SJBoyers_MannequinsNGate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEyhAOPSAsevTTn34vaT6vrth4A0QSEAFs4BGZLuhOWN74os2jM1RpI4VyxGml23jUrYP4gGp8W10FG-X8icWU00S8AGG9EBSxYMWXte_JxMr24tM_32vrc0xYQxFTajPGk5X94mqWvSX/s320/SJBoyers_MannequinsNGate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634804821500178770" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Not one I would have picked for the show, Craig and Kellen Prather, Assistant Director at CKG saw this published in the </span><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Palatino; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Optima; panose-1:2 0 5 3 6 0 0 2 0 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Palatino; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoNormalCxSpFirst, li.MsoNormalCxSpFirst, div.MsoNormalCxSpFirst {mso-style-parent:""; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Palatino; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoNormalCxSpMiddle, li.MsoNormalCxSpMiddle, div.MsoNormalCxSpMiddle {mso-style-parent:""; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Palatino; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoNormalCxSpLast, li.MsoNormalCxSpLast, div.MsoNormalCxSpLast {mso-style-parent:""; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Palatino; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Palatino; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Los Angeles' Department of Cultural Affairs 2011</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=" "><a> Asian & Pacific Islander American Heritage Month Calendar & Cultural Guide.</a></span> They loved it and Craig feels it is a strong opening statement. I would previously have disagreed but now that it is up, I can see how this image plays with the mixed ideas about the "Chinatowns" for it speaks to tourism and the way in which so many view these different places in our oft-fading city centers (downtown is quiet although the Chinatown Business District is doing some terrific events to make it more active; artists and galleries have moved in and out; and the old Cantonese family shops are closing). It speaks to a history that seems also to fade however is in fact, simply adapting with the times and spreading out throughout the community. But best, it also speaks to my art and how I capture an interest in what used to be an "exotic" place and show it for what it is: all-American in its goal of providing many paths for the myriad people and cultures that make up our heritage to pass through and join together.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Yesterday, preparing a small vitrine for the exhibition, I searched in my closet for several pieces of clothing brought back in the l930's from China by my grandfather, a specialist then (I am only NOW just discovering!) in "Far Eastern" business. Among them: black silk pajamas, hand sewn and now, barely holding together. As I now view the "Mannequins" photo, taken several years ago, I find it fascinating how from the 1930's to the present, our approach and understanding of immigration to North America has changed so radically yet at the same time, vacillates between understanding and welcoming and pushing back. If the Americas would only become more aware of the strength of immigration, spoken most wonderfully some years ago by a Federal justice swearing in almost 2,000 new citizens (my friend among them) who told the new Americans, to badly paraphrase: "When you come here, you do not give up who you are or where for it is exactly that difference and experience that strengthens America, the new and the old, forming an ever stronger bond.</span>"</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><br /></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Optima;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-USfont-family:";font-size:10.0pt;" ><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span></span></span>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-87250140372617915382011-07-28T15:43:00.000-07:002011-07-31T23:09:15.729-07:00Getting ready for FINDING CHINATOWN: The ExhibitWith only two days to go before the opening of FINDING CHINATOWN at Craig Krull Gallery, I am aswirl with thoughts and tasks, the best of which are, of course, supplying images to various news sources who are showing interest in the project. Among those, the Bakersfield news has asked me to comment on the towns that I photographed in 2009 on a rushed swing through California's Central Valley, a group of towns I need to revisit.