Throughout May, the Camarillo Public Library will be hosting a series of events celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This month was so designated in 1978 by a Congressional Resolution honoring two historic anniversaries that occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
“We're excited to present another remarkable series of programs to our community,” said Gladstone E. Bucknor, Head of Public Services. “With such a rich and diverse offering, there’s something to appeal to everyone.”
On Saturday, May 2, from 10am to 5pm, the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society will be hosting a show of members’ trees. Formed twelve years ago, the Society regularly hosts lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and nursery trips, with membership ranging from bonsai beginners to professional bonsai artists. Featured presentations during the show include an introduction to bonsai with Ann Lofquist and various styling demonstrations led by Bob Pressler, Ken Martin, and Ken Fuentes.
RSVP HERE!
RSVP HERE!
Storyteller Barbara Wong will share “Tale of Asia and the Pacific Islands” on Tuesday, May 5 at 7pm. Wong began telling stories professionally as an Artist-in-the-Schools for the Hawaii State Department of Education. Now a resident of Los Angeles, Barbara has shared her multicultural tales with family audiences at public libraries throughout southern California; at the Los Angeles Storytelling Festival; Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific; Chinatown Moon Festival and New Year Celebration; and Riverside Museum’s Heritage House.
RSVP HERE!
RSVP HERE!
On Thursday, May 28 at 3pm, the library will be screening the Louisa Wei documentary, Golden Gate Girls. This film tells the tale of Esther Eng, Hong Kong’s first “directress,” a San Francisco native and open lesbian. Yet Golden Gate Girls is not just a biographical portrait of Eng; it is also a tribute to pioneer women filmmakers working on both sides of the Pacific, and the courage with which they crossed boundaries of language, culture, race and gender.
RSVP HERE!
RSVP HERE!
Buddhist Taiko drumming group Togen Daiko will perform on Sunday, May 31 at 2pm. The group’s style is called “Buddhist Taiko,” which is a Japanese-American term created to define a new style of taiko played specifically in North America. While “taiko” is generally understood as the relatively modern art of Japanese drum performances (kumi-daiko), the word actually refers to the drums themselves. Most members of Togen Daiko have built their own drums using wine barrels skinned with rawhide.
RSVP HERE!
RSVP HERE!
All of these events are free and open to the public.
For more information, please call the Camarillo Public Library at 805-388-5222 or visit camarillolibrary.org.
For more information, please call the Camarillo Public Library at 805-388-5222 or visit camarillolibrary.org.
