Sugar is as sweet as it gets – or is it? Imagine a lollipop made by hand to resemble your favorite cartoon character! Sweet! Come check out the sugar-sculpting talents of one of Taiwan’s premier sugar artists, in addition to world-famous hand puppet performances and colorful statues made of dough.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. (TECRO) is inviting kids ages one to one-hundred-and-one to join seven amazing traditional artists from Taiwan at the Fun Taiwan Folk Art Festival. The festivities kick off with a ribbon-cutting at the TECRO Cultural Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Kids and parents can watch these artists bring gourds to life with carvings and learn about Taiwan’s diverse cultures and about Taiwan’s vibrant folk art traditions!
While you are here, make sure not to miss out on the delicately-cut paper characters or the often surprising and always creative “recycled” art, which is made from tree bark and drinking straws.
Try a taste of Taiwan, to see how sweet life can be. What a toothsome way to spend a Friday! Oh yeah, it’s FREE, too!
Date: Friday, May 21, 2010
Time: 10:30am ~ 12:00 pm ; 2:30 pm ~ 4:30 pm
Location: TECRO Cultural Center, 901 Wind River Lane, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, tel: 301-869-8585
Contact: Shannon Shiau, shiau@tecro.us, (202) 895-1854
**Seven folk arts performances
1. Lion Head Painting -- Performer: SHIH, JUE-HSIUNG
The lion is the “King of Beasts.” Although the lion dance now aims to drive away evil spirits, it was originally practiced to drive away elephants. In the performance, the lion's head is crafted out of papier-mâché, which is applied over a frame of wicker or bamboo and may weigh from three to eight kilos. The color of the whiskers varies, depending on the history of the troupe.
2. Sugar shaping -- Performer: WU, CHIU-JUNG
The flexibility of heated sugar makes it possible for a skilled artist to turn sugar into different sculptures. The artist blows air into the molten sugar and deftly shapes it into characters and animals by hand.
3. Painted Paper Parasols and Gourd Carvings -- Performer: KUNG, YI-FANG
Gourds are grown into molds to control their shape. When harvested, they are dried in the shade and then carved in relief. The complicated patterns of knotted strings have been very popular motifs since 300-400 years ago in China. In these designs, many simple knots are woven together to make a larger, more complicated and beautiful knot. Parasol painting is a popular art form whereby the artist paints landscapes, animals and flowers onto a traditional paper umbrella.
4. Paper Cutting -- Performer: HUANG, HUNG-SHIH
With a pair of scissors, the artist quickly snips out the profile of a person in a blink of an eye. Delicate figures, including animals, symbols and people, emerge from what started as a simple piece of paper.
5. Reuse of Tree Bark and Drinking Straws -- Performer: LEE,YUNG-MO
Tree bark and drinking straws are skillfully folded, woven, and cut to make toys and dolls for children. Toy grasshoppers, fish, peacocks, fans and balls make charming, eco-friendly playthings.
6. Figurine Dough -- Performer: WU,CHUN-TE
Rice and flour are kneaded, mixed, joined, cut, and colored to sculpt folklore figures, animals, flowers, and even cartoon characters. This traditional artform is one of the most popular items among children.
7. Hand Puppet -- Performer: LIN,MING-WEN
Hand puppets have a long history and the tradition is still alive today. Each handmade puppet is colorful and has various faces that indicate each different character. The hand puppets are also fun and easy to play and perform with.
