.png)
Ms. Seika Dong, young and awarded harpist, and erhu virtuoso Ms. Mei Xuan, both showcased their music as part of the Chinese Moon Festival traditional Chinese culture celebration at the Art People Gallery in San Francisco on Sept. 15. (Anton Jiang/NTDTV)
SAN FRANCISCO—Last week on the occasion of the Annual Chinese Moon Festival, otherwise known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, renowned artists offered a treat to a distinguished audience in downtown San Francisco. Chinese performances from traditional dancing to a live demonstration of classical Chinese brush painting were present at the festive Under the Moonlight event in the Art People Gallery.
The Moon Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th Chinese lunar month, has a fascinating story behind it that also Westerners can appreciate. Answering the question “Why do we only have one Moon”, the Chinese legend tells of a story where the cast-out Houyi, who was an immortal, aroused such jealousy of the other immortals that he was banished from Heaven and forced to live on Earth.
Houyi learned to hunt to survive and became a skilled and famous archer. At the time the world had ten suns, which, so the legend goes, were three-legged birds that resided in a mulberry tree. One day, all ten suns circled the earth together causing the earth to burn and the people to suffer.
The Emperor of China commanded Houyi to shoot down all but one of the suns. He did so and was rewarded with the gift of eternal life by swallowing a pill, but had to wait for one year to take it.
Unfortunately, his wife Chang’e found the pill and swallowed it. She took flight and flew to the moon. She still waits for her husband to join her and has a hare trying to reconstruct the pill so that her husband could join her on the moon.
Traditional Brush Painting
During the evening Mr. Cheng Pin Shiang, a noted artist and disciple of renowned Chinese painting master Xu Beihong, presented his mastery to a distinguished audience. Mr. Shiang began studying with his teacher in his early 20s and became renowned in his own right.
The art of Shuimohua or Chinese ink paintings became known in the early 20th century. Xu’s paintings of horses and birds, which Mr. Shiang has followed in the footsteps of, are some of the first art works that combine Chinese brush and ink techniques with a Western perspective.
Influenced by his father’s love of art Mr. Shiang began his love affair with Chinese brush and ink techniques used at that time mainly in calligraphy. Mr. Shiang, now in his 80s, still teaches his techniques to students in San Francisco. He said in an interview with The Epoch Times, "It’s my wish to bring some of the more traditional arts to the Western world to not only see it but to experience the beauty of it.”
The brush and ink painter Mr. Cheng Pin Shiang, a well-known artist and disciple of renowned Chinese painting master Xu Beihong, combines Chinese techniques with a Western perspective. (Courtesy of Sylvia McCleary)
“My hope is that more and more people will learn how to do the different techniques so that we as a culture don’t lose them. I’m still teaching [in my 80s] and will continue till I can’t hold a brush anymore," Mr. Shiang said.
His message is one of preserving some of the ancient art forms that have come from countries that have been held back due to the politics of the time. He feels that teaching the ancient arts to others will help to preserve the heritage of his culture.
Ms. Ying Yang from NTD Television San Francisco and co-organizer of the event said, "This event has had quite a turnout and will hopefully introduce people to some of the more classic arts like Cheng Pin Shiang’s ink drawings."
Classical Music Presentations
Other noted art forms were also present at the festive mid-autumn event at the Art People Gallery with accomplished harpist Ms. Seika Dong, who has won several awards for her music. Just 17 years old, she has accomplished more than many veterans of the music industry and has played at the New York and San Francisco Opera House as well as the International Harp Competition held in Bloomington, Ind.
World-famous artist Ms. Mei Xuan, who has played the Chinese violin, also called erhu, since she was 9 years old and has recorded her music for movies and TV stations, presented her heart-moving tunes at the festive evening. Ms. Mei Xuan now works as an erhu teacher at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts California.
Classical Chinese Dance
Students who study Chinese dance at Fei Tian California danced and enthralled the audience with their colorful traditional dresses. Guiding them during their performance was Fei Tian teacher Ms. Cecilia Xiong, who for a number of years was lead dancer with Shen Yun Performing Arts, the premier classical Chinese dance company in the world. With the students being well-schooled in that tradition, it was no surprise their dances were impressive.
The message is clear that preserving the ancient arts of places like China and passing down the profound heritage to the artists of tomorrow is something that Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and others aim at not only here in San Francisco but all over the United States and the world.
Ms. Yang said she got very positive comments from the guests. One lady told her: "You organized a world-class party. We got to sample the best from your culture, everything was just in the right portion, the arts, the music, the dance, the costumes, the food, everything was the best."
The lady also highly praised the talk by Mr. David Zhang of NTD Television Mandarin News Anchor: "I didn’t expect to hear such an impressive talk like this, either, and I didn’t expect to meet a gentleman like David Zhang to tell us so much information about your culture. I learned so much tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
A gentleman told Ms. Yang, "I am so impressed. You guys did a great job".
The Annual Moon Festival, which is considered to be the Chinese version of Thanksgiving, continues through the end of September in Chinese communities all over the world.
Sylvia McCleary, based in San Francisco, writes about events, entertainment, and travel. She has traveled to over 80 countries and has attended music and arts events all over the world. Website: www.thegypsytraveller.com, which is currently under reconstruction.
Shen Yun Perfoming Arts will be back in San Francisco with an all-new performance at the War Memorial Opera House from Jan. 3 to Jan. 8, 2012. See: www.ShenYun2012.com. For tickets call: 1-888-633-6999
