Report presents the state of Pacific Islanders

Transcription

PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SEATTLE, WA
Permit No. 2393
VOL. 34, NO.10
Your connection to Asian America
MAY 16 - JUNE 5, 2007
IESpeaks:
When‘permanent’
meanstemporary:-page3
IEonIDentity:
AnadopteereturnstoKorea
-page6
ARTS:
The
Southeast
Asian
Identity
WhatistheSoutheastAsianidentity?Isthere
a Southeast Asian identity? College students
explorethisissueandotherchallengesatadiscussionduringAsianPacificAmericanHeritage
Month.
-Seepage7
ReACT
“YouCan’tTakeItWithYou”
-page13
Photo: “Love Conquers All” - a
Malaysian romantic film that plays as
part of the Seattle International Film
Festival. See the IE SIFF pullout guide
on Pacific Rim cinema. pp. 9 -12
Report presents the state of Pacific Islanders
Creativity arises out of the
ashes of World War II in
“Art,Non-Art,Anti-Art”
-page14
Pacific Islanders face
majoreconomic,healthand
educational disparities, but
they’re difficult to quantify
because Pacific Islanders
are usually grouped with
Asian Americans in official
data collection, according to a report by the
MalihaMasoodon
identity, resettlement and
dislocation
-page15
Pacific Island Women’s
Association.
-Seepage4
Photo: “Hula Hula” - a comedy from Japan that shows hula in
a new light. See SIFF films. pp. 9-12
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
2 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
INSIDE the IE
Asian America now and beyond
BY NHIEN NGUYEN
Examiner Editor
As this month marks
my five-year anniversary
as IE editor, effectively
achieving a Ph.D. of sorts
in community media, I
can say without hesitation that now has never
been a more exciting
time to be part of this
nonprofit publication.
This year has been a period of reflection and discussion on where the IE has
been, where it is now, and where it will go.
We started the year fortunate enough to
receive a Nonprofit Assistance Center technical grant to hire a marketing consultant
who could help us move our organization
forward while remaining anchored in our
historic roots that began during the civil
rights era of the 1970s.
With the NAC grant and the efforts of a
group of University of Washington students,
we were able to conduct a readers survey to
have a better sense of who is reading our
paper, what our readers’ interests are and
how we can serve you better.
The data collected — and thanks to all
those who responded — is just the beginning of how we want to reach out to current
and new readers to make sure that this publication reflects and represents the broad
spectrum of our diverse APA community.
Our board and staff are not blind to the
fact that newspaper circulation in general
has been on a steady decline since the age
of the Internet, while the number of people
who read nothing more than LOL or TTYL
(text messaging lingo for Laugh Out Loud
and Talk To You Later) is growing.
While this Internet world continues to
shape how readers gather and receive media
information, we are faced with dramatic
demographic shifts in our region where large
chunks of our APA population are living
outside of the International District, establishing homes in the suburbs of the Eastside,
South King County and North Seattle.
We also recognize the changes with the
emerging generation of Asian Americans
— current students, recent college grads
and young professionals — who are straddling distinct cultural identities, whether
EDITOR
NhienNguyen
622S.WashingtonSt.
Seattle,WA98104
www.iexaminer.org
ADVERTISINGMANAGER
CarmelaLim
ASSISTANTEDITOR
Establishedin1974,theInternationalExamineris
theoldestandlargestnonprofit,pan-AsianAmerican publication in the Pacific Northwest. Named
after the historic and thriving multi-ethnic International District (ID) of Seattle, the International
Examineraspirestobeacrediblecatalystforbuilding an inspiring, connected, well-respected, and
socially conscious Asian Pacific American (APA)
community. Our mission is to promote critical
thinking,dialogueandactionbyprovidingtimely,
accurate and culturally sensitive coverage of relevantAPAmatters.Inadditiontoproducingafree
semi-monthly newspaper, we also publish a literary supplement, “Pacific Reader” devoted to the
criticalreviewsofAPAbooks.Wehavepublished
two books, “The History of the International District”byDougChinand“HumBowsNotHotDogs
–MemoirsofanActivist”byBobSantos.
The International Examiner is published on
the first and third Wednesdays of every month.
Subscription rates for one-year home delivery is $25 for individuals and $45 first class/
overseas. The International Examiner is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit; subscriptions are
tax-deductible.
KenMochizuki
ARTSEDITOR
AlanChongLau
BUSINESSMANAGER
EllenSuzuki
CREATIVEDIRECTOR
KenHiraiwa
INFO.SYSTEMS
CanhTieu
INTERNS
ReikoIijima
SatokoKako
KaoriKonishi
ArlaShephard
FantanelyWong
CONTRIBUTORS
DoriCahn
AnneKim
PaulMori
ChizuOmori
RoxanneRay
Tel:(206)624-3925
Fax:(206)624-3046
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sign up for our E-news!
e-mail us at: [email protected]
- or Visit www.iexaminer.org
associating more with their Asian roots and
traditions or with their Western, American
values and behavior.
As we live further apart, as we communicate electronically, as generations become
multicultural and multiethnic, there is a
growing need to connect and reconnect to
our history, our community, our issues and
our culture.
The media, in particular community and
ethnic media, can play an important role in
connecting each other to one another, but
only through a variety of creative avenues
and mediums.
To address these changes and trends, here
are just some of the new initiatives and additions to the IE engine:
- Convening more community forums,
similar to our May 9 discussion about the
Virginia Tech tragedy;
- Offering an E-Newsletter where you can
sign up to receive your IE through e-mail;
- Re-vamping our layout design to attract
young and new readers;
- Creating new sections inspired by our
new direction;
- Launching
our
IE
blog
(see
www.iexaminer.org, under the “Community”
link);
- Distributing the paper in more places
that reflect the demographics;
- And other gradual changes throughout
the year!
As this issue comes out exactly one
Q
month since the Virginia Tech tragedy, the
stories in this IE edition have never been
more relevant and urgent. We begin with
a commentary from Dori Cahn about the
social isolation of limited-English speaking
immigrants. A feature spread on the APA
identity explores an adoptee’s journey to
Korea and a college student discussion on
the Southeast Asian identification. Anne
Kim presents the findings of a breakthrough
study on Pacific Islanders in Washington
State. And, true to our reputation as the best
source for Asian arts, we are full of pieces
on art shows that speak to the core of Asian
American identity, issues and expressions.
The paper could not be growing and
expanding without the help of individual
and corporate donors and volunteers and
interns. Without our advertisers, we could
not continue this mission to connect and
reconnect with our communities.
Though I facetiously say that I have gathered enough years as editor for a doctorate
in ethnic media, by no means has the learning curve reached a plateau. What makes
the editorship job exciting is opening the
door for fresh ideas, perspectives and energies that will help us achieve a community
vision for achieving an inspiring, connected,
well-respected and socially conscious Asian
American community. Come join me and the
IE board in our mission – stop by our office,
call us, e-mail us, write for us, blog for us …
get involved!
Readers Question:
Do you blog? Wanna blog for us?
E-mail: [email protected]
IE S P E A K S
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 3
When ‘permanent’means temporary: Navigating the language of immigration
BY DORI CAHN
Examiner Contributor
Language is the heart of communication.
Understanding the ways in which language
is used is essential for communication, and
learning a new language often happens best
through experiencing the culture.
I stumbled onto this lesson on a claustrophobically hot April day in Nicaragua,
waiting in a long line for something cold to
drink. When I finally made my way to the
front and paid for a soda, the woman behind
the counter barked at me, “Sencillo? Hay sencillo?” My brain worked hard to sort it out:
“‘Sencillo’ means simple. Why is she asking
me about ‘simple’? What about a soda would
be simple? Oh, maybe that is the word they
use when they pour the soda into a plastic
bag so that they can keep the bottle for the
refund!” Proud that I had figured this out, I
happily said “si!” The woman looked at me
as if I was dumber than a door, and marched
off with the bill I had given her, leaving me
to fend off dirty looks from people in line
behind me and wonder where I had gone
wrong.
Later I learned that she was asking me if I
had change for the bill I had paid with. I knew
the most common meaning of the word, but
nothing in my experience had given me the
smallest clue about this other use.
My ESL students struggle with this all the
time. And I often tell them that they have to
be willing to make mistakes in order to learn
how to use English in the world outside the
classroom. But sometimes mistakes can have
huge consequences, especially when it comes
to the language of immigration.
When many refugees and immigrants
arrive in the United States, they are given a
Letters
tothe
Editor
green card and told that they are “permanent
residents.” Most people assume that permanent means just what the English dictionary says: “continuing or enduring without
fundamental or marked change; see ‘stable’
or ‘lasting.’” It is a definition that implies
something that won’t change.
So what is an English learner supposed to
think? Many refugees and immigrants confront the term “lawful permanent resident” in
their immigration paperwork. Why wouldn’t
someone think that it means they are a legal
resident of the United States, “continuing or
enduring without fundamental or marked
change”? In other words, “a legal resident for
as long as they want to be, if not the rest of
their lives.” The linguistic difference between
permanent resident and citizen is often lost
on people who come to the United States
after struggling through warfare or terror in
their home countries, then live in limbo in
refugee camps or other temporary residences,
often for many years. The idea of a permanent
residence is what they dreamed of for years.
All too many newcomers discover, usually
too late, that permanent residence does not
mean what it says. Until permanent residents
naturalize as U.S. citizens, they remain under
intense ICE scrutiny and are subject to being
banished from the United States for any number of mistakes – a number that continues to
grow with each revision of immigration laws.
When trying to learn a new language, students desperately wish for rules. The English
language is rife with exceptions to its rules.
What pronunciation rules govern thought,
though, tough, bought, bough, bow, cough,
caught, taught, distraught?
CasaLatinacontroversyisnotaraceissue
Dear Editor:
The Casa Latina article by Kip Tokuda in
your May 2-15 newspaper was brought to my
attention by an Asian American who resides
in the area of the new Casa Latina day labor
dispatch office at 17th and Jackson. I am a
friend of Kip Tokuda and greatly respect his
opinion. Kip has been a tremendous asset to
our community and his public service has
been valuable.
However, the objection to the new Casa
Latina day labor dispatch office at 17th and
Jackson is not a racial issue. It is about safety
and respect for the opinion the residents in
the immediate area surrounding Casa Latina.
In Mr. Tokuda’s comments, he states,
“Frankly, I am troubled that citing decisions
had been made without sincerely engaging
community members, especially those in the
immediate vicinity, into an honest and forthcoming discussion about the impacts of a day
labor operation in their community. I assure
you, if any controversial operation were contemplating a citing in the immediate vicinity
of my home, I would, as a parent, be demanding such a discussion, and I believe most of
us would do the same.” His comment hits
the subject directly on the head. There was
never a sincere effort to engage the immediate neighborhood in a discussion about the
impact of the day labor dispatch office. The
city approved a grant of $250,000 for Casa
Latina before a comprehensive neighborhood
survey was conducted and, I understand, will
be providing a grant of $144,000 annually
towards the operating budget. The state has
also granted in their latest budget $1,000,000
for the Casa Latina day labor dispatch office.
The city funds were provided approximately one month before Casa Latina mailed
out a misleading November postcard inviting residents to a general meeting in midDecember 2006. After meeting with members
of the Seattle City Council, the residents were
told the City Council was sorry they were not
consulted, but the $250,000 had been granted
and the property purchased for Casa Latina.
Additionally, the $1,000,000 allotted to Casa
Latina by the state legislature was also granted
without inputs from the immediate neighbors
to Casa Latina.
Casa Latina might be a very important and
successful program, but I believe the residents
should have been informed that such a government funded program would be moved
into their residential neighborhood. I believe
it would have been common courtesy for the
City Council and the Mayor to have informed
the residents that the city was going to fund
So it goes with meanings as well. You can
stand up, throw up, wake up, dress up, clean
up, fix up, line up, open up or close up. It is
enough to make any student give up. How
would someone coming to this country with
limited English skills, maybe traumatized by
war, starvation and loss of family and home,
understand that permanent residence is not
permanent?
Without explicit and repeated instruction, this nuance is lost on many non-English
speaking refugees and immigrants, who
often believe that citizenship is unnecessary,
an extra step that has no greater value than
the papers they already have in their hands
that say “permanent.” Yet, these families are
penalized for not understanding the difference when a child gets into trouble, makes
a mistake, somehow runs afoul of the law
(wait, isn’t a foul something that happen in
sports?).
Our institutions have failed when this
distinction is not made clear, actively and
a $3,000,000 social experiment next to their
homes, churches, and schools. To date, Mayor
Nickels has refused to meet with the residents
in the 17th and Jackson neighborhood. That
is the respect shown the residents around
17th and Jackson.
Dale Kaku
WeLoveThisAsianMuseum
Dear Editor:
often, to legal immigrants, especially refugees that are here at the
invitation of the U.S. government.
We bring refugees here, give them a
start with English lessons and housing assistance, and a belief that this
is their last stop on an agonizing
and complicated journey. We don’t
ensure that they understand the last
step to real permanence, citizenship,
is entirely in their hands. We don’t
tell them that their minor children
are at risk if they do not naturalize.
The cycle of permanence dissolving
into banishment is being repeated in
immigrant communities across the United
States – refugee children, brought here at a
young age, grow up as American children,
have difficulty straddling the new culture
of their peers and the old culture of their
families, and run into trouble, only to discover that their parents never understood
the need to naturalize in order to ensure
their children’s security here. And so people
who thought they were saving their children
by bringing them to the United States watch
their children taken from them and sent back
to the countries they fled in fear. We have seen
this with Southeast Asian refugees who made
their way here in the 1980s, East African refugees who came in the ‘90s, and are likely to
see the pattern repeated with Middle Eastern
and other refugee children in the decades to
come.
Unless we make a clear commitment to
educating newcomers about when permanent is not really permanent. At least that
much is quite simple.
contract recently signed between the City
of Vancouver Archives and the Chinese
Canadian Historical Society of B.C. Thus far
the City has processed 1,700 photos of the
scenic Chinese Garden located at the south
end of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Chinese
Americans here ought to do likewise. The second wave of immigrants is mostly bilingual.
They can and must document their significant attributions. The following generations
from everywhere can then research, reference
them. The WLAM can be a live resource and
education center for all citizens.
An American Born Chinese gradeschooler following his visit to Chinatown/ID
and WLAM made this statement. “I didn’t
know China is this close from my home. I
ate some dumplings with chopsticks. I saw
the lion-dance. I learned that my ancestors
invented the writing papers and the firecrackers.” There are plenty of people and
prominent organizations that will work on
“The 2nd Wave of Voyaging Immigrants”!
