| December 06, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO – The transcendent power of art was in full force November 21 during the opening reception of California & Beyond: Paintings of Chang Dai-chien, held at the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, where the exhibit is currently on display. The invitation-only event brought together members of the Chinese Culture Foundation, dignitaries of the Bay Area Chinese community, San Francisco city officials, and in-the-know art enthusiasts.
For one night, the paintings of Chang Dai-chien, on generous loan to the Chinese Culture Center from the personal collection of Mr. T.C. Woo of Singapore, inspired a universal celebration of Chinese heritage and pride. The exhibit was supported by the presence of representatives of the Asian Art Museum; and together at one table sat the Consul General of the Republic of Singapore, The Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China. Amid bright stage lights and two hundred eager faces looking on, the three dignitaries joined Mr. Woo, as well as the President of the Chinese Culture Center Mei Lam, to cut the red ribbon, officially opening the doors to the exhibition.
The road to the official opening was an exciting, if not exhausting one. Each detail of the reception and the gallery display was meticulously managed and executed, from the logistics of hanging the paintings on the gallery walls, to the auditorium floral arrangements. Consequently, there was little doubt once the reception began this was a first class event, introducing and celebrating a world-class art exhibition. Before the doors to the gallery were so ceremoniously opened, guests to the reception enjoyed wine and food from Harbor Village Restaurant, and mingled joyfully through the Culture Center’s exquisitely bedecked auditorium. The atmosphere was one of elegant sophistication, as well as anticipation. The fact that this particular collection had never before been on display in the United States, certainly added to the preview buzz. And the star of the evening was undoubtedly Mr. T.C. Woo, whose own passion for the arts, and in particular the art of Chang Dai-chien, made the entire event possible. Asked to say a few words about his affection for Master Change’s work as well as for the man himself, Mr. Woo explained: “Chang's powers of creativity, versatility and perseverance were undoubtedly important. In my view, he had other equally important attributes; the most important of which was his outgoing and extrovert personality. He was a blithe spirit, happy by nature and generous to a fault. He made friends very easily and knew how to take care of himself. Although he had his fair share of suffering and deprivation, particularly in the Dunhuang days, he did not let those two years hang as a millstone round his neck. Rather he was always able to turn affliction into advantage; improve his skills and gain an even wider following.” Deservedly, Mr. Woo was presented with a Certificate of Honor from the Mayor’s office for initiating cultural exchange between Singapore and California, and in addition, was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from Leland Yee, supervisor for the City and County of San Francisco, for the promotion of Chinese culture and heritage. The legacy left by the opening reception casts a light throughout the main gallery in the Chinese Culture Center, where the paintings of Chang Dai-chien are on display until mid February. Upon entering, one can almost tangibly feel the positive and uplifting effect this particular collection has had and is having on the Chinese American community in San Francisco, and both the Chinese and American communities at large. Reported by Mike Curtis Photos by Frank Jang
|
