Spring 2023 Endowed Lecture Series
The Center for Asian Studies is committed to providing opportunities for the University community to engage in Asian and Asian American cultures. We offer a variety of expert-led lectures throughout the semester such as, The Anlin Ku Lecture on Chinese Culture, Carmen R. & Joseph G. Schneidler Lecture on Pan-Asian Culture, Charlie’s TechTalks and more. See our upcoming and past lectures below.
Spring 2023
Community Event: 2023 Lunar New Year Art Festival
Saturday, January 21 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
UTA Texas Hall – 701 Nedderman Dr, Arlington, TX 76019
Co-hosting with the CAS, the UT Arlington (UTA) Department of Modern Languages, and the International Leadership of Texas Global, the Texas Cultural Exchange Center will be having their 2023 Asian New Year Art Festival on the UTA Campus! Events include:
- Cultural Booths & Riddle Raffle – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Performance – 3 to 5:30 p.m.
For free tickets and/or any questions, please contact tickets.tcec@gmail.com, Neal at 817-891-0045, or Tina at 469-243-7320.
Author Talk: The Red Paper
Tuesday, February 21 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
ATC 3.225 in the Arts & Technology Building (ATEC)
Join the CAS and the Japan-America Society of Dallas Fort Worth (JASDFW) as we host author Michiko Yoshikawa Johnson, whose earliest childhood memories inspired many of the characters in her historical fiction novel, The Red Paper.
Based on real events during WWII and immediately after the war. The novel focuses on the Sekihara Family. Giichi, who has decided to refuse his Japanese military draft notice, a choice that could lead to torture and family dishonor, and Kinuko, his wife who is caught trying to protect her family from the chaos of war.
The first English-language novel of its kind, it speaks of the minority report of Japan’s conscientious objectors. Painting a portrait of the Japanese political landscape and citizens’ everyday lives between the years leading up to Pearl Harbor and the end of the War. The novel represents the author’s desire to honor the best of humanity and provide Western readers with what they have not heard ― a side of Japan beyond Japanese official records and American war time propaganda.
Get tickets for The Red Paper!
Community Event: DAAYO Winter Concert
Sunday, February 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts – 2351 Performance Dr, Richardson, TX 75082
The Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra (DAAYO)’s evening Winter Concert will feature their Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras. This concert will be an exciting night of music featuring a blend of western classical music and two beautiful pieces drawn from Asia, with a special solo performer – Ms. Yuxin Mei on pipa. Award winning conductors Matthew Moreno (Symphony) & Sadarius Slaughter (Philharmonic) conduct the two groups.
Community Event: USCCC Annual Conference & CNY Celebration
Sunday, February 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel – 6007 Legacy Dr, Plano, TX 75024
The US China Chamber of Commerce – Dallas (USCCC) will be celebrating the Year of the Rabbit and its 29th anniversary. The annual conference and lunch banquet is expected to attract over 500 members of the Chinese American business community, other community leaders and politicians at all levels. The theme for the conference is Chinese New Year Celebration and Post-Pandemic Opportunities and Challenges.
Founded in 1994, USCCC focuses on serving members consisting of large and small businesses as well as individual entrepreneurs and aspiring professionals. We regularly organize gatherings on and offline, for networking, education, collaboration, and mutual support among our members. USCCC has also established the Youth Entrepreneurs Society program for local high school students to prepare them with insights and advice on work-readiness, leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Festival: 21st Annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival
March 2 – 4, Various locations and times (see festival page)
The Center for Asian Studies is honored to be a sponsoring partner of the 21st Annual Texas Guitar International Competition and Festival! Two of this year’s three featured performers are Asian:
Sohta Nakabayashi
Sohta Nakabayashi was born in Tokyo (Japan) in the year 2000 and began studying guitar at the age of three, with teacher Takayuki Azuma. In 2004, he met the guitarist Manuel Babiloni on one of his tours of Japan, who became his reference teacher and with whom he maintained constant contact through regular meetings, both in Spain and Japan, until his sudden death, in 2015.