Please write to [email protected] to show
that ‘We Love this Asian Museum.’
Wing Luke Asian Museum’s 2007 auction gala “The Voyage Home” made a gross
income of $640,000, and was attended by
830+ persons at the WA State Convention
Center.
Thanks to the citizens and contributors
who volunteered and donated generously
their energy and effort. To this date, not
many people realize that through executive director Ron Chew and his impressive
Board, WLAM is the only Asian museum in
the Northwest to be endorsed by Washington
D.C.’s Smithsonian Museums.
It means we are privileged to perpetuate Maria L. Koh
our Asian history and heritage forever. The
on-going oral history project preserves all the
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
facts and stories alive! Chinese descents since
We want to hear from you! Please
1960 haven’t participated much in documentsubmit letters with name, address,
phone number.
ing their experiences. It can be categorized as
“The 2nd Wave of Voyaging Immigrants”!
Send to:
All their happenings are as bitter/sweet as our
earlier ancestors 125 years ago.
622 S. Washington Seattle, WA 98104
fax: (206) 624-3046
Seattle Chinese Times published in Issue
e-mail: [email protected]
154 (April 12, 2007) pg. B1 an impressive
4 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
NEWS
Women’s organization launches report on Northwest Pacific Islanders
Health care, racism, language barriers, job skills and citizenship status are major issues for PIs
BY ANNE KIM
Pacific Islanders face major economic,
health and educational disparities, but
they’re difficult to quantify because Pacific
Islanders are usually grouped with Asian
Americans in official data collection, according to a report by the Pacific Island Women’s
Association.
The report titled “Voices of Pacific Island
Women Residing in the Pacific Northwest:
Reflections on Health, Economics,
Education and More” was released on May
11 at a celebration at Seattle’s Mt. Zion
Baptist Church. It surveyed more than
200 Pacific Islander women in focus groups
about concerns they and their families had
about health, economics and education.
Among the issues raised by the women
in the report: a lack of access to health care,
students experiencing racism, language barriers, a lack of job skills and education, and
citizenship status.
The report is a first step toward ensuring
that policymakers and educators understand
that the issues affecting Pacific Islanders may
be vastly different from the Asian American
population, the report’s lead author, Maile
Taualii, said.
“It allows us some visibility,” said Taualii,
who is also the treasurer for the women’s
association, which started in 2004 to produce the report.
According to the report, many focus
group participants thought the healthcare
Lua Pritchard and Diane Narasaki speak on the
state of Pacific Islanders. Photo by Anne Kim.
system was insensitive and unaware of
cultural needs. They also described a lack
of information about health care providers, identified school violence and gangs
as obstacles for students to educational
achievement, and said language barriers
often prevented financial stability.
The report also wrote that Pacific
Islanders have some of the largest health,
economic and education disparities in the
nation. Pacific Islanders have the highest
dropout rate among all ethnic groups at the
University of Washington and have one of
the highest mortality rates from cancer in
the nation, according to the report.
But a federal mandate that requires
Pacific Islanders to be reported as a separate
racial category from Asian Americans isn’t
commonly practiced, resulting in skewed
statistics about the Pacific Islander community that mask disparities, according to the
report.
Pacific Islanders make up only 4 percent
of the total Asian/Pacific Islander group in
the United States, according to the report.
We’ve been an invisible minority, Taualii
said.
Taualii said she hoped the report would
result in the state recording Pacific Islanders
as a separate racial category. If that happens,
she said, there would be enough information to identify and explain the disparities in
the community and look for programs and
services to help.
“Data is power,” she said.
The women at the focus groups were
motivated to take the report’s findings to
the next level, Taualii said.
“Women were aware of what was going
on and ready to take action,” Taualii said.
Mabel Fatialofa-Magale, president of
the women’s association, expressed similar
hopes.
“This report is not the end,” FatialofaMagale said. “This report is just the beginning.”
Reweta Doiron, a PIWA member who
attended Friday’s celebration, said she hopes
the report will increase access to information for Pacific Islanders.
“Hoping a lot of people will come out
and see what this is all about,” she said.
Julie Siliga, who is of Samoan descent
and also attended the event, said she felt
skeptical after attending the first women’s
association meeting, but after seeing the
report and its identification of Pacific
Islanders as a independent group, she felt
proud.
“I’m counted as part of Pacific Islander
women,” she said. “It makes me feel real
honored and privileged.”
The State of Pacific Islanders:
Numbers speak volumes
INCOME
• 16
Percent of Pacific Islanders in Washington
state below the poverty line in 2000
• 10
Percent of all races in Washington state
below the poverty line in 2000
EDUCATION
• 2.36
Mean GPA of Samoan high school students
in Seattle Public Schools in 2004-2005
• 3.27
Mean GPA of Chinese high school students
in Seattle Public Schools in 2004-2005
• 2.81
Mean GPA all high school students in
Seattle Public Schools in 2004-2005
HEALTH
• 44
Native Hawaiians die of heart disease at a
rate 44 percent higher than other races in
the United States
• 13.4
Percent of Pacific Island infants born premature in Washington state
•9
Percent of all infants born premature in
Washington state
• 8.9
Percent of Pacific Island infants born with
low birth weight in Washington state
• 6.3
Percent of all infants born with low birth
weight in Washington state
— From: “Voices of Pacific Island Women
Residing in the Pacific Northwest: Reflections
on Health, Economics, Education and
More,” Pacific Island Women’s Association.
The all-new “Gathering Place” at Danny Woo Garden
By Jennifer Brower
InterIm’s Garden/Outreach
Coordinator
Come on up to South
Main
Street/Maynard
Avenue and check out the
construction work going on
at the main entrance to the
Danny Woo Community
Garden!
We are fortunate to
(again) have the University
of Washington Design/
Build students from the
School of Architecture led
by professor Steve Badanes, The UW students in the Design/Build Studio in front of their
applying their skills, talents project on South Main Street.
and labor to create needed
gardeners and community get a beautiful
improvements in the garden. Because of new gathering place, a place to eat lunch on
funding support from the City and others, a sunny day, a place to meet friends, a place
we are able to continue to revitalize our for kids to climb around in, and a place for
neighborhood’s largest and most beloved performances and programming for all to
green open space.
enjoy.
The students are transforming this
Thank you to the students, professors
largely unused space along Main Street Steve Badanes, Chad Robertson and assisinto a welcoming gathering place, com- tant Brett Smith. And thank you to the
plete with picnic benches, decorative City Parks Department and Department of
screens and a unique rolling seating struc- Neighborhoods, Costco Wholesale, Friends
ture simulating waves that will follow of the Danny Woo Garden, and supporters
the contour of the hillside. This project of The Bob Santos Legacy Fund whose supfurthers Inter*Im’s ongoing efforts to port has made this a reality.
increase the community amenity of the
garden while also improving public safety A community dedication ceremony for
in the area by encouraging visitors and
this project will be:
families to use the space.
Thursday, June 7, 2 p.m., at the Danny
A special memorial marker will be also
Woo Garden - 620 S. Main Street.
installed in the loving memory of Tatsuo
Please join us!
Nakata in this area. Tatsuo volunteered
last July for the 2-4 a.m. “shift” turning The Gathering Place project is the first phase
the pig at our annual Pig Roast and will of a 5-year long process Inter*Im is underforever be remembered for his great con- taking to renovate and improve the Danny
tributions to our broader community.
Woo Garden. While some funds are in place
Through their experience in the Danny for the capital improvements, the Garden is
Woo Garden, the students learn that there in need of sustaining funding to maintain
is more to architectural design than per- ongoing operations into the future and to
sonal expression and fashion. This is a help us to carry through with this plan.
community building experience “from the Towards this end, you are invited to become
ground up”. They learn about the mean- a sustaining member of the Friends of the
ing of design grounded in the lives and Danny Woo Garden. Also, volunteers are
desires of real people, and the core impor- always welcome!
tance of community voice throughout the
Please contact Jennifer Brower, (206)
process. And, the elderly and low-income 624-1802 x28 for more information.
Cascadia Community College faculty honored for teaching
Cascadia Community College founding faculty members David Ortiz and Debora Pontillo are the first recipients of the Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Service
(ETLS) Award, given annually by the Cascadia Community
College Foundation, according to a press release. They will
be presented with plaques honoring their selection, as well
as $1,000 grants to be used next year for professional development.
Colleagues of Ortiz spoke to his many contributions
to Cascadia and emphasized his service to students: “he
creates an environment that allows students to critically
engage the material and evaluate their own views,” “is David Ortiz. IE archives.
constantly searching for new ways to examine and promote student learning,” and “he is always available [to students] to assist and advise,
take an interest in their career goals, and use his wealth of knowledge to help them
achieve their objectives.”
David Ortiz and Debora Pontillo were Founding Faculty when the college
opened in 2000. Ortiz teaches Speech Communications. Art and Ethnic Studies are
Pontillo’s focus.
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 5
6 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
IE on IDentity
Returning to Korea: An adoptee’s journey
BY JENNIFER JIN BROWER
NAPAWF Seattle Board Member
I am an adopted person. My parents
adopted me from Seoul, Korea in 1981. I
grew up in the mostly white suburbs of
Michigan and had little exposure to the
Asian community or opportunity to connect
with my Korean identity. Being Asian in a
conservative Midwestern town meant teasing,
stares, comments, and racism. I learned to
assimilate, as my parents were told to teach
the adoptive child from the adoption agency.
"Don't make them feel different, treat them
like your other children, and be color blind."
Things changed after my first trip to
Korea in 2000 and then when I moved to
Seattle and joined the API Women and
Family Safety Center (APIWFSC) and
National Asian Pacific American Women’s
Forum (NAPAWF). I learned about the
history of the community, the struggle for
economic and social justice, and became an
active member of local grassroots groups.
These experiences fueled my desire to
learn more about my personal history and
global systems and politics that resulted
in the phenomena of Korean adoptions.
Additionally, I learned that some adoptees
who returned to Korea had found their
birth families. I had thought this was
impossible but hearing their stories made
me realize it could be a reality. Thus, in fall
of 2006, I packed my bags for a four month
trip to Korea thanks to a scholarship from
the Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington
(AAAW). I stayed in Kimhae, Korea
where I studied Korean language and
culture, went on field trips, and lived like
I was in college again in the dormitory.
I never expected to experience so many
different things while I was there. Not only
did I learn more about myself and what
it meant to be Korean, but I also learned
that I will always be an outsider in a land
where everyone looks like me. Adoptees
Unfortunately, I was not able
to connect with my birth family
during my recent trip to Korea.
However, the trip was a beginning
of a journey of self discovery and
education, which will continue
when I go back to Seoul this
summer for a large transnational
adoptee conference sponsored by
International Korean Adoptee
Associations (IKAA). Now that
I am back in the United States
Graduation day at Inje University from the program. Jennifer I realize that Seattle is a good
Brower is flanked by program sponsors and a professor.
place for me. I can continue my
who return can get an F-4 Visa to work activism and work within the vibrant Asian
and buy property but cannot vote. We American community. My experiences
do not have the same rights or the same growing up in Michigan and visiting Korea
networks that other Koreans have. There
are adoptees that have been living there
for many years, speak the language fluently
and blend in well, yet are still not seen
as citizens but as perpetual foreigners.
I also learned that transnational
adoption began because many U.S. soldiers
impregnated hundreds of Korean women
during the Korean War and left these
"Amerasian" children behind orphaned,
homeless, and impoverished. Since then
Korea has sent the most amount of
children overseas with over 250,000 going
to the United States. Now, even though
Korea's economy is thriving, it is still the
fourth highest country to send children
overseas. The government has tried to stop
adoption but the United States and adoption
agencies do not allow this to happen.
The perspectives and experiences of
adult adoptees are not widely publicized or
written about. Other adoptees I have met
have experienced a lack of understanding
and ignorance about our lives and situations
from both Americans and Korean nationals.
We are a group that is not fully understood.
fuel my passion for social justice.
The Seattle Chapter of NAPAWF is dedicated to forging a grassroots progressive movement for social and economic justice and the
political empowerment of Asian and Pacific
Islander women and girls. NAPAWF unites
our diverse communities through organizing,
education, and advocacy. Please check our
Seattle Chapter website at www.napawf.org
for more information. If you would like to
get involved in NAPAWF, send us an email,
[email protected] or sign up for our
list serve www.napawfseattle-subscribe@yah
oogroups.com to receive up to date information about meetings, events, and postings.
Our mailing address is NAPAWF Seattle
Chapter P.O. Box 14115, Seattle, WA 98104.
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 7
Deconstructing Southeast Asian boundaries: Students question cultural identity
BY ARLA SHEPHARD
Several Asian American students at the
University of Washington came together last
Saturday to discuss what it means to be Asian,
American, and Asian American.
“Coming to college, I felt this impulse to
pursue this long journey or whatever into
finding my identity,” said Joseph Guanlao, a
Filipino American student active in Filipino
American events on campus.
“[There is this] comfort in hanging out
with people who look like me, who eat the
way I do,” he said.
Issues like identity, culture, and what it
takes to build a coalition between different
Asian student groups were discussed in one of
a series of student-mediated dialogues put on
through the Philippine American Dialogue
and Discourse (PADD) and the Thai Student
Association (TSA) student groups.
Laurie Sears, a professor at the UW Henry
M. Jackson School of International Studies
and director of the Southeast Asia Center,
received a grant that allowed her and other
UW faculty members to explore and develop
new modes of talking about identity and
diversity.
“The Southeast Asia Center really focuses
on Southeast Asia. Our grant doesn’t let us
focus on Southeast Asian Americans, so we
felt a lack there; we felt we needed to do
something,” she said.
“This was a way we felt we could begin to
talk to Southeast Asian Americans students
and their experience with being Southeast
Asian American students.”
Students opened up and shared these
experiences, whether it was growing up with
UW Professor Laurie Sears and student mediator
Carmel Laurino. Photo by Arla Shephard
parents who only spoke Vietnamese to them,
attending a British International School in
Thailand as half-Thai and half-White, or
going to high school in Central Washington
with predominantly white friends.
“I kind of feel like I don’t have an identity
and I’m trying to find something to align to,”
said Hazel Lozano, a PADD member. “No
matter what I study, there’s always this issue
of what my home is, whatever that means,
or what my motherland is, whatever that
means.”
