Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Bowers Museum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Shiawhuey Chang
714.567.3637
shiawc@yahoo.com

Secondary Contact:
Nancy Ravenhall Johnson
714.567.3684
nancyj@bowers.org

Santa Ana, Calif. –

Celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year at the Bowers Museum on February 3, 4, and 5, 2012. Join the excitement surrounding our current exhibition of “Warriors, Tombs and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy” while engaging in a variety of activities including the traditional art of Chinese flower arranging, and hear a performance by world renowned performer, Karen Han, of the ancient musical instrument Er-Hu. Events will be held at various times on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of February at the Bowers Museum. Please visit our website at www.bowers.org for the schedule.

The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday for Chinese and other Asians. The Spring Festival (Vernal Festival) heralds the coming of spring after experiencing the severe cold of the winter months. In anticipation of spring, people buy fresh flowers for flower arrangements and admire floral arrangements in exhibits usually held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year Celebration.

Chairwoman Ms. Anne Shih of the Bowers Museum, with her Chinese cultural background, claims that the art of flower arrangement in China dates to 2000 years ago, starting in the Western Han Dynasty (202BC) and surging to popularity during the Tang Dynasty. This art form was brought back to Japan by then Japanese envoys sent to China by Japanese emperors.

Ms. Shih, believes that sharing in a love for flowers is the best vehicle to encourage friendship among all people. The Bowers’ display will be presented by the members of “Chinese Floral Arts Foundation” of Taipei from Feb. 3rd through Feb. 5th. Ms. Lee, a master of flower arrangement, will deliver a lecture at 1:30pm on Feb. 3rd to introduce the similarity and difference of the floral arrangement between China and Japan. The lecture will be free for the Bowers members and will be $8.00 for general public.

The internationally renowned Er-Hu virtuoso Ms. Karen Han will be performing at the Bowers on Feb. 4th. The Er-Hu is a classical Chinese instrument with two strings that has all of the tonal qualities of the violin. Karen Han has performed for foreign dignitaries, and has played in numerous concerts throughout the world before she moved to Los Angeles in 1988. Since then, she has performed with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other prestigious orchestras worldwide. Karen Han may be heard on the soundtracks of the Joy Luck Club, Passion of the Christ, Mulan II, Anna and the King, The Last Emperor and Memoirs of a Geisha.

With these remarkable and outstanding experiences, the Bowers is so delighted to invite audience to attend Ms. Han’s performance which will be held at 5:00 to 6:00pm at the Norma Kershaw Auditorium. Ticket for members is $15.00, for general $20.00. For additional information visit www.bowers.org/tickets or call at 714-567-3677.

Ms. Anne Shih concludes by reminding people of the importance of the Bowers’ current exhibition, “Warriors, Tombs and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy,” which ends on March 4th.

The open days and hours for the exhibition: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please check the following to get more tickets and tour information:

Tickets: www.bowers.org / 714-567-3695

Group Tours: grouptours@bowers.org / 714.567.3680
School Tours: schooltours@bowers.org / 714.567.3680
Membership: membership@bowers.org / 714.567.3639