Society for Asian Art Programs: Member Events

Member Events

The Miniature Worlds of Tibetan Avadana Painting
With Nancy Lin

When: Saturday, July 10
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members

Eighteenth-century Tibet was marked by vibrant cultural production and scholarly cultivation in the arts, as well as political upheaval and sectarian rivalries. These trends converged in works such as the Wish-Fulfilling Vine of Bodhisattva Legends, a popular collection of avadana narratives that appeared in poetry and painting from Lhasa to Beijing.

This lecture introduces thangka adaptations of the Wish-Fulfilling Vine by the ruling Pholha family of central Tibet and by Situ Panchen, a prominent tulku of eastern Tibet. In these miniature worlds we will explore the logic of narrative painting, the interactions of image and text, and themes of renunciation, karma, and kingship.

Nancy Lin is a doctoral candidate in Buddhist Studies at UC Berkeley. She is presently writing her dissertation on biographies of Sakyamuni Buddha in early modern Tibet. Her current areas of interest are visual and textual narrative, polymathic culture, and the development of Tibetan Buddhism in trans-regional contexts.

Visit to Shangri-la Treasures Gallery and catered Indian Dinner at a private home

When: Wednesday, July 28
Time: 6:00 pm through dinner
Place: Shangri-la Treasures, 2908 College Avenue, Berkeley; dinner venue TBA to participants
Fee: $35 members, $45 non-members

Come and meet Tashi and Lobsang at their gallery in the heart of the Elmwood District in Berkeley. Shangri-la Treasures features both new and antique Tibetan rugs, a small but excellent selection of antique furniture, and a first-class collection of Bhutanese textiles as well as a chic line of custom clothing, tasteful jewelry and scarves. We will enjoy refreshments at the gallery and then walk to a home nearby for a catered Indian dinner.

Art or propaganda? An unconventional look at the posters of the Chinese Cultural Revolution
With Lincoln Cushing and Ann Tompkins

When: Saturday, July 31
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $15 for SAA members, $25 for non-members

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution produced thousands of brilliantly colored social and political posters exhorting the people to a sweeping transformation of Chinese society. Ann Tompkins provides a personal account of living in China during the Cultural Revolution, and Lincoln Cushing presents a slideshow on the domestic and international context in which these posters flourished.

Ann Tompkins is a community activist and retired social worker. She lived in the People’s Republic of China from 1965-1970 and 1980-1983, where she purchased and saved the body of work known as “The Ann Tompkins (Tang Fandi) and Lincoln Cushing Chinese Poster Collection” at UC Berkeley’s East Asian Library. Lincoln Cushing, an archivist, art historian, and author, was librarian at UC Berkeley. He is the author of several books on posters and art history and has a digitized collection online. He co-authored with Ann Tompkins, Chinese Posters: Art from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.

A Taste of Shanghai: Afternoon Tea in a Private San Francisco Home

When: Sunday, August 1
Time:    2:30 - 4:30 pm
Place:   Private home in San Francisco, address TBA to participants
Fee:      $15 members, $25 non-members

We are invited to afternoon tea at Hok Pui and Sally Yu Leung's home surrounded by their collection of Asian art. Among their treasures are objects from the Shanghai era, including an elegant collection of qipao (cheongsam) dating from the late Qing Dynasty to the present. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy their hospitality and their collection of fine and folk art.

Sally Leung is a long-time Museum docent and a well-known collector of Asian art.
Image Credit: Qiapo - late 1920s - 30s

Art and Antique Appraisals: Why, When and Who
With Cynthia Shaver

When: Saturday, August 21
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Place: Private home in Piedmont, address TBA to participants
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members

Ever wondered how to approach the subject of valuing objects in your collection for sale, insurance, or bequest? Always a conundrum! Cynthia Shaver, an Accredited Senior Appraiser of Asian art with the American Society of Appraisers, will enlighten us on the subject in a beautiful East Bay home filled with art.

