|
| | Người Việt Trẻ | Người Việt |NV Directory | NVOnline Classified Ads | |
| Celebrating arts, celebrating culture Friday, September 23, 2005 Story by Josie Cabiglio. Photos by Kiet Huynh 
| |||||
Visions of lanterns. Of moon cakes. Of what Hurricane Katrina left behind. On Sunday, about 425 youngsters up to age 15 gave us a glimpse into their thoughts as they splashed images on poster paper as part of the third annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Art Contest. “One thing I know — I come from an arts background — is that kids involved in art are more articulate and able to express what they say,” said Taylur Thu Hiền Ngô, an event co-organizer and member of the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association, the event sponsor. “We want them to have an outlet for expression. This is a very simple way that we support creativity.” In Việt Nam, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Tết Trung Thu, is a harvest celebration much like those observed across Asia. Yet it differs in that it focuses on children and the unity of families. It is said that originally, the holiday — held under the full moon, to represent the fullness and prosperity of life — came about as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their offspring after working in the fields. And in Việt Nam today, boys and girls parade in the streets while singing and carrying colorful lanterns of different sizes — and different shapes — from fishes to stars to butterflies, plus those that spin when a candle is inserted, to mirror the earth circling the sun. Performances like the dragon dance and the flower dance are sprinkled into the mix. More than 75 volunteers gathered, getting the art contest off the ground this past weekend, said Ngô, who helped to direct the crowd with Ysa Lê, VAALA president, and artist Việt Lê. Those working the day of the event, mostly college students from the University of California, Irvine, and UCLA, Lê said, helped staff two rooms full of contestants seated at long tables. The others stayed behind the scenes preparing labels with a number code, with birth year, to place on the back of each otherwise anonymous entry, Ngô said. When they entered the room, the youngsters — all wearing new festival T-shirts they received in goody bags that included art supplies — each found a large sheet of drawing paper along with ample supplies of pastels, colored pencils and markers, crayons and watercolor paints. When they needed something — to have a pencil sharpened, to get more materials or a specific shade — they simply raised their hands and volunteers rushed to assist them. Here’s what those in attendance said about the day: “This is my second year in the contest. My dad reads the newspaper and he entered the contest for me, and I’m happy he did. Here,” she points to her work, “a girl was having fun at the moon festival and also thought about Katrina. Thinking of Katrina is my way of helping people see what is happening” in New Orleans. — Nghi Lâm, 14, Westminster, Westminster High School “I like to draw, so I came here to draw… maybe a moon and lantern, too, and some trees and flowers. I like to hang them on the wall so they won’t be empty.” — Vivian Hoàng, 9, Marshall Elementary School in Westminster “Maybe I’m going to draw people who were dancing onstage yesterday night” at a Moon Festival outing. — Her sister, Lilian Hoàng, 8 “I’m going to draw a tree, with spiders.” — Her brother Brian Hoàng, 4 “I want my children to be involved with activities of the community, to know about our cultural heritage.” — Diana Hoàng, mother of siblings Vivian, Lilian and Brian, Westminster The art contest, in a sense, “is how we learn the culture and language of Việt Nam. I really enjoy it a lot. I’m drawing a landscape because I like landscape… It’s more real. I make it up when I start drawing.” — Hảo Nguyễn, 13, Westminster In New Orleans, “the children didn’t have food or drink to drink. I drew this picture because I want to help.” — Jennifer Nguyễn, 6, Savannah Elementary, Rosemead, Calif. “I’m drawing a deer... I drew animals in the woods, looking for the moon in the night. Each one holds lantern.”— Jenny Trần, 10, Murdy Elementary, Garden Grove, Calif. “I didn’t think of what I was going to do first, but this,” she notes, looking at her sheet, “this has perspective. All lines line up with one point. It’s like a Mediterranean scene” of a house and garden... “The festival means family togetherness and is the ideal place to have time together.” — Tiffany Lee, 14, Northwood High, Irvine, Calif. I entered my children in the contest “so they can remember the tradition. Creativity means something that you can do yourself.” — Jennifer Vân Phạm, Tiffany Lee’s mother, Irvine This is a chance for children “to be creative and get them with other Vietnamese kids so they grow up Vietnamese even though they’re American.”— Huy Nguyễn, parent, Lakewood, Calif. “I did a page filled with flowers,” for a day “that has a night of the full moon. This Vietnamese holiday is special.” — Michelle Nguyễn, 7, Madison Elementary, Lakewood, daughter of Huy Nguyễn I entered my daughter “because I want her to get better communications skills. She loves art.” — Kim Nguyễn, parent, Santa Ana, Calif. “It’s really fun and I really like going out with my family. It’s good to keep your culture.” — Tanya Nguyễn, 8, daughter of Kim Nguyễn “In my picture, there is a lot of people playing and here is a girl… she is talking to this dragon. There are three sisters, and the others are friends, playing. They hear music and have moon cake. This girl is a taker of orders and this boy is making cakes.” — An Lê, 10, Susan B. Anthony Elementary, Garden Grove, Calif. “I’m using pastels. I just like to draw animals. Lanterns and animals are for peacefulness. The festival means a family being together as a family.” — Linda Lê, 13, Dale Junior High, Anaheim, Calif. “Our community needs more activities for the kids, especially art. Parents like it. Children like it... A sense of community plays in this picture. We value family, value traditional activities, value togetherness. I believe art can draw people together… Why not nurture this?” — Ysa Lê, contest co-director “Art is like a universal language. This contest is a social link between the cultures.” — Peter Châu Nguyễn, contest judge and member of the Westminster Cultural Arts Commission “We have introduced aspects (into this year’s event) that are more art-centric. Also, do not look at it like a contest. Prizes are fun for the kids, but more importantly, this may be the only time they’re exposed to these supplies. Paints just cost too much money.”— Taylur Thu Hiền Ngô, contest co-director “The festival is for children to have fun. Part of it is for children to create. I see a difference: the older Vietnamese generation brings with them the past, but the new generation is so open-minded. When the parent encourages a child to register, it is a bond already.” — Ann Phong, contest judge and arts educator “Today, the main point is to get them to use their creative juices. It’s a good chance for them to be in a room together. Our motto: Everyone’s a winner. We promote the spirit of having fun with art and the positive feeling associated with the community… This day is important.” Việt Lê, contest co-director | |||||
| Related Articles : | |||||
|
|||||
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
|
More News |
HOME | Daily Cartoon | Fonts FAQ | Nguoi Viet Daily News | Nguoi Viet Online Web Ad Pricing | Email us at: nv2@nguoi-viet.com | Copyright © 2002-2008 by Nguoi Viet