FEATURED IN CELEBRATION EPISODE
CELEBRATION examines the role craft plays in our holiday customs, with a focus on our winter observances and the traditions that are handed down from one generation to another as well as new rituals that define the season. Featuring lion dancers and float builders for San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, Pewabic, Motawi Tileworks, Kwanzaa celebrations, and woodblock print artist Yoshiko Yamamoto.
COREY CHAN
An early interest in Chinese arts led martial artist and historian Corey Chan to train in and document the ancient Chinese lion dances that are performed for many occasions, especially for Chinese New Year celebrations. Chan, along with fellow artists Thomas Chun, Jeff Lee, Travis Lum and Jared Young are dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural legacies of lion dancing, martial arts and dragon dancing. They create and restore elaborate paper maché lion and dragon heads, using traditional handmade methods learned from master craftspeople in China and integrate the symbols, color palettes and stories that have been handed down for centuries.
THOMAS CHUN
THOMAS CHUN REPAIRS A LION HEAD FRAME
Thomas Chun was immersed in a community of Chinese performing arts since childhood. Chun continually challenges himself by utilizing modern approaches with traditional aspects in the construction, restoration and preservation of lions and lion dance heritage.
EAST WEST FLOATS
The annual San Francisco Chinese New Year parade delights an estimated one million spectators with a two mile long procession of 5,000 participants, 100 groups and clubs, and 26 lighted floats. East West Floats, led by master float builders Dave Thomas and Stephanie Mufson, lead artist Yumei Hou, and a staff of exceptional craft artists, create an armada of glittering floats made of metal, wood, Styrofoam sculptures, paint, imagination and passion.
BABATUNDE KENNETH GRAVES & MALIK SENEFERU
Kwanzaa is an African American tradition begun in 1966 celebrating family, community and culture. Based on African harvest festivals and observed from December 26 to January 1, it offers 7 days of self-affirmation and thoughtful reflection for African-American families culminating in feasting and gift-giving. The tenets are Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith. Chicago artist Babatunde Kenneth Graves creates a kinara (candle holder), traditionally crafted from natural wood sourced from one's environs. Dr. Carol Adams of the DuSable Museum, Chicago celebrants at Chicago State University, and artist Malik Seneferu in Oakland, CA share Kwanzaa traditions as they are passed down and celebrated by their communities.
YUMEI HOU
Yumei Hou is a sculptor and renowned master of the ancient Chinese art of paper cutting. Hou has dedicated decades to learning, perfecting, and passing on the art of paper cutting in China and the United States. Her talent and dedication was recognized by the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2010, when she was selected to design and install a building-wide artwork for the Chinatown Central Subway, slated to open in the next several years.
JEFF LEE
JEFF LEE WITH AN ANTIQUE LION HEAD. PHOTO: MARK MARKLEY
At 18, Jeff Lee started his martial arts training and was quickly attracted to the ancient philosophy underpinning Chinese martial arts. His interest in Chinese art and calligraphy naturally dovetailed with martial arts in the art of lion dancing. The art of lion and dragon repair and fabrication has given him an outlet for his creativity.
TRAVIS LUM
TRAVIS LUM REPAIRS A LION HEAD. PHOTO: MARK MARKLEY
Travis Lum is a seasoned Chinese lion dancer, martial artist, and designer. Inspired by the staccato, vigor, and excitement of the lions seen in his youth, his appreciation and knowledge for this centuries-old art has only grown.
NAWAL MOTAWI
Holidays are met with abundant creative energy at Motawi Tileworks (Ann Arbor, MI) and in this episode, designer and owner Nawal Motawi collaborates with Yoshiko Yamamoto to create a special holiday tile. After learning her craft at Pewabic, Nawal began producing tiles 23 years ago in a garage studio and today designs and fabricates her colorful signature raised-line tiles for national distribution in a state-of-the-art production facility.
PEWABIC
Pewabic has been a beacon for artists since 1905, producing museum quality ceramics in Detroit for over 100 years. Founded by innovative ceramist Mary Chase Perry Stratton, this non-profit pottery and education center celebrates artists of all ages and skill levels. Pewabic, designated a National Historic Landmark, includes a working pottery, museum, archive and exhibition programs. Pewabic has played a role in the recent revitalization of the City of Detroit.
YOSHIKO YAMAMOTO
Yoshiko Yamamoto's love of Japanese ukiyo-e informs her blockprint and letterpress art that she creates in her Arts and Crafts Press in Port Arthur, WA. Letterpress printing is a relief process, the oldest form of printing, and Yoshiko is self-taught in the craft. Her style is inspired by the European Arts and Crafts movement (1880-1910) founded by William Morris which favored craft production over industrial manufacture and emphasized strong line-driven designs sourced from nature. Committed to creating things of beauty, art for her is a way of life.
JARED YOUNG
Jared Young has been involved in Chinese performing arts since early childhood. He started Chinese folk dance at a young age and his interest expanded to Chinese martial arts. The combination of his artistic eye and martial training have proven invaluable in the restoration and creation of the lions and dragons used by Kei Lun Martial Arts in their performances.
ARTISTS
SCIENCE
COLLECTORS
PLAY
MINIATURES
HOME
INSPIRATION
JEWELRY
HARMONY
STORYTELLERS
DEMOCRACY
IDENTITY
QUILTS
VISIONARIES
CALIFORNIA
NEIGHBORS
BORDERS
NATURE
TEACHERS
CELEBRATION
Corey Chan
Thomas Chun
East West Floats
Babatunde Kenneth Graves & Malik Seneferu
Yumei Hou
Jeff Lee
Travis Lum
Nawal Motawi
Pewabic
Yoshiko Yamamoto
Jared Young