Society for Asian Art Programs: Lectures

FIRST THURSDAY LECTURE SERIES

Democracy and Dissent: An Inside Look at Nepal’s Political Struggle
With Deanna Zebaldo

When: Thursday, July 1
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $5 after museum admission

Nepal's transition from a secluded kingdom to a republic is a story of ethnic divisions, lost opportunities, and power politics which began in the 1700's and continues to the present day. Deanna Zebaldo will help us unravel the story behind the international headlines telling of the friction between the Maoist party and the prevailing government.

Deana enjoys sharing her love of Nepal while supporting clients through safe, challenging, and inspiring adventures. Whether drinking yak milk in nomad tents or chatting with street vendors, she is able to create an authentic experience for clients and bring the culture alive through rapport with landless farmers, wealthy factory owners, sari-clad women, and hermit monks. She has explored from rice paddies to mountaintop temples, including Tibet, Mongolia, and Bhutan. Moved by the spiritual and cultural vibrancy of the region, she's a gifted storyteller about Tantric goddesses, the Maoist insurgency, royal massacres, the realities of Shangri-La, arranged marriages, and secret explorations. She speaks fluent Nepali and is dedicated to facilitating travel that is both meaningful and fun.

Deana calls San Francisco home but also spends 4-5 months each year in the Himalayas, guiding treks and advising projects, including a children’s home, a grassroots tea collective, and a socially-responsible tour agency. She has an abiding dedication to make a positive impact in the world through transformative travel and sustainable development.

Deana’s experience includes conducting education and training for Lucent Technologies, directing cross-cultural programs for Intrax Cultural Exchange, and teaching university psychology and adult literacy. She holds a Master’s in Behavioral Psychology and is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Yoga Instructor.

Asia Now: Connecting the Traditional to the Contemporary at the Asian Art Museum
With Allison Harding

When: Thursday, August 5
Time; 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $5 after museum admission

Newly hired Contemporary Art Program Associate, Allison Harding will fill us in on the Museum’s current plan to incorporate contemporary Asian art into its programs and connect it to the Museum’s core collection. Hired to implement this aspect of Director Jay Xu’s vision for the Museum, Allison will also provide us with an overview of contemporary art in Asia during the last 30 years.

Allison Harding has an Art History degree from Yale University and an MA from the Clark Art Institute, Williams College. She was awarded the prestigious Museum Director’s Internship at the Williams College Museum of Art, administered the Robert Motherwell Catalogue Raisonne of paintings and collages, and coordinated exhibitions at the Gagosian Gallery in New York.




			FIRST THURSDAY LECTURE SERIES Democracy and Dissent: An Inside Look at Nepal’s Political Struggle With Deanna Zebaldo When: Thursday, July 1 Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $5 after museum admission Nepal's transition from a secluded kingdom to a republic is a story of ethnic divisions, lost opportunities, and power politics which began in the 1700's and continues to the present day. Deanna Zebaldo will help us unravel the story behind the international headlines telling of the friction between the Maoist party and the prevailing government. Deana enjoys sharing her love of Nepal while supporting clients through safe, challenging, and inspiring adventures. Whether drinking yak milk in nomad tents or chatting with street vendors, she is able to create an authentic experience for clients and bring the culture alive through rapport with landless farmers, wealthy factory owners, sari-clad women, and hermit monks. She has explored from rice paddies to mountaintop temples, including Tibet, Mongolia, and Bhutan. Moved by the spiritual and cultural vibrancy of the region, she's a gifted storyteller about Tantric goddesses, the Maoist insurgency, royal massacres, the realities of Shangri-La, arranged marriages, and secret explorations. She speaks fluent Nepali and is dedicated to facilitating travel that is both meaningful and fun. Deana calls San Francisco home but also spends 4-5 months each year in the Himalayas, guiding treks and advising projects, including a children’s home, a grassroots tea collective, and a socially-responsible tour agency. She has an abiding dedication to make a positive impact in the world through transformative travel and sustainable development. Deana’s experience includes conducting education and training for Lucent Technologies, directing cross-cultural programs for Intrax Cultural Exchange, and teaching university psychology and adult literacy. She holds a Master’s in Behavioral Psychology and is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Yoga Instructor. Asia Now: Connecting the Traditional to the Contemporary at the Asian Art Museum With Allison Harding When: Thursday, August 5 Time; 6:30 – 7:30 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $5 after museum admission Newly hired Contemporary Art Program Associate, Allison Harding will fill us in on the Museum’s current plan to incorporate contemporary Asian art into its programs and connect it to the Museum’s core collection. Hired to implement this aspect of Director Jay Xu’s vision for the Museum, Allison will also provide us with an overview of contemporary art in Asia during the last 30 years. Allison Harding has an Art History degree from Yale University and an MA from the Clark Art Institute, Williams College. She was awarded the prestigious Museum Director’s Internship at the Williams College Museum of Art, administered the Robert Motherwell Catalogue Raisonne of paintings and collages, and coordinated exhibitions at the Gagosian Gallery in New York.