Programs & Exhibitions

Remember, Reflect, Hope & Heal

Spring 2024

Dream Refuge for children imprisoned

Exhibition

Dream Refuge for children imprisoned 

February 7 – May 18 (closed March 17 – 24)
Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Asian Arts Gallery, Center for the Arts, Towson University
1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204

Contemplate and be inspired to improve the plight of imprisoned children across history and the world. While children safely slumber in this quiet, sacred, healing space by artist Na Omi Judy Shintani, gain insight into the experiences of Japanese American children who were incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II (Shintani’s own father being one of them), Native American boarding school children who were denied their culture and taken from their communities, and the Central American children who are imprisoned, separated from their families, and living in squalid, unsafe conditions at the southern U.S. border.

Visitors are invited to bring offerings and leave messages on an altar in the exhibit to honor the imprisoned children. The items will be used in future ceremonies and will not be returned. Some examples of past offerings include origami, small toys, and paper flowers.

Na Omi Judy Shintani
Na Omi Judy Shintani

Opening Reception & Artist Talk

Na Omi Judy Shintani:
Dream Refuge for children imprisoned  

Join artist Na Omi Judy Shintani to learn about the stories that inspired her installation, Dream Refuge for children imprisoned, the roles that research and protest play in her work, and her hopes for embracing all children as our own, as ourselves, as our future.

"Taro and Jimmy" from the book Fish for Jimmy by Katie Yamasaki

Mini-Exhibition

Children’s Book Art by Japanese American Illustrators

February 7 – May 18 (closed March 17 – 24)
Asian Arts Gallery Corridor Vitrines, Center for the Arts, Towson University
1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204

Delight in the imaginative worlds of award-winning children’s book illustrators Melissa Iwai and Katie Yamasaki while learning about courage, love, and adaptation by an incarcerated Japanese American family; intercultural sharing among immigrant families; and multicultural Zen-inspired stories. Become energized to support the welfare of children, intercultural understanding, healing, and peace.  

Dr. Theo Gonzalves
Dr. Theo Gonzalves

Lecture

Making Sense of America Lecture Series with Dr. Theo Gonzalves

Thursday, February 29, 5:30 p.m.
Towson University College of Liberal Arts Bldg., Room 4310

Join Dr. Theodore Gonzalves as he discusses his new book, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects. Dr. Gonzalves is curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. A Fulbright Scholar and past president of the Association for Asian American Studies with more than thirty years of teaching experience in the United States, Spain, and the Philippines, he has released several publications. Co-sponsored by the TU Program in American Studies, TU Department of Art + Design, Art History and Art Education, TU Asian Arts & Culture Center, TU Center for Student Diversity, TU Graduate Program in Global Humanities, and TU Department of History.

Melissa Iwai and Katie Yamasaki
Melissa Iwai and Katie Yamaski

AA&CC is proud to co-present…

Panel Discussion

Journeys in Children’s Book Illustration 

Tuesday, March 5, 5:30 p.m.
Towson University Art Lecture Hall, Center for the Arts, CA 2032
1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204

Award-winning children’s book authors and illustrators Melissa Iwai and Katie Yamasaki share their art, books, personal stories, and techniques for reaching young audiences through visual storytelling. Their publishers include Norton Young Readers, HarperCollins, Broadway Books and more. Co-presented with TU Career Center and TU Animation Club.

"Where Chimeys Are Seen"

AA&CC is a proud partner…

Film

Where Chimneys are Seen (煙突の見える場所, Entotsu no mieru basho)

Saturday, March 16, 1 p.m.
Towson University Art Lecture Hall, Center for the Arts, CA 2032
1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204
FREE Registration Required

Enjoy this rare screening of a 1953 classic comic drama from Reed Hessler’s private collection. It is based on the novel Mujaki no Hitobito by Rinzo Shiina and is representative of the shoshimin-eiga film drama focusing on the lives of ordinary middle-class people. Delight in the drama swirling around a mysterious baby who is left at the home of Hiroko and Ryukichi Ogata. Directed by Heinosuke Gosho. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.