The constant search for an established
identity was a theme for most students, but
even more pronounced was how that search
became more pressing once they entered college or moved to America for the first time.
“In Thailand, I didn’t have that pressure,”
said TSA Vice President Ashley Muller, one
of the organizers for the discourse. “Only in
America did the need to relate to other people
in a group become predominant,” she said.
The other student organizer, Carmel
Laurino of PADD agreed. It was only when
she started attending college that she became
vastly involved with Filipino-American
issues.
“Identity is a question that will always be
in the back of my mind, and I will never get
an answer to it,” Laurino said. Rather, she
argued, the question becomes how to look
“beyond identity.”
Laurino’s answer was to build coalitions
between different Asian student groups. “If
you don’t try to move forward you will always
be stagnant trying to find out who you are,”
she said.
Muller added that the need for coalitions
between these groups is to form a cohesive
whole, having a “larger impact” on UW
affairs, and supporting one another’s cultural
festivals.
“The benefit would be empowerment,”
she said. “We can pull a greater weight in the
University, we can maybe have an office…
most of our [smaller] groups don’t have
one.”
There are five existing, and soon to be six,
different Filipino student organizations at the
UW campus. Professor Sears marveled at how
“receptive” Filipino students are in becoming
involved with the faculty and participating in
discourses and events such as this one.
“I think it’s because we’re the most confused,” Laurino said.
Laurino and Komgrit Treetibut, a TSA
and Japanese Student Association member,
both argued for the need to break down barriers within student groups.
“Why haven’t we had this dialogue before
between Vietnamese, Filipino, and other student coalitions?” Laurino asked.
“There is this lack of communication,
boundaries we don’t cross,” Treetibut said,
referencing racial hierarchies that still exist
today in Asia. “We need to open up more.”
Professors Darryl and Kathleen Johnson,
UW Jackson School faculty members leading a study abroad program to Northern
Thailand this summer, offered their advice.
“You build an identity as a third culture,
a moving nomad culture, instead of looking
for an identity, asking ‘Am I Filipino, am I
Chinese?’ There are real advantages and a
richness to you,” said Kathleen Johnson.
“What are your concerns? What is the
agenda in your coalition? Coalition to do
what? What is your common purpose, is there
even a common purpose, is studying the common purpose?” Darryl Johnson asked.
Some students wondered if coalition
building would do any good.
Most student clubs have their own agendas
and goals, Guanlao said, and Victor Nguyen
from the Vietnamese Student Association
(VSA) agreed, as the question again circled
around identity.
“How can we be part of a coalition if in
VSA we can’t pin down [our own] Vietnamese
identity?” he asked.
Why does the question of identity linger in
the minds of Asian American youth? Lozano
offered one possible reason.
“We all come back to the question of
identity because we all want it. [The people
who question identity] are the people who
have been marginalized politically, we’re the
people who don’t have that connection [to
the mainstream]… that’s what it all comes
down to,” Lozano said.
“It’s about filling a void,” Guanlao said.
8 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
IE in the Neighborhoods
Salima: “Authentic” restaurant does good while others don’t on MLK Way
BY KEN MOCHIZUKI
Examiner Assistant Editor
Why is Salima Restaurant thriving when
so many other businesses are suffering
due to the light rail construction going on
through the middle of Martin Luther King,
Jr. Way?
The sign above the restaurant’s entry
provides one answer: “Authentic Malaysian,
Vietnamese & Cham Cuisine.”
“Authentic” means “all spices are
from Vietnam and Malaysia,” says Salima
Restaurant’s owner, Asari Mohamath.
“There are no other influences,” he says,
“although Malaysian food is more Chinese
influenced, and some from India. These
recipes originated from family, from the village. A Malaysian customer remarked, ‘This
reminds me of home.’ We don’t compromise
the spices – we want the taste. Our spring
rolls, and a lot of the Southeast Asian dishes,
are very simple, nothing dramatic, but tasteful.”
Another reason for the restaurant’s success is also implicit on outdoor signs: “100%
Halal.”
“Halal” is the Muslim religion’s equivalent of Judaism’s “kosher.” Under “sharia,” or
Muslim law, consumption of pork and alcohol is forbidden. Meats must be slaughtered
by a Muslim, and a Muslim cleric, the “iman”
(meaning the “knowledge one,” Mohamath
says) gives permission to eat it.
“Consciousness and cleanliness are
important in Islam,” Mohamath, a lifelong
Muslim, says. “One must be clean on the
outside and inside. Pork is not clean and
Asari Mohamath of Salima Restaurant. Photo by
Ken Mochizuki.
alcohol is not consciousness.” He adds that
emerging scientific evidence is confirming
the ancient edict that pork is unclean: a
pig sometimes retains its bodily waste for
long periods of time, which then spreads
throughout the rest of its body.
Open for business since April 2006,
Salima Restaurant seats up to 50 customers
and is operated by a staff of three, including Mohamath, 38, and his wife Salima,
32, the head chef and for whom the restaurant is named. With most dishes under
$10, Mohamath lists the restaurant’s most
popular ones: Roti Canai (Malaysian bread,
or “prata,” fried on a hot plate and served
with curry gravy), Satay Chicken (grilled
chicken served with the restaurant’s popular spicy peanut sauce), Lamb Curry (in
Malaysian curry gravy), Oxtail Soup (hot
and sour Malaysian style), Coconut Rice
(with chicken, beef, seafood, fried peanuts
and anchovies), and Fried Yellow Noodle (in
chili and tomato paste).
Mohamath says another one of the
restaurant’s major assets that other businesses do not have on King Way is its parking lot that can accommodate up to 25 to 30
vehicles. Many of the cars parking there are
BMWs, Mercedes – proof that he is attracting “high-end customers,” he says. From
conversing with his patrons, he has learned
that they come from as far away as Everett,
Bainbridge Island, Bellevue and Redmond.
“They heard from a friend,” he says.
Born in the southern Vietnamese city of
Chau Doc, Mohamath identifies himself as
Cham, one of the indigenous tribes residing in present-day Vietnam during ancient
times, with its own kingdom known as
Champa. After centuries of warfare with
the Vietnamese, the Cham were rendered a
minority group, now spread across Vietnam,
Cambodia and Thailand. Ninety percent
of Cham are Muslim, Mohamath says, the
result of Arab, Malaysian and Indian merchants introducing Islam into Vietnam during the 11th century.
Mohamath says a census conducted 10
years ago revealed approximately 300 Cham
families living in Seattle, with an average of
four to a family. The Cham population has
increased since then, he says.
Mohamath arrived in the United States
in 1980. While a student at the University of
Washington, Mohamath was active with the
UW’s Asian Student Union and became its
assistant director, organizing events such as
lectures on civil rights and the UW’s “Bite of
Asia.” Graduating with a bachelor’s degree
in economics in 1993, he then worked for
the Washington State Department of Trade
and Economic Development, partnered
in an import store, owned and managed
an Allstate Insurance Company agency,
and still operates Condominium Cleaning
Specialists. He met Salima in 1997 through
an arranged marriage.
Salima previously worked as a personal
chef for Malaysian diplomats posted in
Ho Chi Minh City and also cooked for her
family’s restaurant there. Her dream had
always been to own a restaurant in Vietnam,
Mohamath says. “She has a knack for food.
She can look at it and knows what’s in it. She
knows how to cook about 500 items.”
The Mohamaths decided to “get our
feet wet, since we had no restaurant experience in the U.S.,” Mohamath says. A former
Vietnamese restaurant on King Way became
available last year, and even though the light
rail construction was going on outside, devastating the boulevard and its businesses,
Mohamath knew he made the right decision.
After inspecting the site and its restaurant
equipment, “it was worth more than what
we bought it for.” He also recalls thinking
that he “kind of hit the spot” landing a restaurant within the heaviest concentration of
Muslims in the city.
Mohamath says the restaurant serves 20
to 30 diners lunch and dinner on a good
day. Weekend days and nights are the peak
times. Originally anticipating about 60 to
70 Muslim customers a day, he soon found
out that wasn’t going to happen since “their
income level is so low” in the Rainier Valley
neighborhood. Forty percent of his clientele
are white, he says, with about 20 percent
being South Asian, and 20 to 25 percent
Muslim.
“Everyone is returning [to the restaurant],” he says. “Nobody does it [the food]
like us.”
After he determines that Salima
Restaurant is a success, his next goal is
to open another restaurant, possibly in
Redmond since that city has a high percentage of Muslims. Mohamath estimates
that there are about 50,000 Muslims in the
Greater Seattle area, and that number is
growing “because of Microsoft.” After three
years, he hopes to raise enough capital to
open “the first Halal fast-food franchise.”
In today’s political climate, Muslims “in
everything they do, must be very careful,”
he says, such as when traveling or sending
money out of the country. He knows of relatives and friends from Vietnam who, because
of their Muslim names, were detained and
interrogated for up to eight hours. The
public at-large, however, is “starting to
understand – more so than the generation
before.” He recalls an incident after the Sept.
11 attack, when a Northgate neighborhood
rallied around a local mosque, sitting in
front of the site to protect it.
“This state has a better understanding
than other parts of the country,” Mohamath
says.
Salima Restaurant is located at 6727
Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S., Seattle,
(206) 722-2443, www.salimarestaurant.com.
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., closed Tuesday.
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 9
10 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
MAY24-JUNE17,2007
A s e l e c t i o n o f P a c i f i c R i m c inema
Aachi & Ssipak
Kaneshiro, Shu Qi, Xu Jinglei,
Detectives Bong and Hei were once
partners, until a tragedy turned Bong into
an alcoholic private eye. When Hei’s fatherin-law is murdered, Bong’s aid is enlisted
into an investigation that grows increasingly treacherous. A twisty, thoughtful crime
story from the directors of the INFERNAL
AFFAIRS trilogy, which inspired Martin
Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED. A remake
is already in the works from Leonardo
DiCaprio’s production company. June 13, 4
p.m. @ Lincoln Square; June 15, 10 p.m. @
Neptune Theatre
South Korea, 2006 (90 minutes)
Director: Joe Bum-jin
Cast: Ryoo Seung-Bum, Yim Chang-Jeong,
HyunYoung
In the future, societies have depleted all
natural resources save one: human excrement. Good producers are rewarded with
highly addictive — and rapidly mutating
— Juicybars. However, scatological pandemonium ensues when the title characters
meet Beautiful, a wannabe actress who
earns a wealth of Juicybars every time she
“powders her nose.” June 16, midnight @
Neptune Theatre; June 17, 9:30 p.m., @
Neptune Theatre
After This Our Exile
Hong Kong, 2006 (150 minutes)
Director: Patrick Tam
Cast: Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young, Ng
King-to, Kelly Lin, Valen Hsu
Set in Malaysia in the 1990s, Hong Kong
director Patrick Tam’s first feature in 17
years showcases superstar Aaron Kwok as
a father whose complex relationship with
his son tests the familial and cultural ties
that bind. May 26, 4:15 p.m. @ Pacific Place
Cinemas; May 29, 9:30 p.m. @ Pacific Place
Cinemas
The Banquet
Hong Kong/China, 2006 (131 minutes)
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, Ge You, Daniel Wu
Awards: Official Oscar Submission 2006
- Foreign Language Film
In an unnamed kingdom, the representatives of a number of warring factions gather
for a spectacular feast of revenge. Loosely
based on HAMLET, Chinese director Fen
Xiaogang’s lavish tenth century spectacle
recalls recent martial arts epics, but its true
heart lies within its stately, intriguing chamber drama. June 7, 9:15 p.m. @ Neptune
Theatre; June 11, 9:30 p.m. @ Lincoln
Square
A Battle of Wits
North American Premiere
Hong Kong /China/South Korea/Japan,
2006 (131 minutes)
Director: Jacob Cheung
Cast:Andy Lau,Ahn Sung-ki,Wang Zhiwen,
Fan Bingbing, Choi Si-won, Nicky Wu, Wu
Ma, Chin Siu-hou, Sany Hung
Set during China’s Warring States period,
this earthy historical epic pits the intimidating army of the Zhao Nation against the
humble state of Liang. With the help of an
unconventional military strategist, Liang
will prove that might is no match for wits
— at least until pride gets in the way. May
26, 6 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre; May 28, 3:30
p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
Crossing the Line
“The Banquet”
experiences. Who was she, really? That’s
one of the many questions in this ironic,
subtle and deeply romantic film. May 28,
6:30 p.m. @ Pacific Place Cinemas; June 2,
3:45 p.m. @ Harvard Exit
The Bet Collector
Philippines,
2006
(98
minutes)
Director: Jeffrey Jeturian
Cast: Gina Pareño, Fonz Deza,
Soliman
Cruz,
Nanding
Josef,
Johnny Manahan
Three days in the life of Amy (the magnificent Gina Pareño) as she criss-crosses
her slum neighborhood in Manila, taking
bets on an underground lucky-numbers
draw. This powerful film has already won
two festival prizes, giving the surprise
revival in Filipino movies another boost.
June 15, 6:45 p.m. @ Lincoln Square; June
17, 1:30 p.m. @ Pacific Place Cinemas
Black Sheep
New Zealand, 2006 (87 minutes)
Director: Jonathan King
Cast: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason,
Peter Feeney, Tammy Davis
Baa baa, black sheep, have you
any…fangs?!!! The sylvan pastures of New
Zealand, home to forty million sheep,
are the setting for gory mayhem when
a mutant strain of the normally placid
fleecy ones runs amok in this endearingly
funny horror romp. May 31, 9:45 p.m. @
Lincoln Square; June 2, midnight, Neptune
Theatre
Confession of Pain
Hong Kong, 2007 (110 minutes)
Directors: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi
Before We Fall In Love
Again
Malaysia/Hong Kong, 2006 (100 min.)
Director: James Lee
Cast: Amy Len, Pete Teo, Chye Chee
Keong
Chang’s wife has disappeared. Her lover
drops by, but doesn’t know where she is
either. In these circumstances, the men can’t
think of anything better to do than compare
“Confession of Pain”
United Kingdom, 2006 (94 minutes)
Documentary
Director: Daniel Gordon
Cast: Narrated by Christian Slater
In 1962, during the height of the Cold
War, Private James Dresnok deserted the
U.S. Army and left the country. More
than four decades later, he remains the last
American defector to reside in the enigma
that is North Korea. This documentary
takes a provocative look at an outsider’s
experience of finding home in an alien
country. May 28, 9:15 p.m. @ Neptune
Theatre; May 31, 4 p.m. @ Lincoln Square
Dasepo Naughty Girls
The Elephant and the Sea
Malaysia, 2007 (100 minutes)
Director: Woo Ming Jin
Cast: Berg Lee, Chung Kok Keong,
Ng
Meng
Hui,
Cheong
Wai
Loon, Tan Chui Mui, Beatle Yap
The inhabitants of a Malaysian coastal
fishing village struggle in a hostile environment. Has there been a disaster? A deadly
epidemic? What happened to the elephant?
