Arts and Performances

What's now showing in the East-West Center Gallery, John A. Burns Hall, 1601 East West Road.

CHAM: Syncretic Islamic Communities in Vietnam and Cambodia

January 20 - March 28, 2010

Curators: Mohamed Effendy bin Abdul Hamid, Emiko Stock, and Michael Schuster

Installation: Michael Schuster and Lynne Najita

Visiting Scholar: Thanh Phan, Vietnam National University

The Cham of Vietnam and Cambodia are one of the most fascinating communities in Southeast Asia today. The Cham, descendents of the Kingdom of Champa that once ruled much of southern Vietnam developed a vibrant civilization. Their achievements were manifest in the building of unique Cham temples (bimong) that can still be found scattered throughout Vietnam. Originally a Hindu empire, the majority of Cham people converted to various forms of Islam over the centuries. Both Hinduism and Islam greatly influenced Cham political, religious, and cultural life.

This exhibit was funded by a Title VI National Resource Center grant, with additional funding from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts (Shangri-la) and the Hawai'i Pacific Rim Society.

Related exhibition events. All in the EWC Gallery, admission free, except as noted.

Monday, Jan. 25, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Visual Presentation
"Visualizing Cham Diversity in Cambodia," by Emiko Stock, visiting curator.

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Visual Presentation
"An Introduction to Ancient Cham Sculpture and Architecture," by Paul Lavy, assistant professor, UHM Art Department.

Sunday, March 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Visual Presentation
"Creating with Reverence: Art, Diversity, Culture and Soul," a discussion of diverse art forms and artists from India, Japan, Mexico, and the U.S. Southwest native Americans, by Claire Park, artist and lecturer, Pima Community College, Tuscon, Arizona.

Gallery info:

East-West Center Gallery
John A. Burns Hall, 1601 East-West Road (corner Dole St. & East-West Rd.)

Gallery hours:
Weekdays: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sundays: Noon-4:00 p.m.
Closed Saturdays and Federal holidays

For further information: 944-7584

http://arts.EastWestCenter.org

Visitor parking at the UH lower-campus parking structure is $4. Upper, on-campus parking is available at the Pay-to-Park green stalls. These Pay Stations accept MasterCard & Visa and cash - quarters, dollar coins, $1, $5, and $10 bills and require a fee of $2.00 per half hour up to a maximum of $16.00. The Pay Station issues a permit ticket that must be displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle showing the time until which the visitor has paid. Sunday parking is normally free and ample.

The East-West Center is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The Center contributes to a peaceful, prosperous, and just Asia Pacific community by serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education, and dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region and the United States. Funding for the Center comes from the U.S. government, with additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and the governments of the region.

For 25 years the EWC Arts Program has enriched the community through concerts, lectures, symposia, and exhibitions focusing on traditional arts of the region, and by arranged cultural and educational tours by artists who are skilled in bridging cultures.