Asia North logo by Mika Nakano

Exhibition & Festival

Asia North 2024

Exhibit Opening Reception and Celebration: Friday, May 3
Exhibition and Festival: May 3 – June 1

The 6th annual Asia North community exhibition and festival celebrates Baltimore’s Charles North (a.k.a. Station North) neighborhood’s constantly evolving identities as a Koreatown, arts district, and creative center. Co-presented with the Central Baltimore Partnership.

Details TBD.

"Early Summer"

AA&CC is a proud partner…

Film

Early Summer (麦秋, Bakushū)

Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m.
Towson University Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
FREE Registration Required 

Enjoy this rare screening of a 1951 classic drama from Reed Hessler’s private collection which explores post-World War II social transformation — especially intergenerational conflict, a family’s involvement in a young woman’s (Noriko) decision about marriage, and her will for independence. Directed by Yasujiro Ozu. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.

"The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums"

AA&CC is a proud partner…

Film

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (残菊物語, Zangiku monogatari

Saturday, July 20, 1 p.m.
Towson University Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
FREE Registration Required 

Enjoy this rare screening of a 1939 classic drama from Reed Hessler’s private collection. Based on a short story by Shofu Muramatsu, it follows the struggles and transformation of Kiku, the adopted son of a kabuki master.  Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.

 


Past Events

From China to Appalachia

AA&CC is proud to co-present...

Performance

From China to Appalachia

Monday, January 8, 7:30 p.m.
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, MD 20852
Tickets: $22/advanced, $25/door 

Grammy award-winning American Roots artists Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer join with Chinese hammered dulcimer player Chao Tian and special guest Becky Hill to combine music from China to Appalachia and beyond. Share the joy of these musicians’ love of musical exploration and music’s power to connect cultures. Delight in their unique renditions of traditional Chinese and Appalachian music as well as contemporary and traditional music from around the world. Co-presented by the Institute of Musical Traditions and the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University. Supported in part by a grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

From China to Appalachia Workshop

AA&CC is proud to co-present…

Workshop

Old Time Jam Takeover - From China to Appalachia and Beyond

Wednesday, January 10, 7:30 p.m.
The School of Musical Traditions
7112 Willow Ave., Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
FREE ADMISSION
INFO

Bring your instruments and play some music with Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer & Chao Tian. The trio will teach two Chinese tunes and jam away on old-time tunes as well. All instruments welcome! Co-presented by the Institute of Musical Traditions and the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University. Supported in part by a grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Sound of the Mountain

AA&CC is a proud partner…

Film

Sound of the Mountain (山の音, Yama no Oto)

Saturday, January 13, 1 p.m.
Towson University Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
FREE Registration Required

Enjoy this 1954 Japanese drama—based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Yasunari Kawabata—from Reed Hessler’s private collection. Observe and meditate on the experiences of an elderly businessman caught in a web of family relations, including the complicated and struggling marriages of his adult children. Directed by Mikio Naruse. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.

"Rise Up" by Sookkyung Park
"Rise Up" by Sookkyung Park

Exhibition

Connected as One

September 13 – December 16, 2023 (Closed October 13 and November 22 – 25)
Asian Arts Gallery, TU Center for the Arts, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204
Gallery Hours during exhibition:
Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sookkyung Park’s immersive installation of large-scale sculptures and smaller works includes a merging and expansion of her two seminal pieces, “Blooming” and “Rise Up,” to simultaneously underscore the interconnectedness of life and bring people together. This airy and colorful dreamscape — saturated with symbols of hope, strength and harmony — inspires awe and optimism.

Artist Sookkyung Park
Sookkyung Park

Opening Reception & Artist Talk

Sookkyung Park: Connected as One

Wednesday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Asian Arts Gallery & Center for the Arts Atrium

Celebrate the opening of Connected as One with an opening reception and introduction to the exhibition by artist, Sookkyung Park. Gain deeper insights into how Park — who was born and raised in a divided Korea — expresses her ideals for a peaceful society in her artwork.  

