BLOG – Page 10 – Asian Cultural Experience

December 23, 2014

Meditation in Salinas Chinatown

The Buddhist Temple of Salinas offers a meditation class:

Meditation Experience class:

Rev. Orai Fujikawa, resident minister of Buddhist Temple of Salinas, has established a Nembutsu Meditation program for the people in Salinas. This practice has been gaining professional interest in many areas of medical application. Recent publication in the main stream Journal of American Medical Association underscores the seriousness of this interest, and helps to bring attention to meditation as a technique for dealing with the suffering and stress experienced in daily life. This program is open to anyone who has interest in meditation. Although it is held at the Buddhist Temple, anyone of any faith should feel welcome. The date is 9AM-10AM every Saturday, at 14 California St. Salinas, but please check their calendar to verify the date and time, or Tel 424 4105 for the latest information, as it may be cancelled on some Saturdays.

December 4, 2014

A Special Screening: Voices from Soledad Street

Coming this Monday December 8, 2014

Come and join the Chinatown Community Learning Center for a special event!

Voices from Soledad Street is a special screening event provided by
California State University Monterey Bay: Oral History Students and Service Learning Institute!

*Light snacks and refreshments will be provided*

WHEN
Monday December 8, 2014
10am-12pm

WHERE
Chinatown Community Learning Center
22 Soledad Street
Salinas, CA 93901

November 27, 2014

ACE on Twitter

Asian Cultural Experience (ACE), Salinas, CA now has a Twitter account! Please follow us on Twitter. We are @ACESalinasCA

November 26, 2014

Combining Contemporary Art with Historical Preservation

Recently the Chicago Field Museum received a Catherine T. MacArthur grant for a project that encouraged Filipino artists to create contemporary art based on objects and images from the museum’s Philippine collection. Mike Scutari writes:

The great thing about this project? Any museum can do it. All it takes is a handful of artists selecting — and in this case, painting — an artifact or piece from the museum’s existing collection. While the Field Museum is focusing on Filipino artifacts, other museums can naturally select other areas of interest. (Read the whole article HERE)

The project raises some interesting questions about cross-fertilizing approaches to historical preservation and education, encouraging us to look at ways in which the old informs the new and vice versa. Salinas Chinatown and its diverse cultures as seen through the eyes of photographers and artists, or voiced by writers and performers? ACE partnering with art groups? It’s definitely something worth thinking about.

In fact, we have already collaborated with a filmmaker, Silvia Turchin. Her haunting art films about the Republic Cafe and “Chinatown by Night” can be seen on the ACE Walking Tour website.

November 4, 2014

21st Annual Peace and Unity March

Co-chair Cathy Chavez-Miller reports that she was “pleasantly surprised to see a strong and diverse coalition of over 20 community groups represented last Saturday” in the 21st Annual Peace and Unity March, a gathering of families and community members in Watsonville who come together to remember loved ones killed by violence in the last year.

Cathy Chavez Miller’s photo of friend Isaac Rodriguez above the JACL banner.

October 28, 2014

ACE Filipino American History Pop-up Museum

On October 18, ACE held another successful pop-up museum exhibit celebrating Filipino-American History Month at the John Steinbeck Library in Salinas. Thanks to Kristan, Carissa Purnell, and the Library staff for your support! Thanks also to ACE & FANHS members for helping out. We had a great time, looking at objects and images brought by participants, and talking with visitors. Below are some photographs capturing the event:

Kristan Amaral from the J. Steinbeck Library helped us set up the pop-up. In the background are Richard Villegas (L.) and Jess Tabasa (R.)

The John Steinbeck Library staff had their own exhibit of Filipino-authored books.

A section of the exhibit; photo of pinays from the Jean Vengua Collection.

Al Baguio (left), Larry Hirahara checking out the books (right).

Historian Alex Fabros came by for a visit: left to right: Al Baguio, Lowellen Sucgang, Vanessa Bautista, Alex Fabros.

Jess Tabasa (foreground) and Susan Aremas (background), talking with visitors.

ACE members Jess Tabasa (left) and Wellington Lee (right).

The pop-up museum is an informal museum exhibit created by participants who bring objects and images.

Visitor Francisco Garcia.

Jess Tabasa playing Nick Vengua’s ukulele.

October 26, 2014

ACE at the Salinas Valley Food & Wine Fest

Recently, ACE held a pop-up museum at the Salinas Valley Food & Wine Festival in downtown Salinas. The Festival provided us with the space. Henry Gong managed the pop-up. Cathy Chavez-Miller and her husband, Michael brought the tent and tables. Wally Ahtye provided invaluable help and great photos. They had a chance to meet and talk to many people in the festival setting. Thanks, all!

Henry Gong with family photos and a photo of the Republic Cafe from the Wallace Ahtye Collection.