星期日, 5月 15, 2016

中華專協訪MFA賞宋代藝術廳千年彩繪木雕觀音

紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事譚嘉陵(後右)與部分出席參觀者合影。(周菊子攝)
這座來自山西的彩繪木雕觀音,已有一千年歷史。
(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓美術博物館(MFA)刻正展出“亞洲巨城(Megacities Asia”,一千多年前的彩色木雕觀音。紐英崙中華專業人員協會(NEACP)日前邀專家導覽,在第16次文化之旅中深入解析。

波士頓美術博物館“亞洲巨城”策展人之一,Laura Weinstein和吳同中國藝術館館長白鈴安(Nancy Berlina),應中華專業人員協會董事譚嘉陵之邀,親自出馬,為30多名出席者
在波士頓美術博物館從四月三日起展至717日的“亞洲巨城”,是從上海,北京,德里,孟買,首爾等五個人口超過一千萬巨型亞洲城市,挑選了11名藝術家的龐大雕塑裝置藝術品,所組成的展覽。
白鈴安解說“九龍圖”。(周菊子攝)
這展覽由該館當代藝術助理館長Al Miner,加入MFA6年的南亞及伊斯蘭館長Laura Weinstein策劃,藉藝術家們以日常生活用品做材料的創作,評論,反映,反思各城市當地政治,獨特社區、社會現象,以及人與自然的關係。

        11名藝術家中,有4人來自中國,包括艾未未,來自北京的尹秀珍,宋冬兩夫婦,以及來自上海的胡項城。除了人在德國的艾未未之外,其他3名藝術家早前都曾來到波士頓,在博物館內親自重塑他們的裝置藝術。
            Laura Weinstein為中華專業人員協會導覽時指出,艾未未在2003年用永遠牌自行車做成的“永遠”裝置藝術,藉以隱喻,曾經遍佈北京街頭的自行車,在短短10年間幾近束之高閣,全被轎車取代,由於質疑人和環境的關係,在不斷變遷的大城市中,什麼是“永遠”。
周季常繪製的羅漢圖。(周菊子攝)
            艾未未的以自行車創作的“永遠”裝置藝術,顯然有多個版本,200310月在多倫多Scotibank夜未眠藝術節中展出的“永遠”,是由3,144輛疊成的長100呎,寬高各30呎的巨型魔塔。在波士頓美術博物館經艾未未授權重塑的這“永遠”,則是由42輛自行車組成的小型圓塔。

紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事譚嘉陵(左起),波士頓美術博物館
同中國藝術館長白鈴安(Nancy Berliner),MFA捐贈專員 Omer
 Ziyal,MFA南亞及伊斯蘭藝術館長 Laura Weinstein,為紐英崙
中華專業人員協會做導覽。(周菊子攝)
            在“亞洲巨城“展覽中,其餘三名華裔藝術家的作品分別為,北京尹秀珍(Yin Xiuzhen)2009-2010作品,用建築物拆遷遺留橡膠改造成的”溫度(Temperature)“。宋冬的2005-2006年作品,讓人們回憶起北京人如何把屋頂建成合作公社的“貧民智慧:與鴿為伍(Wisdom of the Poor: Living with Pigeons ),以及上海胡項城的2016年作品,用明清朝代房屋拆下來的門窗,和視頻影像投射交錯,創造出別有一番味道的“家外之門,回家之門(Doors Away from Home—Doors Back Home )。
        在展覽中,南韓藝術家韓錫炫(Han Seok Hyun)從便利店、超市搜集來大量綠色塑膠製品,包括塑膠瓶罐,掃帚,拖把,水桶,衣服等,組裝成“超級自然(Super-Nature)“花園,則是反映許多宣稱環保的物品,其實對生態環境一點也不友善,城市人的消費,離自然越來越遠。
艾未未的“永遠”作品,由“永遠”牌自行車拼組而成。(周菊子攝)
            波士頓美術博物館今年初新闢宋代藝術展廳。吳同中國藝術館館長白鈴安(Nancy Berlina)這天導覽的,主要是放在這展廳中的觀音,羅漢,九龍圖。
            最引人矚目的,無疑是已有一千年歷史,製於12世紀,來自中國山西的彩木雕刻觀音(Bodhisattva of Compassion)。
            波士頓美術博物館的這座觀音,從1999年以後,就沒再展出過。年前在贊助者斥資支持下,歷經18個月的復古維修,又做了個可保持恆溫的特製玻璃框來放,才重見天日。
        白鈴安指出,這座彩色木雕觀音大概是現今世上碩果僅存,用梧桐木做的山西木雕觀音。該館收藏時,是白色的,經復古維修專家清理,才重現原有的金漆彩繪。
Laura Weinstein(左一)是MFA“亞洲巨型城市”展覽的共同策展人。
(周菊子攝)
            旁邊由12世紀學者周季常,大約在1178年繪製的11頭觀音羅漢圖,波士頓美術博物館共收藏有10幅,每次展出2幅。
            MFA宋代藝術展廳中的鎮館級展品是大約1244年,由學者陳容繪製,有清朝皇帝乾隆親筆題字,用印,大表讚賞的“九龍圖卷”。
            紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長蔡明機,董事長王世輝在文化之旅結束時,特地送上小禮物,感謝譚嘉陵安排的這文化之旅。



