EPISODE 2 - HUANG XIANG’S UNIVERSE
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Mr. Huang Xiang, 83, was born in Hunan Province, China and now lives in Flushing, Queens. He is a poet, author, Master Calligrapher, painter, performance artist, champion of democracy, human rights, and the environment. Also worthy of mention, Huang Xiang has decided to become a Christian this year at 83! Some might say he was doing God’s work all along.
For this Story Time Under The Grandma Tree, friends will be invited for some tea and meet a living Chinese American hero who was caught up in the cultural revolution when he was a boy. He eventually became a young man who was one of the pioneers of democracy to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party only to be imprisoned for 12 years, two of which were spent on death row. With his words Huang Xiang became a champion of democracy and human rights leading to his nomination for the Nobel Literature Prize. He will be joined by Victoria Zhang, 56, an author, publisher, his partner/soulmate and collaborator, Wendy Lee, a musician of the highest level will accompany him on Guzheng (Chinese Zither).
THE DISK AND ITS INSTALLATION:
This September 6th, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Huang Xiang and our camera crew will move to St. Michael’s church RC where he will use environmentally friendly ink to write “Peace, Love, Unity - We Are All Stewards Of The Earth'' on a canvas that is 4ft. in diameter and made out of a biodegradable material called mycelium. Mycelium is the vegetative root structure of mushrooms, and the canvas will be grown by the Biomaterials Studio at Genspace, a biosafety level one community biology lab in Sunset Park.
The disk to be used as a canvas has three components: a wooden frame, a hemp chip skeleton, and the mycelium that grows around and through the wood. If left outdoors and exposed to the elements, mycelium degrades within 2 to 3 months. The disk will be anchored to the ground through metal rods. We have tested multiple prototypes for texture, durability, transport, and safety. The mycelium comes from the Reishi mushroom, also known as the lingzhi fungus, which has Chinese cultural significance. Long used throughout history in Chinese medicine for wellness, the reishi mushroom has been regarded as the “herb of spiritual potency” and the “mushroom of immortality.”
This piece is a prototype on a mycelium canvas painted with environmentally friendly ink with a message that will feed the earth and those who read it.
The mycelium is transported to St Michael’s Church’s grounds to degrade into compost within 2 to 3 months), Genspace volunteers will remove the hemp chip skeleton.
THE VIDEO is a collaboration with friends and artists who love and admire Huang Xiang’s work and his struggle against injustice with his pens and paint brushes. He will be joined by Victoria Zhang, 56, his partner/soulmate and collaborator, Wendy Lee, a young musician of the highest level will accompany Huang Xiang on the Guzheng. Sean Lee, a much younger and sought out artist will provide illustrations for our film.
Guests will be treated to an intimate and colorful conversation with music, poetry, art and tea. Huang Xiang will share his history with a small audience and our cinematographer through eight poems/paintings that depict his life on large panels situated near and around the Grandma Tree created in his own unique approach to calligraphy in the Grass style. Viewers will be surprised to see Huang Xiang give a commanding reading that shows he owns the ground he stands on and exudes each word with great energy. He will conclude with his thoughts about caring for the Earth and one another. Also wothhy of mention, Huang Xiang was baptized Chirstian this last March! One mght say he was doing God’s work all along when he fought the communist party with his poetry in favor of human rights and democracy.
The best is yet to come! After a break Huang Xiang and the camera crew will move down the streeet to the beautiful 150 year old landmark St Michal’s Church grounds where he will create a new masterpiece for a temporary art installation where it will remain until it degrades in two to three months, thus feeding the earth and those who see its meaningful message.
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Huang Xiang
Huang Xiang is a Master Calligrapher, poet, painter, performance artist, philosopher. His activism led to his imprisonment of 15 years where he was put on death-row twice for writing poetry about the need for democracy and human rights in China. Only his wife can see signs of the PTSD he suffers from during his nightmares- a result from the harsh treatment of prison. He was the first artist in residence at the City Of Asylum in Pittsburgh, and a Nobel Literature Prize nominee several times.The Chinese art magazine "Upper" published Huang Xiang's artwork 13 times consecutively. Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy issued a proclamation declaring November 21, 2004 as "Huang Xiang Day''. In 2005 a “Huang Xiang Symposium” was held at the Central Pacific Asia annual Research Conference at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published over 30 books overseas including poetry, prose, novels, literary theory, philosophy of poetry, etc. Many of which have been translated into different languages.