Was there an elephant? An intriguing tragic
comedy about the isolation of the human
condition. May 31, 4:45 p.m. @ Harvard
Exit; June 2, 9:30 p.m. @ Harvard Exit
Eternal Summer
Taiwan, 2006 (95 minutes)
Directors: Leste Chen, Patrick Mao
Huang Cast: Bryant Chang, Kate
Yeung, Hsiao-Chuan Chang
Friends since childhood, the studious
Jonathan and athletic Shane must confront their true feelings when a new girl
enters their lives, who falls first for one
and then the other. An affecting look at
young love—both gay and straight—that
became an award-winning sensation in its
native Taiwan. June 3, 9:15 p.m. @ Pacific
Place Cinemas; June 7, 4:30 p.m. @ Lincoln
Square
U.S. Premiere
Director: E J-yong
Cast: Kim Ok-bin, Lee
Kyun,Park Jin-woo
While attending No
Use High School, Poor
Girl has fallen headover-heels for rich kid
Anthony, who in turn
has an obsession with
the class virgin’s sister.
If their paths are to
cross, they’ll have to
negotiate a demon principal, a transgendered
hottie and numerous “Dasepo Naughty Girls”
karaoke sing-a-longs.
June 4, 9:30 p.m. @
Neptune Theater; June
Exiled
6, 4:15 p.m. @ Egyptian Theatre
Hong Kong , 2006 (100 minutes)
Director: Johnny To
Eagle vs. Shark
Cast: Anthony Wong, Francis Ng,
New Zealand, 2007 (93 minutes)
Nick Cheung, Simon Yam
Director: Taika Waititi
A pseudo-sequel to SIFF hit THE
Cast:
Loren
Horsley,
Jemaine MISSION, this blistering gangster story folClement, Craig Hall, Rachel House, lows the fortunes of ex-hit man Wo as he
Brian Sergent, Joel Tobeck
settles down with his wife and new baby in
This geek-chic comedy reminiscent Macau. His retirement is soon disrupted by
of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE tracks the the arrival of two former friends sent to kill
romance between self-aggrandizing com- him, while two other friends vow to protect
puter store geek Jarrod and sweet, him. They all have guns. May 27, 9:15 p.m.
socially-challenged fast food clerk @ Pacific Place Cinemas; May 31, 4:45 p.m.
Lily. Following the hilariously @ Egyptian Theatre
awkward yet excruciatingly real
stumbles of these endearing odd- The Ferryman
balls, director Taika Waititi’s debut North American Premiere
feature is already drawing compari- New Zealand, 2007 (100 minutes)
sons to NAPOLEON DYNAMITE Director: Chris Graham
and the films of Wes Anderson. Cast:
John
Rhys-Davies,
Kerry
May 31, 7 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre; Fox,
Sally
Stockwell,
Amber
June 1, 4 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
Sainsbury, Tamer Hassan
Three couples set off on a summer cruise
from New Zealand to Fiji only to encounter
a derelict ship in the middle of a mysterious
fog bank. After rescuing the sole survivor,
they slowly become aware that they have
brought aboard a subtle, shifting evil,
which preys upon both body and soul.
June 1, midnight @ Egyptian Theatre; June
4, 9:45 p.m. @ Lincoln Square
Gandhi My Father
World Premiere
India, 2007 (120 minutes)
Director: Feroz Khan
Cast: Darshan Jariwala, Akshaye
Khanna, Bhumika Chawla, Shefali
Shah, Vinay Jain, Daniel Janks
Restoring humanity to a figure never
comfortable being cast merely as a saint,
this exploration of the great statesman’s
troubled relationship with his eldest son
Harilal is already one of the most anticipated and controversial films of the year in
its home country. A boldly intimate portrait of a traditionally epic subject. June 14,
6:30 p.m. @ Lincoln Square; June 16, 9:30
p.m. @ Egyptian Theatre
Hula Girls
Japan, 2006 (108 minutes)
Director: Lee Sang-il
Cast: Yasuko Matsuyuki, Etsushi
Toyokawa, Yu Aoi, Shizuyo Yamazaki,
Ittoku Kishibe, Sumiko Fuji
With massive layoffs affecting a cold coal
mining town in northern Japan, the locals
hope to transform their sooty surroundings
into a lavish spa resort. The plan flounders
until the resourceful women learn to swing
their hips in a hula show that proves to be
the perfect tourist magnet in this charming comedy. June 7, 9:30 p.m. @ Egyptian
Theatre; June 9, 4 p.m. @ Lincoln Square
I Don’t Want to Sleep
Alone
Taiwan/France/Austria, 2006 (115 min.)
Director: Tsai Ming-liang
Cast:
Lee
Kang-sheng,
Chen
Siang-chyi, Norman Bin Atun
A comatose patient is cared for by
friends and family while, in a parallel
story, a beaten-down homeless man on the
streets of Kuala Lumpur is taken in by an
immigrant worker. Tsai Ming-liang made
this meditative, humanistic and sometimes
funny portrait of longing for Peter Sellars’
New Crowned Hope series. One of Peter
Sellars’ New Crowned Hope films. May 30,
9:30 p.m. @ Harvard Exit; June 2, 1:30 p.m.
@ Pacific Place Cinemas
Introducing the Dwights
“Gandhi My Father”
Getting Home
U.S. Premiere
China/Hong Kong, 2006 (97 minutes)
Director: Zhang Yang
Cast: Zhao Benshan, Hong Qiwen,
Song Dandan, Guo Degang, Hu Jun,
Sun Haiying, Xia Yu, Wu Ma
Awards: Berlin 2007 (Ecumenical Prize)
When his old friend Liu suddenly drops
dead, Zhao has no money for a coffin to
transport him home in, so he pretends
Liu has passed out drunk and gets on the
bus with him. A series of gently comic
misadventures dogs their homeward odyssey. June 10, 11 a.m. @ Neptune Theatre;
June 17, 6:45 p.m. @ Egyptian Theatre
How
is
Today?
Your
Fish
China/UK, 2006 (83 minutes)
Director: Xiaolu Guo
Cast: Rao Hui, Lin Hao, Hao Ning,
Xiaolu Guo
Hui Rao is a frustrated writer who feels
stuck in Beijing. Lin Hao committed murder in southern China and is now escaping
to its northernmost town. As it happens,
Lin Hao is also the subject of Hui Rao’s latest screenplay. Destinies intertwine as fact
meets fiction in this strikingly shot film.
June 13, 9:30 p.m. @ Harvard Exit; June
14, 4:30 p.m. @ SIFF Cinema
Australia, 2007 (109 minutes)
Director: Cherie Nowlan
Cast:
Brenda
Blethyn,
Khan
Chittenden, Emma Booth, Richard
Wilson, Frankie J. Holden, Rebecca
Gibney, Philip Quast, Katie Wall
Young Tim’s finally found a girl. Now the
only hurdle in their way is Tim’s mother, a
one-time singer, part-time stand-up comic,
and full-time diva that can’t understand
why a boy would rather do anything else
than help his mother. A charming, bittersweet evocation of family dysfunction. June
16, 9:30 p.m., Neptune Theatre; June 17, 1:
30 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
Like Minds
U.S. Premiere
Australia/UK, 2006 (110 minutes)
Director: Gregory J. Read
Cast: Toni Collette, Eddie Redmayne, Tom
Sturridge, Cathryn Bradshaw, Richard
Roxburgh, Patrick Malahide
A clinical psychologist brought in to
study a high schooler charged with the
murder of his best friend uncovers a bizarre
fixation with honor, ritual and the Knights
Templar. This powerful, engaging mystery
offers more than just a twisting whodunit,
with rich character studies artfully complementing its ingenious plot. June 8, 7 p.m.
@ Neptune Theatre; June 10, 1:15 p.m. @
Neptune Theatre
Love Conquers All
Malaysia, 2006 (90 minutes)
Director: Tan Chui Mui
Cast: Coral Ong Li Whei, Stephen Chua,
Leong Jiun Jiun, Ho Chi Lai
Awards: Pusan 2006 (Best New Asian
Filmmaker, FIPRESCI Prize), Rotterdam
2007 (VPRO Tiger Award)
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 11
A young girl newly arrived to work in
Kuala Lumpur has no time for frivolities.
Until, that is, a flashy stranger introduces
her to a world she never dreamed. The
cloak of storybook romance is gradually pulled back to reveal an inner heart
of darkness in this fresh and touching cautionary tale. June 4, 4:45 p.m. @ Harvard
Exit; June 6, 9:45 p.m. @ Harvard Exit
Mushishi
Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Cast: Jo Odagiri, Nao Omori,
Makiko Esumi, Yu Aoi
Ginko is a Mushishi, a wandering shaman who rids humans from malevolent
spirits known as Mushi. But while treating
a young girl, her plight triggers memories
from his forgotten past, some of which
seek revenge. The second live-action film
from the visionary director of AKIRA and
STEAMBOY. June 8, 9:30 p.m. @ Lincoln
Square; June 10, 6:45 p.m. @ Egyptian
Theatre
“Sway”
logical thriller illustrates the prickly truth
that some friends are far more dangerous
than enemies. June 16, 6:30 p.m. @ SIFF
Cinema; June 17, 6:30 p.m. @ SIFF Cinema
Nanking
USA, 2007 (91 minutes), Documentary
Directors:
Bill
Guttentag,
Dan
Sturman
Cast:
Featuring:
Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway,
Jürgen Prochnow, Hugo Armstrong,
My Friend & His Wife
Rosalind Chao, Stephen Dorff
Awards: Sundance 2007 (Best Editing)
A chilling chronicle of the Japanese
Director: Shin Dong-il
army’s
1937 invasion and obliteration of
Cast: Jang Hyeon-seong, Park Heui-sun,
Nanking,
China, told through the letters
Hong So-heui
and
diaries
of a handful of Western expaShin Dong-il’s sophomore effort examtriates
who
stayed to establish a makeshift
ines the bonds of friendship and marriage
safety
zone
in the ravaged city, as well as
in a resolutely down-to-earth fashion.
testimonies
of
both Nanking survivors and
After a couple experiences a terrible loss,
Japanese
soldiers.
June 3, 7 p.m. @ Egyptian
their relationship undergoes profound
Theatre;
June
5,
4
p.m. @ SIFF Cinema
changes. Though it rarely resembles a
horror movie, this unpredictable psycho-Continued on page 12
12 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
Noise
Director: Matthew Saville
Cast: Brendan Cowell, Maia Thomas,
Henry Nixon, Nicholas Bell
Suffering from tinnitus, a young cop is
stationed in a police van in a suburb that
has been rocked by two violent murders.
As he engages with the affected community, he uncovers a nightmare of guilt and
suspicion. With pitch perfect sound design,
this is an unexpected take on the police “Paprika”
thriller genre. June 10, 9 p.m. @ Pacific Place
Cinemas; June 17, 4:30 p.m. @ Pacific Place Retribution
Cinemas
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
No Regret
Cast: Koji Yakusho, Manami Konishi,
Tsuyoshi Ihara
Director: Leesong Hee-il
J-Horror master Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast: Lee Han, Lee Yeong-hoon, Jo (PULSE, CURE) returns with a supreme
Hyeon-chol, Kim Dong-wook
psycho-thriller. Detective Yoshioka is
A gay prostitute and his wealthy client fall assigned to investigate the murder of an
in love, regardless of the obstacles put in their unknown woman dressed in red. But as he
way. One of the most audaciously authentic delves deeper into the mystery, the evidence
films to come out of Asia this year. June 1, he discovers points only to him, and the
9:15 p.m. @ Harvard Exit; June 4, 4 p.m. @ body count begins to rise … June 8, 9:30
Egyptian Theatre
p.m. @ Pacific Place Cinemas; June 10, 3:45
p.m. @ Lincoln Square
Opera Jawa
Indonesia/Austria, 2006 (120 minutes)
Director: Garin Nugroho
Cast: Artika Sari Devi, Martinus Miroto,
Eko Supriyanto, Retno Maruti, Slamet
Gundono, Nyoman Sura, Jecko Siompo
Undoubtedly THE sensory experience
of SIFF ’07, this is an innovative musical
and “cinema requiem,” not only for the victims of Indonesia’s recent natural disasters
but for all victims of oppression, boldly
encompassing Sanskrit epics, gamelan
music and sacred court dance. One of Peter
Sellars’ New Crowned Hope films. June 12,
6:30 p.m. @ SIFF Cinema; June 13, 4 p.m. @
SIFF Cinema
Outsourced
USA, 2006 (102 minutes)
Director: John Jeffcoat
Cast:
Josh
Hamilton,
Ayesha
Dharker,
Larry
Pine, Asif Basra, Matt Smith
After his entire Seattle call-center
department is outsourced, Todd succeeds
in hanging onto his job only by agreeing
to go to India to train his own replacement. With such bemusing cross-cultural
comedy at hand, can love be far behind?
