"The 29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival Heritage Festival is a unique event in New York City, bringing together various Asian Pacific American organizations and individuals to celebrate Asian America. "

Asian American Arts Centre is pleased to present a selection of folk artists demonstrating their art during 30th Annual CAPA Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival.

Featuring a variety of Folk artists from different backgrounds, five traditional artists/crafts people will be giving hands on demonstrations. As for this year, the artists joining Asian American Arts Centre are:

Jampa Youden, Tibeten Jewerly Designer and Folk Singer
Grew up in one of the many nomadic communities in Tibet, where the land is vast (larger than Texas and California together), streams are crystal clear, where there are herds of sheep, birds, meadows of fragrant flowers and medicinal plants, surrounded by snow capped mountains, He learned to sing from his grandfather. The songs are of nomadic life since 70% of the Tibetan population is nomadic. From a family of singers, he and his brothers are often invited to sing at special occasions, weddings and parties. At age thirty he escaped with family members to Nepal before coming to the United States.. He thinks singing is like medicine. He says, "It is free to be happy." He tells of the Tibetan proverb, "When you are happy, you enjoy wine. When you are sad, you must tame your mind." He has also taught himself jewelry design. Taking his cue from traditional works he has brought this kind of design back in new materials, sizes and forms, sometimes using beads from Arizona.

Kavita Vyas, Mehandi artist
Mehandi, the art of painting designs on the skin of hands and feet, began over 100 years ago in India by the Muslims, mostly in Pakistan. It is also widely done by Arab peoples. This art form came about as a result of women whose hands are the only parts of their bodies visible. Kavita Vyas learned Mehandi from the master Mrs. Saroj Oza, who created the cone method. She taught Mehandi in India before coming to New York in 1996 for treatment of her polio condition. Kavita and her Mehandi art were covered on the 10 O'clock News on Channel 11 in 1996. Kavita also does fabric painting, clay pot painting and cosmetics for brides.

Ming Liang Lu: master papercutter of portraits
Ming Liang Lu began studying calligraphy with his father at the age of five. He also studied carving, sculpture and engraving under the tutelage of renowned Shanghai artists such as Zheng Chi Lai, Shu Xun Long and Wu Su Wei. In 1981 he was commissioned to replicate a miniature scale model of Qing Pu Dai Guan Garden with 796 stone sculptures, some as small as a grain of rice. His sculptures were exhibited in the US from 1980 to 1985 and received wide acclaim. A creation from this period, "Dawn", was enlarged into a public art piece over five meters tall and is now permanently installed in the Shanghai Hua Xin Garden. He been in the US for nineteen years and continues to receive awards at various art shows here.

Rose Sigal-Ibsen: Calligrapher
Rose Sigal-Ibsen has practiced calligraphy for many years and won critical acclaim for her work. Born in Romania and migrating from Israel to the US, she worked as an enamelist after studying at FIT. In 1979 she began her study of Sumi ink at the KoHo School of Sumi-e in NY and later Chinese brushwork at the Zhejiang Academy in China. She has won Awards of Excellence from the Kampo Cultural Center and from the Manhattan Arts International magazine. She has exhibited widely, for example, in China at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, in Bucharest at the Roumanian Cultural Foundation, and in the US at the Steinhardt Conservatory and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC.

Ye Xun, Dough figurine master artist
Dough modeling is a traditional Chinese handicraft that has continued to develop for over 700 years. Mr. Ye Xun, born in Zhejiang, has combined the qualities of both his master teachers, the poetic sensibility of Master Zhao Kou Ming with the realistic representation of color and manner of Master Lang Shao An (his grandfather). His figures appear life-like with a sense of vitality in the scenes and characters of his work. His work include the famous mythological characters such as the Monkey King from "Journey to the West", the Eight Immortals and the Goddess of Mercy. He has also won numerous awards for his designs including First Place in the Zhejiang Provincial Competition for Best Design.

Audiences will have the opportunity to interact with skilled folk artists who demonstrate their crafts and will have the opportunity to ask questions, make requests and the chance to learn and delight in the magic of a traditional craft!

This is an ideal event for families. The music, art and performances will delight both old and young alike. See you there this weekend!

Date: Sunday May 3 2009, from 12pm - 6pm
Venue: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
47th Street between 1st & 2ed Ave.
Festival Admission: FREE!
Website: A/P/A Heritage Festival