Still from film "Carmen Comes Home"

AA&CC is a proud partner...

Film

Carmen Comes Home
カルメン故郷に帰る,
Karumen kokyō ni kaeru

Saturday, September 16, 1 p.m.
Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032, TU Center for the Arts
FREE. Registration required. 

Enjoy this rare screening of a 1951 classic comedy—Japan’s first color film—from Reed Hessler’s private collection. Follow the encounters of Lily Carmen and her lovesick friend Maya when they leave Tokyo to visit Carmen’s small rural hometown in Nagano. (color) Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.

ArtScape 2023

AA&CC is proud to participate in...

Community Partner Interactive Exhibit at ArtScape 2023

Friday, September 22, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, September 23, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, September 24, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
INFO: https://www.artscape.org/about-artscape/

Learn about Asian Arts & Culture Center’s ever-evolving resources and programming that uplift and share APIMEDA (Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American) stories, challenge anti-Asian hate, and promote cross-cultural dialogue across Greater Baltimore. Create your own original paper lotuses and garlands with award-wining artist, Sookkyung Park, that symbolize peace and harmony and incorporate your wishes for the future. 

Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Dana Tai Soon Burgess

AA&CC is proud to co-present...

Conversation with Dance Excerpts

In Conversation with Dana Tai Soon Burgess

Thursday, September 28, 6:30 p.m.
TU Center for the Arts Atrium, CA 2036
FREE.

Join renowned modern dance choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess as he shares how his background as a gay, fourth generation, Korean American man inspires work that emphasizes multiculturalism, equity, and social justice.  Dr. Michael Masatsugu (TU Associate Professor and Director of American Studies and Global Humanities) will interview Burgess about his dedication to telling Asian American Pacific Islander stories through dance as well as about his new memoir Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly. Dancers from Burgess’ acclaimed company will perform excerpts from their repertoire. Burgess will sign copies of his memoir, also for sale, at the event. Co-presented with TU Department of Dance. Part of the week-long Rosenberg Distinguished Artist Residency. Co-sponsored by TU Graduate Program in Global Humanities.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company

AA&CC is a proud partner...

Performance

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company in Concert 

Saturday, September 30, 7 p.m.
Stephens Hall Theatre, Towson University
Presented by TU Department of Dance
Tickets: $40
Limited number of free TU Student tickets available at the door.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) presents an evening of its acclaimed modern dances accompanied by Keith Hudspeth, Millicent Scarlett, Dana Scott and Erin Snedecor. Dana Tai Soon Burgess is a leading American choreographer, dancer, and cultural ambassador for the US State Department. Named the first-ever choreographer-in-residence for the Smithsonian Institution, he has been called “the poet-laureate of Washington Dance” by critic Sarah Kaufman. Now in its thirteenth season, DTSBDC is the preeminent modern dance company of Washington, DC. Based at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the company has served as a U.S. State Department cultural envoy and has toured to five continents and over thirty countries.  “This artist is—not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure…” —The Washington Post. This event is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and is the culmination of the week-long Rosenberg Distinguished Artist Residency. 

 

Rabbit lantern

AA&CC is a proud partner...

Parade & Festival

Asian Community Processions at the 24th Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival

Saturday, October 21, 4 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, October 22)
Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD
INFO: https://creativealliance.org/event/the-great-halloween-lantern-parade-festival-2023/

Join AA&CC in hosting Year of the Rabbit lantern sculptures, a Cambodian cultural procession, an Indian dance procession, and a Korean p’ungmul drumming procession as part of the 24th Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival co-produced by the Creative Alliance and Friends of Patterson Park. Experience the magic of fantastical spirits and creatures as well as spectacular presentations by diverse Baltimore-area communities of all ages.

Peni Candra Rini
Peni Candra Rini

AA&CC is proud to co-present...