艾未未的裝置藝術作品“永遠”,促使人們思考城市的永恆與變化。
(周菊子攝)

中華專業人員協會董事長王世輝(右)送小禮物,感謝董事譚嘉陵安排
文化之旅。(周菊子攝)




Subodh Gupta的“脫下你的鞋子,洗洗你的手(Take off your shoes
and wash your hands)”。(周菊子攝)
中華專協欣賞尹秀珍的“溫度”。(周菊子攝)

Asim Waqif
鴿籠也住人,是描述城市擠逼,人類生存環境面對
的挑戰。
中華專協的文化之旅,還聽中國藝術館長白鈴安解說這坐佛像,
來到波士頓美術博物館已逾一百年。(周菊子攝)

星期六, 5月 14, 2016

REP. TED LIEU QUESTIONS OFFICE OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON TARGETING OF ASIAN-AMERICANS

REP. TED LIEU QUESTIONS OFFICE OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON TARGETING OF ASIAN-AMERICANS
Washington - Today, at a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) questioned Mr. William Evanina, Director of Counterintelligence at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  Given recent cases of Asian Americans (such as Ms. Sherry Chen and Professor Xi Xiaoxing) being wrongfully arrested and indicted by the U.S. Government for allegations of espionage, Mr. Lieu’s questioning prompted Mr. Evanina to commit to the following:
1.       To provide training materials/guidance given to federal employees for the implementation of the Insider Threat Program, including safeguards to prevent any civil rights or privacy violations.
2.       Segmented data on the number of U.S. Government security clearance holders by race and ethnicity.
Mr. Lieu’s full line of questioning and remarks can be viewed herehttp://bit.ly/1WvkzmC

昆市5/23拆羅斯停車場

昆士市府宣佈,羅斯停車場(Ross Parking Garage )將於5月23日拆除,永久關閉。
有關人員表示,拆除費用將來自1970年代,這停車場已超過使用年限時,麻州政府撥給的580萬元補助款。
昆市政府將在昆市中心新建兩個臨時停車場,以彌補失去的停車位。原有的停車場所在將夷成一片新平地。

昆市府估計,這停車場將在6月底完全剷平,新的停車場將於夏末開張。

波士頓奪得創新城市第一名頭銜

位於華府的初創公司孵化器1776上週公布一份報告,把波士頓排為在美國設立初創公司的最佳地點,舊金山排第二。
其他受矚目的地點包括被戲稱為谷巷的紐約,谷海灘的洛杉磯,谷山的丹佛(Denver)。
1776孵化器和美國商會合作,使用6個評估標準做衡量城市標準,包括可用人才,取得創業資金,工業專精程度,市區密集度,經濟生態的連接性,以及生活風格/文化。
舊金山儘管在創業活動上遠遠領先在前,但生活品質上的費用太高,以及整體競爭力這兩項,把它拉到了名單上的第二名。
丹佛(Denver),羅利達瑞姆( Raleigh-Durham), 以及聖地牙哥(San Diego),依序排名第3,4,5。
這是1776孵化器發表的第二份“有關係的創新(Innovation that Matters)”報告,但還是第一次推出最佳創業城市排名。波士頓市由於有如東岸的翻版谷,哈佛大學,麻省理工學院,麻州大學等頂尖大學及研究機構更是密集,在創業城市中一向排名在前。五月九日時,彭博社的Emily Chang才報導了波士頓正試圖創造下一個10億元公司。