Currently, he studies the Superior Degree of Guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid (RCSMM), with D. Miguel Trápaga. He has attended numerous courses, such as the “José Luis González Memorial” International Guitar Course, directed by Manuel Babiloni (Estella, 2005-2014); and the International Guitar Course “Manuel Babiloni Memorial,” with Óscar Ebro (Vilafamés, 2016-2021).
One of his most recent achievements includes being junior winner at the 2022 Concurso Internacional de Guitarra Alhambra.
Shih-yu (Jimmy) Liu
Shih-yu (Jimmy) Liu was born in Taiwan. He obtained his Master’s degree under Professor Nicholas Goluses from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, NY.
In 1993, Shih-yu Liu entered the Taiwan National University of Arts with the best entry exam results, majoring in classical guitar. Excelling at this guitar training, Shih-yu was chosen to perform a guitar concerto with the university’s orchestra. In 1997, Shih-yu graduated first in his class, and in 1999 received a scholarship to enter the Eastman School of Music.
Shih-yu also is often invited to perform with a variety of orchestras. He has presented the radio program “Sound of The Guitar” since 2009. It was nominated for the 49th Taiwan National Radio Award (Gold Bell Award) in 2014.
Shih-yu has been invited to play for many international guitar festivals, and currently teaches at the Taiwan National University of Arts. He is also the artistic director of the Taiwan International Guitar Festival & Competition. (Since 2012)
Come join us at UTD for this spectacular three-day event! Visit the Guitar Festival Page for more information and schedule of events!
Culture: Chinese Tea Ceremony & Calligraphy Workshop for UTD International Week
Wednesday, March 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Student Union (SU) Faculty Dining Hall
This year, UTD will observe International Week, or iWeek, from March 6-10. Partnering with the UTD Global Engagement Office and Intercultural Programs (ICP), the CAS and AHT Chinese Program will once again be showcasing the Chinese Tea Ceremony and Calligraphy Workshop at the iWeek on March 8!
iWeek is a week of intercultural focused programs and events that showcase international culture through food, music, performance art and much more. iWeek is brought to you by Intercultural Programs with the participation of student cultural organizations and several departments across Campus.
Visit the iWeek 2023 Schedule of Events for more information!
Lecture: China, Taiwan, and US Foreign Policy
Wednesday, March 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Location provided upon RSVP
The CAS is co-sponsoring this upcoming lecture held by the School of Economics, Political, and Policy Sciences (EPPS).
Michael Cunningham is a research fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, where he focuses on China’s domestic politics and foreign policy.
Prior to relocating to Washington, D.C., in 2021, Cunningham spent over a decade in greater China region, where he advised multinational businesses on the political, operational, and security risks associated with their business activities in China and Northeast Asia.
Cunningham obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in international affairs from American University. He has lived extensively in both mainland China and Taiwan and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese.
RSVP for the lecture and a specific location on the UTD main campus will be provided after registration!
Exhibition: Taiwan Autism Artists Celebration
Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to noon
Davidson Auditorium (JSOM 1.118) in the JSOM Building
A celebration of Taiwanese artists on the autism spectrum will be hosted on Saturday, April 1 in the Davidson Auditorium (JSOM 1.118) at the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM).
In addition to an exhibition of 25 paintings from eight artists, Grace Chen will speak on working with artists on the spectrum. She will discuss using hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell to enhance creativity as well as present a brief workshop on using hand massage to improve brain function and prevent brain shrinkage.
This program is free to the public.
Sponsors for this event are the UTD Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM), UTD Center for Asian Studies (CAS), Taiwan Autistic Arts Association (TAAA), Education Changes Lives and Times (ECLAT) Foundation, and BonBon USA Story Town.
For free UTD parking permits, please email shinystar88usa@gmail.com. For additional information, text 214-202-6478.