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Culture Affair

Fifth annual Asian Art Now exhibition features art, events and entertainment*1

By KEN WHITE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

***G. S. Kabir's "Rejection of Earth" is one of the works featured in Asian Art Now: 2004 at the Las Vegas Art museum.

***"60th Birthday Series" by Kamol Tassananchalee is a mixed media work with acrylic on handmade paper.

***The exhibit shows a wide range of work, including "Woman at the Bazaar" by Kenji Tajima.

The Las Vegas Art Museum presents its fifth annual Asian Art Now exhibition of contemporary art with a variety of events and entertainment.

Today, from 6 to 9 p.m., a fund-raiser reception and exhibition preview will be at the museum. Attendees are expected to include Honorary Consul General of Japan in Las Vegas, Wayne Tanaka, plus artists and representatives of the Asian Cultural Exchange Association from Japan.

Food and beverages will be provided by Roy's, Panda Express, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, DeLuca Liquor & Wine, Nevada Beverage Company and Lee's Discount Liquors.*2

Entertainment will include a traditional Chinese lion dance performed by the Lohan School of Shao-lin; taiko drumming performed by Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko ("kaminari" is Japanese for thunder); modern koto performance by Shose Yanagimachi and students; Kahiko, an ancient Hula and Hawaiian chant blessing; and demonstrations by members of the Asian Cultural Exchange of chado (tea ceremony), ikebana (flower design) and bokki (calligraphy).

Admission is ... per person. (Please call for information.)

On Saturday, a special opening for members of the Las Vegas Art Museum will be from 2 to 4 p.m.

And on Sunday it's Asian Pacific American Community Day at the museum from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Among the more than 14 artists on display this year are Kamol Tassananchalee, Hirofumi Ohkuma, Letsu Sugiyama, G.S. Kabir, Koichi Terai and Kenji Tajima.

They work in an array of different media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, printmaking, fiber, ceramics, sculpture, digital images and mixed.

One of the exhibit's best-known artists, Tassananchalee, born in Bangkok, Thailand, earned an MFA in 1977 at the Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles and currently lives in West Hollywood.

Founder of the Thai Art Council in Pasadena and the Thai Art Center in Los Angeles, Tassananchalee has exhibited in Asia and the United States.

"To me, art is a universal," Tassananchalee has said. "Concepts, and ideas are infinite. Therefore, I feel comfortable incorporating ordinary things around me into my artwork. A good foundation with deep cultural roots has, without limiting me unduly, provided me with the security and strength to pursue my creativity."

Tassananchalee said the themes in his work "are developed from my life experience, which is a balance between two hemispheres of the globe. With the stable mind of the Thai artist, I am on my own journey, combining East and West together in my work. Since I have been on this path for a long time, I have discovered that the basis for creating quality art is rooted in an artist living a candid and honest lifestyle. The goal is to express the values of mankind in works of art that will endure forever. The pursuit is both a continuing challenge and its own reward."*3

Organized by the Asian Cultural Exchange Association of Japan, the exhibit is designed to promote international understanding and cultural exchange.

Admission is .... children 12 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

what: Asian Art Now: 2004
when: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays (through June 20)
where: Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 W. Sahara Ave.
tickets: Please ask for information. (360-8000)

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References

*1. White, Ken. 'Fifth annual Asian Art Now exhibition features art, events and entertainment,' "Las Vegas Review-Journal," (April 29, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: reviewjournal.com.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Ibid.

Board of Directors (September 2003 - 2004): Supatra Chemprachum, Chairperson; Kochasieh Phibulphanuvat, Varoontip Amesbutr, Pannee Conolly, Penprapa Weeks, Viroj Kiewsaard, Apichard Sangsingkeo, Chanan Hanna, and Robert Ashton, Directors.
President: Supatra Chemprachum
Vice President: Pannee Connolly
Secretary: Kosy Phibulpanuvat
Treasurer: Apichard Sangsingkeo
(702) 369-5439
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Asian American Community United to Honor U. S. Senator Harry Reid

The party of almost 400 Asian Americans packed the Asian Palace Restaurant to honor U. S. Senator Harry Reid, on August 24, 2001. Tiffany Chang described the party so vividly in her WBTI Newsbeief of August 29, and we have pleasure to reprint it, as follows:
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Washington Business and Technology Institute
Newsbrief
August 29, 2001

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
(702) 255-9058
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Asian American Community Honors U. S. Senator Honorable Harry Reid By Tiffany Chang

