Asian Heritage Exhibit

This year’s exhibit is dedicated to Curtis Irish of Marcola, OR

Don’t miss the Heritage Exhibit! Located near the Info Booth, our Heritage Exhibit tells the stories of Asian immigrants to the United States. For over twenty years we have chronicled the hard work, struggles, and contributions of early Asian immigrants. We have worked with many authors, historical groups, and schools. This year we are partnering with the Lane County and Springfield Historical Museums! See exhibits of Asians as road builders, loggers, gold miners, and farmers.

View our collection of historic photos and news items about Oregon’s forgotten Asian pioneers from Steve Williamson, Curtis Irish, and other Oregon historians.

Did you know that men from Hawaii and Tahiti were at Fort Umpqua in 1836? Or that lumber was exported to Japan from the BLM’s Shotgun Creek near Marcola? Or that a school named Ping Yang was firebombed three times? Famed artist Maude Kerns taught at the Ping Yang School. Did you know that one of our most well-known Oregonians (outside of Oregon) was Bhagat Singh Thind? He helped plan India’s rebellion against Britain from Astoria!

This year’s Heritage Exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Curtis Irish of Marcola Oregon. He provided Steve Williamson with the first photos and news stories about Asians in Western Oregon. Together they preserved stories that could have been lost. You can read some of these articles at Steve’s website www.asianoregon.org.

Also, Steve will be stepping back as Chair of the Asian Celebration Heritage Exhibit. In tribute to his 20+ years of service, his likeness is adorned on this year’s Celebration poster as the Man in the Moon based on the Japanese Folktale Kamishibai: The Moon Rabbit

Stop by and wish him a happy retirement!

HAIKU & TANKAS EXHIBIT

Each year, Skipping Stones Magazine and the Oregon Asian Celebration invite students from throughout Oregon and around the world to submit their best nature haiku and/or Tankas in an annual competition.

Hundreds of haiku and tanka, many accompanied by original art from all corners of the country and beyond, are submitted. This year is no exception! Skipping Stones Magazine, received scores of entries from as far away as Japan, the East Coast, including Oregon and California.

While at the Asian Celebration, stop by and enjoy a selection of haiku and tanka poetry and artwork by these young students. Many of them will also appear on the Skipping Stones Magazine website and the magazine’s autumn issue scheduled for release on September 1st.

Haiku and Tanka (short song, in Japanese) are both traditional poetry forms that come from Japan. Haiku consists of three lines. The first line and third line both have five syllables and the middle line has seven. It appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) and it touches the heart.

Tanka is a 31-syllable poem and has 5 lines with 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count, respectively.

Skipping Stones magazine has featured the Asian Celebration Haiku Exhibit for almost 20 years now. You can visit the magazine website, www.skippingstones.org to see some of the recent past haiku and tanka entries.

Celebration Art Exhibit

Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibit at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

You are invited to enjoy beautiful works of art – paintings, sculptures, and multi-media artwork by local artists showcased in the Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibition. You will find Chinese brush painting, photography, multi-media art, contemporary art, and more.

Wednesday, July 19

Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibit Reception
5:30 – 7:30 pm. Free Admission
Celebrate the Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibit with an intimate reception with the artists. JSMA curators will offer tours of the Asian galleries following remarks.

July 20 – 30

Oregon Asian Celebration Art Exhibit
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art – Papé Reception Hall Open during museum hours (W. 11 am – 8 pm; Th – Sun 11 am – 5 pm) Free admission