February 1, 2017 (Detroit)—In honor of the Chinese New Year, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is holding a two-day celebration of traditional Chinese arts and culture on Feb. 11 and 12 that includes performances, demonstrations, live music, opera and displays of calligraphy and paintings.

The two-day festival is sponsored by the DIA support group Friends of Asian Arts and Culture. Activities are free with museum admission, which is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

“This celebration allows all members of our multicultural communities to experience the excitement of Chinese New Year,” said DIA director Salvador Salort-Pons. “The DIA reflects and celebrates our diverse society, creating connections across cultures through art in the comfortable space of our museum."

Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11 and 12, Noon–4 p.m.

Displays in the Great Hall

View calligraphy and painting, two hallmarks of Chinese art, through an exhibit of brush and ink works created by Ann Arbor calligraphers and local painters. A display of traditional Taiwanese hand or glove puppets highlights the art of theater and storytelling.

Hands-on Activities in the Student Lunchroom, Noon–4 p.m.

Enjoy the arts of cutting, snipping, stamping and tying to make decorations. In contrast to calligraphy and painting, these are the arts of the people, or the “small skills of carving insects” (diao chong xiao ji). Traditionally, families would prepare for the New Year by making such decorations. Instruction and activities are coordinated by the Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors. 

• Paper cutting (jian zhi)—the art of “window flowers,” cutting red paper in open fretwork designs for windows, doors and gates with messages of good fortune for the coming year
• Chinese knotting (jie pin)—cord tying using loops and knots to resemble macramé wall decorations
• Chinese opera-mask painting (jingju lianpu)—vivid colors show the personality traits of individual characters (on paper or 3-D contoured masks)
• Try your hand at calligraphy, learning characters of the New Year:  春 (spring) or 福 (blessing), or paint a picture. 
• Woodblock prints of the four directional animals: dragon (east), tiger (west), phoenix (south) and tortoise (north)

Saturday, Feb. 11

Performances, Noon and 2 p.m. in Detroit Film Theatre

• Dragon Dance—traditional New Year dance (Southern Michigan Chinese School)
• Yang-style Tai chi sword—double-edged sword dance (Detroit Tai chi club)
• Shaolin Kung Fu—demonstration of one of the oldest styles of martial arts (Dr. Mike Lee)
• Chinese Yoyo (diabolo)—aeronautical tricks and spinning (University of Michigan’s Revolution yoyo team)

Demonstrations, 1 and 3 p.m. in Rivera Court

• Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting
  • Dr. Shinming Shyu and Rhona Lee demonstrate poetry (painting without sound), painting (silent poetry) and writing (calligraphic brushstrokes). The brush and ink demonstration will feature different Chinese script styles; landscape painting; and the “four gentlemen” flower motif of plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. The works they create will be given to audience members.
• Chinese opera, blending vocal music, acrobatics and stylized movements for storytelling, by Dr. Rosa Yeh. Learn the meaning of colors used in opera-mask painting and how actors pantomime riding a horse and rowing a boat.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Performances, Noon and 2 p.m. in Rivera Court

• Chinese traditional music—followed by a demonstration of orchestral instruments (Ann Arbor Chinese Traditional Music Ensemble and Ann Arbor Chinese School)
• Chen-style Tai chi quan—meditative movements focusing on fast/slow motion and bursts of power (Dr. Chi-Kuan Kao)
• Chinese opera—vocal selections performed by internationally competitive guest performers in full theatrical costume (EZ Learn Chinese School and Chicago’s Opera Group) 

Demonstrations, 1 and 3 p.m. in the Great Hall

• Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting
  • Dr. Shinming Shyu and Rhona Lee demonstrate poetry (painting without sound), painting (silent poetry) and writing (calligraphic brushstrokes). The brush and ink demonstration will feature different Chinese script styles; landscape painting; and the “four gentlemen” flower motif of plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. The works they create will be given to audience members.