The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Art Exhibition of Ancient Traditions Increasingly important in Turbulent Modern Times will be held May 2-4, 2012 at Coffman Memorial Union - Great Hall, 300 Washington Ave SE  Minneapolis, MN 55455.

The Art of Zhen, Shan, Ren, opens an intimate window into ancient and contemporary China. The works reveal the traditional Chinese culture based around mind and body cultivation (self-improvement) and living in harmony with nature. With moral improvement, a resilient inner beauty arises. The re-emergence of this tradition in China has come through in the recent popularity of Falun Gong over the past 2 decades.

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"Fresh Traditions" (Tou SaiKo Lee and Grandma Youa Chang present "Stories from O.G.s" at the Lowertown Reading Jam on Mar 28, 2012.

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the fifth in its 2011–2012 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city.

The “Stories from O.G.s: Honoring the O.riginal G.eneration” Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul.

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Ane Sawyer-Aitch at work

By Saymoukda Vongsay
AAP staff wrier 

I met Anne not too long ago during a rehearsal for the play, Confessions of a Lazy Hmong Woman (written/directed/produced by May Lee-Yang), of which we are currently involved with – Anne as the puppeteer-at-large and me as a live-dubb performer (the play will be performed completely in the Hmong language).

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AAP staff report

Approaching 40 years in the US, there are many Lao Americans who love science fiction, fantasy, horror, myths and legends.

Now several Lao American writers are looking your stories and art for the very first full-length anthology of Lao American speculative art and literature. Their goal is to publish it later this year.

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Shah Mosque (Masjid-i Shah), Creator: Shah Abbas I, Date: ca. 1611; ca. 1638, 17th century CE

ARCHITECTURE AND CERAMICS: A Material For All The Ages, curated by Robert Silberman with additions by Blaine Brownell, is currently running through Dec.  17, 2011 in the HGA Gallery, Rapson Hall of the Goldstein Museum of Design.

Architecture and ceramics are fundamental cultural forms. Both share a central concern with formal issues such as scale, the relationship between inside and outside, and the containment of space. And both engage the physical together with the philosophical, encompassing both a building or artifact and the ideas it embodies.

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The University of Minnesota College of Design’s Goldstein Museum of Design will host an exhibition on The Architecture of Ergino lu & Çalılar, from Sept. 6 through Oct. 22, at its HGA Gallery in Rapson Hall, 89 Church Street, Minneapolis. The two Istanbul architects also will discuss their work during a reception on October 14.

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MiMi Nguyen, founder of L.P.F Projects

AAP staff report

L.P.F Projects is organizing “A Walk to Remember: Love 4Japan Project: The Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster Relief” benefit show on Oct. 23, 2011, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Seven Sushi Lounge, 700 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403.

The event combines a diverse group of young, talented people to create fabulous fashion and art events to raise money for people in need. It is designed to give back to the community and provide opportunity for artists while also having fun.

The event is cosponsored by Seven Sushi Lounge and The Model Boutique. Participating designers and entertainers include STYL Designers with Mae Lee, Allilamodie Original Clothes, Khampasith Davison, Mia Vo Collections, Republic Of Couture, On Pont Productions, Sansei Yonsei Kai Dance Group, and DJ DrummaBoi from The Blue ink Promotional Group, LLC.

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By MARY TAN
AAP staff writer

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (Aug. 28, 2011) — When you think of the Mall of America, you probably think of a gigantic mall full of shoppers, department stores, chain stores and fast food courts.  But for the past two weeks you also got a bit of Chinese culture.

From August 20 to 28 Minnesota’s largest mall hosted an interactive event to showcase what a trip to China would be like. Each court space was decorated to represent authentic sites of that country.

At one court, Ting James Kong, a Tai Chi Chuan instructor, was performing his martial arts exercise in front of packed crowds.  “It’s such an honor for me to be able to share Chinese culture with Americans.  They are so nice and interested in learning what Tai Chi is all about,” said Kong with a bright smile.

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Linda Hashimoto van Dooijeweert, left, and a student of her sansei Yonsei Kai, a Japanese traditional dance group. (Photos by Maya Nishikawa)

By MAYA NISHIKAWA
AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Aug. 21, 2011) — Thousands of people crowded the streets and gardens near the Como Park Conservatory to see, hear, and taste a bit of Japanese culture during this year’s Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival last Sunday.

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Pride of Vietnam: Legends & Rituals and Mid-Autumn Festival will be held Sat., Sept. 10, 2011, from 2:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Mall of America, 8100 24th Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425.

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