Culture-shocks and obvious stereotypes are
wittily sidestepped in this warm and charming crowd-pleaser. May 31, 7 p.m. @ Lincoln
Square; June 3, 7 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
Paprika
Director: Satoshi Kon
Cast: Voices of: Megumi Hayashibara, Toru
Furuya, Koichi Yamadera, Katsunosuke
Hori, Toru Emori, Akio Otsuka
Dr. Atsuko Chiba uses a new invention
to enter the dreams of her mysteriously
troubled patients. When the device is stolen, only Atsuko and her dream alter-ego
Paprika can save Tokyo from an apocalyptic dissolution of dreams and reality. A
masterfully trippy anime from the director
of PERFECT BLUE. May 25, 9:30 p.m. @
Neptune Theatre; May 28, 1:15 p.m. @
Neptune Theatre
Sakuran
Director: Mika Ninagawa
Cast: Anna Tsuchiya, Kippei Shiina,
Hiroki Narimiya
A tale of life, love and intrigue in the
pleasure quarter of 18th century Edo, following the ascent of the staunchly independent Kiyoha from street urchin to supreme
courtesan. Renowned photographer Mika
Ninagawa’s manga-inspired directorial debut
has been called “MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
done right.” June 7, 6:30 p.m. @ Neptune
Theatre; June 8, 4:15 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
A Secret Genocide
U.S. Premiere
France, 2006 (52 minutes), Documentary
Director: Alexandre Dereims
To bring this alarming documentary to
life, the director traveled to parts of Burma
and Thailand where few Westerners are
allowed. His efforts represent a brave
attempt to call attention to the plight of
the Karen people, an ethnic minority group
that has been fighting for self-determination for decades. Preceded by MASSACRE
AT MURAMBI, directed by Sam Kauffman
(UNITED STATES/FRANCE, 2007, 5
MINUTES). June 5, 5 p.m. @ Harvard Exit;
June 10, 11 a.m. @ Harvard Exit
The Sentimental Bloke
Director: Raymond Longford
Cast: Arthur Tauchert, Lottie Lyell, Gilbert
Emery, Stanley Robinson, Harry Young
Based on a popular book of verse,
and directed by film pioneer Raymond
Longford, this tale of a lovable hellraiser
who finds his “ideal tart” and decides to go
straight became a box office hit in 1919. The
film’s language and down-to-earth romantic
sentiments retain their appeal nine decades
later. Presented with live accompaniment.
June 2, 7 p.m. @ SIFF Cinema
The Silence
Director: Cate Shortland
Cast: Richard Roxburgh, Essie Davis,
Emily Barclay, Alice McConnell
Confined to a desk job after being
involved in a fatal shooting, a troubled cop
finds himself obsessed with the photos of
a glamorous murder victim from the ’60s.
Reopening her case, he unleashes a cycle
of mayhem that brings unexpected consequences for both his career and his personal
life. June 6, 9:30 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre;
June 8, 4:30 p.m. @ Egyptian Theatre
fearing his younger brother has designs
on one of his wives, relates a parable of
lust, sorcery, gluttony and war from the
distant past in hopes of instructing the
younger man on the proper way to live.
May 25, 4:45 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre;
May 28, 6:45 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
Vanaja
Taiwan/China, 2006 (94 minutes)
Director: Zero Chou
Cast: Rainie Yang, Isabella Leong, Shen
Jian-hung, Kris Shie, Shih Yuen-chieh
Awards: Berlin 2007 (Teddy Award)
Taipei tattoo artist Takeko finds herself
smitten with Jade, a girly teenager who’s
come to her shop seeking a spider-lily
tat like the one that graces Takeko’s arm.
Present secrets and past desires spill out
in this dreamy exploration of childhood
crushes, adult guilt and erotic longing.
June 7, 7:15 p.m. @ Pacific Place Cinemas;
June 12, 4:30 p.m. @ Harvard Exit
India/USA, 2006 (111 minutes)
Director: Rajnesh Domalpalli
Cast:
Mamatha
Bhukya,
Urmila
Dammannagari,
Ramachandriah
Marikanti, Krishnamma Gundimalla,
Karan Singh, Bhavani Renukunta
Awards: Berlin 2007 (Best First Film)
An aspiring dancer’s feisty, naive nature
gets her into more trouble than she bargained for, exasperating her tutor and seriously endangering her chances at marriage
in her traditional caste society. Filled with
mesmerizing musical moments, this strong
debut proves as enchanting and heartbreaking as the slow end to a sad dance. May 26,
9:30 p.m. @ SIFF Cinema; May 27, 1:45 p.m.
@ Harvard Exit
Sway
White Light/Black Rain
Spider Lilies
Director: Miwa Nishikawa
Cast: Jo Odagiri, Teruyuki Kagawa
When a successful Tokyo photographer returns to his small town home for
his mother’s funeral, a tragic accident
puts his brother on trial for murder and
forces the photographer to reconsider his
current fast-paced life and the slow, tradition-bound world he came from. June 7,
9:30 p.m. @ Lincoln Square; June 9, 11
a.m. @ Harvard Exit
Syndromes and a Century
Thailand/France/Austria, 2006 (105 min.)
Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Cast: Nantarat Sawaddikul, Jaruchai
Iamaram, Sophon Pukanok, Jenjira
Pongpas, Arkanae Cherkam
Following up TROPICAL MALADY,
director Weerasethakul confirms his innovative talent with a seductively mysterious
film of self-reflecting halves. Beginning
with two doctors in different hospitals,
the fluid narrative travels across time and
space to invoke the changing times of the
filmmaker’s native Thailand. One of Peter
Sellars’ New Crowned Hope films. June 4, 9:
30 p.m. @ SIFF Cinema; June 7, 4:30 p.m. @
SIFF Cinema
TEKKONKINKREET
Directors: Michael Arias, Hiroaki Ando
Two kids must save the futuristic
Treasure City from the schemes of a sinister YAKUZA, who wants to demolish the
degenerate city and replace it with a gargantuan amusement park. An exquisitely
realized, high-impact anime from one of
the producers of THE ANIMATRIX. Ages
13 and up. June 10, 9:30 p.m. @ Egyptian
Theatre
Ten Canoes
Directors: Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr
Cast: Crusoe Kurddal, Jamie Gulpilil,
David Gulpilil, Richard Birrinbirrin,
Peter Minygululu, Frances Djulibing
Ten canoes, three wives and 150
spears leads to… trouble. Mingygululu,
United States, 2007 (86 minutes),
Documentary
Director: Steven Okazaki
An expansion of the Oscar-nominated short
“The Mushroom Club” (2005), this portrait
draws much of its considerable power through
interviews with Japanese survivors of the U.S.
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during
World War II. The director also speaks with
some of the scientists and servicemen who
helped design and detonate the weapons. June
7, 7 p.m. @ Harvard Exit; June 10, 4 p.m. @
SIFF Cinema
Woman on the Beach
Director: Hong Sang-soo
Cast: Kim Seung-woo, Kim Tae-woo, Ko
Hyun-jeung, Song Sun-mi
While trying to overcome writer’s block
at an off-season beach resort, an increasingly exasperated film director finds himself
juggling relationships with two very different women. The latest film from 2003 SIFF
Emerging Master Hong Sang-Soo, this edgy,
sophisticated comedic drama showcases the
director’s uncannily delightful knack for capturing realistic conversation. June 3, 9:30 p.m.
@ Egyptian Theatre; June 5, 4 p.m. @ Pacific
Place Cinemas
The Year of Living Dangerously
Director: Peter Weir
Cast: Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver,
Linda Hunt, Michael Murphy
Awards: Best Supporting Actress, Linda
Hunt, Academy Award 1984; Los Angeles
Film Critics Association Award, 1983;
NBR Award, 1983; NYFCC Award, 1983.
Introduced by environmental photographer and author, Art Wolfe. Indonesia, 1965:
While on the track of a routine story, an ambitious young journalist stumbles across corruption, romance and a country on the brink of
implosion. Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver and
Linda Hunt star in Peter Weir’s sizzling political
drama. 25 years after its initial release, Russell
Boyd’s cinematography still makes the screen
sweat. May 29, 6:45 p.m. @ Harvard Exit
SIFF 2007 runs from May 24 - June 17. For
tickets, locations, other SIFF films and general
information, visit www.seattlefilm.org.
ARTS
ReACT’s “You Can’t Take It With You” keeps ethnic diversity as backdrop
FILM REVIEW
“Battle of Wits”
BY ROXANNE RAY
What happens when an ordinary young woman begins dating
the son of her boss at work? In
Repertory Actors Theatre’s production of George S. Kaufman and
Moss Hart’s Pulitzer Prize-winning
comedy “You Can’t Take It With
You,” this play becomes much
more than the typical “meet the
parents” laugh-riot.
The play centers on the family
of Alice Sycamore, a Wall Street
secretary. When she invites her Stan Asis, Kathy Hsieh and Toni Rose in ReAct’s “You Can’t
new boyfriend, Tony Kirby, over Take It With You.” Photo: David Hsieh.
for dinner, and he shows up a day
cally-correct light.” To do this, he created an
early with his parents in tow, the
two families clash uproariously. Previous ensemble of actors that is ethnically diverse
productions have been both praised and than he had seen in previous traditional
criticized for offering immediate enjoy- stagings.
This created directorial challenges not
ment without much substantive analysis of
usually associated with Kaufman and Hart’s
American culture.
But director David Hsieh has added play.
“Instead of being the family maid, we’ve
a twist to the play’s basic dramatic structure. By casting Alice’s family with Asian tried to present the character of Rheba more
American actors, Hsieh strives to create a as a family guest who happens to love to
“color-sensitive multiethnic color-blind cast cook, and her boyfriend Donald more as
version” of this play in which ethnic culture a family friend who enjoys helping out,”
is used to “augment the differences between Hsieh says. As a result, Hsieh continued, “it
was interesting to figure out changes in stagthe two families.”
Hsieh’s production also seeks to explore ing to get Rheba into the room to explain
theatrical racial stereotypes from the past. why she was always answering the door even
Kaufman and Hart’s play is set in 1938, but though she was no longer a servant.”
Other aspects of the production have
Hsieh says he tried to place “the scripted
‘colored’ servant characters in more politi- proved challenging as well. “As most ‘period’
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 13
pieces are, this show was a big challenge for
us on our shoestring budget,” Hsieh says.
“It is extremely prop heavy with a large cast
of 19 characters, dance elements, live music,
foreign accents, and onstage fireworks.”
Many of the artists working on this production of “You Can’t Take It With You”
have previously graced ReACT’s stages
before. “We do strive to have a core company
of artists to work with, as well as recruit new
talent for every production,” says Hsieh. He
emphasizes the importance of having fun,
as well as fulfilling the ReACT company
mission to increase opportunities for artists
by employing multiethnic and non-traditional casting. “We hope that this is a good
way of keeping the ReAct family growing.
I personally would hope that the artists we
employ have a good time with each production, and understand what we are trying to
accomplish so that they are eager to return
to work with us again as schedules permit.”
In addition to these organizational and
cultural goals, Hsieh hopes to showcase
a classic but sometimes ignored piece of
America’s dramatic history: “It is surprising,
in spite of how often this beloved show has
been done historically, that many folks out
there have never seen it,” Hsieh says. “They
don’t make plays like this anymore.”
“You Can’t Take It With You” runs
through May 20 at Richard Hugo House
Theatre, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle.
BY CHIZU OMORI
Oh, if only they had cut the last 30 minutes off
this film. This is another Asian historic epic set, as
they say, during China’s early warring states period. Haven’t we seen all this before? Huge masses
of identical, black-clad soldiers, on horseback and
on foot, with big shields, spears, and flags flying,
pouring down from the hills to attack a city.
But “Battle of Wits” (directed by Jacob
Cheung) is not your standard historic clash
of armies. Rather, it is the story of a small city
caught between rival provinces that are battling
for supremacy. This city is on the road to the
main fight, and one army is bearing down on
it with thousands of warriors. What should the
city leaders do? Surrender, or put up a fight?
An unlikely hero appears, a member of a group
that champions peace and pacifism. Now, here is
where “Battle of Wits” gets complicated. The man
preaches peace, but he counsels strategic warfare,
enabling the city to survive the onslaught of the
massive army.
The fighting is realistic, the strategizing believable, and the characters complex enough to make
the interactions really interesting. The peasants’
side in this situation is fully depicted, something
rare in epics. Alas, it all falls apart in the last half
hour, and what might have been an intriguing,
nuanced study of war and its aftermath loses its
sharpness, the soppy love interest taking up much
too much of the film. Maybe too many parties
were involved in the making of “Battle,” and so
there may have been battles in the making of it.
Nevertheless, there are great moments that make
this film worth seeing. SIFF: May 26, 6 p.m.; May
28, 3:30 p.m. @ Neptune Theatre
14 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
Creativity arises out of the ashes of World War II in “Art, Non-Art, Anti-Art” show
BY PAUL MORI
There were many consequences of World
War II, but nearly no one thinks of the
effects of that great war on art, much less
the art in Japan. But Getty Museum in Los
Angeles shows us that indeed we should.
“Art, Non-Art, Anti-Art: Experiments in the
Public Sphere in Postwar Japan 1950-1970”
displays a sampling of the fountain of creativity springing out the ashes of World War
II. Japanese art movements such as Fluxus,
Sogetsu, Gutai, Jikken Kobo, Neo Dada
– normally the stuff of obscure references in
art history books – were once vital and active
signs of rebirth in a country that had been
gutted materially and culturally.
In the last few decades of the 19th century, the Meiji era ushered Japan from a
feudal society into a world power, but the
transformation of Japan after World War II
was no less severe and revolutionary. In the
postwar years, Japan was a country devastated by years of war and was then searching
for a new identity in so many areas. Japan
embraced technology and the modern, as a
great shift from a prewar rural agricultural
society transformed into an urban-centered
one, but one stripped of the old thinking
and tradition.
The change was not all positive.
Revitalized cities grew literally from the
heaps of ashes, and they grew in sometimes
strange and unsettling ways, as if there
were no genetic codes to keep them whole,
ordered and tame. This modern world was
infested with industrial waste, greed, and
exploitation of the dispossessed, as this
reborn society grew uneasily in the shadow
of a new atomic age – a shadow more tragic
and real than anywhere on earth.
The art that comes out of this era commented, reflected upon and reacted to that
growth. Technology, experimentation, bold
new ways of seeing, reactions to the imposing American presence in Japan, opposition
to atomic weapons, and general social reactions and commentary shaped this new art.
Both the good and bad of modernization
were a part of the movement, as well as
strong elements of revolt. But, because there
were so many ingredients in the mix, the
resultant art was not homogenous, as this
exhibition so skillfully illustrates, but rather
extremely diverse and always transforming.
Many of the art trends were significant,
vibrant and influential; sometimes shortlived and sometimes not. As artist engineers
collaborated with visual artists, who in
turn collaborated with musicians and others artists, those resultant ideas and artists
splintered into other schools and trends.
many art movements and their relationship
with each other, but also with a clear image
of what this art was about.
One display is simply a telephone that
Yoko Ono occasionally calls, and visitors
are instructed to answer when it rings (she
phoned four times the week prior to my
visit). Another is a “touch box” in which visitors put their hands and fingers into blind
holes to feel different sensations. Japanese
experimental music is also well represented
in both graphic scores (pictorial representations of musical notes and instructions) and
sound examples via a headphone station.
All the pieces are accompanied by clear text
descriptions that are informative and interesting.