<br /><br />With the large agricultural history, the Central Valley was itself a ground for a crop of early Chinese (and Japanese) settlers in the late 1800's who brought agricultural skills to these burgeoning farms. They built Chinatowns, often on leased land for the Chinese Exclusion Act forbid land purchase, and some still exist while others are totally gone. Gone too are many of the early Cantonese-speaking Chinese, the children off to colleges and schools and often not returning to the Central Valley. Yet, there is a strong population, often more educated new immigrants from China and Taiwan. The Chinatowns themselves, the streets in the city they were on, have in most part faded, even as the city's downtown themselves had faded. Nevertheless, there is great interest in preserving the history, some regrowth - much of it civic - and our own California history is very present there.<br /><br />This was a terrific article I read before I ventured up to Bakersfield. <h3 class="headline"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/price/x647995304/Kerns-vibrant-Chinese-past-comes-to-life">Kern's vibrant Chinese past comes to life</a></span></h3>It is significant that out of the 23 images in FINDING CHINATOWN on exhibit, four of them come from California's Central Valley and the neighboring Sacramento Delta.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH_EyszwFZOTM9OWE-kQb_pKt4zreRggqpXVt_BVkHkJKObhZJWmAJzPRdrTQQLo5mGsHhA2tZvLGgGk7uQ87suJChEIVPQRt2DiIqSSY1YTvMcREJBpa1g86Bbfsa3pubvkB6K5bFnpr/s1600/SJBoyers_MingsCafe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH_EyszwFZOTM9OWE-kQb_pKt4zreRggqpXVt_BVkHkJKObhZJWmAJzPRdrTQQLo5mGsHhA2tZvLGgGk7uQ87suJChEIVPQRt2DiIqSSY1YTvMcREJBpa1g86Bbfsa3pubvkB6K5bFnpr/s320/SJBoyers_MingsCafe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634542141011769682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ming's Café, Bakersfield</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokaq9SJaqC7kPhaDfYb9JbyOIsvjsrb4zfaYTQAfONM67KGJgJrK5RNA0Bj_UPe10gdrTaK9RdXlQPRigP6ItAR8OaYsnTxtDIA6ASvhtyrbBzbKlxYZSqkSCA7LgpacLpGqLuGo2d5By/s1600/SJBoyers_StackedSeats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokaq9SJaqC7kPhaDfYb9JbyOIsvjsrb4zfaYTQAfONM67KGJgJrK5RNA0Bj_UPe10gdrTaK9RdXlQPRigP6ItAR8OaYsnTxtDIA6ASvhtyrbBzbKlxYZSqkSCA7LgpacLpGqLuGo2d5By/s320/SJBoyers_StackedSeats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634542140706752402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Stacked Seats, Hanford</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElbykOMdcohLuFoFHARpOg2JSUue_AFLdDBR_wIirnKMifLqvgcPmcIFWFS9rhoctFtBM27kAwVmjN_QuQZlqH6OzxBpL0s7XuXBAxEGf8MKahZ3b2QyL1GqO4uNc8-PjtDh8H5ZUgTjE/s1600/SJBoyers_Milk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElbykOMdcohLuFoFHARpOg2JSUue_AFLdDBR_wIirnKMifLqvgcPmcIFWFS9rhoctFtBM27kAwVmjN_QuQZlqH6OzxBpL0s7XuXBAxEGf8MKahZ3b2QyL1GqO4uNc8-PjtDh8H5ZUgTjE/s320/SJBoyers_Milk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634542131375798514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Milk/Louie Kee Market, Fresno</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8eQEoVpQijpNNX1ZspFMvp8lQbkmEhych3y9ctjmG7u9mMbKvLgT1e4Qp9AEK_cYs0XU0eOdlF9b0zwjD8YPExVpMqeF2VqGpuSO89NB6YdfG-heSTEHS8EdWI8L15AfAvEOPnlS9fLb/s1600/SJBoyers_LockeSchoolhouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8eQEoVpQijpNNX1ZspFMvp8lQbkmEhych3y9ctjmG7u9mMbKvLgT1e4Qp9AEK_cYs0XU0eOdlF9b0zwjD8YPExVpMqeF2VqGpuSO89NB6YdfG-heSTEHS8EdWI8L15AfAvEOPnlS9fLb/s320/SJBoyers_LockeSchoolhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634542136675958594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Schoolhouse/Museum, Locke</span>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-71666695116149950902011-07-19T19:36:00.000-07:002011-07-19T19:45:29.568-07:00Exhibition Announcement_ July 30, 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bNFd5BlgR5vAwfacQSr0V3TiyBeZd8lSDT_jgDSllqfZNQDiHH80XXEGu_pFpQS44IblP7aNuzRcOSCrvslKgvLGdRDkRChUuhMHWHCjZxlmXIxcZ4TG9T8gtTzKX0RdVk9V6t2ilw8N/s1600/CKGGalleryFindingChinatown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bNFd5BlgR5vAwfacQSr0V3TiyBeZd8lSDT_jgDSllqfZNQDiHH80XXEGu_pFpQS44IblP7aNuzRcOSCrvslKgvLGdRDkRChUuhMHWHCjZxlmXIxcZ4TG9T8gtTzKX0RdVk9V6t2ilw8N/s320/CKGGalleryFindingChinatown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631258533624867890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">FINDING CHINATOWN</span>, my decade long project photographing in the Chinatowns of the US & Canada is having its first solo exhibition, opening at <a href="http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/">Craig Krull Gallery</a> at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica (Los Angeles) on Saturday, July 30th from 4-6 pm.