Workshop

Introduction to Balinese and Javanese Traditional Music

Friday, October 27, Noon
Howard Community College
Monteabaro Recital Hall, The Horowitz Center
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia MD 21044
FREE. Registration required

Learn the basics of two distinct and leading styles of Indonesian traditional music with renowned masters Gusti Sudarta (Bali), Peni Candra Rini (Java), and Andy McGraw (USA). Learn to perform kecak, a traditional performing art form of telling the story of Ramayana, an important epic of Hinduism. Audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and try the instruments at the end of the session. Gusti Sudarta and Peni Candra Rini will return in the evening concert for a performance of sounds and sights of traditional and contemporary Javanese and Balinese gamelan music, dance and shadow puppets. Co-presented by the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University and Howard Community College Concert Series.

Gusti Sudarta
Gusti Sudarta

AA&CC is proud to co-present...

Performance

Music and Dance of Indonesia, Featuring Gusti Sudarta (Bali) and Peni Candra Rini (Java)

Friday, October 27, 7:30 p.m.
Howard Community College
Monteabaro Recital Hall, The Horowitz Center
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia MD 21044
Tickets: $10-$28

Experience the sounds and sights of traditional and contemporary Javanese and Balinese gamelan music, dance and shadow puppets with visiting master artists Gusti Sudarta and Peni Candra Rini, faculty at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts. They will be joined by members of University of Richmond’s community gamelan, Raga Kusuma, led by Andy McGraw. Co-presented by the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University and Howard Community College Concert Series.

Still from the film "Mr. Thank You (Arigato-san)"

AA&CC is a proud partner...

Film

Mr. Thank You
有りがたうさん, Arigatō-san

Saturday, November 11, 1 p.m.
Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032, TU Center for the Arts
FREE. Registration required

Enjoy this rare screening of a 1936 classic comic drama from Reed Hessler’s private collection. Based on a short story by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Yasunari Kawabata and noted for its location shooting, this film portrays the lives of various bus passengers and their diverse reasons for travel from Izu to Tokyo during depression-era Japan. Directed by Hiroshi Shimizu. Hosted by Reed Hessler, longtime host on WBJC. Co-presented with the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC) and TU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office.

Asia North logo by Mika Nakano

Exhibition + Festival

Asia North 2024: A Celebration of Art, Culture, and Community

May 3 – June 2
Station North Arts District


Continuing Programs

 

Master Cambodian musician, Chum Ngek, helps a TU music student play the kong thom.
TU Pin Peat Ensemble (Cambodian Classical Music)

The AA&CC and TU Department of Music teamed up to offer the TU Pin Peat (Khmer classical music) Ensemble led by master Cambodian musician, Chum Ngek. Through this course, which was established in spring 2017, TU students expand their artistic and cultural horizons while contributing to the preservation and longevity of a tradition that was nearly decimated during the Khmer Rouge era in Cambodia.

Special thanks to the Maryland State Arts Council, Citizens of Baltimore County, and AA&CC members for making this initiative possible.

Asia in Maryland (AIM) Cultural Connection

This ongoing project highlights exhibitions, performances, workshops, artist residencies, and online resources featuring local Asian arts and culture in Maryland communities. It also incorporates The Asia in Maryland (AIM) Cultural History Project, an interdisciplinary studies course combining ethnography and oral history to explore, understand and document Asian arts and culture in Maryland. Student research informs Center programming. In fall 2015, we initiated the “Connection” with an exhibition, performances, workshops and family days introducing local audiences to the living Khmer art and culture in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Asia in Maryland (AIM) Cultural History Project
Asia in Maryland (AIM) Cultural History Project

The Asia in Maryland (AIM) Cultural History Project (IDFA 480/580 Interdisciplinary Fine Arts Special Topics Seminar) is an interdisciplinary studies course in Towson University’s College of Fine Arts & Communication. This course combines ethnography and oral history to explore, understand and document Asian arts and culture in Maryland. Students identify their own research topic and conduct independent research with guidance from the instructors throughout the semester.  Topics can include art, music, dance, theater, foodways, costumes, healing arts, martial arts and more. Students create a portfolio of their research as a culminating project at the end of the semester. Student projects will be used in programs at the Asian Arts & Culture Center.

Read about the topics OUR students researched...