However, the most dramatic pieces
in this show are the graphic works and
photographs. Japanese art has a long history of strong and dramatic abstract design.
“Jon Shiruba (John Silver)” (book cover design Early movements in the postwar period
by Yokoo Tadanori), Tokyo, 1969. Research drew upon this long-standing tradition
Library, The Getty Research Institute, Los and exploited it (literally, as in the case of
Ishimoto Yasushiro’s photos of the Imperial
Angeles, Calif.
Some art movements reacted in opposition Katsura Villa), as did many of the subsequent
to other movements while the established new art movements. The pamphlets, posttraditional art world vehemently opposed ers, advertisements, photographs and art
all of these experiments. While some moved prints on display have a strong sense of drawith established trends, others were clearly matically intense design. Yokoo Tadanori’s
revolutionary and nonconformist. With the illustration for “Jon Shiruba” (“John Silver”)
many years of military rule and political demonstrates how the style continues to
suppression finally over at the war’s end, influence pop art today. The photographs
artists fervently expressed their individualist also show the deep impact they have upon
current contemporary visual images. The
passions.
“Art, Non-Art, Anti-Art: Experiments in
the Public Sphere in Postwar Japan 19501970” at the Getty Research Center is a
small, but important representation of the
spectrum of divergent art trends in postwar Japan. The number of items is limited
but well chosen to represent the spirit and
power of the various art movements. The
show offers rare access to many items never
seen before in the United States and demonstrates the depth of the Getty collection.
Guest curator Charles Merewether and
co-curator Rika Iezumi Hiro deserve high
marks for clarity in presentation and education, as well as for using the confined
space to its utmost. Housed in just a single
L-shaped room, the few choice representative pieces on display are so provocative
that they are at once satisfying, but leave the
visitor hungry for more. The video monitors
and undersized photographic reproductions
attempt to expand the number of images,
but in the end are less effective than they
could have been. Nevertheless, visitors will
walk away not only with a keen sense of the
exhibition’s stark black-and-white photographs show how unique, and how uniquely
Japanese, photography was in that era. Like
the black-ink watercolors of old Japan, these
modern monochromatic images are equally
visually understated, but unlike them, they
are packed with unmatched passion and
statement.
The exhibition catalog of the same title
is a worthy accompaniment and a great way
to experience the art for those who cannot
travel to the Getty. The book’s 140 pages
are packed with information, illustrations,
capsule artist biographies and extensive
footnotes.
Two articles, one by curator Merewether
and the other by Reiko Tomi, bring together
the many parts of the exhibition into a
comprehensible whole. Thankfully, some of
the undersized photographic reproductions
in the exhibit are enlarged in the book for
better viewing. Unfortunately, not all of the
pieces are shown. However, other illustrations that were not in the show are welcome
additions. Whether you are able to see the
exhibition or only the book, you will be
taken on a historic journey through the eyes
of the artists of postwar Japan.
“Art, Non-Art, Anti-Art: Experiments in
the Public Sphere in Postwar Japan 19501970” is on view till June 3 at the J. Paul
Getty Museum, 1200 Getty Center Dr. in Los
Angeles (310) 440-7330 or www.getty.edu/
museum.
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 15
South Asian author Masood on identity, resettlement and dislocation
BY NHIEN NGUYEN
Examiner Editor
Disillusioned with her nine-to-five existence as a Seattle dot-commer, Maliha
Masood needed a fresh lease on life. So she submitted her letter of resignation
and decided to embark upon an open-ended journey. Unsure of where she would
go or when she would return, she bought a one-way ticket to the Mideast. Fueled by
curiosity and unbridled wanderlust, Pakistani-born Masood ventured on a yearlong
expedition through Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. Her new book, “Zaatar
Days, Henna Nights: Adventures, Dreams, and Destinations Across the Middle East”
(Seal Press/February 2007), chronicles a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most
newsworthy region. Navigating the duality between her Eastern roots and Western
culture, Masood offers insights and entertainment in the hearts and minds debate as
someone who belongs on both sides. She also speaks to the issue of bicultural identity
and the transformative power of travel. For more info, visit www.maliha-masood.com.
International Examiner: What was the biggest
surprise about your journey?
Maliha Masood: I went on this journey as a
personal quest. In many ways, I had no control
over it. I felt as though I was following a set of
instructions and I was dead sure I was doing the
right thing at the right time.
Having said that, I also knew the journey was
going to be the biggest challenge of my life. And
what surprised me the most is the way I took
to it, almost relishing the difficulties because
they made me push
my boundaries and
get to know all these
hidden strengths and
capabilities.
I think that’s what
so invigorating about
adventure
travel
— it’s like taking an
exam that you can’t
possibly prepare for.
And in the Mideast,
Maliha Masood
I constantly came
up against issues that
tested my limits and each time I pushed them,
I broke through a barrier, that was emotional,
mental and spiritual.
The ultimate surprise was how similar
people are all over the world, despite all
our differences, we yearn for the same basic
things like love and friendship and that can
be very powerful in bridging cultural gaps.
IE: Was it easier traveling in the Mideast as a
Muslim?
MM: Yes and no. As a Muslim, American and a
woman, I found myself walking a tightrope at
all times. It was hard for people to accept me
as a package of all three identities. They either
saw me as a Muslim which meant I couldn’t just
roam around by myself, befriending strangers in
the street, which I did anyhow, but then I was
immediately pegged as a foreigner, and the fact
that I wasn’t fluent in spoken Arabic made it
much harder to be fully accepted.
I realized that being a Muslim wasn’t enough,
particulary in the Arab world, where language
takes precedence over religion in terms of fitting
in. And I found it a double standard in many
ways, being a Muslim from South Asia, having
grown up in the States, and yet, being treated as
an outsider, someone who didn’t quite belong,
but everytime I walked into a mosque, or heard
the call to prayer or saw a sign in Arabic, I did
feel so grounded there.
It was a sense of belonging, cultural more
than a sense of home or roots, and it was hard
to explain to people that I wasn’t just a stranger. I
was constantly having to negotiate the feeling of
being an outsider and insider at the same time.
And as soon as I started wearing the headscarf, I
blended in with the locals, which meant I couldn’t
get away with allowances for tourist mistakes,
such as not knowing the subway rules in Cairo.
boys tell me they loved the
book. And I’m also gratified to see that Americans
on the whole are very
curious and hungry
to know the human
stories that lie beneath
headlines. My tour
has made me connect with a diverse
audience
and,
whether I speak to
a college crowd or
a Mideast culture center, I sense
It landed me in some trouble, this case
that people have a need to laugh and connect,
of mistaken identity and ever since then, I was which is why I enjoy public interactions.
torn between my desire to fit in and not stand
out and just being this naïve, wide-eyed traveler IE: Six years have passed since Sept. 11. Has the
discovering these places for the first time. A very understanding and acceptance of Islamic culture
odd situation to be in, this sense of belonging grown or is there still a long road ahead?
and not quite belonging.
MM: I think there are two trends operating in
tandem. On one hand, there is a great deal of
IE: Since traveling through the Middle East and suspicion and fear about Islam and Muslim
writing your book, has your sense of ethnic cultures given what the media chooses to
identity changed?
emphasize. At the same token, there is a great
MM: I would say that my sense of ethnic identity deal of curiosity and openness to learn about the
has remained more or less the same. I see myself culture and faith and to understand it beyond
as a South Asian immigrant and my home is in just soundbites. I think that’s a huge opportuSeattle, a city I’ve lived in for 25 years. Traveling nity. And I see it as my calling to build bridges
in the Mideast gave me a strong sense of self and between Islam and the West. I’m a product of
confidence. A journey pushes your limits and both and the way I see it, we have a lot more
that was the whole reason I went, to find out my common ground than differences. I try to focus
capabilities, to test myself in a way by setting out on the politics of inclusion, rather than division.
to do something that seemed difficult. I did feel But it’s not going to be easy because I’m battling
more grounded in my Muslim faith by coming two fronts. There’s the usual biases within the
into closer contact with Islam. It strengthened mainstream U.S. media, which will remain and
my spiritual beliefs and that, too, was part of the it’s no use complaining about it, because that’s
journey, to have faith in the unknown and leap just reality and we should empower ourselves by
in the dark as a way of finding what I was made creating alternative media.
of as an individual.
The second thing, and this is more problematic for me as a Muslim American, is what
IE: How about your gender identity, that is, your I’ve seen among other Muslims who are getting
sense of being a woman?
on the media pulpit and speaking out, but what
MM: Traveling as a woman in a male dominated they’re doing is slandering Islam in the name
region such as the Mideast forces you to develop of reform. It tends to reinforce the stereotypes
a thick skin. Otherwise, you cannot survive! I and distort perceptions and confuses people all
felt that being a woman was in many ways an
advantage, in that it makes you vulnerable and
exposed and you attract a lot of attention simply because you are doing something unusual
by traveling alone. I found it very easy to make
friends with strangers. And often times, people
would want to adopt me or take care of me by
being overly protective. It’s a very hospitable
culture and people really go out of their way
to welcome you. Of course, you do have to be
careful and exercise the usual precautions that
a traveler must be attuned to, and though I
did at times feel it was a nuisance to walk into
cafes and bus stations and get stared at by men,
I forced myself to hold my head high and not
let them intimidate me. It almost became a
little game to challenge conventions, and society
both East and West still has reservations about a
solo female traveler. It’s not the norm. But then
again, why be normal?
IE: You are on a new journey traveling America
on your book tour. What have been some surprising aspects about the tour?
MM: Yes, I’m definitely on a new journey with
my book tour. I just got back from LA, D.C., NY.
I have been consistently amazed at the way my
book touches people from all walks of life, transcending age, race, class, culture, nationality. It
seems to resonate a chord with just about everyone and that makes it very universal despite the
specifics of the Mideast region where I traveled
to. I’ve had everyone from grandparents to frat
the more. I think you have to be careful not to
essentialize one point of view, be it liberal or
conservative. You have to respect all sides and
not shove your ideas by discrediting others. I
think there’s a real danger nowadays of simplification of complex issues. And everyone’s in a
rush to come up with ready answers. I don’t like
that. It’s not answers I’m looking for, but better
questions. That will be my focus. Questioning.
IE: Now that you have resettled back into
America after your travels, do you feel dislocated at all, or did your trip solidify your sense
of home here?
MM: I’ve always had a pretty fluid sense of
home. Growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, I
would visit family in India just across the border. And after we came to Seattle, I adapted very
quickly, losing my Anglo-British accent within
six months and speaking like an American
teenager. Having traveled so much, I don’t
feel dislocated about home. I feel like I am at
home everywhere, yet nowhere at the same
time. But if I were to name a physical entity
that gives me a sense of home, it would have
to be the Northwest. Geography has a lot to do
with it and since I’m very outdoorsy, home to
me is synonymous with mountains, lakes and
evergreens. At the same time, home is also my
Mom’s spicy Indian lentils, and I also feel at
home when I speak French. I guess it makes me
a bit of a gypsy and I’m glad to be one. But even
gypsies have to lie down and sleep someplace
and for me my little haven in Kirkland is where
I feel safe and grounded. I have many homes but
I don’t feel torn between them. That comes with
age and perspective. You realize that no matter
how much you travel and move, in the end you
always have to come back right to yourself.
Maliha Masood joins IE editor Nhien Nguyen
and local writer Hannah Moon for “DisOrient
Express: Asian American women writers on
journeys of identity, resettlement, and dislocation” at the Capitol Hill library on Thursday,
May 31 at 6 p.m. Visit www.iexaminer.org for
event info and for Masood’s full interview.
16 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
E. Pike St., (206) 322-9440. www.ballardfethersto
ngallery.com.
BY ALAN LAU
“Demonstrations – Collaborations with
Mathematicians” is a show of new drawing and
sculpture by Lun-Yi Tsai at Shift Collaborative
Studio in the Tashiro Kaplan Building. In addition,
the gallery presents “Math & Art Month: Public
Dialogues With Artists and Mathematicians.”
Speakers will give brief presentations of their work,
answer questions, then lead a discussion on math
and art. All talks begin at 3 p.m. unless otherwise
specified. All are welcome. More talks on May 19,
May 25, May 26 and June 2 – 306 S. Washington St.,
Suite #105. www.lunyitsai.com/demonstrations
The final literary program at the Seattle Public
Library celebrating Asian Pacific American
Heritage Month is a keeper. Join our own IE
Editor Nhien Nguyen, Hannah Moon and
Maliha Masood as they read from new work in
“DisOrient Express: Asian American women
writers on journeys of identity, resettlement,
and dislocation.” May 31 with a reception at 6
p.m. and the readings at 6:45 p.m. Capitol Hill
Branch of Seattle Public Library, 425 Harvard E.,
(206) 386-4636. www.spl.org
“Issues of Periodization and Categorizaton in
Modern Chinese Painting: A Symposium in
Join the featured artists in the current exhibit, Honor of Michael Sullivan” takes place June 1
“How The Soy Sauce Was Bottled” as they from 7 – 9 p.m. and June 2 from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
discuss their work with Tracey Fugami, member of Stimson Auditorium at Seattle Asian Art Museum
the Artist Selection Committee. May 24 from 7 – 9 in Volunteer Park.
p.m. The Museum will have extended hours that
day from 11a.m. – 7 p.m. prior to the event. Wing “Figures of Thinking: Convergences in
Luke Asian Museum: (206) 623-5124.
Contemporary Cultures” is a group show
of female artists around the world influenced
A public screening will be held for an updated by migrant culture and the Internet. Fourteen
rough cut of “In Search of No-No Boy,” the artists present multimedia works influenced by
documentary on the writing and writer behind accelerated globalization. The work of Japanese
the first and most influential Japanese American artist Yuki Onodera is included. On view through
novel. Producers Frank Abe and Shannon Gee June 8. Western Gallery at Western Washington
will be present to talk about this upcoming film University in Bellingham, 516 High St., (360) 650on the life of the late Seattle author John Okada. 3900. www.westerngallery.wwu.edu
May 24 at 7 p.m. UW’s Ethnic Cultural Theater
at 3940 Brooklyn Ave. N.E. Sponsored by the UW View
the
exhibition
“Love
Now”
Department of Ethnic Studies and UW Nikkei showcasing work by 17 Asian Pacific
Student Association, (206) 543-5401. Please note American graphic artists in conjunction with Asian
and save this future date – a screening of the Pacific American Heritage Month. Artists include
finished film is tentatively scheduled for June 16 Grace Chen, Michael Curtato, Mayumi Fujimoto,
at the Columbia City Branch of the Seattle Public Dixie Galapon, Felicia Hoshino, Jui Ishida, Grace
Library.