Dr. John Wang, Spokesman of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) announced on May 17, 2002: "On May 17, 2002, Director of Public Administration Institution (PAI) Dr. William Thompson appointed Jennifer Togliatti as Associate Fellow of PAI; Director of Culture Institution (CI) Dr. Sue Chung appointed Becky Lei-Ung as Assistant Fellow of CI; and Executive Director of Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum (PPAAF) Bud Cranor appointed David Roger and Mike Davidson as Advisors of PPAAF. U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley gave a certificate of Award to WBTI on March 4, 2002. It states that, 'Congressional Recognition: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley of the Nevada's First Congressional District recognizes Washington Business and Technology Institute for your outstanding accomplishment to the Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum.' Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum (PPAAF) was established by WBTI on September 28, 2001
(http:// communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti) which is brought to you by Las Vegas Review-Joural and Lasvegas.com to pay a special tribute to U. S. Secretary Honorable Elaine Chao."
"It's my honor to be recommended as an Advisor of Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum. I'm glad to join the intellectuals and facaulty members of Washington Business and Technology Institute to endeavor the work performance to make Nevada a wonderful place for home living, business development, and internatonal tourism," said Mike Davidsion at a dinner party in the Gee Joon Chinese Restaurant of Horseshoe Casino and Hotel. He was informed by Dr. Lei about the recommendation of his appointment as an Advisor of PPAAF by WBTI during the Party on May 12, 2002 in Las Vegas.
Elaine Chao has been recommended by U. S. Senator John Ensign, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Governor of Nevada Kenny Guinn, U.S. Federal Judge James Mahan, Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, Director of Public Administration Institution of WBTI and UNLV Professor of Public Administration Dr. William Thompson; UNLV Professor of Political Science and State Senator Dina Titus; Princeton University Tenure Professor Dr. Sun Yuan Kung, Nevada Senator and Chairman of Democratic Party Terry Care; Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court Bill Maupin, Clark County Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons, District Judges Mark Denton, Valorie Vega, Jennifer Togliatti, and Michelle Leavitt; Vice-chair and Commissioner of Clark County Myrna Williams; Director of Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn's Las Vegas Office Bud Cranor; Chairman of Republican Party, Clark County Steve Wark; Nevada State Controller Kathy Augustine, Candidate for Nevada Attorney General and Former Chairman of Nevada Gaming Commission Brian Sandoval, Esq.; Director of U. S. Senator John Ensign's Office Sonia Joya; Clark County Assemblywomen Barbara Buckley, Barbara Cegavske, and Merle Berman; District Judges of the Family Court Cynthia Steel, Rrobert Lueck, Anthony Del Vecchio, Lisa Brown, and Cheryl Moss; Assistant District Attorney and Candidate for District Attorney Michael Davidson; Chief Deputy District Attonery and Candidate for District Attorney David Roger; Clark County Commissioner Candidates Rory Reid, Esq. and Francis Allen; Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangrlo, William Jansen, Nancy Oesterle, Ann Zimmerman, and Natalie Tyrrell; Las Vegas Municipal Court Judges Bert Brown, Cedric Kerns, Jessie Walsh, and Besty Kolkoski; North Las Vegas Judge Natalie Tyrrell, President Becky Lei-Ung of the School Board for San Marino Unified School District, California; Las Vegas Township Constanble Robert Gronauer, Board of Education Elected Member Theresa Malone, Clark County Board of School Trustees Member Denise Brodsky, Professor Emeriti of Pepperdine University Dr. Roy Admson, President of WBTI Dr. Tony Lei, among others to the Nevadan friends as the Chairperson of WBTI.
"The significance of the creed of a State deserves to encourage administrative professiionals to emphasize the value of the truth, goodness, and beauty in order to maintain a coutry of the people , by the people, and for the people. To have educational and research involvement enhanced with community service will certainly enrich my public servie life through scientific managemnt and information technology with human relations skills. Provide with this adinistrative rightiousness by Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI), it's my honor to be an Advisor of its Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum (PPAAF). I'm glad to have the challenge in cooperaton with the facuolty of the Public Administration Institution (PAI) of WBTI to endeavor the promotion of the quality of life of all our residents and visitors of Nevada," said Kathy Augustine, Controller of the State of Nevada, at the celebration dinner party for her appointment as an Advisor of PPAAF of WBTI at the Gee Joon Chinese Restaurant in Horseshoe Club, on May 1, 2002 in Las Vegas.