I am a shout
From the raging years piled around me
I am crushed diamond
In every tiny piece a sun resides
I am I I am my own obituary
I shall redeem myself from death
Victoria Zhang
Victoria, whose pen name is Qiuxiao Yulan and whose Chinese name is Zhang Ling, is the author of the long non-fiction literature work "The Crown of Thorns and Laurels". She is currently the president of Kunlun Press and Borderless Culture & Art Center (BCAC), the president of the New York Branch of the Chinese-American Family Coalition CAFC) Victoria is also his soulmate and a collaborator of Huang Xiang. She makes an extraordinary contribution to embracing cultural traditions, preserving social and historical memory, building unity, calling for peace, and justice.
Guzheng (Chinese Zither) performer based in the United States served as a judge for the Guzheng category at the 5th Golden Peony International Music Competition in 2019. She studied under Mr. Zhao Manqin, the founder of the Guzheng Rapid Fingering Technique. Wendy has been playing the Guzheng since childhood and has achieved a level 9 certification from the Central Conservatory of Music and a level 10 certification from the Chinese Musicians' Association for Guzheng performance. Wendy has a distinctive personality in her playing, her music is delicate, expressive, powerful, and her tone is both soft and brilliant."
Conxiao Liu
Born in 1971, Conxiao Liu (Sean) is a professional artist who currently works and lives in New York. He has been selected for numerous major art exhibitions and has received awards. His artworks are collected by museums, foundations, and art institutions.
OUR HOST
Pamela Hamilton, “Grandma Pam”
Pamela is a formidable presence in the realm of creative music. She is an accomplished vocalist, violist and violinist. She received a Professional Diploma at the Mannes College of Music of The New School in NYC, and a Teaching Artist Certification from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Pam is also a certified teacher and instructor for the Connor Method American School for String Players, a violin and theory teacher for the Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance in New York City and has been the Jazz violin instructor for the Middle School Jazz Academy for Jazz at Lincoln Center. Her greatest experiences, however, have come in the professional performance field. Pam has performed here and abroad for over forty years. She has performed and shared the stage with a variety of luminaries from the Jazz world (like Spiro Gyra, Earl Klugh, Stephan Grappelli), R&B groups, such as Al Green, WAR, and Grand Funk Railroad, with recording artists Bette Midler, Eric Burdon (of the Animals) and others, and Gospel artists including CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and Donnie McClurkin. Pamela also leads her band, appropriately named The Pam Hamilton Group She has played violin and viola in opera companies, classical quartets and ensembles and recording sessions. During the holiday season this year, she will be performing in the orchestra for the Night of Inspiration Gospel Concert at Carnegie Hall.
PRODUCTION CREW
Harry Mena
Harry Mena, Producer/Director/Photographer, began Mena Mountain Productions Inc to provide the missing images in mainstream popular culture that will counter the negative stereotypes that are prevalent. His 20 years with James Lipscomb inc, an independent producer of documentary specials, has taught him how to tell a story. He has won a Blue Ribbon for best cultural film from the American Film Festival for co-producing the "Subterraneans' ' which was also nominated for an EMMY in photography. Notably, Harry is a fiscally sponsored artist of Fractured Atlas for his project, "The Sunset Park Railroad," a community building project. Harry is known to say, “We are creating a movement that delivers images that will crash through walls of hatred, misogyny, bigotry, and bring people together in public spaces.” ALL ABOARD!”
Sarai A. Mena, Associate Producer
Sarai Mena strives to make a positive impact in both the community she was born and raised in by drawing on her background in Environmental studies to advocate for the preservation of public spaces and access to equitable education for all. Both a makeup artist and a scientist, she aims to blend science and art wherever possible, especially in informal education settings.
Juan Carlos Alom
In 2000, Time Magazine selected Juan Carlos among the 10 Latin American photographers of the millennium. His most recent personal shows include: “Lines of Desire XIII Havana Biennial, 2019; “Cuban Analogs,” Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and UCONN, Connecticut, 2017. In 2018, his 16mm films were screened as part of ISMO, ISMO, and ISMO, the highlights of Experimental Cinema of Latin America and the Caribbean at Echo Park Film Center, LA, California. In addition, his work is in the permanent collections of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LA, California; Ludwig Forum for International Art, Germany; Pachuca photo library, Mexico; PAMM, Miami, FL.