谷以外,過去這幾年來,人們也在關注其他地方的創新中心,快貸(Quicken Loans)創辦人Dan Gilbert 投資了10億逾元,振興底特律。Zappos執行長謝家華(Tony Hsieh)也投資了3億5000萬元在洛杉磯要刺激起初創火花。AOL的共同創辦人及投資者Steve Case是另一個熱衷推動創新的人,去年還展開一趟“其餘的崛起(Rise of the Rest)”巴士遊,企圖把人們的注意力帶到美國其他的創新都會去。
初創企業應該謹記,到哪兒設據點,要視乎自己想專精於那個領域。有些城市在醫療護理上是創新中心,有些城市則有更多的時尚零售或設計人才。創辦人應該評估,在尋找人才和資金上,各自在哪兒已有一個現成的關係網,在那兒又關係較弱。
生活品質也很重要。當你從零開始時,高昂的生活開銷會成為負擔。
風險投資家馬克安德森(Marc Andreessen)在他那本“計畫職業指南(guide to career planning)”中中告創業者,“別擔心自己是大池中的小魚 – 你會希望自己總是在最好的池塘中“,因為那是你接觸所在領域中最好人才與機會的方法。

對一些創辦人來,那地方就是波士頓,至於其他人,那幾乎就一定是谷了。

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES $12.6M ADAMS STREET BRANCH LIBRARY PROJECT

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES ADAMS STREET BRANCH LIBRARY PROJECT
Mayor Walsh's Building a Better Boston Capital Plan Invests over $90 million in Library Projects throughout the City
BOSTON - Saturday, May 14, 2016 - Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh launched the Adams Street Branch Library Project and highlighted capital investments planned at libraries across the Boston Public Library system, which total over $90 million in his FY17-21 Building a Better Boston Capital Plan. A community celebration for the announcement was held at the Adams Street Branch in Dorchester, where the $12.6 million project will renew the branch library, reflect the Boston Public Library Compass principles and support the needs of the neighborhood.

"Investing in the Boston Public Library means investing in the futures of all Boston residents; our libraries are critical access points where we gather as one community to seek information and knowledge," said Mayor Walsh. "I am committed to reinvigorating our locations throughout the city." 

The FY17-21 Building a Better Boston Capital Plan continues to demonstrate Mayor Walsh's strong commitment to revitalizing the Boston Public Library's historic Central Library in Copley Square and its branches throughout Boston's neighborhoods. Investing in Boston's neighborhood branches helps ensure a vital and vibrant community. In today's society, libraries serve as conduits for information, spaces in which citizens and neighbors meet and collaborate, and of course, as access points for reading and literacy. Among a range of services for life-long learning, the Library offers Boston's youths a safe place to learn and access additional educational opportunities, and provide today's citizens with resources for furthering skills and exploring new job opportunities.

Through a study of the Adams Branch Library project, the City will assess whether a building renovation, addition, or new construction best contributes to the neighborhood's vibrancy and meets community needs. Throughout the study and design process for the project, the Walsh Administration will host several community meetings to discuss possibilities for the branch.

The Mayor's Building a Better Boston Capital Plan includes additional projects such as:
  • Commencement of design and construction for Roslindale Branch budgeted at $6.7 million;
  • Beginning construction at the Dudley Branch Library, which has a total project cost of $14.7 million; and
  • Continued construction on the renovation of the Jamaica Plain Branch, estimated at $10 million.
The $78 million Central Library renovation which enriches library services and visitors' experience, expands Children's and Teen areas; updates building systems, enhances reading study, technology and learning areas, and improves accessibility will open this summer. The five year capital plan also budgets for future branch projects and improved library infrastructure.

"These improvements will provide services and experiences that will enliven communities and make these locations go-to destinations for educational resources and opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive in the City of Boston," said Boston Public Library Interim President David Leonard. "I want to thank Mayor Walsh for his commitment to the Boston Public Library system."

Any proposed library renovation or new construction starts with a 12-15 month programming study to gauge community need; a 6-12 month design process when an architect is selected and architectural plans are drawn up, prior to a groundbreaking.

About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children's room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit bpl.org.