Cynthia Shaver served from 1984-1988 and 1996-2000 on the Board of Directors for The Society For Asian Art and from 2005-2010 for the Board of the Textile Arts Council at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. She has expertise in Japanese textiles and has imported and sold Japanese antiques from1977-2005. Cynthia has done appraisals for the following situations: Dissolution of Marriage, Loss Claim, Insurance Claim, as well as extensive Charitable Contribution appraisals for the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, SF Fine Arts Museums, the Berkeley Art Museum, the San Jose Museum of Art and many others.

It's Not All Curry! An Afternoon of Conversation, Culture and Cooking
With Nazneen Spliedt

When: Saturday, August 28
Time: 2:30 – approximately 6:30 pm
Place: South San Francisco, address TBA to participants
Fee: $35 members, $45 non-members

The Society’s own Nazneen Spliedt will give a hands-on demonstration and reveal some of the “secrets” of home cooked Parsi food. Come prepared to do some chopping and stirring, then taste and enjoy what we have cooked, along with some refreshing libations.

Nazneen Spliedt enjoys cooking and sharing the end product with her friends. Many of you have tasted her chutney sandwiches and saffron cake at our meetings. She served for eight years on the Board of the Society, the last two years as President.

Contemporary Korean Ceramics
With Jihye Myung

When: Friday, June 25 (New Date)
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Place: Education Studio
Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members

Accomplished ceramicist Jihye Myung, niece of AAM docent Julie Nemeth, will treat us to a discussion of the art scene around contemporary Korean ceramics, show us a selection of her own work, and talk about how classical 15th and 16th century Joseon Buncheong wares inspire ceramicists at work in Korea now. Her work represents a reinterpretation of traditional forms and materials.

Jihye has exhibited extensively in galleries and museums in Japan, China, Argentina and the U.S. She was named one of the top 50 ceramicists in Korea in 2000, and won a special selection award at the Gangjin Celadon Porcelain Competition in 2004. She was General Secretary of The Macabal International Firewood Festival (2005-2008).