Lin, Cecelia Ramos Linayao, Naoko Morisawa, Joel
Nakamura, Bennett Peji, Masaki Ryo, Miyuki Sakai,
The UW School of Music faculty, students and Aki Sogabe, Adrienne Yan, Sachiko Yoshikawa and
alumni including Regina Yeh on piano will perform Yu-Ming Zhu. The show is on view during May at
the following program: “Contemporary Group: the Nordstrom Seattle downtown store at 500 Pine
WORKS by Au Yong, Berio, Carter, Chihara, St. Also showing at Nordstrom stores in Tukwila
Kurtag, Schniitke and Yi” on May 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Portland – (206) 628-2111.
at UW’s Meany Theater. Of particular interest is
the fact that both Byron Au Yong and Paul Chihara Photos by former Seattle Times staff photographer
are Seattle-raised contemporary composers, (206) Barry Wong of vegetables and fruit are now on
543-4880. www.music.washington.edu.
view at Lounjin Sake Lounge at 4527 University
Way N.E. They are looking for more photogAfter a year’s absence, fans of the popular theatre raphers and artists to show their work as well.
series, “Sex in Seattle” can breathe a sigh of relief Contact Joanie Komura at [email protected].
and start laughing. “Episode 14: To Choose or Not www.lounjin.com, (206) 888-2827.
To Choose” runs from June 1 – 23 at Richard Hugo
House, 1634 11th Ave. www.sexinseattle.org
Ceramics by Reid Ozaki and Matt Allison with
special guest Sandy Lew-Hailer is on view through
Installations, drawings, sculpture, photographs May 28 at Northwest Craft Center and Gallery, 305
and video are the avenues from which the Lead Harrison St.
Pencil Studio (Annie Han & Daniel Mihalyo) seek
to explore the history and memory of occupied Davidson Galleries presents a show of etchings by
sites. At Lawrimore Project through June 16, 831 Shigeki Tomura entitled “Quietude” through June
Airport Way S., (206) 501-1231.
2, 313 Occidental Ave. S., (206) 624-1324.
“Faith In Science” by Margot Quan Knight
is a new series of photographs and video that
explore a fantasy found within the conflicted
intersection of science and religion. One finds
contemplation in the silent poetry here between
people and occupied space. Through May 25 at
Gallery4Culture at 101 Prefontaine Pl. S., (206)
296-7580. www.4culture.org.
“Nurses and Queens: Drawings Sculpture and
Frosting” is the title of new mixed media works
by Elizabeth Jameson. Eerie homemade uniforms
seem to place us in an alien landscape after ground
zero. The artist explores our relationships with
fear and the need to protect ourselves from it.
Through June 2. Ballard Fetherston Gallery, 818
Acrylic paintings and monoprints by new gallery
artist Mimi Chen Ting are on view through June
4. D’Adamo/Woltz Gallery, 307 Occidental Ave. S.,
(206) 652-4414.
Sequoia Miller’s mingei-inspired ceramic objects
are on view May 26 – June 23. Opening reception
is May 26 from 6 – 8 p.m. at KOBO At Higo, 604 S.
Jackson, (206) 381-3000.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum presents: On June Bejing Opera at Bellevue Sammamish High
1 at 7 p.m. and June 2, from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. will School on May 27. See Performing Arts.
be “Issues of Periodization and Categorization
in Modern Chinese Painting: a Symposium in
Honor of Michael Sullivan.” Free with museum Northwest Film Forum has a spate of interesting
admission but seating is limited. Please RSVP by films set for this month. May 18 – 20 sees the
May 25 by calling (206) 654-3226 or email SAAM- reemergence of the long lost classic silent film
[email protected]. -- 1400 E. Prospect version of “Peter Pan” with a rare cameo by Anna
in Volunteer Park, (206) 654-3100.
May Wong playing the role of “Tiger Lilly”. With
live harp accompaniment by Leslie McMichael at
all 7 p.m. screenings and a special live inter-title
The Who’s rock opera, “Tommy” is given a new reading at the Sunday 5 p.m. show. “Air Guitar
adaptation by the Village Theatre with Michael K. Nation” is a hilarious documentary look at the
Lee in the lead role. Runs through June 24 at the “Air Guitar World Championship” and screens
Gaudette Theatre at 303 Front St. N. in Issaquah, May 18 – 24. Come cheer on Asian American
(425) 392-2202, and then again from June 29 – July candidate David “C. Diddy” Jung as he takes on
15 at the Everett Performing Arts Center at 2710 the best at the World Air Guitar Championships in
Wetmore Ave. in Everett, (425) 257-8600. Log on Finland. Opening night has a live performance by
to www.villagetheatre.org for more details.
Regional Air Guitar Champion Matthew Schwartz.
This film was one of the hits of last year’s Asian
“A Touch of the Orient as East Meets West” American film festival in the Bay Area. June 1 – 7
is the 22nd Annual Concert for Traditional & brings “The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai”
Modern Chinese Music set for May 20 at 2:30 p.m. by Mitsuru Meike in which a genius call girl saves
Art Exhibit is at 1 p.m. Seattle Chinese Orchestra, the world. Northwest Film Forum is at 1515 12th
Washington Chinese Youth Orchestra and U.S. Ave., (206) 329-2629. nwfilmforum.org
Northwest Guzheng Orchestra all perform. Under
the musical direction of Warren Chang with guest “Ping Pong” is a new film from Japan based on a
conductor Roger Nelson. UW Meany Hall, (206) comic by Taiyo Matsumoto. It combines the angst
762-8899, www.uschinamusic.com.
of the teenage years with the overcoming-obstacles
sports movie. Screens May 25 – May 31. At the
In celebration of the Annual Chinese Culture and Grand Illusion Cinema, 1403 N.E. 50th, (206)
Arts Festival, the Seattle Chinese Opera Association 523-3935, www.grandillusioncinema.org
and Chinese Opera R & D Association co-present a Beijing Opera performance at Bellevue The Northern California Emmy Award- winning
Sammamish High School at 2 p.m. on May 27. documentary, “From A Silk Cocoon” tells the
Miss Xeu Yaping from China makes her Seattle story of a young Japanese American couple who
debut in the lead. English subtitles provided. For renounce their American citizenship in protest
tickets, call (206) 790-9466.
of their imprisonment in American concentration camps during World War II. Produced, coLast chance to catch ReAct Theatre’s production directed and written by Satsuka Ina. This film will
of the Pulitzer Prize-winning hit comedy classic, be shown on PBS during Asian Pacific American
“You Can’t Take It With You” (see story in this Heritage Month. For local broadcast times, please
issue) through May 20. Directed by David Hsieh contact your local PBS station (www.pbs.org/stawith a multicultural cast. Richard Hugo House, tionfinder). For more information or to purchase
(206) 364-3283 or log on to www.reacttheatre.org. your own DVD copy (in English or with Japanese
subtitles), email [email protected] .
Jubilante Restaurant presents Another Island www.fromasilkcocoon.com
Night with Brother Noland Conjugation &
Mystical Fish plus the Island Sons on May 27 In conjunction with Asian American Heritage
from 6 – 10 p.m. All ages – 305 Burnett Ave. S. in Month, PBS presents the following films during
Renton, (425) 226-1544.
May: “Geisha: An Artist’s Journey” airs May 20 at
4 p.m. “Sumo East and West” airs May 17 at 4 p.m.
Seattle’s Japanese Garden has a season of Saturday The film examines the cultural collision in Japan as
tea demonstrations through Oct. 4. In the Shoseian more foreigners enter to compete in this Japanese
Tea House. Hosted by Urasenke, Seattle Branch. sport. “The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam” is a
The work of Yuki Nakamura and Joseph Park May 19 at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. has the Azealea Chakai look at an internationally-known Chinese acrobat
is included in a group show celebrating the 20th Chado Tea ceremony and May 28 is a special and magician. Airs May 23 at 9 p.m. and May 27
anniversary of Artist Trust. The group show Children’s Day event. www.urasenkeseattle.org
at 2 p.m. “The Slanted Screen: Asian Men in
entitled “Artist Trust: 20 Years” presents a selecFilm and Television,” directed and produced by
tion of Fellowship recipients from the last 20 years.
Jeff Adachi, airs May 23 at 8 p.m. and May 27 at 1
Through June 9. SAM Gallery, 1220 Third Ave.
Andrew Lam, author of “Perfume Dreams: a.m. This film examines how Asian American men
Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora” (Heyday have been presented on screen and the challenges
UW graduate Yi Liang’s Seattle debut show of Books), talks about his writings and experiences facing Asian actors, from silent film star Sessue
paintings is at Linda Hodges Gallery. Through a as a Vietnamese American on May 23 at 7 p.m., Hayakawa to Jason Scott Lee. ”Sentenced Home”
series of thin linear landscapes, one sees a 360- Seattle Public Library’s Microsoft Auditorium.
looks at the drama of the deportation process as
degree perspective of Greenlake. On view through
it affects Cambodian Americans from Seattle. Airs
June 2, 316 First Ave. S., (206) 624-3034. www.lind Seattle poet and Examiner contributor Anna May 27 at 11 p.m. Finally, “1421: The Year China
ahodgesgallery.com.
Maria Hong reads her poetry at a group reading Discovered America?” investigates the theory
as part of the 2007 Jack Straw Writers Program on that a Chinese admiral reached America by ship 71
Winnie Wong has work in the ArtXchange Juried May 24 at 7 p.m. – 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E.
years before Columbus. Airs May 29 at 9 p.m. and
Group Exhibition through June 30 – 512 First Ave.
June 3 at 3 p.m. Check local listings of the PBS staS., (206) 839-0377 www.artxchange.org
tion nearest you for exact screening times.
Saturday, May 19
CALENDAR
• ICHS Annual Celebration. International
Community Health Services (ICHS) will host its
Annual Dinner and Silent Auction. Doors open at
5:30 p.m., dinner starts at 6 p.m. at Grand Hyatt
Hotel, 721 Pine St., Seattle. For sponsorship and
ticketing information, contact Maxine Chan
(206) 788-3672 or e-mail [email protected].
Tuesday, May 22
• Venus Velazquez for Seattle City Council position 3: Kick-off event from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Pravda Studios, 1406 – 10th Ave., #200.Live
DJ and salsa dancing till 9 p.m. RSVP to
[email protected] or call (206) 4503886. www.venus4seattle.com.
Thursday, May 24
• Hattie Kauffman, national news correspondent
for CBS’ The Early Show, will be the keynote
speaker at the Neighborhood House “Next
Century Breakfast,” from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the
Washington State Convention & Trade Center.
Kauffman was a reporter and anchor at KINGTV in the 1980s before going on to become the
first Native American journalist to report on
a national broadcast. Contact Pamela Shute at
(206) 461-8430 or [email protected].
Saturday, May 26
• The 48th annual Greater Seattle Japanese
Community Queen Scholarship Pageant is set
for 7 p.m. at the Carco Theater, 1717 Maple
Valley Highway, in Renton. For tickets, call (206)
669-2535. This year’s five contestants are: Lisa
Felice Akiyama, Allison Chieko Iguchi, Samantha
Miyuki Lim, Monique Aiyaka Perkins, and Alicia
Jun Pumpian.
Equality, Leadership and Organizing (LELO)
honor the 2007 Domingo, Viernes, Jefferson
and John Caughlan Youth Awardees. 5:30 – 9:
00pm at South Seattle Community College Jerry
m. Brockey Center, 6000-16th Ave. SW. Seattle
98106 on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge. Ad & Table
deadline is Thursday, May 17. Individual ticket
Monday, May 28
deadline is Thursday, May 31. Call Barb Wiley at
The Nisei Veterans Committee will hold their (206) 860-1400 x 3.
62nd Annual Memorial Day Service at the Nisei
War Memorial Monument in Lake View Cemetery Announcements
(1554 - 15th Avenue East) at 10 - 11 a.m.
• June 22-24 the Minidoka Pilgrimage Committee
will hold its fifth annual pilgrimage from Seattle
Tuesday, May 29
to the Minidoka site in Idaho. The three-day
SAVE THE DATE for an Asian Pacific Islander event includes a site visit to the Minidoka
(API) Community Fundraiser for Bruce Harrell, Internment National Monument, a visit to an
candidate for Seattle City Council. 5:30 to 7:30 authentic barrack building, barbecue with local
p.m. Four Seas Restaurant (714 S. King Street, area residents, and much more. Registration is
Seattle). www.electbruceharrell.com
due by June 1. Contact Jane at minidokapilgrima
[email protected].
Saturday, June 2
• 35th Annual Friendship Dinner & Auction.
Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC)
is celebrating 35 years of service to the community. From 5:30pm at Sheraton Hotel & Towers,
Metropolitan Ballroom, 1400 6th Ave. Seattle WA.
RSVP by May 18. For more information, visit
www.cisc-seattle.org or contact Donna Ma at
[email protected] or call (206) 624-5633
x 4112.
Saturday, June 9
•
LELO’s Annual Awards Dinner. Legacy of
• The Seattle Asian Pacific American Labor
Alliance (APALA) Chapter is now accepting applications for two $2,000 scholarships in memory of
Stephen Nadal for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Please see the attached application and the website www.apalaseattle.org. The application is due
by June 1. E-mail to: [email protected].
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 17
18 —— May 2 - 15, 2007
FEATURE
NEWS
arts
senior services
Northwest Asian American Theatre
NIKKEI CONCERNS
409 Seventh Ave S. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-340-1445 fx: 206-682-4348
Seattle’s premiere pan-Asian American performing arts center.
Manages Theatre Off Jackson.
Wing Luke Asian Museum
407 7th Ave. S Seattle, WA 98104
ph:206-623-5124 fx: 206-622-4559
[email protected]; www.wingluke.org
The only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the country, the Wing
Luke Asian Museum is nationally recognized for its award-winning exhibitions and community-based model of exhibition and program development. WLAM an affiliate of the Smithsonian Instititue, is dedicated to
engaging the APA communities and the public in exploring issues related
to the culture, art and history of Asian Pacific Americans. Offers guided
tours for schools and adult groups, and provides excellent programs for
families and all ages.
business
Chinatown/International District
Business Improvement Area
409 Maynard Ave. S., Suite P1 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-382-1197
www.cidbia.org
Merchants association enhancing business, parking and
public space in the International District. Sponsors Lunar New
Year and Summer Festival events.