The recommendation to honor Elaine Chao's Chairpersonship has been joined by the community leaders of Pan Pacific and Asian American Community and selected officials and multimedia leaders of Nevada: Nevada Gaming Board Commisioner and Fomer FBI Special Agent in Charge Bobby Siller, President of Great Wall College Dr. Archie Chang; Candidate for Sheriff , Deputy Chief Bill Young; Candidate for District Attorney, Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger; U. S. Senators Harry Reid's and
John Ensign's Regional Representatives Nancy Diaz and Kathie Ambrosio; U. S. Congressman's Constituent Service Representative Judith Ray, Fomer Nevada Senator Mike Malone, Paster Paul & Denise Goulet of International Church of Las Vegas; Commissionner of the City of Las Vegas Arts Commission Ben Torres; Finance Director of U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Renee Aschoff; Cadidates for District Judge Jackie Glass, Esq., and Aurora Maskall, Esq.; Director of Nevada Manufacturing Research Center and Assistant Professor of UNLV Dr. John Wang; Chairman of "New World Times" Dr. Toni Ni, Interim President of Chinese American Citizens Alliance Benson Lee, Esq; Former President of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Editor-in-Chief of "U. S. Asian Chronicle" Dolly De Leon, Vice President and Chairman of Political Action Committee of CAN-DO Dr. Ram Singh, President of 1NetBoadcast Inc. Dallas Tanner, Publisher of "Southern Hispanic Monthly" Miguel Isassi, CEO and Editor of "Seniors United" Lillian Wallace, President of Sequoia Inc. (in New Zealand) Calolie Swindle, Executive Vice President of Bellagio Casino and Hotel Linda Chen, Tust Deed Investor (in Hawaii) Sir Edward Swindle, Chair/ President of Thai Cultural Association of Las Vegas Supratra Chemprachum, Publisher of "Avista Magazine" Karen Foster, Publisher of "Las Vegas Chinese Yellow Pages" Albert Chang, Esq., Co-owner of Albert J. C. Chang and Eric K. Chen Law Offices Eric Chen, Esq., Assistant General Manager of Impact Services Companies Valerie Weber, Owner of Desert Accident and Injury Center and Director of Asian Chamber of Commerce Dr. Cora Murillo, President of Thai Association of Las Vegas and Director of Asian Chamber of Commerce Ann Melton, President of Philippine Chamber of Commerce Kate Recto, President of Las Vegas Chinese American Association Judi Rock, President of Perpetual Chiropractic Physicins Inc. Dr. Sonny Ho, President of Chinese Student and Scholar Association of UNLV Bin Chen; President & Publisher and General Manager of "Nevada Examiner" Oscar Jornacion and Nadia Contreras; Editor-in-Chief of "Las Vegas Star Magazine" Bob Jose; Vice President of 1NetBroadcast Inc. Margie Dikit; Executive Producer of International Entertainment Network, Inc. Pio Topio-Galapon, President of United States News Agency Renato Avenido, Chief Reporter of "Chinese American Daily News" Carry Yeu, Reporter of "The Epoch Times" Jessica Huang, Editor of "Las Vegas Magazine" Anthony Greno, Representative of Parkistan Community Saeed Qazi, among others.
"To dedicate to the creed of Washington Business and Technology Institute, it's my challenge as an Associate Fellow of it's Public Administration Institution (PAI) to endeavor with all the intellectuals of this Institute to improve the quality of life of the people of Nevada," said Jennifer Togliatti at the Dinner Party on May 17, 2002. The Event with dinner was held by the Asian American Community to pay a special tribute to District Judges Michelle Leavitt and Jennifer Togliatti at the Harbor Palace Seafood Restaurant in Las Vegas.
Judge Michelle Leavitt deserves special recognition of her expertise, integrity, conscientious and dedicated professionalism. She has been a bright Associate Fellow of PAI since 2000. "Thanks to Dr. Lei, Dr. Prabhu, and Attorney Amesbury to chair this Party. Together with knowledge as the power of rightiousness, we may build a community where this and future generations will have more opportunities and advantages to live a prosperous and healthy life," said Judge Leavitt at the Party.
"I'm glad to be an Advisor of Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum, where Governor Kenny Guinn is Chairman and Bud Cranor is Executive Director. We all endeavor to promote the quality of life of all our Nevadan residents and visitors," said Brian Sandoval on March 8, 2002 at the Event and Dinner Party held by the Asian American Community in Las Vegas.