			Member Events The Miniature Worlds of Tibetan Avadana Painting With Nancy Lin When: Saturday, July 10 Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members Eighteenth-century Tibet was marked by vibrant cultural production and scholarly cultivation in the arts, as well as political upheaval and sectarian rivalries. These trends converged in works such as the Wish-Fulfilling Vine of Bodhisattva Legends, a popular collection of avadana narratives that appeared in poetry and painting from Lhasa to Beijing. This lecture introduces thangka adaptations of the Wish-Fulfilling Vine by the ruling Pholha family of central Tibet and by Situ Panchen, a prominent tulku of eastern Tibet. In these miniature worlds we will explore the logic of narrative painting, the interactions of image and text, and themes of renunciation, karma, and kingship. Nancy Lin is a doctoral candidate in Buddhist Studies at UC Berkeley. She is presently writing her dissertation on biographies of Sakyamuni Buddha in early modern Tibet. Her current areas of interest are visual and textual narrative, polymathic culture, and the development of Tibetan Buddhism in trans-regional contexts. Visit to Shangri-la Treasures Gallery and catered Indian Dinner at a private home When: Wednesday, July 28 Time: 6:00 pm through dinner Place: Shangri-la Treasures, 2908 College Avenue, Berkeley; dinner venue TBA to participants Fee: $35 members, $45 non-members Come and meet Tashi and Lobsang at their gallery in the heart of the Elmwood District in Berkeley. Shangri-la Treasures features both new and antique Tibetan rugs, a small but excellent selection of antique furniture, and a first-class collection of Bhutanese textiles as well as a chic line of custom clothing, tasteful jewelry and scarves. We will enjoy refreshments at the gallery and then walk to a home nearby for a catered Indian dinner. Art or propaganda? An unconventional look at the posters of the Chinese Cultural Revolution With Lincoln Cushing and Ann Tompkins When: Saturday, July 31 Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $15 for SAA members, $25 for non-members The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution produced thousands of brilliantly colored social and political posters exhorting the people to a sweeping transformation of Chinese society. Ann Tompkins provides a personal account of living in China during the Cultural Revolution, and Lincoln Cushing presents a slideshow on the domestic and international context in which these posters flourished. Ann Tompkins is a community activist and retired social worker. She lived in the People’s Republic of China from 1965-1970 and 1980-1983, where she purchased and saved the body of work known as “The Ann Tompkins (Tang Fandi) and Lincoln Cushing Chinese Poster Collection” at UC Berkeley’s East Asian Library. Lincoln Cushing, an archivist, art historian, and author, was librarian at UC Berkeley. He is the author of several books on posters and art history and has a digitized collection online. He co-authored with Ann Tompkins, Chinese Posters: Art from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. A Taste of Shanghai: Afternoon Tea in a Private San Francisco Home When: Sunday, August 1 Time: 2:30 - 4:30 pm Place: Private home in San Francisco, address TBA to participants Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members We are invited to afternoon tea at Hok Pui and Sally Yu Leung's home surrounded by their collection of Asian art. Among their treasures are objects from the Shanghai era, including an elegant collection of qipao (cheongsam) dating from the late Qing Dynasty to the present. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy their hospitality and their collection of fine and folk art. Sally Leung is a long-time Museum docent and a well-known collector of Asian art. Image Credit: Qiapo - late 1920s - 30s Art and Antique Appraisals: Why, When and Who With Cynthia Shaver When: Saturday, August 21 Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Private home in Piedmont, address TBA to participants Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members Ever wondered how to approach the subject of valuing objects in your collection for sale, insurance, or bequest? Always a conundrum! Cynthia Shaver, an Accredited Senior Appraiser of Asian art with the American Society of Appraisers, will enlighten us on the subject in a beautiful East Bay home filled with art. Cynthia Shaver served from 1984-1988 and 1996-2000 on the Board of Directors for The Society For Asian Art and from 2005-2010 for the Board of the Textile Arts Council at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. She has expertise in Japanese textiles and has imported and sold Japanese antiques from1977-2005. Cynthia has done appraisals for the following situations: Dissolution of Marriage, Loss Claim, Insurance Claim, as well as extensive Charitable Contribution appraisals for the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, SF Fine Arts Museums, the Berkeley Art Museum, the San Jose Museum of Art and many others. It's Not All Curry! An Afternoon of Conversation, Culture and Cooking With Nazneen Spliedt When: Saturday, August 28 Time: 2:30 – approximately 6:30 pm Place: South San Francisco, address TBA to participants Fee: $35 members, $45 non-members The Society’s own Nazneen Spliedt will give a hands-on demonstration and reveal some of the “secrets” of home cooked Parsi food. Come prepared to do some chopping and stirring, then taste and enjoy what we have cooked, along with some refreshing libations. Nazneen Spliedt enjoys cooking and sharing the end product with her friends. Many of you have tasted her chutney sandwiches and saffron cake at our meetings. She served for eight years on the Board of the Society, the last two years as President. Contemporary Korean Ceramics With Jihye Myung When: Friday, June 25 (New Date) Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Education Studio Fee: $15 members, $25 non-members Accomplished ceramicist Jihye Myung, niece of AAM docent Julie Nemeth, will treat us to a discussion of the art scene around contemporary Korean ceramics, show us a selection of her own work, and talk about how classical 15th and 16th century Joseon Buncheong wares inspire ceramicists at work in Korea now. Her work represents a reinterpretation of traditional forms and materials. Jihye has exhibited extensively in galleries and museums in Japan, China, Argentina and the U.S. She was named one of the top 50 ceramicists in Korea in 2000, and won a special selection award at the Gangjin Celadon Porcelain Competition in 2004. She was General Secretary of The Macabal International Firewood Festival (2005-2008).