<br /><a href="http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/Exhibition/Next.html%20info@craigkrullgallery.com">http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/Exhibition/Next.html info@craigkrullgallery.com</a><br /><br />Also available at the gallery will be prints from my other current projects:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DETROIT: DEFINITION</span> <a href="http://detroitdefinition.blogspot.com/">http://detroitdefinition.blogspot.com/</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">747 WING HOUSE</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GRIDLOCK</span> (which I just completed this weekend, out literally walking ON the 405! <a href="http://sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com/"> http://sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com/</a>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-61505198439159099792011-07-16T08:17:00.000-07:002011-07-28T16:22:01.767-07:00FINDING CHINATOWN: The Exhibition Catalogue<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvQX1rW8MpZs15mANTfBMqX-OHDNh_gj__yIKZyOy9RwFqnlp8Ok_qbBfZIP9vRE_BlNr4nEdGjC748sZ7Gx7DzNEkRQwNez3FbPgAldH2-OUa7bksu_dhYevZpbZnLkTqKtbuE7k9whX/s1600/BookCoverTiitleBlkFrame.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvQX1rW8MpZs15mANTfBMqX-OHDNh_gj__yIKZyOy9RwFqnlp8Ok_qbBfZIP9vRE_BlNr4nEdGjC748sZ7Gx7DzNEkRQwNez3FbPgAldH2-OUa7bksu_dhYevZpbZnLkTqKtbuE7k9whX/s320/BookCoverTiitleBlkFrame.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629970597854788882" border="0" /></a>Excited to announce that my exhibition catalogue for my upcoming solo exhibit, FINDING CHINATOWN, at the<a href="http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/Exhibition/Next.html"> Craig Krull Gallery</a> in Santa Monica is now available. With an introduction by Alan Rapp, former senior editor of Arts & Architecture at Chronicle Books and now Editor, Domus WebInternational!<br /><br />It will be at the gallery as of today!!!!!!!! ( <b><a href="mailto:info@craigkrullgallery.com">info@craigkrullgallery.com</a></b>)Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7367693766837982791.post-6690806494545065182011-06-26T21:51:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:12:12.110-07:00Tyrus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8ibu9LF_fdJiMKAULBn73Vaa6qWgmZhuzg9Uy4nr3C2OfTOJIKxKOn0tZtbu47vFQP1cVRTtDYpraSAblJaCtqB2-3esxm0Pa6dZnEnPgsepcbRCv0MnTet2jHk_qgFZgaY0POs16D3f/s1600/TyrusKiteNarrative.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8ibu9LF_fdJiMKAULBn73Vaa6qWgmZhuzg9Uy4nr3C2OfTOJIKxKOn0tZtbu47vFQP1cVRTtDYpraSAblJaCtqB2-3esxm0Pa6dZnEnPgsepcbRCv0MnTet2jHk_qgFZgaY0POs16D3f/s320/TyrusKiteNarrative.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622761854062295570" border="0" /></a><br />I started to visit the beach in Santa Monica to photograph Tyrus Wong at the suggestion of Sonia Mak, a wonderful art & community-oriented curator and former Curator of the Chinese American Museum in downtown LA.<br /><br />Tyrus is now 100 and going strong into his 101st year (next birthday in October!). Retired from the world of animation, illustration and design well over 30+ years ago, Tyrus first took up fishing and then, making and flying kites, the work often related to traditional Chinese kite-making process and design. The Disney animator responsible for the look of Bambi, Tyrus' influence on mid-century and possibly culture in general is significant for a Chinese immigrant of his generation - those who came into adulthood during the years of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Sonia tells me, as she prepares for <a href="http://vincentpriceartmuseum.org/exhibitions/archived/year-2012/round-the-clock-chinese-american-artists-working-in-los-angeles/"><em>‘Round the Clock: Chinese American Artists Working in Los Angeles,</em></a> a show she is curating in Los Angeles for the new <a href="http://vincentpriceartmuseum.org/">Vincent Price Museum</a> at East Los Angeles College and one in which I hope a photo or two of my work about Tyrus will be in, that Tyrus is one of the few artists who would not fluff over the fact that he was Chinese born, even though he arrived in Los Angeles as a young boy.<br /><br />I have provided background on Tyrus several times on my <a href="http://sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com/">SaraJaneboyersAloudBlog</a>, most significantly on <a href="http://sarajaneboyersisaloud.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html">1 January 2010</a>, but since I continue to marvel at the draw at the beach every fourth Saturday, wanted to post a quick composite of his "retirement" here: the kites at the beach.<br /><br />The artist is always present in Tyrus' kites and the man, now approaching his 101st year, continues to dominate. It is due to his art and his character that each time I venture out to the beach to visit, artists, photographers, writers, friends and family and other kite makers appear along with the always varying beachgoers of all ages who stop for a moment, look to the sky and dream.<br /><a href="http://vincentpriceartmuseum.org/exhibitions/archived/year-2012/round-the-clock-chinese-american-artists-working-in-los-angeles/"><em></em></a>Sara Jane Boyershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15775165555129977531noreply@blogger.com0