exhibition, “Is This My Shangri-La: Life in a Bhutanese Refugee Camp,” curated by Lopita Nath of the University of the Incarnate Word. The Bhutanese are migrating to Texas primarily as refugees from Asia. A significant portion of the population has been displaced by civil unrest, and many Bhutanese live in refugee camps in neighboring Nepal. The exhibit features approximately 100 photographs from Nath’s research trips in Bhutan and Nepal. The exhibit opens on Feb. 1 and continues through April 20. “From the moment you enter the festival grounds, you are surrounded by a celebration,” says festival director Jo Ann Andera. “There’s an opportunity to learn, but there are just as many opportunities to dance, or enjoy a bowl of your favorite Asian food, or to try something completely new.” The Asian Festival starts with a Lion Dance parade around the grounds to chase away the evil spirits of the past year. Dancers, martial artists and presenters lead the way through the festival grounds and open the celebration. Music, dance and entertainment follow on multiple stages, featuring offerings such as the traditional choreography of Okinawan dance, the contemporary styles of China, or the Bollywood-style of India. 84 On The Town | January/February 2014
On the museum’s Back 40, martial arts organizations will demonstrate unique styles ranging from the meditative tai chi chuan, to the more aggressive arts like karate and the swordsmanship of kendo. “What’s so amazing about the martial arts demonstrations,” Andera said, “is you’ll hear the history of the art, the rationale of their movements, and the tradition as to how and why these arts are practiced. It is a snapshot of history and events that have shaped a culture. It’s this perfect intersection of entertainment and education.” Andera emphasizes the experiential aspects of the festival, such as sampling foods, participating in demonstrations and visiting with Asian community members as some of the most fulfilling experiences of Asian Festival. For 27 years, the festival has played an important part in creating unity and solidarity in community, as it has helped people come together and understand one another in a day of entertainment, excitement and experience. The 2014 Asian Festival celebrates the Year of the Horse. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Institute of Texan Cultures, 801 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. For ticket information, visit TexanCultures.com or the Institute of Texan Cultures museum store.