Japanese American Chamber of Commerce
14116 S. Jackson Seattle, WA 98144
ph: 206-320-1010 www.jachamber.com
Encourages entrepreneurial & educational activity
among Japanese, Americans and Japanese Americans and promotes increased understanding of Japanese culture & heritage.
Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce
675 S. King St Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-332-1933 fx: 206-650-8337
[email protected]
Acts as an advocate for local Chinese businesses and in a public
relations role. Organizes the Seattle Miss Chinatown Pageant.
political & civil rights
Commission of Asian Pacific American Affairs
1210 Eastside St. SE 1st Flr. Olympia, WA 98504
Olympia ph: 360-753-7053 www.capaa.wa.gov
Statewide liason between governmnet and APA communities.
Monitors and informs public about legislative issues.
Japanese American Citizens League - Seattle Chapter
316 Maynard S. Seattle, WA 98104
www.jaclseattle.org
Dedicated to protecting the rights of Japanese Americans and
upholding the civil and human rights of all people.
Organization of Chinese Americans Seattle
Chapter
606 Maynard Ave S., Suite 104 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-682-0665 www.ocaseattle.org
Civil rights and Education, promotes the active participation of chinese
and Asian Americans in civic and community affairs.
schools
Asia Pacific Language School
14040 NE 8th, #302, Bellevue, WA 98007
ph: 425-785-8299 or 425-641-1703
www.apls.org
Multilingual preschool, language classes, adult ESL, “One World Learning School Program”Academic enrichment, prep for WASL and SAT’s.
Denise Louie Education Center
801 So. Lane St. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-621-7880
[email protected] www.deniselouie.org
Half day and full day Head Start program located in the International District, Beacon Hill, Mt Baker, and Rainier Beach.
Comprehensive multi-cultural pre-school for children ages 3-5.
church
St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish
1610 S King St. Seattle, WA 98144
ph: 206-323-5250 email: [email protected]
website: www.stpeterseattle.org
St. Peter’s invite all people to a life of faith through worship education, service, and spiritual development.
Enriching the lives of our elders.
1601 E. Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98122
Ph: 206-323-7100 www.nikkeiconcerns.org
Seattle Keiro, Skilled Nursing Facility
24-hour skilled nursing facility offering high quality medical
and rehabilitation programs, activities and social services.
1601 E. Yesler, Seattle, WA 98122
Ph: 206-323-7100
Nikkei Manor, Assisted Living Community
50 private apartments. Service plans tailored to individual
needs. Nurse on staff 8 hrs./day.
700 – 6th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: 206-726-6460
Kokoro Kai, Adult Day Program
Provides social opportunities, light exercises, lunch and
activities 3 days a week.
700 – 6th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: 206-726-6474
Nikkei Horizons, Continuing Education Program
Offers tours and excursions, courses in arts, computers,
language and more.
700 6th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104
Ph: 206-726-6469
Legacy House
803 South Lane, Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-292-5184 fx: 206-292-5271
[email protected]
Assisted living, Adult Day services, Independent Senior apartments, Ethnic-specific meal programs for low-income seniors.
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
(Senior Community Service Employment Program)
1025 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-322-5272 fx: 206-322-5387
www.napca.org
Part-time training program for low income
Asian Pacific Islander age 55+ in Seattle/King County.
professional
Asian American Journalists Association - Seattle Chapter
P.O. Box 9698 Seattle, WA 98109
www.aajaseattle.org
Professional deveopment for journalist, scholarships for
students and community service since 1985.
National Association of Asian American
Professionals - Seattle Chapter
PO Box 14344 Seattle, WA 98104
[email protected]; www.naaapseattle.org
Fostering future leaders through education, networking and community
services for Asian American professionals and entrepreneurs.
housing & neighborhood planning
HomeSight
5117 Rainier Ave S. Seattle, WA 98118
ph: 206-723-4355 fax: 206-760-4210
www.homesightwa.org
First-time home buyer purchase assistance services including low-interest
loans, deferred payment loans, financial coaching, for-sale homes and more!
Inter*Im Community Development Association
308 6th Ave So Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-624-1802 fx: 206-624-5859
[email protected]; www.interimicda.org
Low-income housing, economic development,
neighborhood planning and advocacy for the APA community.
International District Housing Alliance
606 Maynard Ave. S #104/105 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-623-5132 fx: 206-623-3479
Multi-lingual low-income housing outreach,
rental information, homeownership community education.
Low Income Housing Institute
2407 First Ave Suite #200 Seattle, WA 98121
ph: 206-443-9935 fx: 206-443-9851
[email protected]; www.lihi.org
Housing and services for families, individuals,
seniors and the disabled in Seattle and the Puget Sound Region.
Seattle Chinatown/International District
Preservation and Development Authority
ph: 206-624-8929 fax: 206-467-6376 [email protected]
Housing, property management, and community development.
social & health services
Asian Counseling & Referral Service
720 8th Ave S Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-695-7600 fx: 206-695-7606
www.acrs.org
ACRS offers nationally recognized, culturally competent health and
social services.
Food for survival and culture: food bank, specializing in Asian/Pacific
staples; emergency feeding; senior ethnic lunch programs
Healthy mind and body: assistance for elders and adults with disabilities; bilingual, bicultural counseling for children and adults; problem
gambling treatment; substance abuse treatment and recovery services;
domestic violence batterers’ treatment and community education
Building blocks for success: youth leadership development and academic support; vocational and employment services
Stronger communities through civic engagement: naturalization and
immigration assistance; community education, mobilization and advocacy Information for taking action: legal clinic; information and referral;
consultation and education
Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center
P.O. Box 14047, Seattle, WA 98114
ph: 206-467-9976 email: [email protected]
website: www.apiwfsc.org
Provides community organizing, education, outreach, training, technical assistance & comprehensive culturally relevant service on domestic
violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to API community members, services providers, survivors & thier families.
Center For Career Alternatives
901 Rainier Ave So. Seattle, WA 98144
ph: 206-322-9080 fx: 206-322-9084
www.ccawa.org
Need a Job! Free Training, GED, and job placement service.
Chinese Information and Service Cener
611 S. Lane St. Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-624-5633 fax: 206-624-5634 www.cisc-seattle.org
Helps Asian immigrants achieve success in their new community by
providing information, referral, advocacy, social, and support services. Our bilingual & bicultural staff offer after school programs,
English as a Second Language, citizenship classes, employment
training, computer classes, elderly care services and additional family support services. Please contact us.
International Drop-In Center
7301 Beacon Ave S. Seattle, WA 98108
ph: 206-587-3735 fx: 206-742-0282 email: [email protected]
We are open form 9 till 5 Mon-Fri and do referrals, counseling,
fitness and recreation, social, arts & cultural activities for elderly
member and walk-ins.
Helping Link
ph: 206-781-4246 fx:206-568-5160
www.cityofseattle.net/helpinglink
Vietnamese community-based organization providing social service,
education, social activities and more for the greater Seattle area.
International Community Health Services
International District Medical & Dental Clinic
720 8th Ave. S. Suite 100 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-788-3700
Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic
3815 S. Othello St. 2nd Floor, Seattle WA 98118
ph: 206-788-3500
www.ichs.com
We are a nonprofit health care center offering affordable medical,
dental, pharmacy, acupuncture and health education services primarily
to Seattle and King County’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Kin On Community Health Care
815 S. Weller St. Suite 212 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-652-2330 fx:206-652-2344
[email protected]; www.kinon.org
Provides home care, home health, Alzheimer’s and
caregiver support, community education and chronic care
management. Coordinate medical supply delivery. Install
Personal Emergency Response system. Serves the Chinese/Asian
community in King County.
Refugee Women’s Alliance
4008 Martin Luther King Jr. Seattle, WA 98108
ph: 206-721-0243 • fax: 206-721-0282 www.rewa.org
A multi-ethnic, multilingual, community-based organization
that provides the following programs to refugee and immigrant women and families in the Puget Sound area: Development Disabilities, Domesitc Violence, Early Childhood
Education, Youth Family Support, Mentel Health, Parent
Education and Education and Vocational Training.
Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse
606 Maynard Ave. S, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104
ph: 206-223-9578
Alcohol, tobacco & drug prevention; early intervention &
outpatient treatment for APIA youth and their families.
Join our Community Resource Directory. Email: [email protected]
CLASSIFIEDS
EMPLOYMENT
Associate Civil Engineer
$29.92 to $34.90/hour
Plus Excellent Benefits
Review public and private capital
improvement project plans for the
Seattle Department of Transportation,
issue permits, and advocate for coordination between projects. Review
plans and provide design guidance to
developers, architects, and contractors. Evaluate requests for exception
from street improvement requirements,
and resolve disagreements on technical and policy issues. Requires the
equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in
Civil Engineering and three years of
professional civil engineering experience, with an emphasis on regulatory
and permitting activities. For more
information and an Online Application
Form,
visit
www.seattle.gov/jobs
by 5/20/07. The City is an Equal
Opportunity Employer that values
diversity in the workforce.
EMPLOYMENT
Chinese Sales Counselor
Will serve the Chinese community in the planning of Cemetery and
Funeral goods and services at historic
Evergreen-Washelli Cemeteries and
Funeral Homes. Preferred candidate
will be able to communicate in either,
Cantonese and English. Computer
and phone skills are highly desirable. Evergreen-Washelli has served
the community since 1884. Contact
Manager, Stephen Hopkins for an
interview at (206) 834-1962
Community Outreach Advisor
$4,626 to $6,940/month
Develop and convey information
about the Seattle Department of
Transportation’s policies and services
for the recently passed Bridging The
Gap Levy to the public, key constituencies, and the media. Work with
neighborhood groups and businesses
to ensure advance notification of
construction projects. Create communications procedures and protocols
to ensure consistent and coordinated
message delivery.
Requires the
equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in
Communications, Journalism, or a
related field, and five years of experience in community outreach or related
public information field. Experience
working with elected officials, Seattle’s
neighborhoods, and the media is
highly desirable. For more information
and an Online Application Form, visit
www.seattle.gov/jobs by 5/20/07. The
City is an Equal Opportunity Employer
that values diversity in the workforce.
Visit our website at iexaminer.org
EMPLOYMENT
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Busy community-based org seeks
admin & clerical support for Executive
Dir. Must be detail-oriented, highly
organized professional w/ strong
communication skills. Requires ability
to: word proc (50 wpm); compose
& edit correspondence; maintain
confidential files; organize/attend
agency & community mtgs; coordinate
special projects. Some evenings
required. AA/BA & 2 yrs admin
experience. Please send resume &
writing samples to: Asian Counseling
& Referral Svc, Attn: HR, 720 8th Ave
S, Ste. 200, Seattle, WA 98104. EOE
Financial Analyst
Provides in-depth financial analysis,
product profitability analysis, & forecasting for Retail Products and Svcs
Group. Requires MA/MS Finance or
Statistics + 2 yrs exp at financial svcs
org, creating financial & statistical
models to forecast trends; analyzing &
interpreting results to prepare reports
for sr. mgmt; using acctg. principles
to evaluate bus profitability; conducting peer analysis to identify financial
opportunities. Position in Seattle, WA
includes competitive salary and outstanding benefits.
Please apply online at wamu.com/
careers, referencing Job # 430014,
Source Type as Advertisement
and Source Name as International
Examiner.
Washington Mutual is an Equal
Opportunity Employer. We embrace
differences, welcome diversity, and
value a culture of respect.
HVAC
Building Operating Engineer Trainee
for Seattle Center. $19.27 - $22.43/
hour plus benefits. Requires Grade III
Steam License. Visit www.seattle.gov/
jobs by 5/20/07. AA/EOE
May 2 - 15, 2007 —— 19
EMPLOYMENT
Systems Analyst
Uses VisualAge Smalltalk and OO
design to troubleshoot and enhance
Visual Banker Application. Requires
BA/BS Comp Sci, CIS, MIS + 2 yrs exp
at financial institution: developing &
implementing web-based & large-scale
mainframe app’s, & disaster recovery
plans, using CICS, COBOL, & VSAM in
IBM mainframe environment. Position
in Seattle, WA includes competitive salary & outstanding benefits.
Please apply online at wamu.com/
careers, referencing Job #430091,
Source Type as Advertisement
and Source Name as International
Examiner.
Washington Mutual is an Equal
Opportunity Employer. We embrace
differences, welcome diversity, and
value a culture of respect.
Traffic Engineering
$28.29 to $39.36 DOE
The
Seattle
Department
of
Transportation has several challenging
opportunities for experienced traffic
engineering professionals.
Senior Civil Engineer
Arterial Street Operations – Analyze
accident reports, field conditions, sign
and pavement markings, and customer complaints to make safety improvement determinations. Conduct studies
on traffic speeds, volumes, and flow to
guide safety improvements at intersections and on street corridors. Meet with
community groups to develop consensus on projects and explain technical
design standards.
Senior Civil Engineer
Signal Operations – Perform traffic signal warrant studies, and manage new
signal and signal reconstruction programs. Review project plans for signal
and ITS components, develop traffic
models for controversial projects, and
prepare cost estimates and purchase
orders. Coordinate field crews and
review work of consultants.
Associate Civil Engineering
Specialist – Arterial Street
Operations
– Prepare base maps, cross sections,
and as-built drawings with AutoCAD.
Make right-of-way and alignment calculations, update maps, and interpret
field notes and surveys. Investigate
and resolve complaints from the public.
Qualifications include an AA degree
in Civil Engineering Technology and
at least two years of civil engineering
experience. Senior Engineer requires
a BSCE, five years of civil engineering experience, and Registration as
a Professional Engineer. Experience
with traffic control devices and traffic
modeling software is highly desirable.
For more information and
an Online Application Form, visit
www.seattle.gov/jobs by 6/3/07. The
City is an Equal Opportunity Employer
that values diversity in the workforce.
Advertising Manager - IE
Maintain/solicit ads; knowledge of API
comm. required. [email protected];
fax: (206) 624-3046.

Report presents the state of Pacific Islanders

Transcription

Similar documents

Haddon Hall - Plymouth Housing Group

JIM PAGE …

onesheet - Into The Cold

FLORENCE,I

groundbreakers speak - Against The Grain Productions

Enhancing Wright`s Legacy in the Pacific Northwest

Presentation - Green Seattle Partnership

ĐỀ 2 I. LISTENING: (2.0 points) Listen and fill in the gaps

Yes No - GP Web Solutions